46 



RECREA TION. 



HOW TO LEARN. 



A. C. H. 



In answer to D. T. R., who asks, in March 

 Recreation, how to learn to shoot on the 

 wing, I would advise him to get a copy of 

 " The Dead Shot," by " Marksman," pub- 

 lished in 1864 by W. A. Townserid of New 

 York. I have a copy of this work, and 

 found it invaluable when learning to use 

 the gun. It is just the thing for beginners 

 and can be studied with great profit, by old 

 shooters. There is always something to 

 learn and to pick up; and this book treats 

 the whole question in a very simple manner. 



I would advise D. T. R., if he has an 

 ordinary, every day length of neck, to use 

 a gun that has about a 2 inch drop to the 

 stock and a length, from butt to trigger, 

 of about 14^2 inches, or what may suit the 

 length of his arm. The barrels should be 

 28 inches in length. 



I advocate the straight stock, as there is 

 no fear of a beginner shooting too high, or 

 too far in front. The trouble is they shoot 

 too low, and straight at the object, when 

 they first start in. More birds are missed 

 by shooting under, than over. One forgets 

 that gravitation acts on the shot, in its 

 passage; and when the object is aimed at 

 point blank, the shot will strike below it. 



All birds, when flushed, are rising, except 

 when flushed on top of a hill; and the 

 shooter will not kill his bird, if when in the 

 act of pressing (not pulling) the trigger, 

 he can see the bird above the muzzle of his 

 gun. This is one strong point. 



Another is, don't try to sight along the 

 barrel. Keep your eyes open, and on the 

 bird, and remember the hand must work 

 with and obey the eye. Remember how 

 you hit a chum in the back of the neck, 

 with a snow ball. You don't look at your 

 hand, but at the neck, and let go. 



Keep your gun moving, at the moment 

 of pressing the trigger. Don't stop it to 

 pull the trigger, for if you do, you will 

 miss and your shot will pass behind the 

 bird. This is the secret of many a miss at 

 a rapidly crossing bird. 



Here are 3 secrets from " Marksman." 

 If you master them — and you can with 

 practice — you will be a good shot. 



1st. At straightaway shots, keep your 

 head up. Cover the back of the bird at the 

 instant you press the trigger and let go. 



2d. If a bird is crossing to the right, lay 

 your head well over the stock, keeping the 

 visual line on a level with the head of the 

 bird, more or less in advance, according 

 to distance, and speed with which it may be 

 flying when you shoot. 



3d. If the bird is crossing to the left, keep 

 your head straight, letting the visual line 

 be on a level with the head of the bird, and 

 in front, from one to 24 inches, according 

 to distance and speed of flight. Bear in 



mind, that the most skilful and deadly 

 shots, sometimes miss fair open shots. 



In throwing your gun up, run your left 

 hand well in advance of trigger guard, 

 and keep in mind that the hand that presses 

 the trigger must obey the eye. To learn 

 this, correctly, take a common playing 

 card; blacken it over; stick it up on a 

 white fence, or board, say 25 yards away. 

 Load with 2 drms. powder and 1 oz. shot. 

 Turn your back to the card. Then in the 

 act of turning about to face the card cock 

 your gun, chuck it to your shoulder, keep- 

 ing your eyes on the card, and the instant 

 the butt touches your shoulder press the 

 trigger. When you can fill that card full 

 of shot, 9 times out of 10, I will guarantee 

 you will down your grouse or woodcock, 

 in cover, almost every shot; as you will 

 then be able to pitch your gun on the ob- 

 ject, every time, without poking about try- 

 ing to take aim. 



Never point your gun at a living object, 

 unless you intend to kill it. Keep the muz- 

 zle from constantly staring at your friend. 



HOW THE SAVAGE WORKS. 



Carritunk, Me. ' 



In December last I started on a moose 

 hunt with W. D. Sullivan and J. D. Mer- 

 rill, of Boston. We made Hackett's camps, 

 at Moxie pond, our headquarters. The first 

 day out we saw 10 deer, but owing to the 

 crust we got only 1 of them — a big buck. 

 His antlers spread 23 inches. We next 

 climbed Moxie Bald mountain, hoping to 

 find caribou there; but found only some 

 old signs. We had no good still hunting 

 until ready to return home. We brought 

 out 1 moose and 2 deer. We started 2 

 moose, a cow and 2 calves, within 1^2 miles 

 of Hackett's camps. 



I find the Savage rifle will kill a moose 

 as quick and as dead as any rifle I ever 

 used. I know of a number having been 

 killed with the Savage, and they all stopped 

 within a few yards of where they stood 

 when shot. Some of these I have killed 

 myself, and none of them ran more than 

 100 yards. I have kept a record of game 

 killed with this rifle, which I give below: 



1st. Deer shot through point of shoul- 

 der; bullet passed through the heart and 

 was found near kidneys; distance, 60 yards; 

 ran 25 yards. 

 2d. Deer shot in neck; bullet lodged un- 

 der skin, on top of neck; 

 distance 100 yards; was 

 dead when I got him. 



3d. Deer shot back of 

 shoulder, through lights; 

 bullet passed clear through 

 him; ran 50 yards; was 

 dead when I got to him; 

 distance, 50 yards. 

 4th. Deer shot through 



.303 SAVAGE BUL- 

 LET TAKEN FROM 



