Shoot the Owl

Richard G. Kraus, Square Dances of Today: And How to Teach and Call Them, New York (NY): A. S. Barnes & Co., 1950.

p 38

All around your left hand lady, see saw your pretty little taw,

Allemande left like swinging on a gate, back to your own for a grand right eight.

Meet your partners and promenade all

First couple balance and swing, first gent out to the right of the ring,

Circle three and let out a howl, make your arch and shoot the owl.

Meet in the center and there you swing.

Both go on for a three hand ring

Circle three and let out a howl, make your arch and shoot the owl.

Meet in the center and there you swing.

Both go on for a three hand ring.

Circle three and let out a howl, make your arch and shoot the owl.

Meet in the center and there you swing.

Lady go on for a three hand ring.

Circle three and let out a howl, make your arch and shoot the owl.

Home you go and everybody swing.

Make sure that the active person (the owl to be shot!) is on the outside of the set when the arch is made. Then “shooting the owl” means sending the active person into the center where they can meet their partner for the swing.