In his class there is no gamer bird than 

 the Wilson, or, as hunters call him, the 

 "jack" snipe. 



As he is rarely found in thick brush we will not 

 compare him with the woodcock ; and no other bird 

 in the snipe family can rival him. 



The most successful way of hunting "jacks" is 

 with a good, steady dog. The jack " lies " well, and 

 has a strong, erratic flight, that makes him a difficult 

 mark to inexperienced gunners. After flying 20 or 

 30 yards the jack settles down and flies more evenly; 

 and the veteran snipe hunter waits if possible for 

 this change, before discharging his gun. When 

 flushed, it utters at intervals a loud " scaip ! scaip ! " 

 Its flight is short unless badly frightened, and it can 

 be marked down and followed by the hunter. The 

 habits and haunts of the jack snipe are so easily 

 affected by climatic and other conditions, that an 

 intimate knowledge of its peculiarities is necessary 

 to find and approach it. 



On windy days the jack is very wild ; its senses 

 are so keen that it is most difficult for the hunter to 

 approach within gun shot. Leave your dog at home 

 in bad weather, and hunt down wind. In this way 

 you can get some good shots ; as the jack will rise 

 against the wind, or toward the hunter. 



On warm, sunny days, they lie close, and a good 

 setter or spaniel is necessary to find and flush them. 



As a table bird, the jack snipe has no superior. 



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