Year: 1859

BODY to be thrown right or left on a swivel, as il


were from the right foot. This will give SWEEP


steadied by the left hand (or ngers) from or tc


inches from the trigger-guard. This will depend


on the length of reach the shooter may possess; il


short in reach, and at inches from the guard he


feels at ease and command, don't stretch it to or


inches; handle where he feels at home, and until


the game arise, let the stock be sghtly supported


between the right arm and body, about half of the


stock discernable below, but don't press it to the


side, the slightest touch is steadying enough and it


is then free to raise to the shoulder with 9uckness


GOODNESS, and certainty. have not mentioned ho,c
| got cured of shooting in a furry, &C., in my
younger days. My friend made me take with him
sell and dog an empty gun, so that the dog found
and stood, pointed, and my old experienced friend
shot and brought them down. had two DAYS of
this sport. when implored him to give me another
trial, with ''leetle" powder and shot. He con-
sented, providing did not begin my old ''hurrv
and furry" work again. remember it we and
old cock pheasant sprung from out kind of bog,
lying across a narrow stream some six or eight
yards wide, myself being about ten yards from its
bank l remember, too, well pressing the trig-
ger, feeling the slight recoil, and bagging my first
tird; this led me on to do it again."


Inc advantage OF trap-shooting, either at pigeons
or other birds, will be found the best practice for
the Improvement of fght-shooting, especially to
young beginners. The shooter can then take his
position, or attitude, same above described-that
Is, the easy standing position. Next take his gun
as described, and practice raising it to the shoulder





gun differently will not be so much at home with
IT In Its improved STYLE but by degrees it icU come
Practising at few birds twice week, say Is yards
rise, Will immensely improve the young shot and
II he only Kills out of g. in the position adri
sed, as he becomes accustomed by practice, so
will his shooting improve.


A gentleman in Louisiana, one of your readers
anc admirers of the "Spirt,' wrote me- about three
years since, asking me how covered my bird on
the wing, whether threw up my gun, and shot in
stanter (snap shoOtng,) or whether foHo,ced the
bird L did myself the pleasure of giving him my
method, but as the same may be useful to others, |
VIII give 1T here. Whether shooting over your
dog In the field or otherwise, when your bird or
birds spring. or take fight your eye of course, is
directed to the intended for your right barrel,
your eye being kept on the bird, following its
course, at the same time your gun is brought to
the shoulder; when thrown to the shoulder, in the
direction ofthe bird your eve is still on let it point
ashort distance behind the bird, say one, two or
three yards, but level with its flight; if flying
straight side shot, follow it quickly, and immedi-
ately you cover your bird well in advance, pull; if
at % yards, and we will take pigeon for fight.
an aim at the head would give all the charge to
ITS body; if at 40 yards [fast flying side shot
at gu yards, as above, shoot one and half feet in
advance, and aim rather high, shot will drop
little at that distance, and in proportion to the
distance, swiftness of flight, ct cetera, all of which
will come regularly to the shooter with practice.
There is another important point to be considered:
when you spring covey of partridges, take for
your double shots the outside birds-never shoot !
amongst the lot l have heard of ssgood shots re-
ported of man shooting or quail, on the wing,
at one shot. If that man had made such remark !
to me, would have told him he never OUGHT to |
shoot another. The beauty of double shooting over
your dog is in taking your birds alone right and
lett, without wounding and featherng several 9th
ers, which fly off and die. | would as soon see a
pot hunter sweep off ten or dozen poor little quail
when harmless v running by a roadside, as to see
hlm shower his load amongst the thckest in flight |
\ ou may cross your pair in fight when separated
from the covev, and killing the pair so shows the
prettlest OF held-shooting You must be cool in |
waiting for their crossing, when seeing their fight
directed for such. and when separated from the CO.
vey the pair can be easily taken as one without
D. eakng legs and rumpling lot of others, which
ny on to the next field or grove and die.


mad very pretty days shooting between Christ
mas and New Years (three weeks aeo) with !
friend. We hunted field of buckwheat which had |
never been cut, some thirty acres Whether the |
owner was too lazy not to cut it don't know. |
put certainly it was very excellent crop. or had
been 1t, however, made glorious food for the pret-
ty little quail, and thousands of doves were fatten
ing daily shot II quail, very fat and large, the
finest ever saw, and 3 rabbits And a few days
after went again for the focks of dove. pot a |
dozen and a half of them. We tried them assorted |
IN pies, with slice of picked pork, and never |
tasted anything more delicious


Some other time will give you nv views on |
other matters connected with the gun Meanwhile |
Will conclude with best wishes to your readers for
many years enjoyment in which / delight viz.
with "my Dog and Cum Yours very truly,