Give Something Back

As a young Guns day at Whitehill stirs up fond memories of his own first shoot day, Jack Knott urges other syndicates to think about what they could do to encourage the next generation

- Jack Knott

Can you remember shooting your first driven gamebird? That very first day standing on a peg alongside your mentor, usually a family member of sorts, excitedly waiting for that first bird to flush and break in your direction? Do you remember at the end of the drive going over to collect the birds that you had successfully brought down? It doesn’t matter what age it happens – the emotions, the nerves and the enjoyment of the day are all comparable.

I remember my first day out shooting with fond memories. I was on the local syndicate shoot where my father had a peg, and it was the drive after lunch when he finally allowed me to unsheathe my .410 and have a go. I remember the drive and I also remember the one cock pheasant that I successfully connected with (the picture of me holding the pheasant is still hanging up in my parents’ home). These earliest shooting opportunities were an incredible experience in education and excitement, setting me up perfectly for a future of shooting in the many different forms and disciplines it takes.