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Beating


Guest Leveller

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Guest Leveller

I'm thinking of doing a bit of beating this season but haven't got a clue what's involved, do I have to have a suitable dog? I know many farmers and friends on shoots so don't think I'd have any trouble getting out if I want to but just don't know what is expected from a beater.

Any help would be greatfully recieved :gunsmilie:

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Hi Leveller

 

I have copied this for you, word for word off the National Organitaion of Beaters and Pickers Up website. (NOBS).

 

If your dogs are not trained gundogs I would suggest that you leave them at home, certainly to begin with.

 

Beating is an essential part of any successful shoot. If you are unfamiliar with what beating actually is, basically a beater is a person who has the job of flushing birds such as pheasants or grouse from cover in the direction of the guns.

 

Beaters work as part of a team normally led by the Gamekeeper or Underkeeper through woodland or other cover such as gamecrops to make sure that the birds fly in the desired direction. Their job is to investigate every bit of cover in the wood and flush the birds out using a stick.

 

Another aspect of beating is 'flagging'. This involves standing in areas where the birds are likely to flush and waving a coloured flag to make the birds fly higher so they are a more challenging and exciting shot for the guns.

 

Dogs can also be used in the beating line. These dogs need to be steady and under full control so that the birds are flushed as the keeper desires. Dogs that are usually found in the beating line include spaniels and labradors, but all kinds of dogs have been trained for the role.

 

Beaters are often paid for the work they do, anywhere in the region of £10-30, but many do it for fun. Beating gives you the chance to get out into the outdoors and see lots of wildlife and make new friends in the process. Get out and give it a go!

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you dog would have to be steady and well trained if you are taking it along with you, of course you can go beating without a dog !!

 

you will basically be in the beating line pushing birds out of cover over the guns, you will be expected to do as you are told for safety reasons if nothing else, you also be asked to be a stop on certain drives(basically standing in one spot tapping tree's or clapping yer hands softly to stop birds running out the wrong end of drive)

 

 

its a thouraghly enjoyable day out and most places pay aswell :thumbs::thumbs:

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I beat on a few local shoots, and they welcome reasonably under control dogs, but these are small shoots were everyone chips in to pay the beaters: these are not big paying shoots and all the guns know eachother well and the beaters: we're the same team year after year.

£20 per day: on one of the shoots we get a slap up barbecue lunch as well and more at the end of the day with free wine and beer!!

 

I use 3 terriers and a lurcher who gets the chance to flush a few hares and foxes as well. :D Obviously the terriers are only used on land where they're not likely to find an earth, but as this is open fen land we know where all the earths are (in the dyke sides) and I hold them back from any other likely places too. I find the terriers are brilliant at putting up birds from thick sugar beet etc as they just beetle about under the leaves: I'm not likely to see them from one end of the drive to the other: just the leaves moving above where they are: but I will say that they are very well trained and not likely to just disappear of on a line, and they never range out further than 50 yards ahead and I can call them back at any time.

 

BTW: a suitable dog is one who puts the birds up and comes back when its called! LOL

 

It IS good fun, and on our land very easy and a good craic with everyone: big bags are not the aim: just to be out and have a decent day.

 

Are you thinking of using your teckels for beating?

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Guest Leveller

Thanks for the replies,

 

No the teckels won't be coming :no: they have their jobs to do and they aren't very controlable unless I've got the whole pack and the horn so it would be best them left at home. I wouldn't take a dog but I didn't know if I had to use one or not, I'm not worried about being paid but a good bit of grub is always welcomed with an open mouth :D I'm really just curious to be honest. I've been involved in hounds, lurchers, terriers and ferrets my whole life but never been into shooting I would just like to have a nosey really and it never hurts to meet new people. The farm next door to mine has a lot of shoots on it through the season so I will ask him I think unless I get an e mail from the MFHA informing me that hunting's back on then it'll have to wait I'm afraid :gunsmilie:

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Its not hard, any idiot like me can do it :D

 

Just go along and they will tell you what to do.

 

I only go beating at small shoots, I have been to a few bigger ones but I dont find them much fun to be honest. The main one I go to you dont get paid, just get a brace at the end of the day, Not really that bothered about the money, its a nice day out.

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Why anyone would go beating when they could work there own dogs / ferrets is beyond me...

 

If your into hounds lurchers ferrets aint you got your fingers in enough pies??

 

Going beating for £20 could make more ferreting for yourself..

 

whatever floats your boat and all but its certainly not for me.

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Why anyone would go beating when they could work there own dogs / ferrets is beyond me...

 

If your into hounds lurchers ferrets aint you got your fingers in enough pies??

 

Going beating for £20 could make more ferreting for yourself..

 

whatever floats your boat and all but its certainly not for me.

 

 

LMFAO :D :D :D

 

SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO BEATING IF YOU HAVE A YOUNG DOG [sPANIEL] THAT IS AND ITS A NERVOUS WRECK OR VERY SOFT TEMPERMENT .. MEETING OTHER DOGS, IT GETS TO SOCIALISE AND BREAKS BARRIERS ..IF YOU WANT A YOUNG DOG TO CLICK ON TO WHAT HUNTING IS.. IT WILL PICK UP ON THE OTHER DOGS..,AND WILL CERTAINLY MAKE IT A LITTLE HOTTER..MAYBE A BIT TOO HOT..

 

ALSO ITS A GOOD CRAIC

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Guest Leveller
Why anyone would go beating when they could work there own dogs / ferrets is beyond me...

 

If your into hounds lurchers ferrets aint you got your fingers in enough pies??

 

Going beating for £20 could make more ferreting for yourself..

 

whatever floats your boat and all but its certainly not for me.

 

Firstly I'm not doing it for the money as I already stated that :wallbash: £20 means absolutely sod all to me and it's not about fingers in pies either It's about opening up your eye's gaining as much different experience as you can, you stated that it's not for you how the hell do you know if you don't try it?.

 

If we all just stayed with what we knew the human race wouldn't have evolved very far would it?

I just want to experience a day out on a shoot and when I've done so I'll make up my own mind as to wether I like it or not.

 

I've never earned a single penny from any of the fieldsports I've done that's not the reason I do them I work for my living and hunt for my pleasure.

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#Never said you need the money man chill....

 

Go have the experiance but i dont need my eyes opened been beating and decided i would rather hunt for myself...

 

K9W PG yes if your a shooter and have a gun dog go beating but a man who has lurchers,terriers and hounds and ferrets i just thought might be spreading himself slighty thin...

 

Its the season been waiting all summer to get my dogs out get me young ferrets out last thing on my mind would be to go beating with out my dogs..

 

Just my piont of veiw not try to be clever or funny...

 

If folk enjoy beating crack the hell on...

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Quote:

Why anyone would go beating when they could work there own dogs / ferrets is beyond me...

 

If your into hounds lurchers ferrets aint you got your fingers in enough pies??

 

Going beating for £20 could make more ferreting for yourself..

 

whatever floats your boat and all but its certainly not for me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've got all sorts of new permission and contacts from going beating: it works wonders when the guns see that you have controllable dogs on the beating line and you then ask for permission. Plus all my terrier work has come from beating on various shoots: it would appear that shooters aren't too keen on having foxes on their territory! It might be something to do with the fact that foxes eat pheasants! LOL

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