25 etiquette tips for shooters
If you're new to shooting you might feel rather daunted by the etiquette. However it's a case of do as you would be done by. Be thoughtful, polite and above all safe and you'll increase your chances of being invited back. Here's a list of tips to remember that will stand you in good stead.
- Know the gun safety rules. You can read up on them here
- Respond to an invitation promptly -whether you can accept or not
- Do not cancel an invitation to shoot once you have accepted – unless something catastrophic has happened, like a death or severe illness
- Don’t be late – in fact try and arrive 15 minutes early to the shoot
- Wear the right clothes. You can ask your host beforehand what the dress code is and what is recommended for the local conditions
- Do not take your dog with you unless he is very well-trained and has been invited
- Turn your mobile to silent. Better still, leave it in the boot of the car
- Don’t bang your car door when you arrive
- Do not assume a meal is provided. You may need to bring a Thermos and a packed lunch
- Listen carefully to the pre-shoot briefing
- Remember your peg number and walk to your peg promptly and quietly
- Don’t talk loudly in front of flush points
- Keep your gun slipped or broken when you are not shooting
- Don’t shoot low birds
- Don’t poach birds from your neighbour
- Don’t be greedy. If the expected bag is 200 birds from five drives and eight Guns then that equals five birds per Gun per drive
- Treat shot birds with respect
- Mark your fallen birds and chat to the picker-up to ensure birds are picked as efficiently as possible
- Despatch pricked birds properly
- Pick up your spent cartridges after each drive
- Don’t dawdle over lunch
- Say thank-you to the beaters and pickers-up after the day’s shooting
- Be charming, friendly and good-natured
- Give the gamekeeper a tip in person and check the going rate with your host
- Write a proper thank-you letter to your host in ink, and put it in the post the same evening. No texting or e mailing
Dogs are by invitation only and should be well-trained
