SNIPE SHOOTING 331 
the weird uncertainty about it that some writers have 
discovered. No doubt an easy explanation of the diffi- 
cult shooting is found in the manner in which the 
shooter handles his gun rather than in the manner of 
the snipe’s flight. 
When snipe are in great abundance, and can be 
bagged with little effort by walking them up, the 
sportsman soon tires of the sport. It is too easy then 
to be considered sport. On the other hand, when they 
are scarce, wild, and will not lie to a dog, it is too 
difficult and uncertain. The dog is eliminated then 
as a factor, and the shooting is largely a matter of 
taking chances. When the happy medium is found, 
the birds being neither too wild nor too tame, it is 
excellent sport indeed, though in Louisiana I noted 
that where there was an abundance of both snipe and 
quail the sportsman quickly tired of snipe shooting and 
gave quail the preference. 
