Page 7 - Leighton News February 2017
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7
A SHOOTING DIARY
October 2016 - January 2017
WARNING this article is not suitable for vegetarians
We enjoy a variety of sporting shoots in Powys and Shrophire both as shooters and also
working our gundogs picking up. As well as some diary highlights for the season just finishing we also
went to shoots at Halston Hall in Whittington (our favourite) on 8th October, 12th November and 17th
December plus the first Llanfair Caereinion meeting of the season on 29th October
26th Nov. Chillington Hall Stafford 10 guns My 7th Jan. Halston 5 guns
one big driven day this year. Great show of birds, Partner working dogs as usual.
mainly partridge which I am not used to but draw peg New keeper this season and by
No 5 so in prime place to practice! First few birds out are now knows the drives and the
quite low so leave them for another day, then wind picks birds so gun placement and
up and its game on. can be deceptive as they seem faster communication is first class.
than pheasant due to smaller size and faster wingbeat.
Hold my own and adapt well to challenge. 5 drives with No drawing of pegs as is
some stunning views of gardens designed by Capability usual on this shoot, guns are
Brown and lunch overlooking lake. Bag for the day 160, moved to try and ensure
great day, good sport, dogs very tired, gun very hot! everyone has equal share. Great
atmosphere and respect for
30th Nov. Nesscliffe 20 guns (10 shoot and 10 beat), other guns. Shot with these
historically low return on birds for investment, average bag guys for many years so have
last season 40 to 50. Meet opposite Army Camp entrance complete trust and faith in their
for roll call, security quite tight as you would expect! My safety and also willingness to
first time this season and optimistic as some major changes let birds go if a better shot for
to personnel and routines have seen first 2 bags of this another gun (familiarity also
season over 100! Very flat but some good birds and bag means more joshing if someone
109, all pheasant, of which I have quite a few more than is off form!!)
my 5%! Really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and
camaraderie. As terrain is flat I can take my faithful old Best show of birds this
Labrador, Misty, who at 13 still enjoys the odd retrieve as season with a bag of 48, colder
long as no runners. Great day. weather help keeps birds
together, guns on good form,
10th Dec. Llanfair 7 guns 2nd day at Llanfair, partner and dogs do great job
expectation high after a good first day. Meet at farm at as usual, beaters produce good
9.30am , 8 guns and partner has come along to pick up show, last shoot here so good
with dogs which I enjoy watching almost as much as the spread of food and drink!
sport. Wet and windy and some challenging birds, in " hot
seat " on 2nd drive and shoot well. Good show with some ST & EN
high birds. 3rd drive was a duck drive which I struggle
with as not used to height and speed, 16 shots for 2 birds ECONOMICS OF SHOOTING
which highlights the point ! Bag for the day was 45
pheasant, 16 duck. Despite the weather a good day. • Shooters spend £2.5 billion each year on goods and
services
• Shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full time
jobs
• Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds
of the rural land area in the UK
• Shoot providers spend nearly £250 million a year on
conservation
• Shooters spend 3.9 million work days on conservation
– the equivalent of 16,000 full-time jobs
• Two million hectares are actively managed for
conservation as a result of shooting
A SHOOTING DIARY
October 2016 - January 2017
WARNING this article is not suitable for vegetarians
We enjoy a variety of sporting shoots in Powys and Shrophire both as shooters and also
working our gundogs picking up. As well as some diary highlights for the season just finishing we also
went to shoots at Halston Hall in Whittington (our favourite) on 8th October, 12th November and 17th
December plus the first Llanfair Caereinion meeting of the season on 29th October
26th Nov. Chillington Hall Stafford 10 guns My 7th Jan. Halston 5 guns
one big driven day this year. Great show of birds, Partner working dogs as usual.
mainly partridge which I am not used to but draw peg New keeper this season and by
No 5 so in prime place to practice! First few birds out are now knows the drives and the
quite low so leave them for another day, then wind picks birds so gun placement and
up and its game on. can be deceptive as they seem faster communication is first class.
than pheasant due to smaller size and faster wingbeat.
Hold my own and adapt well to challenge. 5 drives with No drawing of pegs as is
some stunning views of gardens designed by Capability usual on this shoot, guns are
Brown and lunch overlooking lake. Bag for the day 160, moved to try and ensure
great day, good sport, dogs very tired, gun very hot! everyone has equal share. Great
atmosphere and respect for
30th Nov. Nesscliffe 20 guns (10 shoot and 10 beat), other guns. Shot with these
historically low return on birds for investment, average bag guys for many years so have
last season 40 to 50. Meet opposite Army Camp entrance complete trust and faith in their
for roll call, security quite tight as you would expect! My safety and also willingness to
first time this season and optimistic as some major changes let birds go if a better shot for
to personnel and routines have seen first 2 bags of this another gun (familiarity also
season over 100! Very flat but some good birds and bag means more joshing if someone
109, all pheasant, of which I have quite a few more than is off form!!)
my 5%! Really enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and
camaraderie. As terrain is flat I can take my faithful old Best show of birds this
Labrador, Misty, who at 13 still enjoys the odd retrieve as season with a bag of 48, colder
long as no runners. Great day. weather help keeps birds
together, guns on good form,
10th Dec. Llanfair 7 guns 2nd day at Llanfair, partner and dogs do great job
expectation high after a good first day. Meet at farm at as usual, beaters produce good
9.30am , 8 guns and partner has come along to pick up show, last shoot here so good
with dogs which I enjoy watching almost as much as the spread of food and drink!
sport. Wet and windy and some challenging birds, in " hot
seat " on 2nd drive and shoot well. Good show with some ST & EN
high birds. 3rd drive was a duck drive which I struggle
with as not used to height and speed, 16 shots for 2 birds ECONOMICS OF SHOOTING
which highlights the point ! Bag for the day was 45
pheasant, 16 duck. Despite the weather a good day. • Shooters spend £2.5 billion each year on goods and
services
• Shooting supports the equivalent of 74,000 full time
jobs
• Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds
of the rural land area in the UK
• Shoot providers spend nearly £250 million a year on
conservation
• Shooters spend 3.9 million work days on conservation
– the equivalent of 16,000 full-time jobs
• Two million hectares are actively managed for
conservation as a result of shooting
