Working Dogs

nickcordery · Working Dogs

I am now retired from farming and my wife and I run a small catering business.
My hobby if you can call it that is beating and /or picking up at shoots with my three springer spaniels and a yellow labrador. We also have a trained border collie which we used for working sheep of course!
From 20th.September this year until Feb 1st 2009 I shall be out two or three times a week,in all winds and weathers, beating or picking up at shoots. Anyone wishing to do the same get in touch or look at pubs.myfunforum.org-no its not about drinking-PickersupBeatersShoots!!!
Nick

Block67

Haven't done beating for years! Used to do it on the Isle of Wight over a decade ago for a free lunch and a brace of pheasant! As a hobby, it could be classed as one, it is a past time after all, good exercise all that walking, and the dogs enjoy it! :D
Perhaps you can help Nick, I'm trying to find out where I can get some ordinary ring necked pheasants locally from, for breeding purposes?

nickcordery

Hi
PatrickPinker has a game farm at Iron Acton and may have ex layers available. Any local game farm at this time of the year will have ex layers at reasonable prices if you are stuck and dont mind travelling here I may be able to get some locally.
How many do you need?
Nick

Block67

Hi Nick, at the moment I am only after a hen and a cock bird for now, travel isn't a problem. :thumbl:
I may even join you on a beat, my old belgian shepherd used to love it, and probably still would!

Chepfer

Do you get paid to do it ?

I'd be interested !

Block67

nickcordery

Some shoots pay some dont- depends on the size. One shoot where I beat regularly the beaters are appreciated, dont get paid but are a nice team of people, they do get a beaters days on the shoot- and have to put up with me.
One shoot with very challenging terrain, the keeper makes home made soup-delicious-cakes ditto, we get paid, have a beaters day then a supper after, with wives/partners- all paid for by the guns.
Another shoot we get paid, not bad terrain unless the weather is foul-brekkie to start- guns and beaters/pickers up together- two walk/stand beaters days- I do a lunch for one beaters day and the shoot captain treated us all to pub lunch for the other.
Brace of birds at every shoot if you want.

We dont go beating or picking up for money- it does help with the fuel costs etc-especially nowadays! I love to see gundogs doing what they are meant to do- and if some are mine and they get it right its a buzz.
What I love is the camaraderie amongst the people out there in the countryside, the "crack" in the beating transport can be great and always entertaining. Want to do some? Look at pubs.myfunforum.org- for people and shoots looking for each other!
Nick

nickcordery

Crikey, one private message on another Forum and two more shoots want me- thats Mondays, wednesdays, fridays and saturdays booked up solid for the whole season now!
Any one else wat to try beating look at the following they are free:

www.pubs.myfunforum.org
www.pubs--pickers-up-beaters-shoots.co.uk.

Nick

nickcordery · NOBS GUIDE TO BEATING & PICKING UP

TESCOS HAVE A GREAT DEAL £11.87 30% DISCOUNT ON NORMAL PRICE £16.95

http://www.tesco.com/books/product.aspx?R=9781846890512

GTB

We have 70 odd acres of woodland if you fancy beating through that on a shoot day? We've normally got between 5 and 10 dogs but the more the merrier in that place.

Working Dogs

NOBS GUIDE TO BEATING & PICKING UP