Calendar is getting full

[ips]

I know of many shoots that have pulled the plug but luckily all of the ones i am involved with have not, including my syndicate which is back on and we are now two work days in with another this Saturday (6 of us socially distancing i hasten to add, i kid you not) anyway i now have 30 days beating with a few more dates to come, 24 ish days loading/minding, and about 16 days driven shooting not including 4 beaters days. Incidentally the 16 days are all sub 50 bird days. I was going to have 2 biggish days as in 150 - 200 bird but i have cancelled both because i am now of the opinion that i enjoy smaller days more in fact i actually enjoy rough shooting over me dog the best but i havent factored that in as that will be whatever it is.
So whats everyone else's calendar looking like ??

[Springcopse spaniels]

When are you working then?
Seems like all play and no work!

[CockerCanuck]

It seems like things will be pretty normal here. Of course most of my hunting is in environments which would be considered "socially isolated" by UK standards. This spring and summer I am also enjoying my fishing without restrictions. I do miss a stop for a pub lunch or pint before dinner but all things considered I count myself pretty lucky to be in Canada.

[ips]

When are you working then?
Seems like all play and no work!

I am in the transition of full retirement as we speak Simon by start of game season it will indeed be all play and NO work

[PRH]

/\ well done IPS, that sounds an ideal way to spend the winter! I think I'll have a handful of driven days on the peg and a handful of days out picking up.

Question - the cocker will be 9 months old by the time the season starts. My thought is to take her along when I go shooting, get her out at the start of the day / between drives, or keep her on the lead and well back from the action if I'm picking up somewhere - essentially not ask her to do anything other than watch. Reading some of the posts on here there seems to be a different take, along the lines of getting the dog to work from the get go, letting it learn, and managing along the way. So, am I being overly protective of the pup or taking a sensible approach? She seems to me to pretty sharp and really soaks up the bits of training we do.

[Springcopse spaniels]

When are you working then?
Seems like all play and no work!

I am in the transition of full retirement as we speak Simon by start of game season it will indeed be all play and NO work

Same as me then

[ips]

When are you working then?
Seems like all play and no work!

I am in the transition of full retirement as we speak Simon by start of game season it will indeed be all play and NO work

Same as me then

[Naj]

/\ well done IPS, that sounds an ideal way to spend the winter! I think I'll have a handful of driven days on the peg and a handful of days out picking up.

Question - the cocker will be 9 months old by the time the season starts. My thought is to take her along when I go shooting, get her out at the start of the day / between drives, or keep her on the lead and well back from the action if I'm picking up somewhere - essentially not ask her to do anything other than watch. Reading some of the posts on here there seems to be a different take, along the lines of getting the dog to work from the get go, letting it learn, and managing along the way. So, am I being overly protective of the pup or taking a sensible approach? She seems to me to pretty sharp and really soaks up the bits of training we do.

I like to immerse pups in the environment in which they’ll be accustomed to working in ( I’ve no other option where I now live ) when they’re older, in a managed way, so there are no surprises for the pup or you. I find that to be an immensely sensible approach but others will fervently disagree so you really need to make your own mind up. But I’ve always had a curious mind when it comes to dogs and training.

Naj

[PRH]

I can see that makes sense. We have ground here with pheasant and rabbits so the opportunity is there. The real question is whether I’m brave enough!

[Nickheref]

Just be ready to put the lead on if it looks like it is going wrong. I let mine hunt from as early as they want but it isn't in places with lots of reared game or other peoples dogs and in some ways that is the difference as I am relaxed, if they make a mistake they may learn from it and they are not going to get mugged or frightened by another dog.

From what I am hearing around here (North Herefordshire / South Shropshire) a lot of the big commercial shoots are going ahead but have reduced the numbers they are releasing. The smaller syndicates are doing things as usual.