228 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



and ranges his ground over and over again will 

 generally kill the largest quantity of game, and will 

 be sure to find it where it has been left by others. 

 A hare will frequently suffer a person to pass within 

 a few yards of her, without stirring ; and birds will 

 often lie so close, as to suffer themselves almost to be 

 trod upon, before they will attempt to rise. It is a 

 very good method for the sportsman frequently to 

 remain stationary for a short period, as this will often 

 cause the game to spring, which otherwise would 

 have been missed. 



Covers cannot be beat too well, particularly where 

 you expect pheasants, as these birds lie very close, 

 and will frequently suffer you to pass them repeatedly 

 without rising; they will even allow the very bush 

 under which they are lying to be struck several times 

 with a pole before they will rise. Pheasants are 

 very fond of grassy, brambly, two or three years old 

 copse 5 nor will it be labour lost to try the higher 

 growths. 



It will be proper to observe in this place, that the 

 shooter should never strike either bush or hedge, or 

 indeed any thing, with his fowling-piece. Should 

 he use the butt-end for this purpose, it is possible the 

 cock may be caught by some branch, and thus cause 

 the piece to be fatally discharged ; on the contrary, 

 should a bush, &c. be struck with the muzzle-end, 

 the sportsman will be very liable to lose his shot, or 

 he may loosen it in such a manner as to render the 



