CANADA GOOSE-SIJOOTING. 283 



and wlierever white may be seen on tlie live bird should 

 be brought out in strong contrast against the lead color 

 of the body and the black on the head and neck. The 

 hunter must dress warm, and in clothing suitable and 

 in strong sympathy with his surroundings ; there must 

 be no distinction between his dress and the dress of the 

 trees, sand, corn, stubble field, or wherever he may be 

 hid. These huge birds are wary according to their 

 ■size, and look with suspicion at every thing, and one 

 can rest assured that every goose he shoots he will earn, 

 unless he should be in a country where they are so 

 plenty as to do away with the necessity of exercising 

 much skill and ingenuity in hunting them, — even then, 

 he will Und the number killed very small, unless he 

 dresses and hunts witli judgment. 



While they are a large mark to shoot at, it takes a 

 hard hitting gun to bring them down, plenty of powder, 

 ^ood and strong, and rare skill in shooting at the right 

 time. The sizes of shot used by the very best of goose 

 hunters vary, ranging from No. 4 to BB, and extre- 

 mists use even larger. But taking into consideration 

 the fact that most, if not all, good shooting guns are 

 choke bored, and extreme choke at that, safety to both 

 ishooter and gun doesn't warrant the using of any size 

 larger than BB's. The bore of the gun also depends 

 on the peculiar idea of its owner. While some will 

 not be satisfied witli a six bore, an immense charge of 

 powder and two oz of shot ; on the other hand, the 

 extremist the other way contends that a 20 bore, 

 ^nd 1-2 oz. of shot is the great and only road to success. 

 The majority of hunters use 10 and 12 gauge, and where 

 they are properly loaded and well handled, their owners 

 Taave no cause to fear the 6 bore cannon, or to blush as 



