I had my two days shooting last Thursday and Friday on the shoot I beat on. The first day was Farmers day and I was very much beating but carrying my gun. Had plenty of chances of birds breaking back, much like glorified rough shooting. Enjoyed it immensely, everybody had some sport and we ended up with happy Farmers (not an easy task in Devon!).
The second day was the more traditional Beaters day. The pickers up stood all day along with shoot helpers who have given more of their time through the year. I'm Saturdays only so I get to walk with the line again but this is no demotion on this shoot. The drives all rely on walking along the valley banks, coming from two sides and the rear to coincide with the flushing points. I generally got to walk on the lower side of the line so that I had a chance at anything going back along with anything going towards the standing guns, but far enough away to not be poaching or interfering with their sport. When we reach the flushing points I was effectively a standing gun but slightly further forward of the main line of guns.
I had a fantastic days sport. I saw red and roe deer, green and lesser spotted woodpeckers, woodcock, jays, goldcrests, mink, rabbits, foxes, seatrout, snowdrops, catkins and other signs of spring. All just because I was there on the day, in a place I would never have access to any other way. I had a bit of a mare in the morning but found I was overleading the birds as you get it in your head that they are faster and further away so need more lead than normal. They don't! Corrected myself for the afternoon drives though.
Now I had just one of those archangel type birds go down the line and subsequently over me on the second day. It must have had a dozen shots fired at it before it got to me, and I thought to myself this is what I've dreamed about all season. A real bird of a lifetime. Did I hit it? Did I heck! Not even ruffled a feather, but I'll still remember that one for the rest of my life.
That's why I go beating. :biggrin:
