GUNS AND DOGS 13 



the order to the boy to release the target pitch the 

 gun to the shoulder and fire. It is often said that good 

 "trap-shots " are not good " field-shots " and vice versa. 

 Of course a man cannot go walking about the field 

 with the butt of the gun always at his shoulder. Hence 

 he should not so hold it when shooting at the traps if 

 he would become a good field-shot. He may be beaten 

 at the traps by the shooter who holds his gun at his 

 shoulder, but he will defeat the latter in the field. 

 Much field-work, however, is necessary to make a good 

 field-shot. 



In shooting at the traps I shoot much at double 

 birds. The double shot in the field gives the most 

 satisfaction, and to made double shots one must be 

 accustomed to the quick use of the second barrel. In 

 shooting at single clay pigeons I always fire the sec- 

 ond barrel at any large fragment which may go sailing 

 away when the first shot does not smash the target 

 into the minute fragments which one likes to see. 



Books have been written about the use of guns, but 

 it is most important to aim quickly ; to aim well over 

 rising birds and under descending ones and far ahead 

 of fast-flying marks crossing the line of sight, either 

 directly or at an angle. Remember that more shots 

 are missed by shooting behind than ahead of the birds. 

 A few shots at ducks or shore-birds flying low over 

 the water will teach the shooter much, if he looks to 

 see where his shot strikes the water. The shooting at 

 one duck to see another many feet behind it fall dead 

 will be another lesson. It takes many lessons to make 

 a fine field-shot. 



Always shoot with both eyes open. The mark is 



