RABBIT SHOOTING 
In the earlier part of the season, when the underwood is still pretty thick 
and patches of fern and bramble afford strongholds for game that can 
scarcely be invaded without the help of dogs, spaniels are extremely useful, 
for they can creep through places where a beater would be hung up, and 
push forward many a rabbit which would otherwise be certain to go back. 
In such covert, too, a stray woodcock will often lie so close as to allow 
a beater to walk past him, while his scent will betray him at once to the 
questing spaniel, who will very soon have him on the wing. 
On this account a team of close -hunting spaniels will be found invalu- 
able early in the season, especially if broken, as they should be, to hunt 
always within range of the guns, and to drop to hand when bidden. 
Later on, when the woods get more open, and the beaters can move more 
freely, the spaniels may be dispensed with, and in their place two or three 
steady retrievers may be employed, which should never leave the heels of 
their owners until bidden to “hie lost.’’ They should then be allowed to 
work entirely under the direction of their masters, and not be confused 
by directions given by other people, who are often too ready to tell a dog 
what to do instead of leaving him to his own devices, which are much more 
likely to lead him right if he is a good bred one and has been properly 
handled. 
Where the stuff is very thick, rabbits will often linger on the edge of a 
ride until the beaters are almost upon them. Three or four may be seen 
crossing at the same time, and the variety of shots afforded by rabbits in 
covert is best known to those who have tried to hit them. The secret of 
success lies in holding well forward, and swinging the gun ahead as the 
trigger is pulled. Truly a day’s covert shooting without rabbits would lose 
much of its enjoyment; for firing overhead shots at pheasants all day would 
be very monotonous work. This is so generally recognized that on the eve 
of a shooting party a great deal of trouble is often taken to stop the rabbits 
out, so that they may be found above ground when wanted. To do this 
properly will give employment for several days to the keeper and his men, 
and requires no little skill and judgment. A good deal will depend upon the 
sort of ground on which they are to be “ stopped out.’’ If there is no covert, 
or very little, and that not of the right sort, all efforts to induce rabbits 
to lie out will be in vain. Nor will it be of much avail if the grass is thick but 
grazed over by cattle, or disturbed by dogs, for the rabbits will then get no 
rest, and will be very loth to stay there. There is no better covert than 
brambles, and next to that long sedgy grass {Luzula sylvatica). If the 
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