Here at Westley Richards we would like to think those that can be, will be appropriately equipped with one of our fabulous game guns, ready to do justice to the challenges posed by the finest birds our ‘keepers can put over them.
Fear not, however! Should you be one of the legion of unfortunates hefting an inferior foreign over & under, be assured that such things are, these-days, tolerated even on the finest grouse moors and among the most carefully-tended pheasant coverts.
The old-timers’ disdain of ‘clay guns’ on pheasant shoots has dissipated in the last thirty years to the point that the traditional British side-by-side game gun is usually in the minority, though British over & unders are still considered the best of the best. If however, you are shooting with a gentleman's gun, so much the better.
Let’s start with the basics. Arrive early, but not too early. You want neither to keep everyone waiting nor to wake his lordship by banging on the door before he has brushed his teeth.
When you do arrive, park considerately, walk into the shoot room like you belong there and quietly introduce yourself. Shake hands, be relaxed and accept what you are offered; be it a bacon roll, a cup of coffee or a slug of sloe gin.
At this point, you would normally be wearing clean shoes rather than shooting boots or wellies (rubber boots). You can put those on just before loading onto the gun bus or heading for the first drive. Those shoes will come in handy later when you step back inside for lunch, and at the end of the day.
When you do put on those wellies or field boots, they should be clean. Don’t ask me why, but starting the day with dirty boots is frowned upon.
Other sartorial choices will help you blend-in where you need to, without being forgettable. A tie is a must (unless you think you can get away with a cravat on a warm, early season day). Team it with a Tattersall check shirt like the Westley Richards Tattersall Check Shirt in green, and you have a classic pairing. The check should be sober, but the tie can be dramatic if you wish.
Tweeds are a good investment; they last practically forever, fit-in anywhere and work brilliantly in the field. Good tweeds, like the Westley Richards Skipton Tweeds shown below, never go out of style. You can turn up to the best shoot in crumpled, frayed tweeds, as long as they are well-cut and of a certain quality, and nobody will look down on you.
In fact, you might actually gain a little kudos for the adventures your ancient garb hints you must have enjoyed.
Between drives, your gun should be placed and carried (unloaded) in a suitable gun slip, like the Westley Richards canvas & leather gun-slip. A good slip is a sensible investment which protects your valuable shotgun while on the move. Many a best gun has arrived for re-stocking due to a battered old slip strap snapping or a zip failing.
Not many ‘fails’ will be quite as embarrassing as running out of cartridges. The message it sends to your host is that you didn’t expect him to put on so much shooting, which is faintly insulting.
Pack more shells than you need and get to your peg with a full bag, we recommend the popular Westley Richards Perfecta Cartridge Bag, shown here. Do check how many drives you will need cartridges for prior to leaving the vehicles. There will be shoots where a reverse drive from the same peg might happen or drive-three may be a short walk from drive-two, without returning to the convoy.
If you stop for lunch, you may be surprised to see the British will provide alcohol during a shoot day. You do not have to drink it all! In fact, moderation is to be strongly advised. Drunks and guns are a messy combination and those over-indulging may be politely advised that they are to sit-out the post-lunch shooting.
On the subject of shooting, remember it is a day’s sport, not a pot hunt. Shooting at low birds is considered dangerous and unsporting. If a bird is flying over your neighbour, it is his bird, not yours. Try to take your birds in front, well out and heading towards you. If you are shooting birds that land on, or around, your neighbours’ pegs, they, also, were not your birds.
Always keep your barrels pointing towards the sky and never swing through the line, following a bird. Most shoots will have a ‘no ground game’ policy. This is primarily for reasons of safety. It extends to wounded birds. Do not ‘finish off’ birds that run, that is a job for the picker-up.
If in doubt, be generous, if you are shooting a lot, hold back and let some birds get through to your neighbours. Drop the occasional comment about a good shot to your fellows and do not, on any account, complain if you shot badly or were out of the shooting. Nobody likes a whiner.
You might start to pick-up on some euphemisms, however: “They were too good for me” (I shot like a clown), “I saw some great shots from where I was standing” (I didn’t pull the trigger), “I had plenty of birds over me” (I didn’t shoot many), “Well old chap, I suppose they are there to be shot” (You murdered a cart-load of low birds). The correct answer to “Did you have a good drive” is “Very enjoyable, thank you.”
The old adage, ‘if you have nothing positive to say, better say nothing at all’ is a good one to adhere to. Keep such comments until the day is over and you have had time to reflect.
If you have a loader for the day, shake his hand after the last drive and give him a good tip. There is no hard and fast rule as to how much but, if in doubt, ask fellow Guns and then tip 20% more than they advise.
The same goes for the game-keeper, who will come at day’s end and tell the team the number, and make-up, of the bag, which you should note on your game card. He will (traditionally) offer you a brace of birds and you will shake his hand with a tip in yours.
As with the loader, err on the side of generosity, especially if you have had a particularly enjoyable day. There are fewer more miserable reputations than that of the man who turns up in a new Range Rover and tips twenty pounds less than everyone else.
In summary, be properly attired, be good company and be safe. Be sure, your reputation will follow you wherever you go.
Alongside its bespoke guns, luxury travel bags and high quality safari clothes, the modern Westley Richards continues a 200-year tradition of outfitting sportsmen and travellers for time well spent in the field. Whether preparing for the Glorious Twelfth, checking into a country house hotel or simply demanding the best shooting kit available, Westley Richards provides the finest outdoor classics. Their luxurious country clothing collection includes a range of house shooting tweeds complimented with an exclusive selection of American and European brand partners, including Habsburg, Meindl, Grenfell, Gitman Vintage and Filson.
