314 THE STILL-HUNTER. 



the popular impression to the contrary, two hundred 

 yards is a long distance to hit a deer even in the most 

 favorable position. 



The very swiftest ball or the most speed-sustaining 

 ball you can fire from a rifle falls fast enough in two 

 hundred and fifty yards to miss every deer or ante- 

 lope at which it is fired with the sights set for a dis- 

 tance twenty-five yards on either side the animal; 

 either undershooting or overshooting it. You will 

 find that at three hundred yards a mistake of twenty 

 yards in your estimate of distance will cause a miss, 

 at four hundred yards a mistake of fifteen yards, 

 etc. These figures are of course not exact, and will 

 vary with the rifle. But they are not over three or 

 four yards out of the way for the best long-range rifles. 



If you doubt figures or anything that savors of 

 " theory," put up a target at two hundred yards with 

 your rifle sighted to that point. Fire a few shots, re- 

 ceding from the target twenty-five yards each time 

 and firing with the same sight. But do not try to hit 

 the bull's-eye, but only to discover the fall of the 

 bullet. 



Having satisfied yourself what the rifle will do, 

 find out what you can do in estimating distance. 

 Try it first in timber, making an estimate of the 

 longest distances and then pacing them. Then try it 

 on quite open and level ground, estimating and pacing 

 up to four hundred yards only. There will be a start- 

 ling shrinkage of conceit somewhere. 



But perhaps you think the faculty of judging dis- 

 tance can be cultivated. Of course it can be im- 

 proved. By doing nothing else it might even be 

 cultivated to a high enough state of perfection to make 

 five bull's-eyes out of six up to four hundred yards 



