GROUSE SHOOTING 
remembering that for some cause the branches nearly always lean to 
the East, and so also do rushes — perhaps attracted by the first rays of 
the morning sun. The north can usually be discovered by examining a 
big upstanding rock, when the north side will be the one more thickly 
covered with lichen than any other, whilst the south side will be almost 
bare. In this way the points of the compass may be sufficiently determined 
to make good an escape from the clouds. 
On misty mornings, and especially on sunny mornings after a hoar 
frost, with no wind blowing, grouse are partial to sitting on walls, and 
may then be stalked by creeping very close to the wall on the side to which 
the tail is directed. Very often the sentinel bird thus takes up his post, 
and it by no means follows that if it flies off the others will take alarm 
at once, for they may not have noticed its departure if they are huddled 
up half asleep, or are busy picking bents, or other trifles. Old cocks 
can often be circumvented in this way, and may be seen from afar 
through good stalking -glasses. When stalking grouse in broken ground 
care must be taken not to creep straight down wind upon them, for 
though they have not such keen scent as wild ducks, they can detect 
human scent a good long way off, if the stalker carelessly gives them the 
wind. 
“ Becking,” and also “ Carting to grouse,” are other ways of obtaining 
a few shots when birds are otherwise unapproachable, and particularly 
when old cocks have to be killed. The former is most successful at day- 
break, almost before it is possible to distinguish forms, for grouse begin 
to move very early. When an old cock is heard to “ brag,” issuing the 
well-known challenge, a skilful caller will bring him flying up at once, 
eager to drive off his supposed rival. In the daytime a good imitation 
of the hen grouse clucking to her brood is often more successful than 
the challenge of the cock. Carting can only be carried out on fairly level 
moors, though many a shot can be obtained by merely walking alongside 
a pony used to the moor, and who will stand quiet at the discharge of 
the gun. These ways are only for the dweller on the moors, when a 
few birds are required, after the grouse -driving parties are over for the 
season. 
Grouse -driving has so often been described that only a few hints, rather 
by way of memoranda, will here be given ; 
(1) Let the first drive be down -wind if possible, for grouse will return 
home against a gale, but when first flushed against the wind nearly always 
63 
