Things we hate to hear on shoots

[Hmmmm?]

"I definetly pricked that bird!" only to watch it fly on, wings set over 2 fields a river and into a bank of woods on the horizon! I love those solitary walks!

[Miff]

similar to Judy's gripe I suppose, not something I hear but something I am aware of: the picker up who always but always heads towards the pegs at the end of the drive and is seen handing loads of birds over to the game cart. As I am not in sight of the guns I often end up just making it to the cart before it moves off - often with the elusive one or two that nearly got away.; you know, the ones that my dogs really have to work hard to find!!!!!! Must say that this doesn't happen on my regular shoot as all the pickers up are really hard working and very supportive if birds are missing.

I hate, really hate, to see birds being treated badly i.e. they may be dead but for goodness sake have some respect. Flingin them about onto a pile is not on! GRRrrrrrrrrr!

[Cockerman]

"its definately dead"

or

But my biggest hate is guns on a walk one stand one who when walking could not
give a dam about what they are doing, then when standing complain about the walkers
not doing it correctly

Dave

[pontbeck]

Haven't got much to add but like all pickers up who've been doing it for a while I can relate to virtually all that's been said.
Last Wednesday I was picking up behind the last gun in the line, who was standing in an open field next to a wood. He had several birds down, two within 10 feet of where he stood, the rest in the wood.I picked a couple of runners and swept back to the road clearing up the remaining birds, when I thought to myself I'll just check the gun picked those two birds up and there they were , lying where they were shot 10 feet from the peg and now 30 yds from where the gun was enjoying elevenses.

[Alice]

I hate, really hate, to see birds being treated badly i.e. they may be dead but for goodness sake have some respect. Flingin them about onto a pile is not on! GRRrrrrrrrrr!

this. One of the young lads on Sat threw a dead bird at a girl to try and freak her out. I had 'word' or several with him and I don't think he'll be doing it again. he's only a very young lad, 11 or 12, something like that, and was showing off in front of the girls no doubt, but I do NOT want to see things like that, and nor do the guns.

[Naj]

Haven't got much to add but like all pickers up who've been doing it for a while I can relate to virtually all that's been said.
Last Wednesday I was picking up behind the last gun in the line, who was standing in an open field next to a wood. He had several birds down, two within 10 feet of where he stood, the rest in the wood.I picked a couple of runners and swept back to the road clearing up the remaining birds, when I thought to myself I'll just check the gun picked those two birds up and there they were , lying where they were shot 10 feet from the peg and now 30 yds from where the gun was enjoying elevenses.

And he'd have still left them even though he knew that they weren't quite dead - which is one of my pet hates.

[scoggsy1978]

Mine is seeing guns shoot birds that are only just above the end of the barrels......or more truthfully at a range where you cant miss. Often proceeded by a puff of feathers that you could make a duvet with. What a waste.

I once saw a gun on a corporate day dressed in jeans and trainers (i kid you not) who shot a bird that ended up in two pieces. The shoot captain made him pick the two pieces up and formed part of his (now three piece) brace!

I also remember standing behind the gun line picking up and having to duck as the shot hit the trees above my head.

[Miff]

Mine is seeing guns shoot birds that are only just above the end of the barrels......or more truthfully at a range where you cant miss. Often proceeded by a puff of feathers that you could make a duvet with. What a waste.

I once saw a gun on a corporate day dressed in jeans and trainers (i kid you not) who shot a bird that ended up in two pieces. The shoot captain made him pick the two pieces up and formed part of his (now three piece) brace!

I also remember standing behind the gun line picking up and having to duck as the shot hit the trees above my head.

Like the pigeon Wynnie picked yesterday, with head blown off!

[Judy]

Nah! That one didn't duck!

[Naj]

Bet it didn't half grouse about it.