I like the final comment that misses were the fault of the gunner not the gun. How true that is.

There is a chapter on rail gunning skiffs in the book THE SEA BRIGHT SKIFF AND OTHER SHORE BOATS, by Peter J. Guthorn, Rutgers University, 1971; updated in 1982.

Quote:

“The rail does not fly high or fast so the range is less than twenty yards. Even so, the rail can be an elusive target. Guns range from 410 to 12 gauge, usually cylinder bored doubles. The more proficient gunners favor the smaller bore pieces. As gunning is limited to about two hours at each flood, downed birds are not immediately retrieved, but their location is marked.”

Guthorn references Thomas Eakins and his 1874 painting, THE ARTIST AND HIS FATHER HUNTING REED BIRDS (copied below), saying “Thomas is shown in the stern poling while Benjamin, his father, stands forward with gun ready.”

Here is another, and more chromatic, rail gunning painting that Guthorn references in his book, by this top-tier American artist: WILL SCHUSTER AND BLACK MAN GOING SHOOTING, Thomas Eakins; 1876.

Pringle's book is an amazing account of twenty years of snipe shooting. The numbers he took during the late 1800s in Louisiana are staggering. A few times he topped 300 birds per day.

Snipe returned this year again but not in the numbers as last year.Still good numbers.
Last Sunday we had a good shoot with a few limits in a morning.

Snipe
 

This guy came into a corn field during a winter dove hunt, what a surprise.

Wonder what he was thinking, where he was going?

Snipe
 

I wondered that also, the field is next to a River so I guess he was following the River. He was pretty high and I originally thought it was a woodcock until it hit the ground.

I’ve never to my knowledge seen a live snipe , fired at one etc . I’m curiouse how are they as table fare and what kind of flavor do they have if cooked to taste the natural flavor ?

Dollar is that a Cashmore?

Will