WILDFOWLING 311 



is made with a 1 2 -bore and heavy shot. There are three 

 recognised means whereby the sportsman may get to 

 the windward of the wily goose Stalking, Driving, 

 and Flighting. I have stated these processes in their 

 order of merit, as I think that every one who has had 

 experience of wild-goose shooting will admit that stalk- 

 ing is by far the most interesting, although at the same 

 time the most difficult, means of attack. Further, a 

 successful stalk usually means a considerable slaughter. 

 The wild goose, when feeding or at rest, always has his 

 position guarded by alert sentries, and to stalk him with 

 success one must approach him up wind and take advan- 

 tage of every available piece of cover, having first care- 

 fully surveyed the ground with a telescope. The greylag 

 goose is undoubtedly the most difficult to approach, and 

 he usually adds to his security by taking up his position 

 in the centre of a flat, where it is next to impossible to 

 approach him under cover. Sometimes, however, he 

 will allow a horse and cart to get within easy shooting 

 distance of him, provided a circular manoeuvre is 

 adopted, and not a direct approach. Bernacle geese 

 are much easier to stalk, and they will usually be found 

 on a piece of good green pasture. 



Driving. There are various methods adopted with 

 more or less success. One is by the usual process of 

 taking cover. Another is by digging pits, both in the 

 probable line of flight, which one should be able to 

 gauge with considerable accuracy. Thereafter the 

 geese should be driven towards the guns in as quiet a 



