Cawdor118 Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Evening all! I'm looking for some wisdom here... so hold your hat and help me out please. I have booked my first official 100 bird day on a traditional Scottish Highland estate with a few mates. I'm perfectly comfortable with the attire i'm going to wear, but i'm not quite sure of any etiquette issues when actually shooting. My primary concerns are as follows - 1. Were all reasonable shots, so should we be shooting a maximum number of birds on each drive? I.e 5 drives / 100 birds = 20 birds a drive. or circa 2.5 birds a drive each. Is it possible to burst the 100 bag limit on the first drive? Its bound to have been done in the past? What happens then? 2. What birds should i not be shooting at? Obviously anything low is a no go, but what sort of arcs should i maintain? I suspect there will be enough choice in the air so it wont matter, but its worth knowing. I come from small friendly shoots where any bird is a good bird. Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Have a similar situation on Friday and I know the team will only pick the very best birds on offer and not tidy up behind a neighbour if the bird is not hit. Obviously if a bird is hit but flying on then make an attempt if safe to put it down. It really is down to being careful but having said that, in the past we have had to crack on a bit in the 4th and 5th dives to actually make the bag. Unless there is a no 'overage' agreement, you will all share the cost of every bird over the set number and THAT is the important reason for the Captain of the day to make it clear to all guns to be sensible. I normally will try and shoot two birds and then watch what the other guns are doing and if necessary add one or two. Pick some memorable birds and enjoy yourself. You will have a better reputation for the future if you don't get greedy. Greedy guns rarely get a second invitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted October 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 4 minutes ago, Walker570 said: Have a similar situation on Friday and I know the team will only pick the very best birds on offer and not tidy up behind a neighbour if the bird is not hit. Obviously if a bird is hit but flying on then make an attempt if safe to put it down. It really is down to being careful but having said that, in the past we have had to crack on a bit in the 4th and 5th dives to actually make the bag. Unless there is a no 'overage' agreement, you will all share the cost of every bird over the set number and THAT is the important reason for the Captain of the day to make it clear to all guns to be sensible. I normally will try and shoot two birds and then watch what the other guns are doing and if necessary add one or two. Pick some memorable birds and enjoy yourself. You will have a better reputation for the future if you don't get greedy. Greedy guns rarely get a second invitation. Excellent feedback! I obviously dont want to make an a**e of it. Ill take it slow and steady and mop up if needed toward the end of the day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Nicely put Nev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Walker570 Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Had a cracking day at Grimsthorpe Castle on Monday. Richard Gray Affordable Days had arranged a day with the Keper for 8 guns...60-70 birds, partridge and pheasant. Non of the other guns where known to me but we gelled straight away, what a great sporting bunch of shooters. The day turned out to be full driven with gun bus, elevensies and cake and tea at the end. Everyone was being very careful on the first drives and no doubt we were a little short in the bag as we went for the fifth drive and the Keeper brought in a long slingy wood and I saw a couple of hundred pheasants drop in as they dogged it up. I managed two corking pheasants and shooting took place all along the line when the whsitle was blown very hard for us to stop but at least another hundred birds flew over. We all left that drive with big smiles on our faces and on count up we had shot 61 but it felt like 200. There is so much more to a days shooting than just killing things. Grimsthorpe Estate is a joy to visit and shoot on. I have four more similar days booked there and cannot wait. Hope this gives you a litle idea of what it is all about Cawdor, have a good day and hope it stops raining Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 Have a word with the keeper on the day if it’s not already been made clear. Keepers can and do add or deduct a drive dependant on how you’re shooting, to cater for your needs. We had one team of guns ring up while we ( and they ) were having lunch, to say that as they’d shot their bag and thoroughly enjoyed the day, they wouldn’t be returning after lunch. It was grand for us; early finish. 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 If you don't know the estate, pay attention and be happy with the quality of the birds, as if a new group of guns to the estate and they have enough drives, you may not be shown the better drives,early on. Be selective to your ability to shoot and enjoy, it's hard to get birds over all the gun line every drive on a smaller day so appreciate your peg will come as you move through the line. If all understand this possibly better to have a dry peg, than shoot average birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 If you really are a team of mates you should be able to agree a policy of selective shooting and also suitable penalties for breaking the rules. ‘Greedy *******’ works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 It is still fairly early in the season so you should be seeing a good number of birds being put over the guns , take on what you enjoy and leave alone what you would class as to low and not worth taking on . If you were buying a 150 bird day and six drives were on the cards the keeper would be keeping an eye on the bag and if say by the fifth drive if you are getting towards your bag he will either continue with the planed day and he will blow a whistle to stop the drive when the bag have gone a bit over , or change the last drive to a lesser one where the bag would be light , or a better one if the bag is below expectations , this will normally only happen if he think you haven't had enough shooting to achieve the bag . GOOD LUCK and enjoy your day . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figgy Posted October 23, 2019 Report Share Posted October 23, 2019 If it's all your mates taking the day just go enjoy yourselves and be sensible. Report back how it went. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted October 24, 2019 Report Share Posted October 24, 2019 Do you mind me asking which shoot you've booked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted October 24, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2019 I have checked with my mate and he informs there are no overs so that is decent. Its near Glenmoriston i believe - not entirely sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
button Posted October 24, 2019 Report Share Posted October 24, 2019 You will have a great time, cracking topography Never shot there but stalk in the area and never had a bad day yet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cawdor118 Posted October 25, 2019 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2019 On 24/10/2019 at 19:10, button said: You will have a great time, cracking topography Never shot there but stalk in the area and never had a bad day yet! I stalk on the south side of Loch Ness myself. I absolutely love the area! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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