Shooting over pointers and setters

Most shooting over pointers and setters is on grouse moors. It is not the same as 'walked up' grouse shooting. It is very exciting and has become more popular in recent years. Whether this is due to declining grouse numbers or  due to a more fashionable quest for healthy sport is open to question. Nevertheless, it is a great opportunity for those who love working their dogs. Pointers and setters are worked on ground where birds are scarce. The shooting party should be able to get a daily bag of about seven to ten brace. Where birds are more numerous  driven shooting is the order of the day.

Safety is paramount and the dog handler usually instructs the Guns on safety at the beginning of the day. The basic rules on safety help the handler and his dogs to give the shooting party the maximum amount of shooting consistent with the minimum risk of injury to dogs, handler, Guns and others, and to help him maintain the standard in his dogs, which may have taken three or four years to achieve. Two to four Guns are ideal for a dogging party. Only two Guns can go to a point and they take turns throughout the day . The walking party will consist of the handler and the dog , followed by the guns , followed by the retriever/game carrier and a person holding the spare dogs .

The Guns walk together in a group about fifteen / twenty yards behind the handler and forward progress is a more leisurely, quiet affair than walking birds up in a line. The dog needs time and room to work without pressure from the shooting party. Dogs are more usually, and more conveniently, worked into the wind. Most dogs will also work downwind or cheek wind. The gamekeeper has overall command of the day, although direction of working etc. is  decided by consultation as the handler knows what sort of winds his dogs can handle. The Guns walk with their gun barrels empty. When the dog points the handler will indicate by raising his arm or calling "Point". The positioning and discipline of the Guns is generally the responsibility of the dog handler at this stage. He, after all, knows his dogs and must be in command. Guns are usually positioned slightly ahead of the dog and approximately twenty yards out to the right and left of the dog. It is now that the guns are loaded. This will give the guns opportunity to shoot birds safely when they get up. However, if the dogs 'roads ' or recasts slightly it is important for the Guns to maintain position . When the birds flush, the left hand Gun usually takes birds left/ front to centre/front , the right hand gun takes the birds right/front/ to centre/front. Do not shoot right or left directly over the dog . Beware of  birds which u- turn back behind the line. Immediately after shooting the guns should reload as there may be more birds , however the numbers shot will depend on the gamekeepers instruction at the beginning of the day, as he may have requested only old cock birds to be shot if and where possible. Allow the dog to work out the whole covey before sending in the retrievers.

Some pointers and setters will retrieve shot game or 'point dead'. However, in most instances retrieving dogs are used. It is important the retriever does not interfere with the pointing dog while it is working. They should be walked to heel or kept on a lead until required. It does not take a retriever long to work out that a 'point' means birds and will rush in and flush the birds prematurely from in front of the pointing dog, spoiling the opportunity of a shot.

Do

Enjoy the dog work as well as the shooting.
Proceed quietly at all times, including the pick up.
Tell the handler if he is going too fast for you.
Try and get fit before the day as some of the walking can be quite strenuous.
Enjoy the day, the company, the scenery, the whole thing!

Don't

Run pointing dogs in front of Guns walking in a line. Sometimes Guns may want to walk in a line e.g. in difficult weather conditions, walking downwind, snipe in rushy ground. Put the pointing dogs on a lead.
Come between dog and bird, or handler and dog at any time.
Drift out from a group walking behind the handler. (You should not be looking for a shot and your gun should be empty anyway)
Watch the dog on point - watch for the birds rising in front of it.
Shoot at birds the dog hasn't pointed.
Shoot from behind dog / handler or directly above the dogs head.
Shoot once pick up has started.
Shoot hares or rabbits over the dogs.

Follow these simple safety rules and we can guarantee you will have one of the most memorable and exciting shooting days you have ever experienced!