Another day out with my boys

The youngest is aged 6 this season, so today has made his debut on the shoot. I was packed the night before nonetheless my alarm sounded at 0550hrs to take the dogs out and have first breakfast, slice the bread for lunch etc. School must have been hard this week as by 0700 the boys were all still fast asleep in their room together. Hard on any parent’s heart to wake them but it was worth it for them to be able to enjoy the shoot.



Second breakfast was bacon, sausages and eggs. With a choice of coffee or hot chocolate. Ready to hit the hills.



The company was great, and we enjoyed home made venison sausage rolls with sweet potato soup for lunch. Alongside good cheese, pickles and port. The morning was lovely and all the other guns were great with my mini team of beaters. My three boys thoroughly enjoyed it, tired legs on the way back.

 

[ChrisWill184]

Its great that he enjoyed it along with the other lads. I have been told that I am not allowed to take my daughter to a shoot with other guns until she is at least 5 so another year to wait. Doesn't mean I cant take her along just with me though! Will be good to see how she reacts to everything, and not just the shooting. I still remember crossing a cattle bridge like in your photo, for the first time when I was little. The circular bars were rollers though which made it even harder to get across! I used to fall asleep after every shoot day about 10 mins into the drive home as well. Loved those days and really hope my daughter shares the same excitement from a day as I did.

 

[WalkedUp]

You have got a lot to look forward to with your daughter next season. My top tip is to buy electronic ear defenders for her, it makes it much more enjoyable and safe when they can hear what is going on well.

 

[enfieldspares]

Thank you for sharing that and great to see two guns using side by sides.

 

[WalkedUp]

Thank you for sharing that and great to see two guns using side by sides.

It is probably 50:50 between over and under against side by side. The season starts as semi driven with walked up elements, becoming more walked up as it progresses. The lighter the gun the better!

 

[mudman]

Young lads generally love it, and many girls too. My boy started coming along at lunch when pre school, his mum would bring him for an hour and generally watch the first drive. Didn’t take long for him to be in the beating line, as soon as he was strong enough I suppose, first just a couple of drives then full days. A big day was when I was a guest on a friends shoot and he dissappeared with beaters all day, I only saw him at lunch time, one of the young women in the line took him under her wing and he loved the independence of it all. Now his school friends are asking to come along beating too. It really is one of the best introductions to shooting sports that a youngster can get. He is 10 next month and is just showing an interest in shooting but that is not something I am pushing, although I did buy him a BB repeater rifle last month for some back garden plinking with me.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Lovely thread and great pics too - I love to see youngsters starting off on our beloved sport.
Fair made my morning - thank you for posting…

 

[WalkedUp]

My eldest celebrated today’s exam success by choosing to cook for us rather than go out for a meal. Pheasants from the weekend that he breasted, wrapped in streaky bacon, made with love and was actually very good. A few feathers between the bacon and breast, but I could happily push them to the side