A real highlight of the shooting season

Many people, and dogs, are having a well-earned rest after a busy season, recounting funny anecdotes, epic retrieves or outstanding shots. But there’s one event that remains a highlight in the shooting calendar and marks the closing of the season: beaters’ day. 

This much-loved tradition serves as a deserved reward for the beaters, pickers-up and everyone who dedicates their time and energy to ensure a successful season. But it’s clear that no two are ever the same. From light-hearted camaraderie and role reversals to friendly competitions and coveted awards, each shoot has its own unique way of celebrating. 

The tradition of beaters’ day may be universal, but they are not all the same. Often beaters’ days take one of two forms: on some shoots, such as syndicates or farm shoots, regular Guns get a chance to see life from the other side of the drive, taking on the role of beaters for the day. This switch gives them a firsthand look at the challenges and teamwork required to flush game effectively. It’s often an eye-opener and a humbling experience, deepening their appreciation for the unseen efforts behind a shoot day. 

On shoots that don’t have regular Guns and have a lot of beaters, a popular format for beaters’ day is the “beat one, stand one” approach. Here, two teams take turns to walk through the drive as beaters or stand on pegs as Guns. Swapping roles after each drive ensures everyone gets equal time in the field and on the shooting line. It’s a fantastic way for experienced and novice shooters to share the day in equal measure. 

However, sometimes things don’t go to plan and, as keepers countrywide know, we must adapt. This year I’ve heard of two more formats being adopted because beaters’ day is just too important to cancel. 

After one conversation between some friendly keepers about birds being a bit light on the ground following a challenging season, in a last-minute change of plan two shoots’ beaters joined forces. They decided to shoot two drives on each shoot, beating for each other and making the most of what they had available. For the few people who beat on both shoots, it worked out well because they didn’t have to choose which day to forego. 

Another shoot, which is planning on running simulated days in the off-season, decided to give its beaters the first VIP sim day experience. Initially I was unsure of this, but because the day is in early February there are no conflicting beaters’ days and people who weren’t confident enough to shoot game are looking forward to trying it. There will be an abundance of targets to shoot at and it’ll stretch the socialising into another month. The shoot also gets to have a dry run at hosting a sim day and can tweak the traps, drives and format of the day all in the company of familiar faces. 

At its heart, beaters’ day is more than just a fun end to the season — it’s a celebration of the teamwork that underpins every shoot. Whether it’s the hard graft of the beaters, the precision of the pickers-up or the organisation of the shoot captain, beaters’ day is a time to bring everyone together to reflect on the season. 

Shared love 

It’s clear that these events capture the essence of what makes the shooting community so special. From the mud-streaked smiles to the camaraderie shared over lunch, it’s a day of joy, laughter and a shared love of the countryside. 

I’ll finish with a question that will niggle me all off-season. While on a shoot recently, I heard a visiting Gun refer to going “brushing”. Apparently, it’s another term for beating. Writing this has made me wonder, will that gent have a beaters’ day or brushers’ day? I’ll be sure to ask him next season. Whatever your beaters’ day looked like, or whatever you called it, we hope you had a good one.