Bitfitter

How do you know over wintered birds don't fly low or slip out of the sided since they never get the chance? If every year you use the same progeny then all you are doing is perpetuating a circle of inbreeding the chances of poor egg production, lack of fertility ,higher chick mortality and an exaggeration of undesirable traits becomes much higher,fresh blood I.e bought in cocks that have proven characteristics is the only way to keep the flock moving forward and at that point it's not a closed flock to use your analogy of sheep is it not the case shepherds buy in rams?

It's an interesting paper exercise calculating the cost differential between over wintered flocks and bought in eggs I found it cheaper and simpler to buy in simply because the labour and feed costs coupled with potential disease be it mycoplasma etc or as in this case flu made it uneconomical. I would be surprised if ray is close to bankruptcy though it is rumoured through the industry every year as it is with bettws hall yet they keep on going

Why not just because his laying birds are gone there will be nothing stopping him buying in eggs or for that day olds to rear on

I swapped out my anschutz 1417 for a shortened (12.5") browning buckmark I use this for work every day it's total length is 27" plus moderator it is every bit as accurate as my anschutz was and rarely has a jam it's as dirty as hell but keeps on working the buckmark action is a blowback design and the rifle is basically a lengthened version of the very popular and reliable pistol

RSPB numbers as quoted from there website Cornarant breeding pairs 9000 Buzzard breeding pairs 79000 Few more buzzards than cormarants

Gun shops still open clay ground is closed.

Meindl are good but they won't last 3/4 years with a keeper or at least they won't last that long with this keeper 18 months max and there done the leather gives on the toe crease and they start to leak I do wear them everyday day though so they don't get time to dry or get treated that said grouse lads have far more time to mess around treating and drying their boots than us lowland keepers (lol)so maybe they can make them last.

Absolutely shooting/hunting is my highest priority as it would be for most if not all professional gamekeepers

Yes there are spring clips on the runners just pry one side at a time and the drawer will come out

Now for the reality check from a keeper before the driven game bashing carries on there is no contention it's quite straight forward if you have permission and it's in season crack on old phessie won't care if he's shot with an air gun or a canon dead is dead

The cps did not follow this up they would have the full video and witness statements yet they saw no reason to bring charges only after a petition brought by a not so impartial group of people who I am sure have only seen one side of the accident and an edited version of the video have resulted in the cases review it may make the news but I will be very surprised if it makes court

I wonder why keepers have an attitude maybe it is the continual almost daily harassment by people who would like permission,the wannabe pigeon shooters who cut holes in hedges ,leave rubbish and cartridges,throw dead birds in the hedge bottom,park in the most ignorant of places or even drive on crops.when you have invested so much time and effort into an estate is it wrong to be just a little peeved when some random muppet who claims to be a "pest controller" comes along and enjoys a days shooting Having done nothing for the estate whilst you the keeper are stuck working

Not wishing to be argumentative but a lot has been said about how farming relies on having a firearm well I'm sorry I know a lot of farmers some family but most I come into contact with work I have yet to see one carry a shotgun or rifle on a daily basis and one farmer I know who runs over 2500 head of sheep does not even own one so I fail to see how this unfortunate young lads career is over.

Not so much a reason for wider use or ownership just an example of where a .22lr is actually a useful and relevant tool

There are plenty of us that use .22lr pistols for HD it is by far the most appropriate tool on most occasions, the one I have is moderated I find it perfect for RTC work since it is quiet,discrete and not too much gun to use at the road side

It is I who should apologise if my post appears to be aimed at you that was far from my intention I should have quoted Davyo's post where he questions the field craft involved in driven game shooting

Anyone who thinks there is no fieldcraft involved in driven shooting is more than welcome to spend a day with me it is my ability as a keeper to encourage,hold and ultimately drive the birds be they wild or reared over carefully considered drives/pegs whilst it's true the guns need not consider the work involved it would be crass and down right insulting to suggest that keepers do not play the ultimate game of fieldcraft it is after all our ability to manipulate nature that ensures our success.

You must be thinking of the 090 I used to use a 009 for climbing work if memory serves its 36-37 cc

Or maybe the alcohol since it draws a certain type of person who partake to excess then drive

If there is a good head of game to start with I would just put plenty of hoppers and drinkers out wheat only is fine and then concentrate not only on the vermin but the coverts once you have established a suitable environment then and only then is it worth investing time and money into released birds be it poults or ex layers which frankly without seeing the ground not one of us could advise which could give better returns.

18k acres 6 beat keepers shot commercially 100+ days Assuming all the other perquisite are in place ie bupa, pension,accommodation etc I would expect 35-40k pa

Type of estate low ground or moor Private/ commercial Size of estate No of keepers No of days Background/age of owner (I always research the owner a job is no use if the owner doesn't have a pot to pee in or might die in the next 5 years) Tenanted or owner farmed Established or Virgin shoot Budget Public access Estates other interests ie no point to points through the coverts etc And about 10 other questions before a sensible keeper will even think about the remuneration

Exactly the number of beaters and picker ups I see that come and expect the dog to graft for a full day and yet in the off season the dog has done next to nothing Interestingly greyhound trainers use brown bread,rice and pasta in their feeding regimes they obviously think carbs are a necessity

All these people that know for sure it happens yet not one name of an estate or farm if posters are prepared to accuse the game shooting industry of wrong doing then they should have the courage to name the culprits failure to do so really diminishes there credibility. As for clipping wings to stop the birds flying too high or away not sure I have laughed so much in a long time. seems to me there are a lot of experts on here who have never been to a properly organised shoot nor understand how no mater how little game may be making at the dealers it is still a valuable commodity in a industry where every penny counts. As an aside my game dealer is waiting at the end of each shoot day to take the game as soon as he can he also deliveres oven ready birds for me to give to the guns they are snapped up every day by the very grateful guests

25 years keepering on private and commercial and never had to bin a bird ever the game dealers are always crying out for our game if any shoot is dumping birds for whatever reason they should be named and shamed