I had a great days shooting today.
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| I didn't take many pictures today - this is one from last time! |
Back in the summer I worked on a hotel extension and worked with a cracking group of lads (I've mentioned them before when I went clay shooting a few months back). One friend I made is really keen on his shooting and when he heard that I liked to shoot he invited me along for a days shooting. I jumped at the chance!
This shoot is just the other side of the hill from me and was set in some beautiful countryside and woodland, as always it was just a joy to be outside, watch the dogs work and have some good company, but I did manage to shoot a few pheasants as well.
It's also the first time on a shoot where I've had an offer of marriage! This happened when I brought a full tray of Chelsea buns that I baked this morning with me, covered in icing. To start with they wouldn't believe that I made them, and then, once convinced, people were offering to buy trays from me, before the one guy got very affectionate about my cooking! He wasn't my type anyway!
They seem quite keen for me to come back on another day, good cake is always a good way to make friends and influence people!
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| The bag today, not huge but every bird collected - 12 brace of pheasants, 2 brace of pigeons and a squirrel. |
I came back with a brace of pheasants on my shoulder and a smile on my face, a good way to spend a day.
I did have a comment on my Facebook blog page asking how I could feel pleased with myself for killing our wildlife, I can understand why people feel like this when not faced with all the facts and it's tricky not to get into an argument where both sides have already made up their minds. Here was my response:
Arguing against someone that is against shooting is generally not worth it as both sides already have their minds made up. All I will say is that although you see the product at the end of a days shooting, what you haven't seen is the weeks of work that have gone into maintaining the woodland where we shot by the people that run it. Today we shot around 30 birds but they breed and put down around 400-500 on this shoot every year to have nine days shooting. Spending time in these woods today I could see countless habitats that have been created because of these shoots, big patches of kale and over cover crops that provide food and shelter for far more than pheasants, areas cleared to let young tree grow, wood left to rot to provide habitat for other wildlife. Even the RSPB has said that well managed shoots benefit other wildlife (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/.../Row-erupts-as-RSPB-claims...). This isn't to go into the economical benefits that shooting brings to the countryside. This isn't me looking for an argument, just stating how I feel about something I feel quite passionately about.
I guess I'm always courting controversy when I post these type of posts but sod it, this is my record of how I live.
Is anyone else going shooting this year or already been?
What is your favourite game dish?
I am from a long line of hunters,hunters of food,not for sport.I am no a hunter,but I do like a good deer sausage. I worked at a local hunting lodge I saw more eaters than trophies, that was good to see.As a farm girl I also know what happens when you have a over population of anything, it is not pretty. Hunt,enjoy the food, use feather for something. try and use everything.I went on too long, have yourself a great day.
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DeleteWell done! The only thing you can do is be sure they're vegetarians. If not, point out the hypocrisy of having someone else do they're killing. You may make an enemy, but they were a secret enemy to begin with or they'd have kept their self-righteous mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day. I'd love to participate in a shoot like that. But over here they don't do that sort of organized events nor the raising of the game birds as you do there.
ReplyDeleteAlso what some folks don't understand are these Pheasants are not native birds. In Oregon we called them China Pheasants when I was a kid because they are an Asian import specifically for hunting.
ReplyDeleteIt is always interesting the people that often protest the most about hunting have no problem eating meat that is raised in horrible conditions. I did do my share of deer hunting years ago when I lived in South Dakota but now we raise enough of our meat on the farm not to have to hunt. Nice job all of you!
ReplyDeleteThe anti-brigade are usually townies who, frankly, understand very little about country life. There was a big 'chasse' in my village yesterday. Here they shoot just Roe Deer and Wild Boar.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't understand about people making those anti hunting comments is what do they think? That these birds are going to die happily of old age somewhere? Not die at all? Last time I checked that wasn't how life worked. Good job with the hunt! I myself am going out for deer this week as the season starts Monday.
ReplyDeleteGreat hunt, look forward to seeing the meals you produce, a very calm and well thought out response, we have been talking to some-one who raises pheasants and organises shoots if it would be viable to introduce pheasants up here for occasional shoots.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant response to our Facebook commenter.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who doesn't eat any meat and teases my Lovely Hubby mercilessly about pheasant mass murder, even I see the good that a well organised bird rearing and a well done shoot does for both the countryside and the rural economy.
I haven't hunted pheasants for years, but I have fond memories of hunting them. Like you, we enjoyed the group, the outing, the dogs and most importantly, the eating! Here, we only shoot cocks; no hens are killed. Our natural resource people monitor the populations and control the number allowed to be taken each year. These birds are not endangered nor are they scarce or rare (until hunted!). My only issue with hunting is when the goal is to just bang bang and kill without using the game for food and sustenance. Good for you and your well thought out response.
ReplyDeleteI'd love the opportunity to go shooting for game. My only objection is game keepers who kill birds of prey to protect their shoot.
ReplyDeleteIt's a part of our countryside way of life.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather be a pheasant than a factory bred chicken. Not that I want to be either! It's just that pheasant are bred to be shot and whilst alive they have a pretty good life, considerably better than many animals bred for meat. And they don't half taste good!
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