THE RIFLE ON GAME AT REST. 273 



tion. This of course would not be so if the game 

 were always in the same position, light, etc., and 

 always standing full broadside. But as deer are gene- 

 rally seen it would be so. 



You have already seen how a deer can be " too 

 close." And now you can understand why overcon- 

 fidence producing a little lack of care in aiming can 

 make you miss a deer within a stone's throw. And 

 beware that you do not forget this, for even old and 

 good shots are often deceived by a deer being " too 

 close." Think it over and sing it over every time 

 you start for the woods. And I recommend as a very 

 suitable line for this purpose, 



" Thou art so near and yet so far." 



In almost every miss you make for the first season 

 or so, and in nearly all cases where the game is missed 

 because of being " too close," your bullet goes above 

 the game. This tendency to overshoot is the most 

 universal and ineradicable error that exists in the 

 whole range of hunting with the rifle. As I shall re- 

 cur to it again, I will now merely sum up the cases in 

 which it is likely to be done, discussing only a few of 

 them in detail. And most of them will suggest their 

 own remedy. 



i st. All cases of the least carelessness in aiming, 

 whether from haste, overconfidence, or nervousness. 

 This results from catching with the eye too much of 

 the front sight. 



2d. Having the rifle sighted to a point beyond what 

 is commonly called its natural point blank, thus 

 carrying the ball above intermediate points. 



3d. Over-estimating distance of game and pur- 

 posely shooting higher than is really necessary. 



