292 UPLAND SHOOTIJTG. 



exhibited any degree of skill, while he has cause for 

 humiliation and chagrin should he make many misses. 

 Unless the fields are open and unfenced, hunting prairie 

 chickens is attended A^ith much fatigue, for it is necessary 

 to tramp for hours, following the dogs, and at a time when 

 the sun is high in the heavens and beating strongly down; 

 under such circumstances, one must remember that the 

 weight of the gun adds to or detracts from the pleasure of 

 the hunt. In those early summer days when the law 

 has thrown aside its protecting shield, and the hunter is 

 filled with ambition to go afield, he should be fitted in his 

 accoutrements, clothing and gun, so as to derive the 

 greatest enjoyment from his outing. The gun should be 

 light of weight, not weighing more than eight pounds, 

 twelve-bore, the first barrel a modified choke, the second 

 full choke. 



It isn" t really necessary to have a gun shoot so close 

 as fuU choke, but the birds rapidly grow stronger, rise 

 farther from the shooter, and it requires a hard-hitting 

 gun to bring them to bag. Early in the season, No. 8 

 shot is the best size; as the months advance, 7's, then 6's, 

 this latter size, in late fall, being none too large. There is 

 no especial skill required to shoot the birds in early 

 season. They are apt to frustrate the beginner, for they 

 fly up with a loud whir, that will rattle the tyro, and 

 cause him to fire hastily, and perhaps score a miss. They 

 do not fly fast at this time, but when they spring up each 

 bird starts out for itself, and if one is fortunate enongh 

 to bag two or more with one barrel it is the result of acci- 

 dent. The proper way is to select your bird, no matter 

 how many get up; pay no attention to the majority until 

 you have first fired at the one selected. Don't be in a 

 hurry, and fire AA'ith hasty or ill-judged aim, but bring 

 your gun up coolly; hold just over the bird's body if it is 

 going straight away. Don" t dwell on your aim, but when 



