28o SHORE BIRDS 



birds at a shot, and says he has several times killed two 

 with one barrel ; but such shots are uncommon since 

 the birds pitch about some distance apart. I have 

 made such a shot but once, when I waited until two 

 birds flying toward each other crossed, and, firing 

 just at the right time, killed them both. 



On warm, sunny days, the snipe are often quite tame 

 and do not fly far. I was shooting on such a day 

 along a slough in Northern Illinois and had but fifteen 

 charges of shot. With these I bagged fourteen birds 

 — thirteen snipe and one prairie chicken, missing only 

 two shots and killing two snipe with one barrel, as 

 stated. Had I been supplied that day with plenty of 

 ammunition, I have no doubt I could have made a 

 record, since the birds presented easy marks. 



The proper gun for snipe-shooting is the 12 gauge, 

 loaded with No. 10 shot early in the season, and No. 9 

 later, or No. 8 if the birds are very wild. Some writers 

 advise the use of No. 12, or mustard seed, but since 

 there may be a strong wind blowing on the meadows, 

 when such small shot will be badly deflected and 

 the shots are often at long range, I much prefer the 

 heavier shot. 



It is well to have a few shells loaded with No. 6 or 

 7 shot for an occasional mallard or teal ; these shells 

 can be used on the snipe if the ammunition gives out. 



Dr. Lewis does not regard dogs as of much account 

 in snipe-shooting, " perhaps," he says, " because I never 

 had a particularly good one for this sport — except a re- 

 triever." He admits, however, that snipe frequently 

 lie well and suffer a dog to approach within a few feet 

 of them. 



