THE GUN AT HOME AND ABROAD 
of aim or allowance. In wildfowling that is not so. Every miss, or even 
partial failure, is a catastrophe. 
At night, given favouring conditions and a straight issue, the chances 
of success by direct approach upon mallard, wigeon and other nocturnal 
ducks are distinctively — say twenty-fold — less precarious, though that is 
not saying much. On the other hand, the fowler has then the superadded 
difficulty of darkness to contend with. No slight handicap is that, since 
human sight at its best, is not crepuscular; while that of wildfowl is most 
distinctly so. 
The importance of exactly “ timing the shot,” which, as above stated, 
is a first essential in successful gunning, is well illustrated by the difference 
in treatment as between ducks and geese. The latter, being heavier fowl, 
rise horizontally from the water; hence it is usually advisable to await 
their taking wing before dispatching the charge. Even in this case, how- 
ever, the least undue delay — be it but fractions of a second — ^will materi- 
ally reduce the result. A few geese still on the sea, or in the lower ranks, 
will be hit — the main body above escapes. With ducks the case is much 
more difficult ; since these spring at a single impulse clear of the 
trajectory of a set punt-gun. The shot should be taken as soon as the 
ducks (if within range) indicate, by craning their necks, or otherwise, 
that they are on the point of rising. In that event, the charge, if smartly 
despatched, will very probably sweep them at the most favourable con- 
juncture — namely, just as their wings are spread, and while in the act of 
clearing the water. The most successful shots are invariably made at 
that critical moment— aided, not infrequently, by a sheer slice of luck. 
The risk of being an instant too late is serious, and the safest shot, though 
not the most productive, is to take them sitting. 
I now come to the second method above indicated, namely : 
(2) Flight -shooting, that is, awaiting either the arrival of the fowl at 
their feeding-grounds ; or intercepting their passage at some salient 
point on their accustomed route between these and their normal resting 
places. To ascertain for oneself precisely those feeding-grounds, or the 
points at which the course of fowl may be commanded midway — (that is, 
to ascertain spots or points unknown or unobserved by rival fowlers) 
— involves much patience, time, and local observation, extending pro- 
bably over miles of coast and coastal features. That patience, however, 
may result in reward, the memory of which will be cherished for life. 
Annexed are half a dozen extracts taken almost verbatim from old wild- 
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