456 AMERICAN GAME BIRD SHOOTING 



bird, very likely it will be missed altogether, or only the 

 edge of the load will prick it. Birds fly fast, but shot 

 flies much faster, and while almost every one is likely 

 to shoot behind wild ducks, there is very much less dan- 

 ger of doing so on cross shots at upland birds. 



In the brush shooting which prevails over many parts 

 of this country the birds usually get up very near to 

 the gunner, and the shooting is quick and close. A 

 cylinder-bore gun and a charge of small shot will give 

 better results for this shooting than a choke-bore gun 

 and large shot. I usually begin the season by using 

 one ounce of No. 10 shot for woodcock, partridges and 

 quail, but as the weather grows colder and the leaves 

 fall, the birds are likely to be wilder and to be a little 

 more heavily feathered, and for the very last of the 

 season an ounce of No. 8 shot may be used for quails 

 and partridges alike. In prairie shooting, toward the 

 end of the season, when the chickens have become wild 

 and get up at long range, heavier shot and a choke-bore 

 gun may profitably be employed. Sage grouse, being 

 very large and the old ones very tough birds, may 

 be shot at with No. 6 shot all through the season. 



In all shooting there is really nothing more impor- 

 tant than that the gunner should know just what his 

 arm can do. If he thoroughly understands this, if he 

 will practice as recommended, and if he has his nerves 

 and impulses under good control, he can very soon 

 make of himself a more than average shot. 



