The season gets nearer and more Squirrel Cup ruling controversy

Hello one and all and welcome to the latest update from out DIY syndicate in Wiltshire. Since I wrote last nearing the end of July it has been all go as preparations for the upcoming season really start in earnest.

This Seasons Poults Arrive

The poults arrived at the very start of August. A total of 1,290 pheasants (43 crates) now become ours to look after. We have two main release pens on the Home Farm part of the shoot "major" where we released 510 and "minor" where we released 360, we also have two small satellite pens into which we put 180 (90 in each). The remaining 240 went off The Moor part of the shoot along with 150 duck split 60, 60 and 30 across the three pond we have there.  

We did not have a great start, losing 8 in the first couple of days to buzzards in the major pen. Measures were put in place to thwart this aerial assault, radios were put in the pens and also a large plastic eagle owl was put up a tree - I don't know if it was Radio 4, the even larger bird of prey or just the poults got a bit more streetwise but from that point onward things settled down. 

From Poults to Teenagers

Always a stressful time, I don't know of anything that can find more ways of killing itself than a pheasant poult. They will fly into fences and hang themselves, huddle together in a storm then suffocate one another and insist on going walkabout in the big wide world without thought for how many things are out there that consider them to be a tasty snack. Add into that the potential for gapes and a soaking wet August which increases the chance of other disease and you can see that I am pleased that they are now teenagers and they are supposedly able to look after themselves a bit. Loses thus far are minimal, around 15 out of nearly 1300 is more than pleasing.

Feed Round Day

The last big work day before the season and once it was over then I can heave a great sigh of relief. In mid September Les Roastbif duly delivered 8 tonnes of wheat in a trailer, which then needed to be bagged up and transported around the shoot into the many feeders we have sited in the drives. We had a bagging up gang and two UTVs plus a quad bike delivering and filling feeders.

Much to everyone's amusement I supply maps of where the feeders are, they are duly returned to me with a sarcastic "action complete" and a signature along with comments as to my cartography skills

Anyway we had a really successful day, getting very lucky with the weather. All 8 tonnes now gone, mostly into feeders with the remainder bagged and stored. This should see us through to November but I will need to spend more of the syndicates money if they want to hold the birds - the way to a pheasants heart is via it's stomach especially when it gets colder. This is even more true of the duck that will simply up and away.

Dogs

Time now to introduce another of of our canine shoot team to you.

Tweed is the Accountants cocker spaniel, I refer to him as MacTavish on account of him hailing from Scotland and his ginger coat. His good lady wife, "The American" (coming as she does from the USA) looks after Tweed on shoot days. The pair of them are absolutely invaluable - every drive of every day the are in the beating line, both working tirelessly the whole time. 

The Squirrel Cup

More controversy as an entry was refused by the Squirrel Cup Umpiring Marshal (SCUM). Tim's cat supplied evidence in video format of a recent kill but the SCUM decreed it ineligible, this rejection was appealed against but the final ruling was thus.

"In light of the non-discriminatory society we live I would like to highlight that the Squirrel Cup is open to all. Humans, animals and others - no matter how one identifies. However as discussed in other appeals  the squirrel must be shot - not run-over, remotely or otherwise trapped and most certainly not jumped on and bitten on the back of the neck. So, Tim's cat is welcome to join and a squirrel will be scored when it has shot one. I hope this is clear and as ever, there is no further right to appeal (Like the Rugby TMO). Hereto The Squirrel Cup Umpiring Marshal (SCUM)"

While numbers remain on the low side there has been a noticeable increase in activity. The Aging Progenitor added to his tally bringing him level at the top with The Carpenter, this seemed to stir the Entertainer into action and he quickly added two to make it a three way tie. Shocked as he was to see his lead evaporate, The Carpenter took matters into his own hands and laid siege around the release pens and added four to his total in quick time, only for The Entertainer to fight back with another to his own gun. Lastly, The Accountant managed to double his meagre score to two.