452 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



target, whether under or over, before or behind. Given 

 this information, the shooter corrects his aim accord- 

 ingly. 



The many books that have been written on shooting 

 give hints and suggestions which are of great value 

 to the young gunner, explaining what he should do, 

 and, more important than all, cautioning him against 

 the mistakes he is likely to make. This is helpful, but, 

 after all, nothing can take the place of practice. Each 

 beginner must necessarily go through the school of 

 preliminary practice, finally coming to clay targets, 

 thrown from the trap, which afford the best practice 

 of all. He may feel sure that the more practice he 

 has the better he will learn to shoot, but I believe that 

 the best practice of all, if it be faithfully continued, 

 is that taken with an empty gun, for five minutes at 

 a time, two or three times a day, throwing up the gun 

 on different objects and pulling the trigger the instant 

 the sight is caught ; or throwing up the gun and then 

 swiftly swinging it on to some mark and pulling the 

 trigger just as this mark is reached. 



A point that must be remembered, and that has much 

 to do with success in shooting, or the lack of it, is the 

 disparity in strength and skill which exists in the two 

 arms of all men. Most men are right-handed, and are 

 constantly performing various tasks with the right 

 hand and arm, which thus becomes far more efficient 

 and much stronger than the left. A few people are 

 ambidextrous, and can use either hand indifferently. A 

 few men are left-handed, and can shoot from the shoul- 



