THE PRETEND KEEPER

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stavross said:
For those that don’t know ( which will be most as I’m new here ) I’m a keeper on a small private pheasant syndicate on the edge of the north York moors ( near Helmsley for those who know the area ) it’s around 600 acres of privately owned woodland that is leased to forestry to farm timber and to me and my syndicate for our pheasant shoot, for the past few years I’ve kept a diary of my season on another forum, sadly that place has gone down the pan a bit so thought I’d try it on here and see if anyone was interested
Last season was an interesting one, it was very hit and miss if I was getting any birds, in the end I ended up with 500 of the 800 I normally put down, after a rocky start the season turned out to be a cracker, we had 7 days and accounted for just over 250 pheasants and a handful of woodcock, now a couple of weeks ago I put my poult order in and this season I’m going for 1000, hopefully to arrive the first or second week in August and to have our first day on the first Saturday in November
Today was my first day back up there to see what repairs are needed to the pens and it’s quite a bit, I have 3 pens up there but only use 2 of them now, my first pen is called “ forestry “ and my second is “ Gordon’s “ named after the old boy that owned the place, he passed away leaving the farm to his wife and my landlady “Mary” a lovely lady who is now in her 80’s but shows no sign of slowing down yet, just today when I arrived she was out setting her mole traps around the veg plot.
Anyway I’ve made a list of what’s to do so I can start gathering materials for repairs, hopefully for free as this is a shoestring shoot where every penny counts, I’ve a few posts to replace on the pens, a shelter to replace in Gordon’s pen that’s finally given up and my drinker system to repair because the bloody squizzers are obsessed with chewing the pipe, I had a run around on the bike while I was there over the far side of the shoot to a couple of drives known as “ the piggeries “ where the bluebells are starting to show, not long now and the whole backside will be a stunning carpet of blues and purples
Anyhow, I hope that a few on here take an interest in this thread and contribute to it as I will as I make my way to the start of the season and you never know you might even get an invite for a day’s shooting if that’s your thing, they are never big days ( normally between 40/50) but it’s worth coming just for the elevenses
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Amazing, do let me know if you’d like any help etc, I’m based very close and more than willing to help, gain some experience! Furniture maker by trade so pretty handy and don’t mind getting stuck in!
 
Birds ordered yesterday, went for a few less this year so the money I’ve saved will allow me to feed a bit better and not have to put members fees up, I’ll have to get a shoot meeting sorted as there’s quite a lot to be done, I’ve got one of the young members that’s really keen on being involved so hopefully that will make my life easier and with a bit of luck he’ll take over from me. If not I’ll have to wait a few years for my little mate to take over IMG_1900.webp
 
stavross said:
Birds ordered yesterday, went for a few less this year so the money I’ve saved will allow me to feed a bit better and not have to put members fees up, I’ll have to get a shoot meeting sorted as there’s quite a lot to be done, I’ve got one of the young members that’s really keen on being involved so hopefully that will make my life easier and with a bit of luck he’ll take over from me. If not I’ll have to wait a few years for my little mate to take over View attachment 411362
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Nice one Stav

Although it can be a pain doing the work i do think some of its the best about shooting - the crack with the lads - the tired hands and arms at night - the successes or failures meaning "i will do something different " next year !

We are just about done this year - all pens and feeders sorted - rides cut . The drier weather has helped as has the now army of helpers i have

Time to let the woods settle and the birds nest and then its time for the wild bird plots to be planted
 
90 percent of the duck tubes are occupied so far ! Wont be long until the first lot hatch - meal worms at the ready !

Had a few days taking out historic - very historic barbed wire that i have missed over the last few years - What a slow - painful - but somehow satisfying job !
 
Lovely evening here and i think in most of the country

Had a mooch about checking traps and hunting the odd squirrel i have missed and amazing to see the trees / hedges bursting

From a "pretend keeper" POV its also amazing to see the pheasants / partridges setting up / have set up territories - i have a good number about
I think any shoot not feeding after the season has finished is mental really as im set for a bumper crop of "wild" - broods (hopefully)
 
jall55 said:
Lovely evening here and i think in most of the country

Had a mooch about checking traps and hunting the odd squirrel i have missed and amazing to see the trees / hedges bursting

From a "pretend keeper" POV its also amazing to see the pheasants / partridges setting up / have set up territories - i have a good number about
I think any shoot not feeding after the season has finished is mental really as im set for a bumper crop of "wild" - broods (hopefully)
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Well done. Good to see the results of your efforts. I'm just sitting now as dusk approaches watching a barn owl hunt. Saw a nice clean 6 pointer earlier too.
 
Nickb said:
Well done. Good to see the results of your efforts. I'm just sitting now as dusk approaches watching a barn owl hunt. Saw a nice clean 6 pointer earlier too.
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I got a couple of owl and kestrel boxes from BASC and was watching tonight and managed to video it as a pair of mandarin ducks were moving in !

Pretty lucky that the owls have plenty of spots as the woodland is classed as ancient or semi- ancient so some great holes and crevices for them
 
They just keep coming!
PXL_20250404_150314879.MP.webp

And one on hill watching so had to wait before approaching trap. Having a bumper magpie harvest this year - that's me on 27 so far this spring!! Surely even the antis must admit that's not a natural population 🤷🏿‍♀️
 
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