GROUSE-SHOOTING ON THE PRAIRIES. 8038 
bred, swift pointers of the new improved stamp, are the 
best dogs for the sportsman’s use. 
The best way of hunting these birds, is to begin on the 
stubbles and cornfield edges in the morning, while the 
coveys are on the feed, and to drive them out and mark 
them on the open prairie, where they will scatter widely, 
often allowing themselves to be pointed singly, and rarely 
rising above two or three together. They flush strongly 
on a sharp pinion, and get under way in an instant, but 
they fly as straight as a bee-line, whether crossing or going 
away from the gun. The majority of the shots at birds 
in September are within thirty yards, and it is rarely that 
.one is required to try a shot at above forty. At either of 
these distances No. 5 will stop nineteen shots out of twenty 
out of a really good close-shooting gun, if it be held 
straight. If not, the fault of the shooter, and not the 
wildness of the game, is blamable. 
In October, the grouse becomes wilder, yet there are 
still many calm, warm days, with a light and pleasant breeze, 
when the birds will still lie and afford sport; though at 
this time of the season cartridges in both barrels are 
decidedly commendable, and even these wil! sometimes 
fail to stop an old cock grouse, when he gets under way 
at fifty yards, and goes away before the wind with a crow 
of defiance, as who should say, “ Catch me, if you can.” 
Many persons use ten-pound guns of 9 or 10 gauge for 
grouse-shooting ; but, unless they are men of great size, 
strength and endurance, I by no means advise the adop- 
tion of so formidable a weapon. An ordinary sized piece 
of 14 gauge, 80 to 31 inch barrels, and 74 to 8 Ibs. weight, 
