Duck-shooting 9 



of the box, and when the birds are sighted there 

 should be no motion ; the slightest movement often 

 attracts attention and startles, while if a gunner 

 remains perfectly still often no notice is paid to 

 him, even though exposed. In shooting from 

 blinds, if possible birds should be watched through 

 the blind, and not over the top. It is a great ad- 

 vantage to keep the game in sight. In this way 

 a gunner is more likely to know exactly the time 

 to shoot. The habit of looking up and then 

 drawing back is almost sure to attract the atten- 

 tion of a decoying bird and shy it off. As to 

 when to shoot over decoys, it is often possible to 

 judge more or less of a bird by the way in which 

 it hails; flying low down, the chances of its de- 

 coying are much better than if the flight is high. 

 On general principles, the man who lets a bird ' 

 come in as close as it will, can choose his time 

 and distance. No kinds of shooting are subject 

 to more variations than duck-shooting. While 

 under favorable circumstances, over decoys, it 

 may be an easy matter to shoot well ; when wind 

 and storm are complications, the greatest skill is 

 required. Few birds fly with more speed. Few 

 thumps bring a greater satisfaction than that of a 

 falling duck folded up from some point way over- 

 head. 



As to the question of guns. Some years ago 

 the ten-bore was the popular gun for ducks, but 



