Just trying to get some pics to up load.
THE PRETEND KEEPER
- Thread starter stavross
- Start date
stavross
Well-Known Member
Sounds like a good start to your keepering adventure, it’s one big learning curve and you will take what you have learned from the first and put that knowledge into the second. When I took over mine I’d already been in the syndicate for about 14 years so I knew what I had to work with, I told the syndicate we would do it my way if they wanted me too continue to do it with changes I wanted to make, some didn’t work out but in the most part I think I’ve improved the shoot and I’m sure with your efforts yours will continue to grow, they need to understand that you are there a lot, you see where the birds are so you should be in charge of how the drives work, I’ll sometimes change mine on a shoot day and everyone just has too put up with that because I’m just trying to give them a better day 
And a video
Absolutely mate. Learnt quite quickly here, there’s no reasoning before hand more of its got to fail first then let them think what you originally suggested is their idea all along. As he was hosting it was easy to discuss this this morning as he could see where the birds wanted to go from the line. so I’m ok’d for setting it out as I wanted to originally
Next day is the 15th of December so I’ll set about the changes.
I’m not fussed for the bag I am however fussed that most of the line per drive gets opportunity of birds.
Sounds like a good start to your keepering adventure, it’s one big learning curve and you will take what you have learned from the first and put that knowledge into the second. When I took over mine I’d already been in the syndicate for about 14 years so I knew what I had to work with, I told the syndicate we would do it my way if they wanted me too continue to do it with changes I wanted to make, some didn’t work out but in the most part I think I’ve improved the shoot and I’m sure with your efforts yours will continue to grow, they need to understand that you are there a lot, you see where the birds are so you should be in charge of how the drives work, I’ll sometimes change mine on a shoot day and everyone just has too put up with that because I’m just trying to give them a better day
Absolutely mate. Learnt quite quickly here, there’s no reasoning before hand more of its got to fail first then let them think what you originally suggested is their idea all along. As he was hosting it was easy to discuss this this morning as he could see where the birds wanted to go from the line. so I’m ok’d for setting it out as I wanted to originally
Next day is the 15th of December so I’ll set about the changes.
I’m not fussed for the bag I am however fussed that most of the line per drive gets opportunity of birds.
stavross
Well-Known Member
I’m the same, I’m not bothered about the bag, what I want is for everyone to have shooting, it doesn’t matter to me if they hit them or not, I aim for 40/50 bird days and with my lot I need to be putting 200/250 birds over them for them to shoot 40
but like I’ve said before it’s much more a social event than a shooting one, over a few years I’ve managed to get rid of the members who were only there for the shooting and it’s made for a much better day out. What I’ve learned is if people are coming to shoot driven game for the shooting then private syndicates are not for them, also if you have a member that slags everyone off, never has a good word for anyone and moans about the shooting ( like I had for the last few seasons) they are the tw*t and need to be removed, which I did this yearCouldn't agree more. I got rid of one on first day of season as he was moaning from the start. Gave him his money back and said goodbye in a not so polite way.I’m the same, I’m not bothered about the bag, what I want is for everyone to have shooting, it doesn’t matter to me if they hit them or not, I aim for 40/50 bird days and with my lot I need to be putting 200/250 birds over them for them to shoot 40
My lot have been averaging 1 in 5 and we are holding well. But put more feeders out than ever before. But are shooting more than previously. Even with poor shot average.
I do have to repeat you can only shoot them once. If there on the end of barrel it is no sport or respect for birds we have put time and effort in
One final thing we have about 10 guns and 20 beaters. You will never keep everyone happy and if there not say goodbye to them
Yes trying to keep everyone happy and safe can be a bind
Luckily we are having a hell of a season - got some cracking lads and lasses too
We did what historically was our best drive yesterday - but as the habitat works over the years are starting to mature things are changing - so as we did this first only a small number of birds and shots were had
I could feel the eyes looking at me thinking whats gone on - but no need to worry as the same drive then back the other way but taking in a cover strip and pond produced the birds in their droves - real screamers too some of them
We then did a little fill in drive that as i walked round with A GWCT official last week looking at possible next steps - i saw where a good number had been feeding - so this little fill in was brilliant
Then on to our signature drive - birds from both ends of cover trips / new hedges spanning close to half a mile long - birds that head for the top of the bank behind - birds that come out and are rockets at at the limit of our skills
It was a little quieter than normal - hundreds of birds have flown from this earlier in the season but with it being so wet - i knew they had been in the wood that feeds this drive over the road - So they will show next time from there
Then on to another smaller drive - but no the little spinney / thickett planted about 5 years ago with a serious mix - is becoming a real magnet with some sunflower seed scattered in - the partidges came out in 3 /4/ 5 s - awesome !
Lastly it was tine for one of our better / best drives to finish - again im really proud of how a small field has been transformed into a serious habitat for hundreds if not thousands of mixed finches / a pair of barn owls / scores of ducks / snipe and woodcock. A field that now has 2 shelter belts / laid hedges to 2 sides - 2 500 metre long "new" hedges planted 5/6 years ago - 2 shelter belts of mixed trees - 2 little spinneys of only 20 metre wide by 100 m long - 2 small ponds and 4 large strips of wild bird cover - Well the birds came and came and came partridge - pheasant - partridge - pheasant - awesome !
We ended the day after some really really terrible shooting - by one or two of our real top guns actually - on 100 head and had close to 400 shots
Had a walk round with a couple of others and my 4 spaniels and picked another 5 we could not find yesterday
A great day - ended with 4/5 pints and a pizza !
Luckily we are having a hell of a season - got some cracking lads and lasses too
We did what historically was our best drive yesterday - but as the habitat works over the years are starting to mature things are changing - so as we did this first only a small number of birds and shots were had
I could feel the eyes looking at me thinking whats gone on - but no need to worry as the same drive then back the other way but taking in a cover strip and pond produced the birds in their droves - real screamers too some of them
We then did a little fill in drive that as i walked round with A GWCT official last week looking at possible next steps - i saw where a good number had been feeding - so this little fill in was brilliant
Then on to our signature drive - birds from both ends of cover trips / new hedges spanning close to half a mile long - birds that head for the top of the bank behind - birds that come out and are rockets at at the limit of our skills
It was a little quieter than normal - hundreds of birds have flown from this earlier in the season but with it being so wet - i knew they had been in the wood that feeds this drive over the road - So they will show next time from there
Then on to another smaller drive - but no the little spinney / thickett planted about 5 years ago with a serious mix - is becoming a real magnet with some sunflower seed scattered in - the partidges came out in 3 /4/ 5 s - awesome !
Lastly it was tine for one of our better / best drives to finish - again im really proud of how a small field has been transformed into a serious habitat for hundreds if not thousands of mixed finches / a pair of barn owls / scores of ducks / snipe and woodcock. A field that now has 2 shelter belts / laid hedges to 2 sides - 2 500 metre long "new" hedges planted 5/6 years ago - 2 shelter belts of mixed trees - 2 little spinneys of only 20 metre wide by 100 m long - 2 small ponds and 4 large strips of wild bird cover - Well the birds came and came and came partridge - pheasant - partridge - pheasant - awesome !
We ended the day after some really really terrible shooting - by one or two of our real top guns actually - on 100 head and had close to 400 shots
Had a walk round with a couple of others and my 4 spaniels and picked another 5 we could not find yesterday
A great day - ended with 4/5 pints and a pizza !
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Sounds great
How many birds do you release ?
2300 pheasants
500 partridges - we have lots and lots of "wild" ones about too now
It was our 6th shoot already so really chuffed how we are still holding the birds
The habitat is now verging on too good - as they really do have the run of the place
stavross
Well-Known Member
Well, another day tomorrow and it’s been a busy week getting ready for it as the snow has completely changed the drives, started the week on a bit of a downer, I went to the farm to bag wheat up and as I always do I went and grabbed the old boy to give me a hand ( get him out the house) and it was the first time he couldn’t remember my name 
put a bit of a lump in my throat, but at least he still recognised me even if my name had slipped him. I’ve changed a few things about during the week and I was up there for sparrow fart this morning to get an idea where they want to be after getting off roost, so depending on the weather when I get there in the morning will depend on how the day plays out. I’ve been informed that there’s some “ proper shooting men “ there tomorrow ( whatever that means) and a good mate of mine is coming up from Lincolnshire so with a bit of luck we’ll have a good day, my turn to do elevenses so I’ve gone for a corned beef and potato pie, leek and potato soup and the bramble gin 
put a bit of a lump in my throat, but at least he still recognised me even if my name had slipped him. I’ve changed a few things about during the week and I was up there for sparrow fart this morning to get an idea where they want to be after getting off roost, so depending on the weather when I get there in the morning will depend on how the day plays out. I’ve been informed that there’s some “ proper shooting men “ there tomorrow ( whatever that means) and a good mate of mine is coming up from Lincolnshire so with a bit of luck we’ll have a good day, my turn to do elevenses so I’ve gone for a corned beef and potato pie, leek and potato soup and the bramble gin
Nickb
Well-Known Member
Will Mr Foxer be doing a video ?Well, another day tomorrow and it’s been a busy week getting ready for it as the snow has completely changed the drives, started the week on a bit of a downer, I went to the farm to bag wheat up and as I always do I went and grabbed the old boy to give me a hand ( get him out the house) and it was the first time he couldn’t remember my name
Bo Diddley
Well-Known Member
Small shoots or large, to keep the staff happy, a few sausage rolls and a slug of grog go a long way.
They will even cater for themselves if you give them the chance, somewhere out of the wind, a few bales to perch on, maybe even a plug socket to keep the slow cooker going with a pot of chilli, and banter, so important to keep the spirits up (Sloegasms go down a treat).. I'm on the beating end of things from choice (hunting the dog)... start talking about the cock day on the very first shoot... or even mention a cock week
Heck, looking at the forecast for tomorrow, I wonder why.....
They will even cater for themselves if you give them the chance, somewhere out of the wind, a few bales to perch on, maybe even a plug socket to keep the slow cooker going with a pot of chilli, and banter, so important to keep the spirits up (Sloegasms go down a treat).. I'm on the beating end of things from choice (hunting the dog)... start talking about the cock day on the very first shoot... or even mention a cock week
Heck, looking at the forecast for tomorrow, I wonder why.....
stavross
Well-Known Member
I don’t think so, he normally doesn’t bother with him only coming to shoot here once in the season
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
What???Wow, what a start to the day
stavross
Well-Known Member
What a day!
So today I had a full team of guns ( including my shoot captain shooting all day
) and a team of beaters that listened to me ( hallelujah ), with the shoot captain having a day off it was left to me and my under study ( Josh ) to run the day. Now I’d already been round on the quad before anyone arrived so I knew what was where, so we were to start with the tip drive after a warning about dogs running in as all the shooting is at the end of this drive when we turn it. I knew there was a few birds in there but once we turned the drive I was blown away by what came out it seemed at one point that every gun was fired at once, at the end of the drive I went to see my guest and he was stud there laughing surrounded by cartridges, his first words to me were “ that was mental “ after a quick pick up we were off into the roadside drive, this went well for a small drive, push a good 20 birds out which is good for this drive, we’d normally stop for elevenses now but with the rain getting heavier I thought we would have another drive a late elevenses and skip lunch, so off up into the piggeries ( ruff side ) although some decent birds came out, there was a lot running around and hopping up into the trees, I think this is a drive now that needs some thought. Off back to the farm for a break, me and Josh did the elevenses today and they absolutely demolished it, after 45 minutes in the shed and the rain showing no sign of letting up it was just time to crack on, so leaving Josh’s mam and one of the other lasses to clean up ( they’d had enough of the rain ) we headed for half the oak wood drive, although there was some good numbers here a lot came out low, so a little bit of a letdown, next we headed for Gordon’s pen, guns lined out, beaters ready, off we went 20 yards into the drive they started getting up, another 20 yards in and Josh shouted me on the radio to stop the drive otherwise all the birds around the pen will go at once, 3 times we stopped this drive and I can honestly say I’ve never put that many birds out of that drive in an orderly fashion as we did today, there was constant banging for a good 10 minutes, another pick up then off to forestry to finish the day off, again some good birds out of here to finish off. All done it was off back to the shed to try and dry out a bit, got back to the shed to find Josh’s mam and the other lass completely hammered, so when they said they would clear up I thought they meant all the rubbish it turns out they decided to clear up all the booze they definitely had a good day. We finished on 75 and a magpie which is a really good day up there, I meant to ask what the shot count was, I would guess it was a hell of a lot higher than the bag
I know I moan a lot about people and the shoot but all I want is for them to have a cracking day and when they listen and we can put a day on like we did today it’s an absolute pleasure to be there and I’m over the moon with how it went, I think Mrs Stav will be off to be because I can see in her face that she want me to shut up about it
So today I had a full team of guns ( including my shoot captain shooting all day
) and a team of beaters that listened to me ( hallelujah ), with the shoot captain having a day off it was left to me and my under study ( Josh ) to run the day. Now I’d already been round on the quad before anyone arrived so I knew what was where, so we were to start with the tip drive after a warning about dogs running in as all the shooting is at the end of this drive when we turn it. I knew there was a few birds in there but once we turned the drive I was blown away by what came out it seemed at one point that every gun was fired at once, at the end of the drive I went to see my guest and he was stud there laughing surrounded by cartridges, his first words to me were “ that was mental “ after a quick pick up we were off into the roadside drive, this went well for a small drive, push a good 20 birds out which is good for this drive, we’d normally stop for elevenses now but with the rain getting heavier I thought we would have another drive a late elevenses and skip lunch, so off up into the piggeries ( ruff side ) although some decent birds came out, there was a lot running around and hopping up into the trees, I think this is a drive now that needs some thought. Off back to the farm for a break, me and Josh did the elevenses today and they absolutely demolished it, after 45 minutes in the shed and the rain showing no sign of letting up it was just time to crack on, so leaving Josh’s mam and one of the other lasses to clean up ( they’d had enough of the rain ) we headed for half the oak wood drive, although there was some good numbers here a lot came out low, so a little bit of a letdown, next we headed for Gordon’s pen, guns lined out, beaters ready, off we went 20 yards into the drive they started getting up, another 20 yards in and Josh shouted me on the radio to stop the drive otherwise all the birds around the pen will go at once, 3 times we stopped this drive and I can honestly say I’ve never put that many birds out of that drive in an orderly fashion as we did today, there was constant banging for a good 10 minutes, another pick up then off to forestry to finish the day off, again some good birds out of here to finish off. All done it was off back to the shed to try and dry out a bit, got back to the shed to find Josh’s mam and the other lass completely hammered, so when they said they would clear up I thought they meant all the rubbish it turns out they decided to clear up all the booze they definitely had a good day. We finished on 75 and a magpie which is a really good day up there, I meant to ask what the shot count was, I would guess it was a hell of a lot higher than the bagI know I moan a lot about people and the shoot but all I want is for them to have a cracking day and when they listen and we can put a day on like we did today it’s an absolute pleasure to be there and I’m over the moon with how it went, I think Mrs Stav will be off to be because I can see in her face that she want me to shut up about it
BenBhoy
Well-Known Member
Good to see Glenn, is he alright mate? Does he not fancy getting on here?What a day!
So today I had a full team of guns ( including my shoot captain shooting all day
I know I moan a lot about people and the shoot but all I want is for them to have a cracking day and when they listen and we can put a day on like we did today it’s an absolute pleasure to be there and I’m over the moon with how it went, I think Mrs Stav will be off to be because I can see in her face that she want me to shut up about it View attachment 449199View attachment 449200View attachment 449201View attachment 449202View attachment 449203
stavross
Well-Known Member
He’s good, he was on good form yesterday, he’s nice to have at the shoot because he’s a little social butterfly and make a point of talking to everyone especially those who haven’t been before and his shooting has improved
( if you know, you know ) he’s on here but I think he only looks in now and thenSimilar threads
