Decoying, though requiring quite an extensive outfit, under proper conditions, will yield fine results. The blind is of first consideration, much depending on its location. Before building it you should try to determine where the birds are flying the day in question, though the following general locations may be of help in the selection: a neck of land separating two streams or arms of a river; a sedge island; or a flooded meadow. In choosing the site try to find a spot where natural conditions give as much cover as possible, as behind weeds or tall grass, and try not to alter the appearance in the construction. If you intend to shoot on a meadow, place the blind at a convenient distance from some spot where you notice the birds feed. If on a beach, try and place it so as to get a raking shot. In the meadow-blind, if you have been able to find a convenient clump of weeds, cut down the extra ones so as you will have a thin circle around you, or as near so as possible, and line the inside with hay or anything procurable, filling up the thin places in the barrier of live weeds with those you cut down. If no clump can be found, look over the meadow until you find some stiff-stemmed weeds, and cut them quite near the roots. Carry these to the selected spot, and construct the blind by sticking the ends in the ground, and finish as before. The beach-blind may be constructed like this, or a hiding-place can be made in the sedge-grass.
DIAGRAMS OF SHELLS, DECOYS, AND STEERING-GEAR.
The decoys are an essential part of the outfit. They can be made at home, and should be at least twice life size. Their construction may be understood from the sketch. In painting them, try to lay the colors in the same relations as in the live bird.
Suppose we have constructed our blind near a beach, and set our decoys, some twelve or fifteen, fairly bunched. A flock is seen approaching. They see our decoys, and head in, apparently just skimming the water. Let them land, if they will; if not, fire as they wheel off. They will most likely land, and if clear of the decoys use the right barrel, reserving the left (usually choked) for when they fly off. You have most likely bagged some birds, but do not attempt to recover them now, for a flock will often return if any birds are lost. If there are any dead birds on the water, you had better keep an eye on them, as the crabs are fond of dead snipe.
A few words here about the gun. The dangers of mishandling have been gone over so often that it is unnecessary to repeat them. A boy is perfectly safe with a gun if he will bear in mind the old and perhaps rather ambiguous saying, "A gun is always loaded." A gun should not be allowed to stand for anytime with the remains of previous discharges in the barrels, as the acid contained in the powder will pit them. It is best to follow the rule of swabbing it clean after a day's sport; first, perhaps, if very dirty, with the wire burr, and polishing with soft rags. Sometimes the barrels become so much coated that they cannot be cleansed by these means, and it will be necessary to wash them out with water. If this is the case, be sure to remove every trace of moisture afterwards. Always keep every part of the gun well coated with oil, and never forget to oil the barrels after swabbing them clean, bearing in mind also that the heat of the discharge will dry the oil off the outside.
A great deal might be said about shells, but it is not essential here. Machine-loaded shells with suitable charges for snipe can be bought for about $1.40 a hundred, and will answer all purposes very well. There is room for discussion as to the proper charge. I should say 2¾ or 3 drams of powder and 1 ounce of either No. 8 or No. 9 shot is a good load for a 12-bore gun. The smaller shot is best for flock shooting. In the sketch is represented a section of a shell showing the position and kind of wads, and there is also shown a light home-loaded shell to kill crippled birds. Many sportsmen load their own shells, but this takes much time and trouble, and the saving is not as great as would be supposed, unless expensive powders are used. The boy learning to shoot should by all means buy his ammunition, at least for such a time, until he will know exactly what he is doing when loading his own shells.