First Time Picking Up

[DoubleTap]

Just got back from picking up on a new shoot for Me and my Dad.

4 Drives for 700 birds, Pheasant and Partridge. No low birds shot, some 60yds high.

Had our 8 month old Springer puppy with us picking up, very good on Partridge. Needn't have worried as Dad's been working her from 10 weeks old.

Also had our 3 year old Springer with us, also performing very well amongst mainly Labradors. A lot of people don't pick up with Springers but they're awesome at entering thick cover for runners.

On the walk back to the farm at the end of the day our older Springer appeared to start chasing her tail and was circling a tussock of grass no bigger than a mole hill from which she plucked out a wounded Partridge. Don't they tuck in tight?

Don't want to go back to my usual 60 low bird shoot

[ayano3]

4 drives for 700 birds !!! not sure if thats good or not to be honest !!

[scolopax]

A few days of big bags and I would think you will be more than glad to go back to your 60 bird days.

[Scully]

We got 384 birds over 5 drives last shoot....all pheasants.All the picking-up is done with Springers and Lab's.

The beating is done with terriers(great for working hedge bottoms)Springers(ditto)cockers and one GSP.The latter are handy as you don't have to lift them over hedges....they just bound over them!Great fun.

[DoubleTap]

4 drives for 700 birds !!! not sure if thats good or not to be honest !!

I know what you mean but I didnt see a low bird shot all day, all very sporting

[Elby]

4 drives for 700 birds !!! not sure if thats good or not to be honest !!

Why?

[ayano3]

Why? Because I think that's a hell of a lot of birds to shoot in a day, good birds or not. That's only my opinion though.

Maybe its because where I help with the shoot and pick up we have seven drives, all wild fen birds and have some great 100 bird days. But like I said, only my opinion.

[Elby]

Why? Because I think that's a hell of a lot of birds to shoot in a day, good birds or not. That's only my opinion though.

Maybe its because where I help with the shoot and pick up we have seven drives, all wild fen birds and have some great 100 bird days. But like I said, only my opinion.

I just wondered.

Big days do seem to bother a lot of shooters, I just look at it as the birds wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the shoot and if you're prepared to shoot one then the amount don't matter.

[activeviii]

Good job on the picking up, i find it harder work on the small days as your looking for less and feel more pressured to pick every single bird. well i do anyway.

 

i pick up on a 350 bird shoot and its all spaniels picking up. cockers and springer's. i pick up on a 30 bird little syndicate and its a couple of cockers and a couple of labs.

 

i have been taking the 6 mths cocker with me of late and all thou she cant manage a pheasant she does try, if its a running then she runs as well.......the other way.haha. she will learn in time thou. pigeons on the other hand she will pick and deliver.

[ayano3]

I agree with what you say about pressure of looking for every bird, many of the guns 'hit birds hard' and believe they are down when actually they 'missed'. I do find it rewarding when you see a bird with a leg down etc and the dog manages to pick it. On the other side of the coin it's not a good feeling knowing that somewhere out there theres a bird wounded and I cant find it. I suppose thats why the Fox has a place in the countryside.