569 
( December, 1922 
RABBIT SHOOTING 
* GUNS AND LOADS 
; {Continued from page 548) 
^ a hard run after a barking dog. But the 
I results in the appearance of the game 
I are not always as pleasing as they might 
[ be. 
Number 4 shot, the great favorite of 
many backwoods boys, will blow a rab- 
bit into a first-class imitation of a quick- 
lunch “hamburg,” if used for rabbit 
shooting of this type. If we except the 
very occasional wild, old woods rabbit, 
which in windy weather often jumps 30 
to 40 yards from the hunter; and the 
incidental shot at a rabbit that a stray 
dog is chasing, most rabbit shooting of 
this kind is at ranges of 10 to 25 yards. 
A surprisingly high percentage of 
them occurs when the hunter is floun- 
dering around in the middle of a head- 
high briar patch, when he is dog-tired 
after a hard drill up a steep and rocky 
hill, or when he has not seen anything 
for several hours and is drifting along, 
thinking of something far removed from 
the job at hand. 
A sudden rush in the leaves, a thump- 
thump-thump as a white tail bobs away 
across the field, and the gun roars before 
the gunner can fully determine what has 
happened. The result is a rolling ball 
of fur or an added burst of speed on the 
part of the snowball. 
There may be hunters who can so 
control themselves as to let the rabbit 
run just the right distance and then 
shoot when conditions for doing so are 
ideal. But few men can think that fast 
toward the end of a hard day’s tramp. 
That’s when the hard-luck tales, the 
mangled game and the unexplainable 
misses occur. Things just happen on 
the instant, or they don’t happen, so far 
as the hunter is concerned, and, conse- 
quently, the pattern and shot size should 
be adapted to such conditions. 
A quartering shot on a rabbit in dense 
brush, and which is within fifteen yards 
of the hunter, is one of the hardest prob- 
lems to handle in all field shooting. It 
requires snap shooting ability of a high 
order, quick and accurate judgment of 
the probable course of the rabbit, if it 
has dodged out of sight, and a wide pat- 
tern. 
If you shoot a full-choke gun under 
such circumstances, you either retrieve 
a pair of ears and a few bits of hide, or 
else mow a nice six-inch path where that 
rabbit “isn’t.” After this has happened 
three or four times in one afternoon, it 
gets a bit tiresome and discouraging. 
The “Brush,” “Bush” and “Scatter 
Load” shells, especially when loaded 
with No. 7)4 chilled shot, are fine for 
use in choke-bored guns for this type of 
rabbit shooting, but they are not quite 
as effective as an improved cylinder or 
modified choke barrel and the straight 
quail load of 3 drams or 24 grains and 
lys ounces of No. 7)4 chilled shot. This 
charge and combination is, to my mind, 
the cleanest killing proposition for shoot- 
ing rabbits at close range — or, in fact, 
any range up to 35 or 40 yards. In 
the first place, you’ve got the pattern, 
and if the pattern is properly placed the 
In writing 
A Delightful Cruise 
thru Blue Tropic Seas 
Wonderful hours rambling through the 
streets of quaint cities, or admiring the 
beauties of the palm-grown countryside. 
Interesting chats with the natives — glimp- 
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16 DAY CRUISE $1^0 
ALL EXPENSES 10^ UP 
The trip is rendered doubly enjoyable by the 
luxury of fast 10,000-ton steamers, specially de- 
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Wide choice of accommodations ranging from 
comfortable staterooms at minimum rates to 
rooms with private bath. Rates include meals and 
stateroom for entire trip. 
Write for sailings and literature 
PORTO RICO LINE 
25 BROADWAY NEW YORK 
The 
Island 
of 
Enchant 
noent 
P ORTO 
"Rico 
DUCK and GOOSE SHOOTING 
Will be at its best this fall 
Licenses have been reduced. Waterfowl is on the increase 
and we will be in shape to provide the best of accommo- 
dations, including guides and all equipment. Reserva- 
tions are coming in now and should be made by those 
who want their trip free from disappointment. Full par- 
ticulars cheerfully furnished by request. 
f.EARY’3 GUN LODGE, W. H. HUNT, Mgr. 
Mamie, N. C. Currituck County 
16th ANNUAL 
Mid-Winter Handicap 
Target Tournament 
tpinrhuislf 
JiV" NORTH CAROLINA 
January 8 to 12, 1923. 
$3200.00 money and trophies. 
Weekly trapshooting tournaments start 
November 21st. Six Leggett Ideal 
Traps. Dogs: Annual Field Trial. Janu- 
ary 22-27, for money and trophies. 
Golf, tennis, horseback riding, racing 
driving, motoring, airplaning 
CAROLINA HOTEL NOW OPEN 
HOLLY INN OPEN JAN. 8 
Special Rates to shooters during Mid- 
Winter shoot; American plan only. 
For Information : 
General Office, Pinehurst. N. C. 
Lkfii 
to Advertisers mention Forest and Stream. It will identify you. 
