Its just not great is it to be shooting at that ratio - so many will just be getting pricked
THE PRETEND KEEPER
- Thread starter stavross
- Start date
Its just not great is it to be shooting at that ratio - so many will just be getting pricked
stavross
Well-Known Member
Not enough hours in the day for me now, up at 6 yesterday, full days graft, then off up to feed, this isn’t an half hour job anymore as the birds are right throughout shoot, they are getting through a ridiculous amount of feed but coming along nicely, after feeding I hung around on fox patrol, nothing seen but I did see a lovely fallow prickett, almost sand in colour, which you don’t see very often up there, what we have are mainly very dark, some almost black 
stavross
Well-Known Member
That’s the joy of a high end commercial shoot for ya, there’s a few more in North Yorkshire that are the same, people seem to want to shoot at sky high birds and if they don’t fall out the sky they think everything is fine, they are not bothered because what they want is what they pay for and this is part of my dislike of commercial shoots
Rhodesianjess
Well-Known Member
Jmnnbb.
Often wished that the same guests would come picking up the next day around the roosting sites! I'd often pick another 20/25 birds, one pellet in the lungs, gone up to roost and fell off branch dead.
Or come catching up laying stock. Toes shot off,an eye missing,beaks pierced,wing tips broken and healed.
The boss could drop them but it's a skill that a lot of guns don't acquire. That's why you pay through the nose for high birds on commercial days, you're paying for pricked birds not dead ones.
I keepered a high bird shoot in Rutland,late 1990's to early 2008. Average CTK ratio about 10/1. Everyone who was guest,as that was a private shoot,raved over the height of the birds. Most common comments along the lines of " either killed clean or missed".
Often wished that the same guests would come picking up the next day around the roosting sites! I'd often pick another 20/25 birds, one pellet in the lungs, gone up to roost and fell off branch dead.
Or come catching up laying stock. Toes shot off,an eye missing,beaks pierced,wing tips broken and healed.
The boss could drop them but it's a skill that a lot of guns don't acquire. That's why you pay through the nose for high birds on commercial days, you're paying for pricked birds not dead ones.
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Putting some yellow rattle down this morning in some of our sunny glades, try make some space for wildflowers next year. Seeds bought from a great local place to me British Wildflowers | Seeds. Bulbs & Plants | Naturescape British Wildflowers | Seeds. Bulbs & Plants | Naturescape thoroughly recommend them 
Exactly this
But they pay there money and don't care
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
And that's what will give the antis the fuel to try get it all banned.
SD - you have your opinion mate - but honestly you are miles and miles off
BASC are interested in shoots our size - we have just qualified for one of their grants for our conservation work - they have come and engaged with us no end - look at them at the shows or scout or school days out - no other organisation that i am aware of is giving as much
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I'm not arguing with you, your a nice chap.
Been great with mine came out and visited offered to do a clay day for our young shots beaters. I got about 30 hats etc to give out first shoot day donated by basc.
I'm not arguing with you, your a nice chap.
Thanks mate - you too
All i would say to people reading is if they engage with BASC - they sure are willing to help - I have had my issues with them - i asked them to print a piece i wrote on my mentor after his death - the editor or sub editor whatever he was wouldnt as he said someone important may die that week - you can imagine i asked him to put the magazine in a dark hole. I think some of the things they do come across elitist - like some of the recipes they have - i dont always agree with some of their ideas and they do seem to have levels of red tape - BUT by far and away i believe most of them really do try - really love our way of life and will try and help and protect it
Day 2 has come and gone and again only doing a few drives we were in the pub for 3 pm as the day fell on our keepers 84 th birthday !
The birds flew very flew well given strong sun - and not a breath of wind
We ended with a bag of 117 - all taken home by guns / beaters and had 406 shots
This week we had over 60 people attend so it took some coordinating so the first pint never touched the sides !
The birds flew very flew well given strong sun - and not a breath of wind
We ended with a bag of 117 - all taken home by guns / beaters and had 406 shots
This week we had over 60 people attend so it took some coordinating so the first pint never touched the sides !
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Sounds like another great day. Well done the keeper at 84 and still active ,hope Im still getting out at that age
stavross
Well-Known Member
Your not that far off are youSounds like another great day. Well done the keeper at 84 and still active ,hope Im still getting out at that age
stavross
Well-Known Member
So I’ve just got back from the shoot, I wasn’t going to go because my apprentice went yesterday and said everything was fine but a little niggle in my head said go, I’m glad I did. A lot of the feeders were about empty and this is no time of year to let feeders run dry, I could hear them rattling the empty springs, so a bit more guidance is required here, I can’t be too hard on him because he’s really helped me out and I’ve almost enjoyed doing it and passing on the little I know too him 
Nickb
Well-Known Member
A few years to go yet m8Your not that far off are you
Sounds like another great day. Well done the keeper at 84 and still active ,hope Im still getting out at that age
I keep him at it pal - tbh hes just starting to slow down a bit - but i take him out a day or two a week and he comes to the shoot days and the pub !
stavross
Well-Known Member
Feeding today and they are getting through a ridiculous amount of feed, I’m out for tea tonight with the shoot so I’ll be pressing them to get their hands in their pockets because I want some more maize and whatever else I can get my hands on, over the next week I need to sort some feed/hold areas out, bit of straw down to keep them busy
When I got there this morning I bumped into next doors shoot, they were having their first day, disgraceful, their birds are 18 weeks old and nothing I’ve seen is ready
When I got there this morning I bumped into next doors shoot, they were having their first day, disgraceful, their birds are 18 weeks old and nothing I’ve seen is ready
stavross
Well-Known Member
Lovely pre shoot dinner tonight, nice to catch up with them all, even though by December they will be testing my patience the shoot secretary came up to me as he was leaving and said he had settled mine and Mrs stav’s bill and thanked me for the work I’ve put in, I thought that was a really nice gesture, I’ll definitely make sure a few good birds go over him, I feel a bit guilty ordering the most expensive thing on the menu now 
the shoot secretary came up to me as he was leaving and said he had settled mine and Mrs stav’s bill and thanked me for the work I’ve put in, I thought that was a really nice gesture, I’ll definitely make sure a few good birds go over him, I feel a bit guilty ordering the most expensive thing on the menu now Similar threads
