HINTS FOR SOUTHERN SHOOTING. 559 



the season, the only kind of game to be found is the pinnated 

 g^rouse, but by deferring the time until the latter part of September, 

 we can have, say, a week's shooting for grouse, and at the end of 

 that time the snipe and ducks will begin to visit the lakes and 

 marshes which abound in the west and northwest, and afford most 

 excellent sport. In order to have the best sport, it is important 

 that each shooter should take with him at least one good, steady, 

 well-broken dog, and in condition to work day after day, and by 

 all means one that is a good retriever. If a dog is a strong, well- 

 formed fellow, and in proper condition for work, is properly fed 

 and has a comfortable place to sleep after his day's work is over, 

 he will do all the work required of him on such a trip ; yet it is far 

 better to have one or a brace of extra dogs along, in case of lame- 

 ness or some other casualty. There are, no doubt, many places 

 in Illinois where fair grouse shooting could be found, but during 

 the past seven or eight years we have considered it best to cross 

 the Mississippi River into Iowa or Missouri, or to shoot in Wiscon- 

 sin. In making such shooting trips we have frequently availed 

 ourselves of trustworthy information from the different conductors 

 of the trains over the prairies as to the best places to stop. Many 

 of these gentlemen are sportsmen, and we have found all to be 

 courteous and anxious to give strangers valuable information as to 

 where comfortable quarters and game may be found. In such 

 shooting, it is absolutely necessary to have a team and driver, as 

 the game is too heavy to carry any length of time ; but a good 

 team and careful driver can always be found at moderate rates. 



Early in the season, use No. 8 shot ; later. No. 6. 



How io Load for Game. — A ten-bore will chamber about five 

 buckshot ; put in about four layers and four drachms of powder. 

 Pinnated grouse, three and a half drachms powder and one and 

 one-eighth ounces No. 8 shot. Ruffed grouse (partridge) three 

 and a half drachms powder and one and one-fourth ounces No. S 

 shot. Woodcock and snipe, three drachms powder and one and 

 one-eighth ounces No. lo shot. Powder, No. 6 Laflin & Rand's, 

 or Hazzard's No. 3 duck. Use two Ely's pink-edge wads on 

 powder ; a thin wad on shot, thus getting both penetration and 

 spread. Test powder thoroughly with different charges ; find 

 the one which gives the best average results, and stick to it. 



