WILD-DUCK SHOOTING. 241 



A keen wind and hard frost, with deep snow, are peculiarly favour- 

 able for wild-duck shooting-, and, indeed, for wild-fowl shooting 

 generally ; though too much wind may interfere with the operations 

 of the punter. 



As a general rule, where the wild-duck finds food and quiet in- 

 land, it invariably returns. It is, therefore, a frequently-successful 

 means of obtaining a shot, by watching during the day for stray 

 feathers and such-like signs, at the water-side ; and then, by lying 

 in ambush near the spot, about flight-time, they will, in all proba- 

 bility, offer a fine opportunity to the sportsman ; who, if there be 

 several birds, can take his time, and wait before pulling trigger 

 until he gets them well together, or in line. 



If the sportsman finds they do not return on the first night of his 

 lying in ambush, after discovering their feathers at some particular 

 spdt, he should not be disheartened, but lie-by another night or two, 

 as variation of wind or weather may have affected their movements, 

 and induced them to seek temporary change of feeding-ground ; but 

 the animus revertendi to the old spot remains, and, sooner or later, 

 the persevering sportsman will be rewarded for his pains. 



Whoever is thoroughly familiar with the sport of wild- 

 duck shooting, and has persevered in the pursuit, always prefers 

 it aboje that of shooting land-birds of any description. The flight 

 of a wild-mallard, as it suddenly rises from the moor, present- 

 ing a fair shot to the unequipped sportsman, has many a time, in my 

 hearing, as probably also in that of many others, brought out the 

 expression, " If I had but a gun ! " as the beautiful bird swept 

 through the air within a few yards of the sportsman's form. 



There are more difficulties and dangers to contend with in wild- 

 duck shooting than in any other branch of wild-fowling. 



Wild-ducks are fond of resorting by night to large tidal rivers, 

 when they feed so close in-shore, that the punter who goes in pursuit 

 of them, incurs great risk of being shot by men who prowl about the 

 shore at night, in search of any sort of water-fowl they can find. 

 These men are called " shore-gunners." Many a time have I been 

 disappointed of a shot, after lying a long time on the floor of my 

 punt, endeavouring to find the whereabouts of a party of noisy ducks 

 and mallards ; and, when just in the act of pulling trigger, I have been 

 startled by the sudden report of a gun from the shore, the shot of 

 which have sometimes come far too near my head to be pleasant ; 

 then, directly afterwards, a dog bounds into the water, and, one 



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