k9h
Well-Known Member
Appologizes now as this may be long!
Well first day of the season that I could go to today. Was Quails 1st proper days work. I had taken her to beaters day last season but only had her out for half the day & on lead all the time.
Was an overcast but dry day with quite a bit of wind.
Had to be there for 9ish, set of, half way there realised I had forgotten my stick, didn't worry to much as know they have spare ones there.
Went into beaters hut for a brew & find out what happening for the day & get orders!
Then shoot owner came in to say one of the guns got caught in traffic so going to be 15min late & the chap coming by helicopter not coming now! (How the other half live!)
Did take my camera but left it in truck! Thought no worries will get it at lunch.
So we set of for first drive which is at the end of the estate drive, I walked down with Quail who was very excited at the going on's & all these other people & dogs around!
So we wait for guns to get into place before going in & then walking the birds up. Quail was tugging away at the lead & whinning a bit. Which I absolutley hate really annoying trait. So for most of the drive I am trying to stay in line, tap my borrowed stick, keep hold of the lead & telling her quitely to shut up!
Birds flew well for the guns nice & steady out. By end of drive I was in a right tiss over Quail thinking I want to stick her back in truck & give up on a poor job by me to train her!
So time to move on to next drive, 3 of us in back of LR with 5 labs & 2 cocckers!
2nd drive we have a little spinney which we have to walk through before the main drive. Again Quail yanking on & annoying me generally. Que me sharp tugging lead & knocking her out of my feets way with my legs.
We wait before moving on to the main part.
Shoot owner rings keeper to say that you should be able to see the guns coming over hill. He asks which hill. Shoot owner says P hill, cue Keeper telling him he will struggle to see them as he is on a different hill 3 miles away as the crow flies!
Owner had gone to 3rd drive! Owner asks if we are going over there & Keeper says No! So a few more minutes delay as guns have to drive over.
Whilst on this wait I txt one of the pickers up saying I think I should quit whist behind with Quail, he said not to worry just ignore her whinning & keep her on the lead. I said no worries of her coming off today!
Then we walk up to the main part to drive. Go in & walk the part I ususally do. Trying to ignore any whinning from Quail who was only doing it when we have to stand & wait or she sees a load of birds in front.
Birds flew well again well.
So now to move on to 3rd drive where guns have already been!
Keeper leaves a few there to do that drive, as wants a few of us to start on the 4th drive as quite a bit of walking up to do before hand. So now in back of LR is 5 labs & 4 people, then on way there he picks up a roll of fencing wire sticks that in with us & then another lad. Just as well we all get on!
So he drops us off & goes back to the 3rd drive.
We start to walk this in & are then to stop at the end of this cover till Keeper joins us again & move on to the next wood.
Quail didn't really whine in here this time & didn't do overly to much pulling, just going the other side of little trees que us getting snagged!
Whilst waiting to go on there was a lovely big field water trough that I thought I would offer Quail a drink at. Walk her up to it & tapped on the side thinking she would put her front paws up & have a quick lap. No she launchees of the ground like a harrishawk jet about to go in the trough. I just manage to block her from going in! Tried this 2 more times with same reaction that I cupped some water out with my hand for her to lap!
I was to go on the bottom of the wood on the inside of the fence, then where the stop wire was, to follow that up to the top & if lots of birds in front to slow the lads behind down to not rush the birds.
Get near to the stop wire & there is a cock & hen infront about 20yrds away, they then manage to get stuck between 2 bits of wire. Que Quail very excited at them stuck & flapping. I tug her into heal slip down bank & at this she shot forward pulling lead out my hand
I'm up before I am down & run to the scene! Quail is trying to peg them
So get her under control again & then free the birds up who sneak back behind me.
I try & regain composure & head up the stop wire. Not a mass of birds in front so we keep moving forward. Get to the top & stand there tapping for a few minutes with Quail excited at the birds she can see in front of us. (I am sure she thinks she can do a much better job without me hindering her & she is trying to say "They are there, let me at em!")
That drive over with & it is now time for lunch 1.45pm. So we walk back to the motors picking up birds from the guns on the way. Get back & put our dogs in our own motors.
As I put Quail in I gave her a quick rub over with the blanket on her bed in back & one of lads said "Does that plug in as well!" Cheeky sod! Just trying to get mud off her.
Lunch they provide some soup, sausage rolls & bickies & we provide the banter! Had to be quick lunch to get last drive in with the light.
Was to be a 250 bird day & so far they had 200 birds.
Stables was the last drive so we can walk it from where we are.
Again we have a part to walk in before the main drive.
Quail is now either getting the idea of the job or was too knackered to pull or whine
Finally!
On to the final drive part, head up a steep hill with lots of rhoddendrons & snow berries, under trees. So thick cover that we have to bash up.
Get to the top & had to crawl under a rhoddy with Quail in tow, get out the other end & Keeper says "Thats what I like to see going through them rather than around them!" I said "It's a poor job when I have a dog & I still have to get on my hands & knees!" Move on to last bit a flush the birds out.
Whistle blown & all finished. Time to head back to hut. I went via the picker up as thought it would do Quail some good. As I went in wood Picker up that I had txt earlier said there was a bird inbetween us, he called off his young dog & told me to get it.
It was only about 20 yards below me but not in clear view. So I let Quail off & sent her for it. She went a bit off angle for it but came over to it & picked it up & brought it back to me. Que me
Pop her back on lead & walk down to Pickerupper. He said to let her off lead as she can do no damage now! So let her off & we hunt round for any other birds. She kept checking back in with me & never went off too far. So really pleased with her though she never found another bird.
Walk back to truck with her of lead walking to heal!
Pop her back in with water & rub down.
Didn't get chance to get camera out as consentrating to much on Quail & the birds & keeping in line! Managed to get oneof my mobile though whilst on one of our wait's.
So over all am pleased with how she finished the day & am hoping the tugging & whinnig were just inital excitement. Well we will see when I am back there in just over a weeks time. Sadly couldn't stay for long in hut as had an appointment to get to. So missed any banter follow up from the day.
Guns got 320 birds in the end so think they had enjoyed their day too.
Is a grand bunch of lads that I beat with & since I started am the sole female beater (bar the keepers wife who comes when not working). They have treated me more than fine since the first day & are really helpful & kind but they also know that they get back as good as they give banter wise!
Sorry for it being so long!
Cookies & beer if you got this far!
Well first day of the season that I could go to today. Was Quails 1st proper days work. I had taken her to beaters day last season but only had her out for half the day & on lead all the time.
Was an overcast but dry day with quite a bit of wind.
Had to be there for 9ish, set of, half way there realised I had forgotten my stick, didn't worry to much as know they have spare ones there.
Went into beaters hut for a brew & find out what happening for the day & get orders!
Then shoot owner came in to say one of the guns got caught in traffic so going to be 15min late & the chap coming by helicopter not coming now! (How the other half live!)
Did take my camera but left it in truck! Thought no worries will get it at lunch.
So we set of for first drive which is at the end of the estate drive, I walked down with Quail who was very excited at the going on's & all these other people & dogs around!
So we wait for guns to get into place before going in & then walking the birds up. Quail was tugging away at the lead & whinning a bit. Which I absolutley hate really annoying trait. So for most of the drive I am trying to stay in line, tap my borrowed stick, keep hold of the lead & telling her quitely to shut up!
Birds flew well for the guns nice & steady out. By end of drive I was in a right tiss over Quail thinking I want to stick her back in truck & give up on a poor job by me to train her!
So time to move on to next drive, 3 of us in back of LR with 5 labs & 2 cocckers!
2nd drive we have a little spinney which we have to walk through before the main drive. Again Quail yanking on & annoying me generally. Que me sharp tugging lead & knocking her out of my feets way with my legs.
We wait before moving on to the main part.
Shoot owner rings keeper to say that you should be able to see the guns coming over hill. He asks which hill. Shoot owner says P hill, cue Keeper telling him he will struggle to see them as he is on a different hill 3 miles away as the crow flies!
Owner had gone to 3rd drive! Owner asks if we are going over there & Keeper says No! So a few more minutes delay as guns have to drive over.
Whilst on this wait I txt one of the pickers up saying I think I should quit whist behind with Quail, he said not to worry just ignore her whinning & keep her on the lead. I said no worries of her coming off today!
Then we walk up to the main part to drive. Go in & walk the part I ususally do. Trying to ignore any whinning from Quail who was only doing it when we have to stand & wait or she sees a load of birds in front.
Birds flew well again well.
So now to move on to 3rd drive where guns have already been!
Keeper leaves a few there to do that drive, as wants a few of us to start on the 4th drive as quite a bit of walking up to do before hand. So now in back of LR is 5 labs & 4 people, then on way there he picks up a roll of fencing wire sticks that in with us & then another lad. Just as well we all get on!
So he drops us off & goes back to the 3rd drive.
We start to walk this in & are then to stop at the end of this cover till Keeper joins us again & move on to the next wood.
Quail didn't really whine in here this time & didn't do overly to much pulling, just going the other side of little trees que us getting snagged!
Whilst waiting to go on there was a lovely big field water trough that I thought I would offer Quail a drink at. Walk her up to it & tapped on the side thinking she would put her front paws up & have a quick lap. No she launchees of the ground like a harrishawk jet about to go in the trough. I just manage to block her from going in! Tried this 2 more times with same reaction that I cupped some water out with my hand for her to lap!
I was to go on the bottom of the wood on the inside of the fence, then where the stop wire was, to follow that up to the top & if lots of birds in front to slow the lads behind down to not rush the birds.
Get near to the stop wire & there is a cock & hen infront about 20yrds away, they then manage to get stuck between 2 bits of wire. Que Quail very excited at them stuck & flapping. I tug her into heal slip down bank & at this she shot forward pulling lead out my hand
I'm up before I am down & run to the scene! Quail is trying to peg them
I try & regain composure & head up the stop wire. Not a mass of birds in front so we keep moving forward. Get to the top & stand there tapping for a few minutes with Quail excited at the birds she can see in front of us. (I am sure she thinks she can do a much better job without me hindering her & she is trying to say "They are there, let me at em!")
That drive over with & it is now time for lunch 1.45pm. So we walk back to the motors picking up birds from the guns on the way. Get back & put our dogs in our own motors.
As I put Quail in I gave her a quick rub over with the blanket on her bed in back & one of lads said "Does that plug in as well!" Cheeky sod! Just trying to get mud off her.
Lunch they provide some soup, sausage rolls & bickies & we provide the banter! Had to be quick lunch to get last drive in with the light.
Was to be a 250 bird day & so far they had 200 birds.
Stables was the last drive so we can walk it from where we are.
Again we have a part to walk in before the main drive.
Quail is now either getting the idea of the job or was too knackered to pull or whine
On to the final drive part, head up a steep hill with lots of rhoddendrons & snow berries, under trees. So thick cover that we have to bash up.
Get to the top & had to crawl under a rhoddy with Quail in tow, get out the other end & Keeper says "Thats what I like to see going through them rather than around them!" I said "It's a poor job when I have a dog & I still have to get on my hands & knees!" Move on to last bit a flush the birds out.
Whistle blown & all finished. Time to head back to hut. I went via the picker up as thought it would do Quail some good. As I went in wood Picker up that I had txt earlier said there was a bird inbetween us, he called off his young dog & told me to get it.
It was only about 20 yards below me but not in clear view. So I let Quail off & sent her for it. She went a bit off angle for it but came over to it & picked it up & brought it back to me. Que me
Walk back to truck with her of lead walking to heal!
Pop her back in with water & rub down.
Didn't get chance to get camera out as consentrating to much on Quail & the birds & keeping in line! Managed to get oneof my mobile though whilst on one of our wait's.
So over all am pleased with how she finished the day & am hoping the tugging & whinnig were just inital excitement. Well we will see when I am back there in just over a weeks time. Sadly couldn't stay for long in hut as had an appointment to get to. So missed any banter follow up from the day.
Guns got 320 birds in the end so think they had enjoyed their day too.
Is a grand bunch of lads that I beat with & since I started am the sole female beater (bar the keepers wife who comes when not working). They have treated me more than fine since the first day & are really helpful & kind but they also know that they get back as good as they give banter wise!
Sorry for it being so long!
Cookies & beer if you got this far!
