ARMS AND EQUIPMENT 159 



the series continuing as long as the moose remains 

 in sight and on his feet — will usually be more 

 effective than double the number fired hastily 

 with the idea that out of a larger number more 

 bullets will be likely to take effect. 



Magazine rifles have led to carelessness in aiming, 

 and automatic rifles have a tendency to increase 

 this carelessness still further. Van Dyke, the 

 author of The Still Hunter^ writes: *'From the 

 day I got a repeater and learned how to keep a 

 string of empty shells whizzing over my head, my 

 shooting has become steadily worse." This is 

 not an argument against improved firearms, but 

 against carelessness. The magazine is a con- 

 venient means of carrying ammunition, and in- 

 cidentally it has become a convenient means of 

 wasting it. 



Even if a skilled marksman, the moose hunter 

 should not leave camp looking for game with less 

 than ten or a dozen cartridges. Moose are some- 

 times finished with a single shot, but not often. 

 After the first cartridge has been fired it may be a 

 stern chase, with a quick succession of running 

 shots. In such a running battle many of the 

 bullets are pretty sure to find their billets in the 

 trees, for as the moose runs the hunter's glimpses 

 of him are usually few and brief until he dis- 



