That evening we discussed about the next day shooting event, Jerry had arranged a place for me in the shoot, one of the shooters had agreed to let me have his place. However I did not think it wise to shoot pheasants with shotgun as I could not hit a barn door at five paces, I asked if I could do the duck shoot and accompany Jerry for the pheasant shoot and see how its down. This was agreed to. We got the shotgun and clothing sorted out, since its was Friday we had fish and chips for supper followed by a beer and some Mexican liquor with a fat Cuban, then early to bed.
Saturday Morning up just before six, damm its dark!, very dark , no its not the power cut, just dark, its England you know! After a slice of toast and coffee we loaded Jerry’s vehicle and set off to the meeting place, its still dark around 6.30 in the morning. Other vehicle arrived and got introduced. Paul who was in charge took us to a nearby field and gave us our place to stand, facing the river which was beyond a field, damm its cold and dark, it was cold enough to freeze the nuts of a brass monkey.
I put two shell in to the chamber and waited, damm cold, my toes were about to get hyperthermia, still dark with light traces of warm glow on the horizon. We could hear the ducks calling out but none were flying from the river, around 7.30 it begin to get light and two ducks flew to the left and eight to the right high. More wait as we watched the cold English sun rise. Yap my feet are in deep hyperthermia.
Paul came over to say that its over for the day since no duck were taking off, so we headed back to the farm yard where we left the vehicles. Now I could see who was who in the daylight. We chatted and had some coffee, one of the shooter opened up the back of his vehicle and took out a small gas stove and made bacon sandwich which was most welcome by all. Others arrived for the pheasant shoot.
shooter waiting at the peg
It was a mixed bunch of people from all background some came with sons and wife who were going to be in the drive party. After a quick brief and handing out peg numbers (pegs is a referred to shooting stand)and shooting locations, we set off. For this part I was accompanying Jerry and learning the rope so to speak.
Jerry and sniper
Having found our peg Jerry and I waited for the game to be flushed out by the drive party, waiting is part of the game, we had shooters to our left and right, soon a pair of ducks came by BANG BANG went Jerry’s gun down came the quack quacks. Oh yes I forgot to mention we had old sniper the lab with us. Sniper looked at Jerry as to seek permission to go and get the ducks but jerry told him to sit as the duck landed close to the next shooter on our left, who picked it up for us.
Some more game came out of the woods in front and went low right but was not shot at. A pigeon went over head bang went Jerry’s gun, down came the pigeon. Some birds went to the left and the gun on the left brought them down. More game were flashed out and bang went Jerry’s gun, to our right Pheasant dropped and out went sniper and brought the bird back.
one flew over
It’s good to see a retriever at work.
Soon the horn sounded to tell us that this shoot is finished we all gathered up the shot birds and met to discuses the next shoot.
off to the next shoot
I went with the drive party to see how its all done, it s hard work as we had to walk up and down hills in a line and make silly noise and beat the trees to drive out the pheasant, who tend to remain in hiding in the long grass and only fly out if you are within feet of them. Paul explained why it’s done the way it’s done.
game drive party
After few more drives the shooting end and we went to the farm yard with the shot game. We had braces of duck and six of pheasant on pair of pigeons. All were invited to take what they wanted. We ended the shoot with a pub lunch.
For me the best part was the drive as this is where it all begins, a good drive master knows the land and the game for he is able to control the drive in such a manner that every shooter gets a chance to shoot down few birds, this was archived by flashing out two or three birds and not allowing others in the drive to move forward, this way every bird is flashed out slowly and gives the shooters plenty of time to reload etc.
There were few things that I notice, one being that there was no camouflaged clothing etc, but all were in smart country clothing suits ties, even this shooting syndicate was small informal one and there was a sense of good dress.
Such small syndicated are common in England whereas each pays a small amount to shoot every year the fees very from 200 pounds to 1000.
If one want to join the best practice would be to find a shooting syndicated and ask them if you could help out on the drives which always need people to help out, this forms a strong ground in learning how the game flies and once you are known it makes easy to join the shooting party. And in winter always have thick woolen socks.
i will inform my toes next time what it means.