Total Bag 44:

• 40 Pheasant
• 3 Partridge
• 1 Mallard

It was quite chilly first thing as a full complement of 12 guns met at the Shooting Container/hut this Thursday. Amongst us were two new members, Bill and John, though John had previously been a syndicate member some 10 years ago. 

The usual beating team were in force (Derek, Frank, Frank’s grandson, John Mckenzie and Chalk. After the safety briefing which included the COVID restrictions pegs were drawn and the guns allocated to two teams: 1-6 and 7-12. After each drive, each gun went up two digits within their group only. This was so Frank could alternate the teams to the better spots on the subsequent drives to give everyone a fair chance of having a productive day. 

A new system of drives was being tested which would ensure birds were being driven into the estate. The first drive saw most guns positioned along the Keillor Road where nearly all the shooting was at the south end. A number of low birds had to be left. The second drive was the Dell. Hardly any birds flew towards the guns on the river, with most of the action being along the upper Buchanty Burn. The last drive before lunch was in two parts over the rushes between the weedy field and the ponds trying to blank birds towards the guns on the west side. Back guns were put in position for this, but all the birds did as they were supposed to. 

The weather was not unpleasant for us to have lunch in the open back at the meeting point by our vehicles where the tally by then was 30 pheasants and a partridge. After lunch guns were quickly lined up beneath the boulders. The West plantation produced no birds and then just as we were giving up hope there was a sudden flush from the east wing that gave some good sporting shots and fast reloading was essential. 

The last drive saw the guns lined up from Frank’s to the ponds to end the day. This produced a rather patchy result. 

The final tally was 40 pheasants, three partridges and a mallard. 

I think everyone had managed to contribute to the bag, though some more than others due to the way the birds had flown. Often there are a lot of running birds on the 1st day as the pheasants haven’t had to fly before, but they will learn quickly. However, it had been an enjoyable day being not cold and with sunny intervals but not shining in our eyes. The company of the entire team was as ever most agreeable and both Bill and John commented on how they had been made to feel welcome by everyone else.  

I imagine that Derek, Frank and the Team Captains will discuss the new way the drives were arranged and whether any modifications will be needed or not before the Saturday Team meet.