April 23, 1910.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
655 
The Young Idea and Shooting. 
It does not invariably follow that because a 
man is fond of sport, and devoted to all kinds 
of manly games and pursuits, that every son 
he has also inherits the same predilection for 
them. It so often happens in families that there 
is one at least who cares nothing for sport. It 
is not, therefore, for this one that advice on 
sport in general—ana shooting in particular— 
is now offered, but rather for those who have 
within them the same inclinations which their 
fathers, grandfathers, and fore-elders for gen¬ 
erations had before them. 
Keen as some of us older ones may be to¬ 
day over shooting, or over every kind of sport 
life, is, as a rule, seldom up to the same form 
as when learnt while yet a youth. 
The question, therefore, is, what is the best 
age to make a start, and what are the principal 
points to inculcate into the mind of the be¬ 
ginner? 
The age at which to commence must to a 
certain extent be governed by the lad’s 
physique; some are bigger and stronger at four¬ 
teen or fifteen than others are at sixteen or 
seventeen years of age. He should, however, 
be strong enough to handle and raise a gun 
easily to his shoulder, and as soon as he can 
do that, then let him make a start, but not a 
moment before. If then there is a light, handy 
little gun available, either single or double bar¬ 
on the contrary, he frames badly, then this 
young man has got to be very carefully watched 
and taught, and in no way hurried over his 
lessons. 
When satisfied that your pupil is well 
grounded in these details, take him for a stroll, 
he carrying the gun—empty. Do not let him 
see for an instant you are really watching him 
all the time. If he is steady and has not at¬ 
tempted to point it in a dangerous direction, 
then reward him by letting him have a few 
shots, using cartridges with reduced charges. 
Just to test his aim and sight, put up a large 
sheet of white paper in some safe spot, or 
whitewash over some old wall, and, having 
made a mark in the center, make him shoot at 
AMONG THE PINES IN FLORIDA. 
From a photograph made by a member of the party. Courtesy of George A. Irwin. 
or games, and ini spite of the fact that we per¬ 
haps get our fair share of them, happy is he 
who is ablk still to look forward to the mor¬ 
row’s shoot with the enthusiasm of youth. 
It makes one then feel in the truest sense in 
sympathy with the rising generation, who are 
excited over the prospect of a day’s sport, for 
it brings back so vividly to memory their own 
school days, when anything in the shape of a 
pistol, gun, air-gun, catapult, or miniature can¬ 
non, were treasures beyond compare to the 
mind. Sport of all kinds, hunting, shooting, 
cricket, and football require to, in fact must, be 
commenced early in life if any degree of per¬ 
fection is to be arrived at, for it almost in¬ 
variably follows that those who commence 
young are those who shine later on. 
Riding, if begun, say, at thirty, is by no 
means so easily acquired as he who begins as 
soon as he can properly straddle his pony or 
donkey. Likewise shooting, commenced late in 
rel, with outside, hammers, preferably a 20-bore, 
let him begin his lesson on this. 
The youth is now started; he is, say, fifteen 
or sixteen years of age; has frequently been 
out walking with shooters previously; is strong, 
and eager to commence, and can lift his gun 
comfortably to his shoulder. Just as a pre¬ 
liminary canter, make him load the gun with 
dummy cartridges, then let him bring the gun 
up to his shoulder, take an aim at something, 
pull the trigger, lower the gun, and unload. 
Watch him closely all the time, and observe 
how he handles the weapon, and brings it up 
to his shoulder; also whether he puts the butt 
in the correct place, keeps his head in the 
proper position, and stands as he should do, 
with feet apart, the left being slightly in ad¬ 
vance. If intuitively he does all the above 
decently, in fact frames well, it will show us 
at once that he has in him the gift for shoot¬ 
ing, and he will probably be an apt pupil. If, 
it from twenty yards range. He will then give 
an idea of his capacity for aiming; show him 
where the shots strike, and get him accustomed 
to the report and recoil of the gun. A very- 
few shots will no doubt suffice, after which he 
may be taken to a field and allowed a shot or 
two at small birds which may be perched on a 
tree. After this, if he succeeds in knocking 
them over and frames well—for this framing 
is the principal thing to watch—he may be 
allowed to try his hand at some flying shots, 
not so much with a view to testing the ac¬ 
curacy of his aim, but to test his steadiness and 
safety. It is worth taking some pains over 
this, and you will find it difficult to restrain his 
eagerness to try his prowess on rabbit or game. 
Let that be the goal he has in view, and the 
reward he may finally look forward to in course 
of time to come for attending to his instruc¬ 
tions. 
An experienced sportsman can always tell 
