GROUSE AND BLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 6 



would then break his beat to follow a pack ; but let him 

 select the lowest and most likely ground, as near the 

 centre of his range as possible, for his evening shooting. 

 Grouse, and indeed all game, when raised, generally 

 fly to lower ground, and when they begin to move about 

 on the feed, are more easily found by the dogs ; for 

 which reason the evening is always the most successful 

 part of the day. 



As the season advances, and the birds become strong 

 on the wing, the difficulty of breaking the packs is ten- 

 fold increased. Some fire very large shot among them 

 when they rise : this may often succeed, but is a most 

 unsportsman-like proceeding. The plan I always adopt 

 is, first to select my ground for the evening, taking care 

 that it is full of hillocks ; grouse have a great liking to 

 them, and when thus concealed their flights are much 

 shorter. I then commence ranging my other ground as 

 described ; and when I get a shot, although the pack 

 should rise at some distance, I select one of the leaders, 

 and, if it drop, the pack is far more likely to break, and 

 the nearer birds are left for the second barrel. 



Always cross the dog a good way ahead when he 

 points, and cock both barrels ; it is impossible to bring 

 down your birds in crack style otherwise. Unless shoot- 

 ing in company, I generally have my gun cocked, and 

 held ready to fire when walking over ground where there 

 is any likelihood of birds rising this I only recommend 

 to the experienced sportsman. 



