Elchapo 3,094 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 2 minutes ago, W. Katchum said: I did as a kid until I realised yours just half free range chicken farmer an half butler to ye lord or boss so I decided fcuk that am jist befriended some instead an happily do there good jobs for em whilst they look after they’re chickens That’s the way forward lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stumfelter 3,032 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 A keepers biggest threat is disease. Lads taking a couple from a car with an air rifle is annoying but losing half the birds you put down more or less overnight due to some sh*tty disease is job threatening. As katch says if you've got money you can do as much keeping as you want without the risk. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Qbgrey 3,968 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 1 hour ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said: Not a big fan of keepers at all are you ? I got a lot of respect for proper keepers,most good keepers have had,or been,terrier ,lurcher,poachers,etc. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE STIFFMEISTER 14,553 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 Just now, Qbgrey said: I got a lot of respect for proper keepers,most good keepers have had,or been,terrier ,lurcher,poachers,etc. Eh ? I think your dreaming a bit there pal. Most keepers ain’t got time to be ducking around with lurchers or terriers. Let’s be realistic here pal . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greyman 25,164 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 7 minutes ago, Qbgrey said: I got a lot of respect for proper keepers,most good keepers have had,or been,terrier ,lurcher,poachers,etc. Set a thief to catch a thief, 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Qbgrey 3,968 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 20 minutes ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said: Eh ? I think your dreaming a bit there pal. Most keepers ain’t got time to be ducking around with lurchers or terriers. Let’s be realistic here pal . Read it properly.have had/been. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE STIFFMEISTER 14,553 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 What the f**k does having terriers or lurchers before being a keeper have to do with it ?? I totally do not get your point here at all . Maybe you could explain all?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE STIFFMEISTER 14,553 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 24 minutes ago, Greyman said: Set a thief to catch a thief, There’s more to game keeping than stopping poachers , shooting deer and pest control . I do wonder about how some of your lot think Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel cain 42,804 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 I know a few keepers who run their own lurchers...... And have been known to jump on the banjo when they not taking the piss calling me sheep shagger etc lol...... I've met many more I wouldn't put out if they was on fire 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE STIFFMEISTER 14,553 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 1 minute ago, Daniel cain said: I know a few keepers who run their own lurchers...... And have been known to jump on the banjo when they not taking the piss calling me sheep shagger etc lol...... I've met many more I wouldn't put out if they was on fire True Dan but did the fact they had lurchers make them better keepers ??? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel cain 42,804 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 Just now, THE STIFFMEISTER said: True Dan but did the fact they had lurchers make them better keepers ??? ................. Hard to say Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greyman 25,164 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 14 minutes ago, THE STIFFMEISTER said: There’s more to game keeping than stopping poachers , shooting deer and pest control . I do wonder about how some of your lot think Us lot as you put it are just looking at things slightly differently to yourself, and yes a former poacher would make a good keeper as he has spent a lot of his life avoiding them, were as a good old boy who went to college for his education may not be so switched onto the small signs people leave behind its just like a reformed criminal would make an excellent plod as he already knows all the tricks and excuses, but at the end of the day keepers are just people doing a job same as everyone else and some are pricks well others are salt of the earth types, Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LukeandLou 15 Posted January 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 10 hours ago, BGA said: I think there is a future. Nit sure what it is yet but there will always be a need for gamekeeping type jobs, even if shooting goes completely south and all guns are banned there will always be a need for conservation work. It's becoming a very competitive industry with people in their 40's, 50's etc taking career changes to a job they enjoy rather than being accountants etc as well as the youngsters like yourself. You will be competing with people who are extremely well qualified and eloquent and will potentially have the funding to take volunteering roles to gain experience as well as people who have grown up around the countryside and have years of practical experience. You have to work on setting yourself against all those people and being more employable. A good start is to look into colleges like Sparsholt or Newton Rigg for their Game and Wildlife Management courses. Meanwhile try to take on anything you can to gain experience - any labour or monkey work that gets your foot in the door. It's a good time of year to offer your services to a game farm for catching up/rearing. Look at the conservation organisations and see if they have any jobs open or volunteering opportunities, anything that would gain you relevant experience so that when you are being interviewed/talking to a potential employer they can see you are keen and motivated and don't mind grafting, as well as having experience. Subscribe to the countryside jobs service, lots of jobs advertised there emailed to you for free and keep an eye out in Shooting Times etc. Where in the country are you? Be prepared to have to move and relocate. Thank you mate that was really helpful, I’m in West Yorkshire close to North. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
THE STIFFMEISTER 14,553 Posted January 3, 2020 Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 7 minutes ago, Greyman said: Us lot as you put it are just looking at things slightly differently to yourself, and yes a former poacher would make a good keeper as he has spent a lot of his life avoiding them, were as a good old boy who went to college for his education may not be so switched onto the small signs people leave behind its just like a reformed criminal would make an excellent plod as he already knows all the tricks and excuses, but at the end of the day keepers are just people doing a job same as everyone else and some are pricks well others are salt of the earth types, f***ing load of shite what the f**k you on about ? What century you in ? No need to go to college to learn stockmanship or disease prevention or how to monitor the developing stock under your charge , just stick on the application “used to have an air rifle and a beddy whippet when I was at school” twaddle 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LukeandLou 15 Posted January 3, 2020 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2020 5 hours ago, shovel leaner said: I haven’t been posting on here for a while but I had a look today and I feel that my input might be valid as I earn my living as a gamekeeper and have done for the last 15 years or so . There are some valid and interesting points of view in the previous posts . If you really want to get into keepering then go for it . Is there a future? Who knows. I agree that there there are aspects of the shooting industry that can be improved. But my experience is that the game that is shot on the estate I look after goes to the game dealer and in to the food chain . Poorly paid ? Not always. The keepers I know do very well indeed . And I’m not exactly poverty stricken. A head keeper on a top commercial shoot is probably on £40.000 plus tips and housing. It’s difficult to say because each estate or shoot is different, but it’s the package you look at because it might be that you get a cottage and your bills paid and then a smallish wage , plus tips and deer money. But to have a proper career my advice would be to get yourself into Sparsholt college. The reason for this is it is seen by employers as the best and they won’t even look at a candidate unless your CV says “Sparsholt” . Now I know there are good lads going to other college’s and I also know that some of the graduates from Sparsholt are proper numptys who you couldn’t trust to shut a gate behind them , but the big shoots want Sparsholt graduates. Once you yet your job you will start off as a “trainee” then under keeper then after a few years beat keeper then you when you feel confident or you have enough of a good reputation and experience a head keepers job . But a word of warning, don’t just take any job because there are some real twats for head keepers who treat young lads like shit . I’ve seen some good lads broken by these knob heads . Look for a job where there is a low turnover of shoot staff . If you do this you can rightly assume that the head keeper is fair . I hope you follow what you want to do . It’s better to try it than live your life regretting not having followed your passion. It’s hard work though and for a lot of young lads it comes as a bit of a shock . Especially when all the rest of the world is going out enjoying themselves and going on summer holidays.....you can kiss your social life goodbye and also any women in your life will have to be “on board “ because it affects every aspect of your life . It’s not 9-5 it’s 24_7 , and it takes a special woman to put up with it . Good luck Thanks a lot for that message mate was really informative and I will look into your advice. Thanks again Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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