SHORE-SHOOTING 75 
supposed that having a gun which fits is all that is necessary 
to become a good shot. It is invariably the case that the 
most indifferent shots are those most faddy about gun-fitting. 
A good shot will make fair practice with any gun, but, of 
course, he will shoot best with a gun that fits him. Beyond 
tendering information which can be applied according to the 
learner’s abilities, there are few things which can be committed 
to paper likely to serve of actual practical value in learning 
how to hit wildfowl. It is an art which can only be personally 
acquired, though its acquisition may be assisted. The appear- 
ance of the various species of shore-birds and wildfowl on the 
wing, their misleading flights, and the distance they may be 
from the gun, are all items of the greatest importance, and 
require accurate calculation before the shooter pulls a trigger. 
Wildfowl are extremely wary birds, and so are the larger 
kinds of shore-birds. In shooting them perhaps as much art 
lies in the manner of taking the shot as in placing the charge 
of lead in the right place at the right moment. In shooting 
from an ambuscade it is necessary to keep very still and 
perfectly out of sight of approaching birds. Judge when 
they are within range, and cautiously yet quickly steal the 
gun to the shoulder, meanwhile keeping the muzzles dead 
end on. If the first-barrel shot is successfully carried out 
without the birds having previously detected your position, 
then you can safely set it down that you have acted rightly. 
At the report the birds will no doubt ‘‘toss.” Now is your 
chance for the second barrel. If they have caught sight 
of you and ‘‘toss’? before the first shot is fired, unless you 
are smart the chances are very much against a double kill. 
Do not move your gun-barrels from side to side. If this is 
done they will glint in the light and alarm the approaching 
birds. Another bad habit of the shore-shooter is to jump 
up like a ‘‘jack-in-the-box”’ to take a shot. After such 
unskilled movements a successful shot cannot be effected. 
