wannabe_keeper

Hi, I run a small farm shoot in West Sussex. We have 5 days this season shooting between 30-40 birds a day, all mini driven. I am looking for additional beaters/picker ups (steady dogs only). Unfortunately we cannot afford to pay beaters however our last day is the 9th January. After this we have 2 or 3 walk round days for the beaters who have been on 3 or more of the days. These are really fun days and we often shoot as many as our driven days. Bacon rolls in the morning, tea/coffee, biscuits, sloe gin, sausages at the end of the day (usually around 9am-1pm). Good atmosphere and bunch of guys. If anyone is interested please PM me for dates and more info. Thanks.

Hi, I run a small farm shoot in West Sussex. We have 5 days this season shooting between 30-40 birds a day, all mini driven. I am looking for additional beaters/picker ups. Unfortunately we cannot afford to pay beaters however our last day is the 9th January. After this we have 2 or 3 walk round days for the beaters who have been on 3 or more of the days. These are really fun days and we often shoot as many as our driven days. Bacon rolls in the morning, tea/coffee, biscuits, sloe gin, sausages at the end of the day (usually around 9am-1pm). Good atmosphere and bunch of guys. If anyone is interested please PM me for dates and more info. Thanks.

After people for this Saturday if anyone is free and fancies a wander please PM me. Regular beaters rewarded with shooting in January.

I know the percentage looks ridiculous but it based on the fact that we have 2 very large shoots either side of the farm who release a lot of birds. They shoot 3 times a week, we shoot once a fortnight so leaving it quiet means a lot of birds turn up from elsewhere. I know the keepers and release a few birds to ensure no bad feelings for gaining a few of theirs. I'm pretty sure that sporting rights can be sold separate to the actual land itself. As others have said, I have nothing to lose. Maybe another season and I'll put the idea to the Farm owner. Thanks.

Thanks for the comment. So rather than a purchase of the 'rights' a long term lease may be a better proposition. Well it's only the shooting i'm interested in. I guess what i'm kind of getting at is where do you stand if the land is sold and the owner wants to say have horses which conflict with shooting or worse want to build on it the land or sell it off in parcels etc..

I run a little pheasant shoot over approx 100 acres. We provide mini driven days of 30-40 birds. Although a small acreage the land is almost ideal for a 'mini' shoot with little shaws, woods and copses which form the mainstay of our drives. At present it is all under mutual agreement with the farmer and no money exchanges hands between us. The first year we both stumped up some money and broke even with the days we sold so go back what was put in. The first year produced 5 days: 37, 41, 48, 29, 35 (approx 50 shot on walk round days in Jan) 300 ex layers released. This year we also have 5 days with 600 ex layers released. Anyway... the point of my post is to inquire about the cost to purchase shooting rights. I have grown fond of this little farm over the last couple of years and would like to continue my shoot in the future. The farmer is a true gent but without sounding harsh, he won't be here forever. I had an idea and there's nothing to say he will even go for it but maybe after another season or 2 to offer him a cash sum to purchase the shooting rights over his little farm so I can continue about my ways in distant future. The farmer has no children to pass the farm onto and often jokes that it will end up going to 'London Money'. I'd hate to see the farm split up or built on! Does owning the shooting rights give me any say in what happens to the land? Any idea's/thoughts/comments or what a suitable value may be would be appreciated. Thanks, WK

Beaters wanted for small private farm shoot in Ardingly, West Sussex. We are shooting 6 days only small bird days between 30-40. Small friendly day out with a good bunch of lads, tea/coffee in the morning with a bacon roll plus sausages and sloe gin for lunch. Shoot from 9am until about 2pm. We don't pay beaters but always try and get a shot for regular helpers throughout January when our sold days stop. PM me for more info.

Did this sell?

If the ground is ideal 350 acres is more than enough. I have set up my own shoot on less than 100 acres!

Well I used to want to be a keeper and now I am one....

Just a quickie - can I change my PW username?

Its my birthday at the end of this month and I want some new shooting ear plugs from the Mrs. (at least i tell her they are for shooting). Any recomendations? I prefer 'in-ear' plugs rather than ear muffs, but want something that allow normal sound in when talking but obviously block out the gun. Ive been told to look for vented ones? H.

How many do you want Paul? I'll be starting the tree work around March time so will keep some aside for you. Smaller bits of Hazel are good for propping up dead decoys too! H.

It is illegal to catch up pheasants after the season but as mentioned above, everyone does it (including me). Not one person has ever been convicted for it. Last weekend I brought all my feeders in and set up 4 x patches of straw with a bag of wheat on each. By this weekend they would have had a week feeding on this. I will then set up my 10 x 10 catchers around the food and leave open pop holes for a further week. After that i will set the pop-holes and catch up. Ive negotiated with a new game farmer to take 50 hens off me in return for 100 poults and then we will buy a further 400 at £2.95 each. Most game farms require hens so you may be able to get your eggs that way. Where are you based as I could get you some if your down my way? Alternitively drop this guy a message on eBay as he should be able to sort you out - but as mentioned before its still a bit early for eggs just yet. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/30-Ring-Neck-Pheasant-hatching-eggs-PRE-SALE-/321095792497 H.

Looks like a Ranger it is! I was swaying towards one anyway which is good. I would go for a landy but i'm trying to get the best of both worlds... Something that is nice to drive on the road as well as capable of off road duties. Unfortunately most of the defenders only fulfil the later criteria