ips does shooting at a FT

[ips]

as it is common knowledge that I am on a quest to experience as many different game shooting things as possible my good friend peter (salopian) kindly invited me to be a Gun at a gundog trial training day.

I was to join a team of four Guns all members of the guild http://shootinginstructors.co.uk/

it was a very wet start to proceedings very difficult terrain walking up partridge over sugar beet (at least I think that is what it was) for a group of about eight Labrador handlers. We were instructed to let the birds fly a good way out in order to give the dogs a good retrieve , this was easier said than done but we managed to do so and the handlers all seemed very happy . Apparently the guild, as well as offering shooting instruction, training for loading and many other shooting related things this particular team of guns are very well respected in there field so it was an honour and a pleasure to shoot alongside them. Being very close to other guns, handlers and of course dogs meant that gun safety / muzzle awareness is critical. The shooting is very much snap shooting with little time to consciously consider lead so my recent practice of my technique paid off. Bag for the day 40 for 5 guns. I shot 7 for 18 but I gave a second barrell on 5 long shots to make sure so by my reckoning I missed 3. So not a bad average and the main Gun seemed happy enough with my performance.

so that's another thing ticked off the 'ips does list" and I would like to thank peter and the guild of shooting instructors for the very kind invitation.

http://shootinginstructors.co.uk/

 

[ChrisPackham]

Fascinating ...I have been looking into this because I love walked up shooting and it's extremely cost effective, some questions:

Would you do it again?

What happens to the bag (partridge is my favourite meat of all)

What did you enjoy?

Did you suffer advice from watching experts (like when clay shooting)

Did you feel a requirement to shoot non sporting birds to give the dogs a run out?

What didn't you enjoy?

 

[Paul120]

When doing walked up it always surprises me that how many otherwise intellegent people lose the concept of what a straight line is. 

You deff need to be aware of who and what"s around you. 

 

[ips]

Fascinating ...I have been looking into this because I love walked up shooting and it's extremely cost effective, some questions:

Would you do it again?

What happens to the bag (partridge is my favourite meat of all)

What did you enjoy?

Did you suffer advice from watching experts (like when clay shooting)

Did you feel a requirement to shoot non sporting birds to give the dogs a run out?

What didn't you enjoy?

yes possibly

I assume it goes into the food chain

I enjoyed the company and the fluffy rabbits between the guns and the snap shooting which suits my style.

no there is nobody telling you were or how you missed its a group of guns, handlers and a keeper.

potentially if I am honest you may be required to shoot birds quite close if its for novices as they do not want long retrieves however if there unsporting is a matter of opinion as taking a bird that quickly is not necessarily easy.

 

[ChrisPackham]

So effectively, it's proper food hunting.. sounds refreshing! Waaaay too much chucking chickens at silly heights for 'sport' going on currently....

 

[ips]

well, to be brutally honest you are there to bring birds down for the handlers then they can train there dogs on retrieving. They may want birds close or they may want birds long. They may stipulate that you don't drop birds in a certain areas such as heavy cover. Safe gun handling is paramount due to close proximity of guns and handlers. Birds are not to be shot over dogs that are retrieving. The number of birds down at any one time is also a thing to take into account. So, there is a lot to take into account. The teams that the guild provide for these events are exceptional shots and are skilled enough to give the dog handlers exactly what is required. These are not your general walked up shoots.

 

[ChrisPackham]

Got it, don't think it's for me to be honest, not a big fan of being told what to do..  Thanks for the report though, I knew nothing of this form of shooting previously.

 

[westley]

When doing walked up it always surprises me that how many otherwise intellegent people lose the concept of what a straight line is. 

You deff need to be aware of who and what"s around you. 

It gets worse if there are Spectators too !

 

[Salopian]

PP , to clarify , you are not told what to do .

You are asked , " could you do this please ?" either drop a bird close in for a novice dog and handler , or delay and drop it at distance for a more experienced dog .

On Monday I shot a partridge late , hit it with possibly one pellet in the windpipe or lungs . Bugger missed it ! It then towered and dropped more than three hundred yards away , a blind retrieve . Dog was expertly handled to the approximate area of the fall and successfully retrieved , without undue delay .

The Gun is a servant to the handlers and has to make decisions to drop birds in the required area for the handlers , ignoring the keepers request  to shot everything that flies so that he can have an early finish . Sportsmanship , Socialism and Safety are paramount .

 

[ips]

yes its not easy when the keeper is barracking you to "get em shot" ?

 

[ChrisPackham]

PP , to clarify , you are not told what to do .

You are asked , " could you do this please ?" either drop a bird close in for a novice dog and handler , or delay and drop it at distance for a more experienced dog .

On Monday I shot a partridge late , hit it with possibly one pellet in the windpipe or lungs . Bugger missed it ! It then towered and dropped more than three hundred yards away , a blind retrieve . Dog was expertly handled to the approximate area of the fall and successfully retrieved , without undue delay .

The Gun is a servant to the handlers and has to make decisions to drop birds in the required area for the handlers , ignoring the keepers request  to shot everything that flies so that he can have an early finish . Sportsmanship , Socialism and Safety are paramount .

Socialism!! Jesus! really?.?..... Surely that's uncalled for?

 

[ChrisPackham]

This was featured on Fieldsports Britain last week, quite informative, not for me though!

 

[ips]

This was featured on Fieldsports Britain last week, quite informative, not for me though!

link ??

 

[westley]

This was featured on Fieldsports Britain last week, quite informative, not for me though!

I think you need to be able to enjoy watching some excellent dog work. The actual shooting is a secondary thing.

 

[ips]

I cant find it anyone got a link

 

[Brand New]

Hi there Mr ips,well done on shooting at a FT training day. Did a Partridge training day with a spaniel last year and doing one this Friday with my two puppies. Its not the most sporting shooting I have seen but it is essential for the dogs. It is also affordable game shooting with days being available for £80.

 

[ips]

thanks brand new.

we were tasked by the handlers to give long retrieves (contrary to what the keeper wanted ?) so the shooting for us was actually quite challenging ?

 

[ChrisPackham]

I cant find it anyone got a link

 

[DavidJ]

Try the whole episode, there's loading as well http://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/fieldsports-britain-fastest-birds-you-can-shoot/