My first game shooting season with YPM (with a godson bonus at the end)

Hello everyone.

Having told you the story of my shooting season through the prism of my new shotgun, which is good fun and everyone likes a kit story, here's the more human angle: how it's been to introduce the next generation. Again, some context: last year I heard there was an opening on a small syndicate I'd been lucky enough to be invited to once a year with three of my old friends for the past 5 or 6 years, and asked the boss if I could join. I did have one condition: they had to accept keen but poorly trained 8 year old boys, which they did gladly. So, with childcare built into the shooting, it was a winner! Many months of building excitement followed. I had a place to shoot, I would soon have a new gun, I have steel shot cartridges, what I wasn't yet sure of would how YPM would take to it. These are long-ish trips, long days, there's a lot of waiting, it can be cold, there were many potential pitfalls along the path. Still, the eve of the first shoot came, I devised a system for getting us both out of bed and leaving without waking anyone up long before dawn, and we packed. Anticipation being probably most of the enjoyment of an adventure, I involved YPM.



For those in the know, the echoes of Marcel Pagnol's "La Gloire de Mon Père" are quite deliberate.

Mid-October: the weather is mild for the first day, I keep YPM with me to see what goes on, in particular teach him not to stand in front of guns, be quiet (fat chance), not try and look down the front end of guns, that sort of thing. Acclimatisation essentially. There's a lot of waiting in this game, there was plenty of "I'm booooored!", "When are the ducks going to come?", missing opportunities because my eye is on YPM, but broadly he stuck to it as well as I could expect. I shot a mallard early on which he ran off to fetch without any hesitation, and then took great pleasure in carrying birds around, and playing with dogs. Later in the day, he was almost physically sick, so disgusted was he by my missing of a hare. Sorry.... The duck flight was a long wait for him this early in the season, but he saw it through well enough.
Skills learned: making a beating stick and whitling anything whitlable with his little blunt penknife.
Main impression, recounted to everyone afterwards: ".... and we did all that to ONLY shoot ONE DUCK". And the hare. Of which we do not speak.
Still, he integrated with the group, was allowed back, and despite the moaning about boredom, was keen to return. Result.



Duck flighting up a tree. For a city boy, this is freedom.

More to come. That was just the prologue...

 

[Pine Marten]

Two weeks later, we return. This time, about 45 minutes from the shoot, we encounter what will turn out to be the first of several freakishly intense patches of weather that reduce road visibility to nothing. It is just solid rain. I am glad Mister Google told me there was an exit coming up because I could not see the side of the road. More to the point, I'm not sure YPM's coat is up to this. We meet everyone and step into the deluge for the first drive, ducks this time as nothing else will fly. I actually shot some so that gave YPM something to watch, and he ran off to do his picking up. Now it turned out his coat was not of up to this level of meteorological assault, but luckily, the sky cleared and I was able to dry it on bushed and trees throughout the day. So after lunch he was dry and warm again, which is important. In the afternoon, we headed back to where I had missed the hare. He had dragged a tree branch there as a seat and didn't really consider anyone else would want that "peg", that's where we were going as there was a sleight to redress (I think it's OK, no one else really wanty that "peg" much anyway). This time, the hare appeared to the right, suddenly clocked us, I missed, hit it inconclusively with the second shot, fumbled as it turned, dropped one cartridge on the ground, but one went in, it paused for a second and bang! The shame and dishonour was wiped away. YPM would not let that hare go. He carried it around everywhere. "Infatuated" with it, as the the Boss said.

 

[Pine Marten]

Last weekend of November: we hit Storm Arwen 45 minutes out. Total whiteout, can't see the road, same place as last time. But since last time, given that it seems YPM is into this, I have bought him proper clothing. This will be a real test of it. We arrive at the shoot with everything dusted in snow. This time, YPM is promoted to the beating team, at his request. He's done with standing around waiting to watch me miss or not shoot at anything and wants to be an active participant. As a result, I can actually concentrate and shoot some game! That makes him happy, but also he's no longer bored, he's integrated, he belongs. The evening flight is hard. It is bloody freezing. But for the first time, he understands it: he spots the ducks in the dark, spins around like a top watching them circle, trying to guess if they will commit to landing or not.

Skills learned: He is a participant now, not just a spectator. Able to stay quiet for at least, i don't know, 5 minutes at a stretch, he's beating actively, he can spot ducks in the dark, put up with some discomfort in pursuit of a greater goal.



Serious busting out of the London Bubble.

 

[Pine Marten]

Last day of the year: we hit impenetrable mist on the same damned stretch of road 45 minutes out. WTF, is this some kind of trashy occult novel or something? Anyway, we make it to the shoot again.

The Boss presents YPM with a made to measure beating stick for a small person with a staghorn handle. This is a MASSIVE event. It's like a knight being given a sword. As we all know, new kit means better performance so he's off beating with gusto. One of the walking guns shoots a pheasant which curls back over the beaters and from a distance, I see YPM turns back in the woods to follow it. When the gun comes back, he is able to direct the dog to it. He's actually marked and followed up a bird for the first time.

I shot my first woodcock in a decade, another chap gave me his, and we were able to enjoy a woodcock dinner together. "That was the nicest thing I have EVER eaten" says YPM. Damned right.


Arise, SIR YPM!

 

[Pine Marten]

Last day of the season, and this time is a different setup. We stay the night before locally with my three old friends, who have ALL neglected to buy cartridges. But I have also, as a birthday present, invlited my 13 year old godson (PMG?). This is a bit of a gamble. I've not really been that assiduous a godfather, but it's time to catch up and I gambled that he would accept this as a present, and he does, with great enthusiasm. I don't have to worry so much about YPM now, he's off with the beaters quite happily by now and doesn't need me much. He even stays quiet on the first drive as asked to. On the duck drive, the two boys are given a job as flaggers and they're delighted to have an important role, and acquit themselves well. The team although not me, shoot a few ducks, and PMG runs off to pick them up with delight although he's never been exposed to this before. In the afternoon, both power through a monstrous drive full off deep old bomb craters, PMG particularly driven, but then he does have quite a lot longer legs. A pheasant is shot eventually and he retrieves it before the dogs can, and attempts to wring its neck as it's not quite dead, inexpertly but with no hesitation. "It's suffering" he says, matter of factly and quite rightly.

At the last evening flight of the season, I shoot two teal. But both boys mark where all the ducks the party have shot land, and set after them like labradors when the whistle is shouted. I am surprised to find YPM showing PMG how to finish off a teal. Where did that come from? But hats off, little gents! PMG finds one of mine far down the pond in the water, under overhanging branches.

The next day, at his insistence, PMG returns to pluck and prepare ducks. He is very keen to prepare ducks for his whole family, and in particular to demonstrate to his older sister than we use everything, there is no waste, what we do is OK. And he's only been once in his life.

But he is invited back next year. As are we all.

And THAT is how you ensure the future of fieldsports.



[Mike drop].

 

[Foxyboy43]

Excellent job - well done. Fair warmed the cockles of this oul fella’s heart just reading it - the photos are an unexpected bonus.
Thank you.

 

[Heym SR20]

Brilliant- and those are memories that both of you will treasure for the rest of your lives. And wonderful that clearly the rest of syndicate have taken them on under their wings.

This will give those boys huge amounts of confidence which will stand them in very good stead.

 

[bfltd0]

Those boys are the living embodiment of the future of our sport.

Well done, sir!

 

[catzrob]

Great read and super photos!

 

[Cootmeurer]

Well done. One of my greatest joys is getting youth out (especially my own, when they were young).

It takes a certain level of maturity on the part of the parent/mentor to be willing to keep it interesting and fun, rather than success at all costs. When older they can accompany you on the death March through the Dreich.

 

[Border]

Brilliant account and photos. Very happy for you that your son has taken an interest in a sport that you enjoy. Many memories to cherish in years to come.

 

[Dhindes]

Terrific - remined me of my childhood

 

[Pine Marten]

Brilliant- and those are memories that both of you will treasure for the rest of your lives. And wonderful that clearly the rest of syndicate have taken them on under their wings.

This will give those boys huge amounts of confidence which will stand them in very good stead.

Certainly this would all have been impossible without the rest of the syndicate welcoming them with open arms, investing time and effort into showing them the ropes, which requires a fair amount of patience with YPM, especially as he explains very loudly and repeatedly why he's not being quiet. It does indeed give them confidence, autonomy, something that's theirs. PMG has lots of brothers and sisters who are all lovely but it does mean there's less space for individual pursuits day to day. But I won that gamble: he took to it like a duck to water and was really engaged from the first minute. His parents are delighted with the enthusiasm with which he came home, and I believe his grandfather used to shoot so he's going to be happy too. Bear in mind these are children who live in the big smoke and have no other contact with fieldsports. Neither would they realistically encounter them without prompting. If my godson gets his whole family to eat and more importantly like the spicy duck fajitas I've supplied the recipe for, then that's a whole family brought onside for the future!

I've been careful to stress all throughout that we're shooting animals for food. We don't shoot more than we're going to eat (couldn't if I wanted to anyway!), and that the moment it's dead, it's food and to be treated as such. OK, the hare was a bit weird as it had an hour of being a sort of trophy/fluffy toy. YPM was insistent on having his best friend and her sister round to eat "his" hare and they loved it. That's another family onside!

Finally, my not-quite 3 year old daughter stepped straight out of watching Donald Duck, into the garden, to swinging the teal around on the string they were hanging from shouting "QUACK QUACK QUACK!". So there's hope their too for the future!

 

[Pine Marten]

It takes a certain level of maturity on the part of the parent/mentor to be willing to keep it interesting and fun, rather than success at all costs. When older they can accompany you on the death March through the Dreich.

Let's just say that I operate with very little expectation of success...

 

[Heym SR20]

Certainly this would all have been impossible without the rest of the syndicate welcoming them with open arms, investing time and effort into showing them the ropes, which requires a fair amount of patience with YPM, especially as he explains very loudly and repeatedly why he's not being quiet. It does indeed give them confidence, autonomy, something that's theirs. PMG has lots of brothers and sisters who are all lovely but it does mean there's less space for individual pursuits day to day. But I won that gamble: he took to it like a duck to water and was really engaged from the first minute. His parents are delighted with the enthusiasm with which he came home, and I believe his grandfather used to shoot so he's going to be happy too. Bear in mind these are children who live in the big smoke and have no other contact with fieldsports. Neither would they realistically encounter them without prompting. If my godson gets his whole family to eat and more importantly like the spicy duck fajitas I've supplied the recipe for, then that's a whole family brought onside for the future!

I've been careful to stress all throughout that we're shooting animals for food. We don't shoot more than we're going to eat (couldn't if I wanted to anyway!), and that the moment it's dead, it's food and to be treated as such. OK, the hare was a bit weird as it had an hour of being a sort of trophy/fluffy toy. YPM was insistent on having his best friend and her sister round to eat "his" hare and they loved it. That's another family onside!

Finally, my not-quite 3 year old daughter stepped straight out of watching Donald Duck, into the garden, to swinging the teal around on the string they were hanging from shouting "QUACK QUACK QUACK!". So there's hope their too for the future!

It reminds me of a young Miss Heym, who aged five started at a local primary school. Her teacher is married to a Hearts footballer, is stunning, but tended to like leopard skin print - you get the picture. Miss Heym offers her some "African Chocolate" that she had taken in for her snack for break. Teacher tries it, likes it, but comments its not very chocolatey. So Miss Heym then proceeds to in detail tell her exactly how to make it - "first Daddy and I go into the woods and shoot a deer, then we chop it up on the Kitchen table, then we cover it in spices and then we let it dry".

Two ways of dealing with children. Either they become part of the family and fit in with what the family does and learn how to interact with people of all ages right from day one. Or the family completely revolves around the children and your life becomes endlessly involved in so called "Kids" activities.

I first went duckshooting on Lake Chilwa in Malawi when I was ten days old. Mum was still recovering, Pa and the dogs were going duck shooting, so I was put in the landrover in the moses basket with a bottle of milk sitting in the beer crate. There is a family photo of me in my moses basket, with ducks etc in the back of te landrover.

My earliest memories are of tramping through the bush after Pa shooting Guinae Fowl in Rhodesia, and then falling asleep on the bench seat of the Renault 4 on the way home, and of a National Parks Ranger who was staying with us because he was having to cull elephants on the are Pa was putting in an irrigation scheme, letting me hep him clean his rifle and him promising to take me hunting when I was a bit bigger - aged 3 I was a bit little to go elephant hunting. I did get intouch with his grandson who posts on another forum. He recunted this story to his grandfather, who remembered his promise!

 

[Pine Marten]

Two ways of dealing with children. Either they become part of the family and fit in with what the family does and learn how to interact with people of all ages right from day one. Or the family completely revolves around the children and your life becomes endlessly involved in so called "Kids" activities.

Unfortunately my everyday family life doesn't involve very much elephant culling, but it does contain some duck hunting, for which I am grateful, and which is enhanced by sharing it with others, big or little. The rest does involve a fair amount of children's activities, school runs, etc. But it's good an indeed increasingly essential to our sanity to also have these stepping stones of freedom. I'll see whether I can bring them on work days on the shoot over the off-season. Suspect the 13 year old may be rather more help than the 8 year old, but we shall see.

So were you ever able to take up that promise? Needs a big freezer though...

 

[unicorn71]

What a fantastic write up , as the “ boss” and gamekeeper for the syndicate I can tell you that YPM is an absolute star who makes me laugh every shoot and has enthusiasm that is positively infectious ,he is a credit to his parents and absolutely fearless even when I subject him to beating in some of the less pleasant drives .
There are too many funny lines from YPM to quote but my favourite is “YPM why are you hitting that tree so hard with your stick ? YPM “ revenge “

 

[long_range_rob]

Days like those are the best of their childhood, both for them and for you. Forget the first steps, wait till he bags his first pheasant/pigeon/partridge or deer.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Thanks for taking the time & effort to post this thread. It’s truly sad there are so few similar posts to be found on TSD and indeed any other UK hunting/shooting website.

Critics might venture you are being optimistic in the extreme to believe “Young PM” will be spared the arrows of disapproval that may fall upon him when of a certain age, but if we all succumbed to such thinking and intimidation …………….

I say crack-on and b****y well done to you and your shooting host/s.

K

 

[Pine Marten]

Thanks for taking the time & effort to post this thread. It’s truly sad there are so few similar posts to be found on TSD and indeed any other UK hunting/shooting website.

Critics might venture you are being optimistic in the extreme to believe “Young PM” will be spared the arrows of disapproval that may fall upon him when of a certain age, but if we all succumbed to such thinking and intimidation …………….

I say crack-on and b****y well done to you and your shooting host/s.

K

Thanks!

I don't think staying in the shadows does us any favours. It just means you're not shaping the conversation, for better or worse. I don't think there are any shadows anymore. And if people don't know what goes on, they fill that gap with made up stuff, prejudice, whatever they can find, not just in shooting but for anything. I don't expect he or my godson will be spared arrows of disapproval. I mean for a start, no-one escapes the opprobrium of teenage girls at some point! But I have thought about what people at school may think when he talks about this, and my conclusion is that as long as he reports nothing I wouldn't be happy to come and talk to his class about, I don't care. So it's important to make sure that their experience of fieldsports is exemplary, and in this case, it is: small-scale, diverse participants from all walks of life, everyone uses non-toxic shot, everyone works on improving the habitat, everything is eaten by the participants, people show restraint so for instance, I've chosen not to shoot rabbits as numbers are low, but there are plenty of hares. People who don't want to eat hares leave them alone. There's nothing there I'm not happy to show out in the open, and they can hold their head up high and talk knowledgeably. But, as my American brother-in-law says, "Haters gonna hate".

There are other things I do in YPM's upbringing in a similar vein, to equip him to think and deal with the world and others, not hide it. And the two boys feeding game to the friends and family spreads the word.