Episode 8: Wrapping Up Another Season.

That's All Folks

So that is another season over for us here on our little DIY syndicate shoot in Wiltshire. January has been busy with us out on each of the last four weeks of the season. Let us have a quick run through these days before reflecting on the season as a whole.

5th Syndicate Day

After what has been about the wettest winter I can remember the day dawned dry with a gentle Northerly and some sunshine, not bad at at. We planned to stay at "The Farm" part of the shoot all day so I had to do a couple of drives that were by this part of the season getting a little short of birds. Four drives before lunch: Hilltop was OK, we blanked the cemetery into it - maybe 15 in it with 5 in the bag. Just like the only other time we have done it this season the Enterprise drive was a big disappointment, only two in it with one shot (a fox in it again which needs dealing with). I had high hopes for the Quarry but after a flurry of early birds it kind of fizzled out, 3 or 4 added to the bag. We did Seniors just about as well as we could have done after losing a few birds out the back last time but despite this the birds were a little thin on the ground. 19 head at lunch was not too bad but with only 64 on the clicker they had not shot badly and I felt I had not left many behind. 

Lunch was pheasant curry supplied by yours truly, two choices - Hot 'n Spicy or Boring. It seemed to go down well, I reckon there were 18 pheasants in the two and the whole lot went.

Back to the shooting and off to Juniors, it got off to an excellent start with the Accountants guest forgetting to pick up any cartridges - I say excellent as I later received a bottle of whiskey from him by way of recompense. Anyway the drive was stuffed with birds, the American and her spaniel MacTavish did not know which way to turn at one point they were putting up so many. They flew as well as I can remember despite there being little wind, 97 on the clicker here alone with about 20 added to the bag I would guess. Finished with The Brake, plenty of birds here but the are getting a little wise and its hard to get them over the guns - I would imagine as many shot by flanking guns as those at the front of the drive, 40 odd more shots for another 10 birds I would guess. Finished the day with 46 pheasants, a woodcock and two pigeons - 207 on the clicker.

Final Syndicate Day

So to our last syndicate day of the season, grey without a breath of wind. The brakes are now totally off, going where I feel we will shoot most and blanking in all the bits and pieces I don't worry about earlier in the season. Spent the morning at The Moor and having rested it for three weeks I was disappointed with what we found, the three drives all had a few birds in them but simply not the numbers I hoped for (or indeed expected). Lunch saw us with 6 pheasants and 3 duck from 50 plus shots.

Braised venison stew for lunch courtesy of The Accountant and The Entertainer. 

Three drives in the afternoon. First both Hilltop and The Quarry blanked into Seniors, it was not long until we realised The Carpenter had dug out his black powder hammer gun - a deep boom and a cloud of smoke made him easy to spot in the line - 40 odd on the clicker. Onto Juniors which was a little quieter than the previous week, good birds but Mon Dieu (as our friends from across the channel would say) without naming names the standard of shooting was iffy at best (and in reality dechets would be more accurate, look it up on google translate). Finished by blanking some scrub into The Brake which gave us a good drive to finish on with around 50 on the clicker.

Finished with 29 head but 200 cartridges returned (getting on towards 7:1) tells a story. Beaters day next so there are a few left for them still.

Beaters Day

After a week of hard frosts Beaters Day dawned a little warmer with a good south westerly blow. It's always a pleasure to give the beaters a day out carrying a gun. It should really be called "keepers" or "helpers" day, I once read a very good article that highlighted it was not for just the beaters/pickers up but for anyone who had helped the shoot throughout the season for instance a farmer who drilled the game crops etc. We had a mixture of experienced and less experienced guns out with some of the syndicate chaperoning the younger generation.

Started at The Moor. Did, what are normally the first two drives, in one. This worked a treat and we put a steady stream of very good birds over the guns, at one point The Lieutenant radioed through asking for them to be a little lower please. 7 in the bag for ...... lets just say a lot on the clicker. One more drive at The Moor, got the duck over the guns but they missed them, 2 more pheasants in the bag. Back to The Farm and Hilltop next, I have been feeding a good number of birds here but they are very spooky and hard to get over the guns, 3 more in the bag. Seniors last before lunch and a few in it with another 3 added to the total. 

After lunch and it was Juniors next. Lots of birds, most of which could be classed as "very good" with the rest "exceptional". They would have tested the best of guns, suffice to say a lot of cartridges for not a lot of birds. The American's spaniel "MacTavish" embarrassed himself/covered himself in glory depending on how you see it. Having put a bird up in the beating line he obviously watched it over the guns where it was hit hard but was far from dead. "Bugger" I thought, that will be hard to find - but with that I saw the ginger Scotsman himself (MacTavish) had decided to take matters into his own hands (paws). Out the end of the drive he went, past the guns without slowing, across the field, through a hedge, across the corner of another field and up into the trees where the bird had landed. Two minutes later he returned proudly carrying his prize. Whatever you may think about his lack control that was a bird the would have in all probability been lost - well done MacT I say. Finished the day with The Brake. Again a fair smattering of birds that flew like only January birds with the wind up their tails can. MacTavish finished his eventful afternoon the hero once more by picking a cock bird with a leg down from the previous drive. All in all a very good beaters day, everybody had some shooting and plenty of fun as well. Finished with 23 head with .......... lets just say quite a few cartridges returned.

Mop Up Day

A mop up day is not something we have done before and I wanted to do it after beaters day to ensure they had some sport. In effect this was an extra day with no promises and no pressure. As only the syndicate shooting today there were no "teams" so a full driven day for them, we just about has enough of our loyal beaters to ensure we covered the ground.

Started at The Moor. First problem was that I made the mistake of carrying a gun in the line, seemed like a good idea at the time but with a radio, a stick and a gun you are always one hand short. Second problem was that the The Lieutenant's spaniel, Fern, cut herself badly on the first drive. Emergency trip to the vets, so now short of my right hand man and a spaniel. Anyway 12 pheasants at The Moor with around 80 on the clicker, got a few duck over the guns but none shot. Back to the Farm - Hilltop and Seniors before lunch, added another 3 pheasants and a reeves pheasant o the bag. Now I have to come clean here and say that I had one barrel at the reeves and I fear hit it so it was with some relief that it was killed behind me.

Lunch was provided my my sister and bloody good it was too - cottage pie, runner beans and peas followed by various cakes. 

So back to the shooting and three drives after lunch. Juniors was once again the best drive of the day with some quality birds. I saw Les Roastbif  shoot one very good one and The Carpenter who was out with his black powder hammer gun again raised the biggest cheer with an equally good bird. The Brake and the pens to finish saw the odd bird but to be honest we haven't left many. Finished with 31 head, 186 cartridges returned.

Shoot Dogs

In this final episode I would like to introduce you the The Entertainers cocker spaniel "Clipper".  After two years of training Clipper has been allowed to join in the fun this season and has done very well. The Entertainer has shown uncharacteristic restraint in not rushing him and is now reaping his rewards, whist all around him are running hither and thither Clipper will sit unleashed on his peg waiting to be sent. When bid he will stick his nose into brambles along with the best of them and remains under control in the beating line. Clipper has his own Instagram account, "dogsonpegs" which is well worth a look if you are up to speed with this modern fandangled gadgetry (I got a young person to set it up on my phone for me). 

Final Thoughts and Tallies

Well that's it another season done and dusted. I will continue to feed what birds we have left through February and March at least, we may keep a few on the ground and we may get a wild brood or two with luck.

Of course there is the syndicate wrap up meeting to come, finances will be sorted and plans for next season will be made. My main aim will be to get some work days planned, this winter's storms have left us with some significant damage to the pens on top of the usual tasks.

Overall another enjoyable season. It's not all about what we shot but how much fun we had doing it. However, for those interested in numbers we shot 417 pheasants, a return of 32%. Other odds and sods gave us a final head count of 458 from a total of 2053, an accuracy ratio of 4.5:1. 

The Squirrel Cup

Whilst not prime time for squirrel shooting, reports continue to trickle in on the WhatsApp group. In fact only today The Accountant added another to his tally whilst working from home due to a rail strike. 

Au Revoir 

That is eight episodes written covering a year on our DIY syndicate here in Wiltshire.  It was intended to be humorous as well as descriptive. I hope you have found it enjoyable and I trust I have not offended anybody, if I have please file lawsuits via The Accountant. Wishing you all a great 2024-2025 season. The Keeper.