330 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



that which takes the shooting as it comes, instead of 

 picking out the easy shots, or easy combinations to 

 secure them. 



The best snipe gun is moderately choked, or an im- 

 proved cylinder bore. As in all open shooting, good 

 work may be done with a full choke, since the shooter 

 can pick his distance to shoot his birds. However, it 

 is not every man who can wait on his bird, or who 

 can estimate distances at a glance; therefore, it is bet- 

 ter to have a scatter gun which will be available for 

 instant use when the bird rises. A 12-bore is most 

 commonly used, and as for the size of shot, No. 8s or 

 93 or i os are good, the latter being quite large enough 

 when the birds are fat and lazy. 



As a bird to shoot over dogs, the snipe is inferior. 

 Sometimes it is in such abundance that a dog is un- 

 necessary. At other times it is so wild that it will not 

 lie to the dog at all. If fat and tame, it may lie too 

 well. Again, it will frequent marshes so wet, cold and 

 rank with marsh grasses that it is impossible for a dog 

 to work satisfactorily, however good his intentions and 

 ability may be. 



Very few dogs have a natural fondness for work 

 on snipe. It is acquired in most instances. Some 

 dogs, good on upland game birds, thoroughly detest the 

 snipe and refuse to recognize it. On the other hand, 

 some dogs like snipe as a bird to work on, though such 

 are exceptional. 



Considered strictly as a bird of the open, the snipe 

 affords excellent open shooting. Yet there is never 



