PARTRIDGE SHOOTING 
S HOOTING partridges over dogs is very nearly an extinct sport 
in the British Isles. High farming has led to fields being in- 
creased in size, the stubbles close cropped by machine mowers, 
and the grass lands drained, so that there is little or no covert 
to encourage birds to lie to dogs. There are nevertheless a 
few favoured localities where the fields are rough, with stretches 
of marsh land here and there, where it is still possible to use a pointer or 
setter with success. 
Nothing is prettier than to watch a brace of good pointers quartering 
their ground at an easy gallop, each stanchly backing the other when a 
point is obtained. 
When walking up birds, where the party is a small one, coveys scarce, 
and an occasional large field of roots is met with, it will save a great deal 
of time to run a pointer over it, and go straight for the covey or few 
scattered birds that may have been driven in. 
At the present day, if the fields and property are too small, or the ground 
too hilly for driving, the only alternative is to walk the birds up. This, 
besides being good exercise and sport for the matured sportsman, is 
excellent training for the tyro. It teaches him to carry his gun properly, 
to keep his eyes and ears open for signals; it also teaches him more or 
less the habits of the partridge, and when and where they are likely to be 
found, and lastly, it gives him an opportunity of appreciating the beauties 
of retriever work, for which he will not have so good an opportunity if 
he only takes part in driving. 
A beat should be kept for walking or driving ; no ground will stand both. 
It is not only poor fun for the guns who are asked to take part in driving 
a beat, to know that the cream has already been taken off it in Septem- 
ber, but it is also bad for the stock. 
On some estates there may be certain stretches of ground which it is 
impossible to drive satisfactorily; these should be kept entirely for walking 
up early in the season, the more open portions being reserved for driving 
in October and November. 
Not that 1 am by any means opposed to walking up — but I maintain that 
where driving is possible, better sport is afforded those who are lucky 
enough to be asked to take part in it, for the reason that the birds are older 
and stronger on the wing, and the shots are more difficult, and at the same 
time it is better for the stock and for the labourers employed as drivers. 
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