The first of September, much more eagerly awaited by most of us as marking the opening of the rough shooter’s game season than the Twelfth, has come and gone, and for the majority it has been the ‘first’ in name only. The new season fell on a Monday this year and even the young Shot home for the holidays has had to wait impatiently until today to join his elders in their opening day at partridges.
My game book reminds me that over the past two seasons we did not shoot at a partridge until well into September, due to the number of ‘cheepers’ — young birds that were not forward enough to offer sporting shooting. The disadvantage, of course, is that the longer the birds are left, the wilder they become, and walking-up, which is essentially early-season tactics, becomes correspondingly less effective.
Walking-up provides the young Shot with an excellent introduction to the game, for you will have more time to concentrate and thoroughly to learn the elementary lessons before you have to face the more hectic flurry of driven birds. The shooting, too, is easier. It will be a long time before you get over that ‘keyed-up’ feeling as you walk, never knowing when a covey will suddenly flush, and can calmly take a right-and-left at birds that explode from under your feet. The ability to keep calm at such a time is the secret of success. You must know instinctively what you are going to do.
Denne historien er fra September 09, 2020-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra September 09, 2020-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside