Jim Neal Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Had a bit of a strange matter crop up at our AGM a few weeks ago. Chatting about it with another member yesterday reminded me to put a post on here about it. Someone raised an objection to the beaters calling "Forward!" when birds are flushed. Their reason was it should be left to the guns to realise if a bird is flushed in their direction. He says he has never been on a shoot where the flush is called... I've personally never been on a shoot where it isn't! We are a 20-gun DIY syndicate. Other people's thoughts and opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butchdickason Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 When the leaf is still on the trees, and you are on a peg in the woods, the call forward is very helpful in my opinion. Butch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
panoma1 Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 I don't mind either way, it's up to the beater to call it or not if a bird is flushed close to her/him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Its ok if the bird is coming forward. I have heard forward -right- left- back for the same bird at our club shoot, depending upon which way the caller was facing at the time. As an aged keeper told me years ago when I was calling FORWARD, "son" he said, " if they cant see a pheasant coming towards them they should not be standing there." Quietness is best. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 It gets used a lot on walk and stands, as does 'back' for obvious reasons. Being a beater and working hard to get birds over guns when they are day dreaming or looking at their shoes, they need more than shouting at at times! On our beaters days as none of us are mega experienced and to be honest a lot are pretty old, we quite often point at a gun who may not have seen a bird heading their way, that can work just as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandalf Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 My shoot the usual call is 'John - Cock up'! You can take that any way you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malkiserow Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 My shoot the usual call is 'John - Cock up'! You can take that any way you want. Steady on sir Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 At our syndicate forward normally gets shouted, on a couple of other shoots nothing gets shouted apart from if a partridge or woodcock gets up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guzzicat Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 We call it, more than once last season my 70yr old ears were glad of it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 I hear it on some shoots but not on others. Personally I do not need the advance notice of an approaching bird as I am alert for the whole time I am on my peg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zipdog Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 (edited) Depends on the shoot. On a 100 plus driven day I feel it is unnecessary and inappropriate. However on smaller days, where the you may only kill half a dozen birds out of a drive I feel it is useful and helps to wake up a few of the daydreams. Nothing is more annoying then shouting OVER OVER to your neighbour who has his gun broken, is daydreaming and by time a shot is fired the bird is 50 yards behind. Edited April 7, 2016 by zipdog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNS Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 I dislike it on those shoots I hear it as I'd rather just be alert. Save for our annual woodcock trip where I think it is important to add to the pressure on my fellow guns by bellowing "woodcock" at the slightest sign of one, and sometimes even when there isn't one too just to keep them on their toes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontbeck Posted April 7, 2016 Report Share Posted April 7, 2016 Anyone shouting woodcock fills me with fear and the need to fall to the ground. I'm lucky that I haven't had many problems out driven shooting but woodcock seems to be the one bird where safety goes out the window. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Any beater who shouts on the shoot near me gets told not to come back for 2 weeks. You don't need people shouting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 It gets used a lot on walk and stands, as does 'back' for obvious reasons. Being a beater and working hard to get birds over guns when they are day dreaming or looking at their shoes, they need more than shouting at at times! On our beaters days as none of us are mega experienced and to be honest a lot are pretty old, we quite often point at a gun who may not have seen a bird heading their way, that can work just as well. just what i was going to say.........................on full driven days (posh ones) the guns dont want to hear anything or even see the beaters....beaters are only allowed to tap their sticks.........i dont like that sort of thing....but i also dont like shouting and whistling on a driven shoot......and i like mixing and having a larf with the beaters and dog boys.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nobski Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 I hear it on some shoots but not on others. Personally I do not need the advance notice of an approaching bird as I can hear her clicking heels. thought I would amend your post jdog. sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 I always got told to call them out especally for back guns ! but this was on a smaller shoot. However on the shoot I beat for now its no noise just flagging, but is frustraighting working hard to get the birds over well, only to see loads sail over because the guns arent paying attention. ATB Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woody walloper Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 I always got told to call them out especally for back guns ! but this was on a smaller shoot. However on the shoot I beat for now its no noise just flagging, but is frustraighting working hard to get the birds over well, only to see loads sail over because the guns arent paying attention. ATB Matt more for beaters day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 thought I would amend your post jdog. sorry. That is better than my original post by far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 I always got told to call them out especally for back guns ! but this was on a smaller shoot. However on the shoot I beat for now its no noise just flagging, but is frustraighting working hard to get the birds over well, only to see loads sail over because the guns arent paying attention. ATB Matt more for beaters day. Sure is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshwarrior Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Noticed over the years the best beating lines you tend to hear very little apart tap tap tap and dog whistles possible the odd word of command. My personal veiw is if the gun can't be bother to look about for the bird he doesn't deserve to get a shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 There are fors and againsts but In some shoots where there can be hundreds of birds near the flushing line it can can cause a mass flush which is very wasteful of the potential. Anyway there are so many birds on the flush that there is no need to call out because the pegs are there watching their front and if they are on their mobile then the call must be more important to them so they wont shoot anyway. I can see it as a bit of desperation on a small shoot where every bird counts and there may be only a handful of birds per drive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 "........on their mobile?". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 Providing Beaters and Guns are aware of the "Shoots Etiquette" it should not be a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted April 8, 2016 Report Share Posted April 8, 2016 "........on their mobile?". Yes. several times I've seen a gun walk off his peg and spend the whole drive on the phone mooching about randomly behind the line with a mobile glued to his ear. I suppose it all depends on what sort of deal is being done or what problem is being sorted out. it's all reflective of how much money these people are on. The shooting is just an incidental social activity. One of the son in laws who is a very good shot was on a corporate day this last season and half of the line hardly knew which was the pointy end. on one drive he felt that he had, had enough good birds and drew the next gun onto his peg which was a better peg and spent that drive and a bit of the next one showing the gun which birds to take and how to take them. it was a win win situation. The gun was made up with his day and SIL felt a lot of satisfaction from helping the man out and to enjoy the day. friendships were made and cards exchanged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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