A piece of the action
Shooting Times & Country|January 22, 2020
Beaters’ day is one of the season’s highlights — a chance for those who have been doing the hard graft to have some fun, says Simon Reinhold
A piece of the action

The beaters’ day at the end of the season, sometimes known as the cock day, is the gamekeeper’s way of thanking all those who have helped on the shoot throughout the season.

For some people, perhaps more used to rough shooting than standing in a line of Guns, the beaters’ day can be a stressful exercise, but it doesn’t have to be if you bear in mind a few simple points.

Firstly, make sure you know the date and start time. It sounds obvious but I have been caught out by this on a new shoot. Having picked up all season and never moved off before 09.15, I strolled into the shoot room at 08.50 only to find I was 20 minutes late as the cock day starts at 08.15, moving off at 08.30. I hadn’t checked and spent the day apologising.

Getting all your kit set out the night before a shoot is a good start. For me, it is the beginning of the sense of anticipation that I find a hugely enjoyable part of a shoot day.

A shot at a pheasant is over in seconds but the anticipation is for me a source of great pleasure — where might a bird break cover, will it curl to me on the wind, will it break back over the beating line?

All these questions and more focus the mind on the moment and prolong the pleasure of the day. This anticipation is not only an enjoyable part but almost without realising you are preparing yourself mentally to make a successful shot.

Good game shots often seem to have more time than others and part of the reason is they have prepared through experience and anticipation.

Relaxed state

It’s all about relaxed concentration and this is a key part of finding your best sporting performance.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 22, 2020-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der January 22, 2020-Ausgabe von Shooting Times & Country.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRYAlle anzeigen
United we stand
Shooting Times & Country

United we stand

Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Serious matters
Shooting Times & Country

Serious matters

An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
They're not always as easy as they seem
Shooting Times & Country

They're not always as easy as they seem

While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Debutant gundogs
Shooting Times & Country

Debutant gundogs

There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
When the going gets rough
Shooting Times & Country

When the going gets rough

Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique

time-read
5 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
Shooting Times & Country

The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition

In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make

time-read
4 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
A step too far?
Shooting Times & Country

A step too far?

Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work

time-read
6 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Two bucks before breakfast
Shooting Times & Country

Two bucks before breakfast

A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem

time-read
6 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Stalking Diary
Shooting Times & Country

Stalking Diary

Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill

time-read
2 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023
Gamekeeper
Shooting Times & Country

Gamekeeper

Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside

time-read
3 Minuten  |
August 02, 2023