Shooting

[TonyN]

I knew it was going to be a big couple of days when I overheard the shoot host tell the keeper that the shot count for the first drive alone was just over 1100...

How many guns was there.

[Emaresee]

Wowzers... Mega drives! would be a heck of an experience no doubt.

[Simon-JG-hr]

They only shot 7 drives over the two days. They're good birds even this early in the year - but there's no denying that the old boys were a little past their prime...


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[Emaresee]

I knew it was going to be a big couple of days when I overheard the shoot host tell the keeper that the shot count for the first drive alone was just over 1100...

Now if you have the money to do a 600 bird day, then you clearly shoot a good number of days a year. But with c6 drives in a day, and 100 birds per drive, thats a 10:1 shot to kill ratio and c ?150-200 on cartridges alone on the first drive suggests a bit more practice might be in order!?! Even on superby challenging birds thats a duff rate! Unless i simply havent seen birds that good yet!

[Simon-JG-hr]

There was a measly 1200 in the bag by the end of the second day...

can imagine the number of cartridges that go in the bin bag at the end of the day
that is a lot of birds compared to our shoot ,250 bird day an on the estate we go to.

I knew it was going to be a big couple of days when I overheard the shoot host tell the keeper that the shot count for the first drive alone was just over 1100...

[Simon-JG-hr]

A herfer's cheap and cheerful walked up day would be a hoot. I've joined a walk one, stand one syndicate this year and am just off to top up feeders. Small shoots with plenty of walking and dog working and a small, quality bag is very much my cup of tea. Personally think 1,500 bag is a slaughter, but each to his own.

This all reminds me, I still haven't replied to your email from a month ago... Someone as disorganised as me really shouldn't be an agent...

[TonyN]

There was a measly 1200 in the bag by the end of the second day...

can imagine the number of cartridges that go in the bin bag at the end of the day
that is a lot of birds compared to our shoot ,250 bird day an on the estate we go to.

[TonyN]

Try to get a cigar in, but can be tricky managing one with a Beretta and a lively Spaniel


Be even trickier holding and smoking a nub cigar
while waiting for birds to fly over.

[Monty Cristo]

A herfer's cheap and cheerful walked up day would be a hoot. I've joined a walk one, stand one syndicate this year and am just off to top up feeders. Small shoots with plenty of walking and dog working and a small, quality bag is very much my cup of tea. Personally think 1,500 bag is a slaughter, but each to his own.

[Tomothebuilder]

I'm part of a local farm shoot, we shoot 5 days a year-60-80 bird days.

All mates from the local area, mainly from the rugby club. Great fun, nice and relaxed and well organised. I do the odd day on bigger driven shoots but much prefer our little local one! Meet for a meal in the local afterwards and wake up with a sore head the next day.

Try to get a cigar in, but can be tricky managing one with a Beretta and a lively Spaniel!

[Emaresee]

Tewkesbury is a doddle. i'm in!

On driven days I never mind being a back gun or a walking gun... as you say, you tend to have to work harder for your sport making every shot more memorable.

[TonyN]

I'm definitely a shooting man and have written about shooting and cigars (and several times, both at the same time) for many magazines over the years - most recently in last month's Shooting Gazette.

Remember flicking through the pages in W H SMITHS while waiting for the wife and came across the cigars page.

[Simon-JG-hr]

Hands on syndicates are definitely the way to go. The big days are jolly nice - but there's something special about having properly earnt your sport. I'm having a distinct lack of luck trying to get something similar off the ground just outside Cirencester. Unfortunately the Earl is a hunting man, so shooting is considered a bit of an inconvenience. As such, it's a bit of an ongoing battle... I'm sure I'll persevere eventually! Haha.

Small bags are more fun anyway - I had a day last season where I let off six shots all day. I remember every one of them... On the first drive I missed a sitter first up (I blame the hangover), then got angry with myself and took one way too close and pillowcased it (not proud of that), then missed the last. Over the other four drives I three clean kills on the bounce (overhead, crosser, and a curler out in front that half the line had missed...)

Much fun as they had, I doubt the chaps who shot 1200 over the last two days could remember many of their shots... Horses for courses I suppose. They all go to the pot at least.

if you get a sniff of any local walked up,hedge bashing days you could certainly have a client here.... Or a simple walked up shoot n herf buddy! Always happy to go round the boundaries on the odd weekday!

Sounds like an excellent plan in the making! A couple of friends from down this way have mooted a bit of walked up, and I know one of the shoots I took a day with last year sells such days - probably quite reasonable if their driven prices are anything to go by. Just outside Tewkesbury off the M50, so imagine it wouldn't be too difficult to get to from Worcestershire. Three or four of us, a couple of cigars, and a frost under foot: sounds like a cracking way to spend a day. Couple of decent pubs nearby too for replenishing the reserves at the end of the day. Will drop the keeper a message and see what he says.

[Emaresee]

Yep, mostly partridge. But their pheasants are very strong and well developed - a fairly common theme across the various shoots I've visited over the last few weeks.

Sounds like a great couple of weekends coming up @Emaresee. Walked up or mini-driven? Love a bit of woodland for a change - though the day I spent last year when we only saw daylight at the briefing and post-shoot dinner was probably a little extreme... Good high birds over the established trees, but snap shooting to the extreme!

Good shout on the short and chubby I reckon - you don't want anything too unwieldy. I usually go for a petit corona or similar at elevenses - that way if I've not finished it in time, the slightly narrower ring gauge is easy to keep a grip of in the mouth if both hands are needed for the gun. I always save the PSPN2 for a day out with friends - shoot through then go mad for dinner followed by a proper cigar and a very late night. God help me the following morning...

self run self managed syndicates... Half gun on each. Minidriven. We do walked up on tidy up days on 30/1 or 1/2, often the most fun of the season! This Saturday is c.100 acres of mature oak wood. Forestry have cut big rides in the summer, so there is a bit more sky.... but nevertheless could be extremely sharp snap shooting this weekend as still a lot of cover on the trees.

its not big numbers, but there are very few birds that dont make you work. The parkland one is a bit grander in setting but the birds arent as demanding....great days for a lot of pork pie, bubbles and leg pulling!

if you get a sniff of any local walked up,hedge bashing days you could certainly have a client here.... Or a simple walked up shoot n herf buddy! Always happy to go round the boundaries on the odd weekday!

[Simon-JG-hr]

Yep, mostly partridge. But their pheasants are very strong and well developed - a fairly common theme across the various shoots I've visited over the last few weeks.

Sounds like a great couple of weekends coming up @Emaresee. Walked up or mini-driven? Love a bit of woodland for a change - though the day I spent last year when we only saw daylight at the briefing and post-shoot dinner was probably a little extreme... Good high birds over the established trees, but snap shooting to the extreme!

Good shout on the short and chubby I reckon - you don't want anything too unwieldy. I usually go for a petit corona or similar at elevenses - that way if I've not finished it in time, the slightly narrower ring gauge is easy to keep a grip of in the mouth if both hands are needed for the gun. I always save the PSPN2 for a day out with friends - shoot through then go mad for dinner followed by a proper cigar and a very late night. God help me the following morning...