Pheasant shooting

[kes]

Pheasant shoots scaled back across UK after bird flu import bans

Is it too much for our representative organisations to 'lobby' for our point of view ?
Bird production should be removed from the 'factory farming' stigma and rather more done in this country - as it used to be on the bigger shoots - not too much difficulty in forming a British co-operative to produce birds here on a scale necessary and with greater attention to environmental issues ?
Maybe a 'welcome' post ?

 

[Tim.243]

 

[Pedro]

I think what Tim.243 is trying to communicate is that this subject has been covered quite comprehensively recently.

 

[Covert]

Unfortunately the horse has well and truly bolted on this one.
Turning back the clock is not realistically a feasible option in my opinion
The amount of game birds released in the U.K. due mostly in part to commercial shooting is considerably more than anytime in the past.
The inevitable consequences of excessive production/ release was always going to lead to the situation we now find ourselves in.
Don’t personally know what the ideal solution is to the mess, but will need to be a voluntary reduction in numbers of birds released.
Any form of legislation from above will be the thin end of the wedge.
Perfect opportunity for anybody with anti shooting perspective to use as a weapon. The public , given the covid crisis will not be comfortable with the movement of birds across international borders capable of spreading a pandemic.
Spread of disease by migratory wildfowl is still a big factor but doesn’t suit the anti’s agenda.
Ultimately the cost increase this year in buying poults/ shooting is not what we really should be worried about.

 

[enfieldspares]

The amount of game birds released in the U.K. due mostly in part to commercial shooting is considerably more than anytime in the past.

And, even if that were not the case those birds that were released, back in the day, would have been produced here. Either as true wild birds, or under the Euston system, or as reared and released poults. But as long as there seem to be people happy to pay £40 + VAT per bid shot then large scale "big bag" commercial shooting will continue. Business is business. And for good or bad that's what it has become the shooting of feathered clay pigeons.

 

[Tim.243]

I think what Tim.243 is trying to communicate is that this subject has been covered quite comprehensively recently.

Also my glasses must need a clean as this image popped up when I opened the thread

 

[Rhodesianjess]

The reason usually quoted for importing eggs/day olds is cost. To fully equip a keeper from egg production through to release as poults is expensive,no arguments on that. How it's costed over so many seasons is for the boss and his financial wizard adviser/accountant.
However,as with all hobbies or personal interests, some people will spend the money.
As keeper here, I operate closed flock system for egg production. Incubation, hatching and rearing is all done here on the estate. We do enough here to supply the boss's other estate with poults for the part time keeper to the run on from 6/7 weeks.
The boss is obviously happy with the money aspects or I'd be unemployed! A lot depends on you, some people spend lots, some people don't.
There's no one price fit's all, whether that's shooting, stalking, fishing or other leisure pursuits. Think of what is spent on horse's,cars,boats etc. People spend what they're comfortable with.

 

[Covert]

If you can find driven shooting this coming season for as little as £40 per bird I would be pleasantly surprised.
Very easy to be negative about the price of game shooting but it is market lead.
Never before has demand by so many people wanting to shoot been so great.
The gun trade, clothing manufacturers, cartridge suppliers, sporting press , field sports agencies etc have all contributed and benefited from its phenomenal growth.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

If you can find driven shooting this coming season for as little as £40 per bird I would be pleasantly surprised.
Very easy to be negative about the price of game shooting but it is market lead.
Never before has demand by so many people wanting to shoot been so great.
The gun trade, clothing manufacturers, cartridge suppliers, sporting press , field sports agencies etc have all contributed and benefited from its phenomenal growth.

And the rest, i have heard of £70 plus VAT?!

Glad to be out of it, i loved gamekeeping but no no for all the tea in china!

 

[potshotpat]

Driven Grouse, Driven Pheasant, Driven Partridge at 25p a bird at Hesketh Bank Clay Pigeon Shooting ground, and if you don't want to take a brace home it doesn't matter because they don't take a big hole to put them in.

 

[jall55]

Stupid thing to say

 

[potshotpat]

Stupid bird to shoot.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Stupid bird to shoot.

You are 110% correct they are stupid birds, purely bred to be shot out of the air sign is the partridge, horrible really do think of it like that but that’s exactly what they were bred for hunting.

 

[jall55]

You are 110% correct they are stupid birds, purely bred to be shot out of the air sign is the partridge, horrible really do think of it like that but that’s exactly what they were bred for hunting.

And thank God they were or there would be so few managed woods or wild bird plots or little ponds or splashes or so little winter feeding or predator control.
Please just pack it all in you whinging person

 

[jall55]

And the rest, i have heard of £70 plus VAT?!

Glad to be out of it, i loved gamekeeping but no no for all the tea in china!

I wonder if anyone would want you - for all the tea in China ?

 

[jall55]

Stupid bird to shoot.

Im not sure deer are that bright or hard to shoot either really

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

I wonder if anyone would want you - for all the tea in China ?

You really do not have any idea whatsoever in what goes on in the real world!

I have seen the shooting industry in the last 20years practically implode, you are living in a dreamworld that does not exist, you are clinging on to this dream and to be fair good luck to you because luck is what you bloody well need and a lot of it!

I’ve been a gamekeeper I’ve reared thw pheasants I’ve reared the partridges and I’ve also shot them and to me nowadays I see it as more or less wholesale murder!

I’ve also been present shot and loaded on these big days 400+ Birds shot, Back then it was a part of a job now like I said I see as wholesale murder

 

[TH4]

So it was all ok and ethical when you were being paid for it but now you are not it is murder.

 

[jall55]

You really do not have any idea whatsoever in what goes on in the real world!

I have seen the shooting industry in the last 20years practically implode, you are living in a dreamworld that does not exist, you are clinging on to this dream and to be fair good luck to you because luck is what you bloody well need and a lot of it!

I’ve been a gamekeeper I’ve reared thw pheasants I’ve reared the partridges and I’ve also shot them and to me nowadays I see it as more or less wholesale murder!

I’ve also been present shot and loaded on these big days 400+ Birds shot, Back then it was a part of a job now like I said I see as wholesale murder

It exists every day for me !
You make your own luck or as the saying going The more i practice the luckier i get.

Try becoming more positive in life as i have said before - you may even enjoy it

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

So it was all ok and ethical when you were being paid for it but now you are not it is murder.

Young and keen back then