When I started hosting The Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club ladies clay shooting events this year at my local ground, I did it to ensure that local ladies would get the chance to have a go at getting into clay shooting like I did, and to hopefully encourage more ladies into the sport. I certainly did not foresee how much these days would grow and expand out into the ‘other’ side of the sport I love; game days and beating, and that I would achieve the personal goals I set for myself and more!
So far I have hosted 4 of these ladies days, the last one had 57 ladies attend; crazy seeing as the first one of this year only had 8 ladies attend, but some of those original ladies have not only attended each event I have hosted, but have also gone on to apply for their shotgun licence, have lessons and buy their first gun. So as the events popularity has grown, so has my confidence and ambition; if I could encourage ladies to take up clay shooting, then could I encourage them into the field? be it on a game day or in the beating line or even both!
My first willing lady who was keen to make the transition from clays to game like I have, is a keen clay shooter, who when she was offered the chance to attend one of the bun club days at short notice, replied ‘let me move my hair appointment, I’ll be there!’ -(now that’s dedication!). Her husband is a fellow clay & game shooter (and is also the one who falls down badger sets whilst beating) so was keen for her to experience her first game day this season. I had already sorted him out with a peg on the driven duck day with me (& poached his duck), so it only seemed fair that when I spotted a post in one of the ladies shooting groups, offering spaces on a novice only game day, that I thought of his lovely wife and suggested she get booked on, she certainly didn’t hesitate in saying yes and asked if I would be her peg buddy, which I accepted with pleasure.
As the day drew closer, the shoot had another peg come up and as it was short notice, I asked if my dad could take it, as although he had shot game before (many years ago), he had never done a driven day and it would be good opportunity for him to get back into the field and see how he felt about coming out with me on any days i booked on (clearly I had forgot the ‘trauma’ of him trying to teach me to drive all those years ago). This did mean that Hannah would need a new peg buddy, but it worked out well, as it meant Steve, her husband, would be able to stand with her, and I would stand with my dad.
The shoot is a small local syndicate who each year hold a day where they welcome new guns into the sport with a reasonable sized bag and price, and the emphasis is on safety, learning about being in then field and getting your first bird.
Everyone drew their peg numbers (and yes, by the third drive no one could remember what peg they should be on!) and we took up our places on our pegs. I explained to dad what we class as a sporting shot and which birds he should let go, information that it would seem went in one ear and out the other and did cause us to have ‘words’ with each other on the first drive, as his version of a sporting shot and my version, differed somewhat! And I may have had to remind him that he was on a proper shoot and not back on his poaching days! Needless to say his first drive was very successful, but more importantly, so was Hannah’s, as she shot her first mallard on the first drive with a swift and quick headshot much to her relief and Steve’s delight- and all three of us were delighted with her success and skill.
The day ended with a driven duck drive, which dad found a tad overwhelming and I struggled to keep up as his loader, but seeing as he had filled his bag quota (and then some more!) I didn’t feel too bad for him. Hannah also went on to have a few more successful shots and her and Steve took home a brace of her ducks for dinner that night. So not only had a achieved my goal of getting a fellow lady gun out on her first successful game day, but I had also had the pleasure of being with my dad on his first proper game day (It has to be said, I’m not sure I would want to be stood on a peg near him, as it seems he’s still a rather good shot and I don’t think I’d stand much chance of getting any birds!)
So, I had not only achieved my goal of a encouraging more than one of my ladies into applying for their shotgun licence and getting their own gun, but also two sell out ladies clay event and getting one of the ladies out into the field on a successful first game day, what was my next goal? Well, to get some of the ladies into the beating line with me! I asked any of the ladies if they would be interested in joining me on a days beating and had 4 ladies request to join me.
I’m lucky that the shoot I beat on isn’t that hard going for us beaters, and that the keeper Is on side with letting inexperienced newcomers join us, so 2 weeks ago I took 2 of the ladies with me. The whole team including the guns, made both ladies feel welcome and part of the team, and took time to explain why we do what we do, the benefits of shooting and beating and answered any questions they had, as well as making sure we did not lose them in the cover crops!
Both ladies only started shooting this year and via the Bun Club events I have hosted, so had never been on or involved in a game shoot before, but both kept up with the team and followed all instructions really well, didn’t stop smiling all day and have said they would happily join me again, and i have taken a third lady out; again, never been beating before and she ahs said she would come back out with- success!
This is what shooting needs, more places and people who are willing to give newcomers to this sport a chance of being out in the field for a sensible price, and support and encourage them.
I certainly do not see or class myself as a ‘influencer’ as some keyboard warriors have suggested, maybe they could instead follow my example and divert their energy and time into supporting newcomers into the field, and cheering on those of us that do, and who do it for no financial gain or want of recognition but to ensure this sport we love, is carried on for future generations.
Clays2Game_lady 