Driven shoot and stalking in the UK

dabloobana

AH member
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
29
Reaction score
42
Location
UK
Dear friends.

A few of you have requested I put up some pics of driven shoots in the UK.
Here in the UK we are halfway through the season and here are a few random pics.
Please be aware these were taken in the field by my camera phone and some don't have me in the pic as I'm behind the camera.
Hope you enjoy. Any questions welcome.

First up, shopping before the season. I had heard of a new gunshop opening up. I had never been there before so went for a visit:

image-1.jpg



image-2.jpg



image-3.jpg



Finally ended up buying some stock for the season:
(note some clay targets were bought as they on redued to clear deal)



Bought a new walking stick which is made by a disabled person who donates the profits to cancer patients' charity:

image-28.jpg


Thus with great excitement and anticipation, I waited for the season to begin.

My father was joining me for my first shoot of this season so this made it all the more special.

But before that it was time to shoot some deer before I got busy with the season.
(note: in UK generally "the season" or shooting season refers to game birds)

my friend with our fallow bucks:

image-7.jpg


Yours truly with a red stag:

image-10.jpg


Shooting lodge in scotland:

image-6.jpg


Dressing deer back at the lodge (note the roe in the background):

image-8.jpg


Muntjac shot very early in the morning;

image-19.jpg


So having completed the common quadrad of red roe fallow and muntjac, I was ready for some wing shooting.
 

Attachments

  • image-28.jpg
    image-28.jpg
    165 KB · Views: 184
  • image-10.jpg
    image-10.jpg
    107.9 KB · Views: 163
  • image-1.jpg
    image-1.jpg
    62 KB · Views: 171
  • image-8.jpg
    image-8.jpg
    67.8 KB · Views: 169
  • image-19.jpg
    image-19.jpg
    109 KB · Views: 173
  • image-3.jpg
    image-3.jpg
    76.2 KB · Views: 184
  • image-7.jpg
    image-7.jpg
    49.5 KB · Views: 167
  • image-2.jpg
    image-2.jpg
    59.6 KB · Views: 166
  • image-6.jpg
    image-6.jpg
    76.9 KB · Views: 156
  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    65.5 KB · Views: 184
Last edited by a moderator:
Good start to a bird shooting season.
Nice shot on the Red Deer.
 
Nice!

Would love to see more of that lodge.
 
Muntjac allways takes my attention......very nice hunt.....!!!!
 
First meet at the shoot lodge for breakfast/introduction/debriefing/shoot rules:

image-50.jpg


image-20.jpg


image-25.jpg


image-26.jpg



Going in a shooting van to the drives:

image-11.jpg



Look at the snacks wall in the background. If hungry, simply reach out for a bag of peanuts or chips/crisps and munch:

image-17.jpg


Gun rack in the truck to keep one's guns and ammo etc. Also note the shoot rules laminated and posted on the wall.

image-16.jpg



Once we get to the drive we stand at our respective pegs. For e.g. this is my peg no. 7:

image-28.jpg


some views of woods and guns from the drives:

image-35.jpg


image-49.jpg


image-54.jpg


image-24.jpg


image-27.jpg
 

Attachments

  • image-27.jpg
    image-27.jpg
    96.6 KB · Views: 157
  • image-25.jpg
    image-25.jpg
    46 KB · Views: 163
  • image-50.jpg
    image-50.jpg
    51.9 KB · Views: 157
  • image-17.jpg
    image-17.jpg
    49.5 KB · Views: 165
  • image-49.jpg
    image-49.jpg
    122.5 KB · Views: 159
  • image-28.jpg
    image-28.jpg
    165 KB · Views: 158
  • image-11.jpg
    image-11.jpg
    35.6 KB · Views: 178
  • image-24.jpg
    image-24.jpg
    64.6 KB · Views: 187
  • image-16.jpg
    image-16.jpg
    47 KB · Views: 173
  • image-35.jpg
    image-35.jpg
    92 KB · Views: 181
  • image-54.jpg
    image-54.jpg
    107.9 KB · Views: 161
  • image-20.jpg
    image-20.jpg
    28.3 KB · Views: 157
You must like high Pheasant wearing a flash tie like that.

Love that picture down the lane.

Keep it coming. Thanks
 
Good start to a bird shooting season.
Nice shot on the Red Deer.

Thanks brickburn.

There was a herd of 27 deer about 300-450 yards away. So for 2 hours I waited for them to come closer (was on a high seat).
I wanted to shoot when they were under 200 yards as with my chronic buck-fever, which i still get, I didnt trust myself to take a longer shot. After what seemed like eternity, most stags started moving towards the wood and only does, fawns and two stags came my way.
I had ranged a small landmark as 200 yard mark. As soon as the two stags stepped inside of that distance, I went for an engine room shot.

At that distance, a well placed .270 projectile doesnt take any prisoners.
The stag went about 10 yards (death leap) and lay still. I followed the usual protocol but knew I wouldnt need a follow up shot.

You must like high Pheasant wearing a flash tie like that.

Love that picture down the lane.

Keep it coming. Thanks

Thanks brickburn.
That is a very good observation and a very clever comment. Hats off. Respect. You must have interacted with driven-shooters or done this yourself.

Traditionally, a sweater or jersey and outerware should be green/brown or similar colour.
The only concession to 'colour' is the tie and socks. Though green ties are the norm, yellow/red ties are not uncommon in driven shoots.
Usually with a earth/green jacket, the bright tie doesnt scatter the birds but a larger surface-area article of bright clothing like a sweater, or a jacket certainly does.

As I post more pics, you will be able to see various colours we wear on shoots here.

And yes high pheasant is a worthy quarry and many people are willing to pay upto 50% extra for shoots that have really high pheasants.

There are tons of articles dedicated to various aspects of high pheasants including what are high pheasants.
I would be happy t answer any questions with what little knowledge i possess.
 
…………… You must have interacted with driven-shooters or done this yourself. …………....

Dog Trials. Very similar traditions and attitudes. I have not done a true Driven shoot yet. I have however been shooting Pheasant for years.
 
Dog Trials. Very similar traditions and attitudes. I have not done a true Driven shoot yet. I have however been shooting Pheasant for years.

I love dog trial Brickburn.

I have been a guest gun for the Norfolk kennel club and also had the honour of being a judge in that we had a category of "guns' favourits dog".

I has supposed to be another guest gun in Nov. but had to turn down because of work commitments.

I would like to hear about dog trials and how they are held in USA.

A good friend of mine breeds gundogs in USA but I have never been able to attend. (he is the elder gentleman in the grey jacket standing next to me in pics of shooting lodge , below-
 
After a drive (or should i say between drives):

image-44.jpg


Lunch can be either a field lunch like a picnic:

image-58.jpg


Or in a shooting lodge:

image-38.jpg


image-37.jpg


image-36.jpg


image-34.jpg


Or in the dining room of a manor house: (this pic from 2 seasons ago but here to show different kinds of shoot hospitality):

DSC02210.jpg
 

Attachments

  • DSC02210.jpg
    DSC02210.jpg
    83.5 KB · Views: 139
  • image-36.jpg
    image-36.jpg
    61.1 KB · Views: 160
  • image-44.jpg
    image-44.jpg
    75.6 KB · Views: 166
  • image-34.jpg
    image-34.jpg
    48.8 KB · Views: 161
  • image-37.jpg
    image-37.jpg
    49.7 KB · Views: 152
  • image-58.jpg
    image-58.jpg
    90 KB · Views: 175
  • image-38.jpg
    image-38.jpg
    76.5 KB · Views: 175
Last edited by a moderator:
These are some great pictures dabloobana! I must say, much fancier than my local sportsmen's club here in the US.

This is something I would love to do but I must admit, I am not sure if I would really like having to wear a tie to go hunting.
 
I love dog trial Brickburn.

I have been a guest gun for the Norfolk kennel club and also had the honour of being a judge in that we had a category of "guns' favourits dog".

I has supposed to be another guest gun in Nov. but had to turn down because of work commitments.

I would like to hear about dog trials and how they are held in USA.

A good friend of mine breeds gundogs in USA but I have never been able to attend. (he is the elder gentleman in the grey jacket standing next to me in pics of shooting lodge , below-


What breed were you shooting over? I assume Springer Spaniels.
Trials here in North America are a little different than in the UK.
Braces on two series and third series to determine awards.
Here a bird can get "pegged" and the dog won't be penalized. Hard mouth is not acceptable.
There are no "eye wipes" here.
Failed retrieves get the same treatment.
Our birds are planted along a predetermined course where the UK uses game present in cover.
In Canada we can still hunt rabbits in the trials.
Control and natural talent will win the day.

I can say I have and do still judge, gun and run in my share of trials across North America.

A friend was over gunning at a trial on the Queens estates with her in the Gallery. No pressure there! :)
 
Dear all,
Thnaks for all the comments.
Apologies for a gap here. Was busy with shoots and travelling.

Some more pics for you gents to enjoy.

image.jpg


Shooting in rain in a flooded field. some guns you see in the background refused to come forward. I too got soaked when I stepped into the submerged stream. Lets just say I was really comfortable for the next 10 hours in the cold January countryside.

image_3.jpg


Shooting over marshes.

image_1.jpg


Close up

image_2.jpg


Finally the sun emerges at lunch time
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    71.4 KB · Views: 154
  • image_3.jpg
    image_3.jpg
    121.4 KB · Views: 173
  • image_2.jpg
    image_2.jpg
    112.6 KB · Views: 152
  • image_1.jpg
    image_1.jpg
    101.6 KB · Views: 159
Last edited by a moderator:
Great report thanks for all the pictures. Exciting to see it done in another country.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
53,624
Messages
1,131,367
Members
92,680
Latest member
ChadSimpso
 

 

 

Latest profile posts

Impact shots from the last hunt

Early morning Impala hunt, previous link was wrong video

Headshot on jackal this morning

Mature Eland Bull taken in Tanzania, at 100 yards, with 375 H&H, 300gr, Federal Premium Expanding bullet.

20231012_145809~2.jpg
 
Top