A piece of the action

Beaters’ day is one of the season’s highlights — a chance for those who have been doing the hard graft to have some fun, says Simon Reinhold

The beaters’ day at the end of the season, sometimes known as the cock day, is the gamekeeper’s way of thanking all those who have helped on the shoot throughout the season.

For some people, perhaps more used to rough shooting than standing in a line of Guns, the beaters’ day can be a stressful exercise, but it doesn’t have to be if you bear in mind a few simple points.

Firstly, make sure you know the date and start time. It sounds obvious but I have been caught out by this on a new shoot. Having picked up all season and never moved off before 09.15, I strolled into the shoot room at 08.50 only to find I was 20 minutes late as the cock day starts at 08.15, moving off at 08.30. I hadn’t checked and spent the day apologising.

Getting all your kit set out the night before a shoot is a good start. For me, it is the beginning of the sense of anticipation that I find a hugely enjoyable part of a shoot day.

A shot at a pheasant is over in seconds but the anticipation is for me a source of great pleasure — where might a bird break cover, will it curl to me on the wind, will it break back over the beating line?

All these questions and more focus the mind on the moment and prolong the pleasure of the day. This anticipation is not only an enjoyable part but almost without realising you are preparing yourself mentally to make a successful shot.

Good game shots often seem to have more time than others and part of the reason is they have prepared through experience and anticipation.

Relaxed state

It’s all about relaxed concentration and this is a key part of finding your best sporting performance.