Page 26 - RCS_Brochure_PDF
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•  I strongly recommend you wear safety glasses which are available to guns, loaders and non-shooting guests.


             •  I recommend you have someone with you in the butt just to spot the birds – two pairs of eyes really do help.

             •  If you invite a guest gun please ensure you are aware of their grouse shooting experience prior to the day.

             •  For anyone new to or with limited experience of grouse shooting, in the interest of safety to the other guns, flankers,
               beaters and pickers up, I must insist that you arrange for an experienced loader, instructor or grouse shot to stand with
               you.  I have available  a number of experienced loaders and instructors and can arrange one for you, however prior
               notice is required as the best loader/instructors are always in high demand at this time of the year.

             •  We stand in butts, behind hurdles or at pegs.


             •  Grouse shooting from either butts, hurdles or pegs is by far the most dangerous form of driven game shooting and due
               to the way grouse fly, swinging a gun through the line of guns is a very dangerous action and is responsible for most
               accidents on a grouse Moor.  This must be avoided at all times.

             •  In the past each gun has been given two safety frames/sticks which were positioned by the gun at each side of the butt
               in order to avoid swinging through the line.  We have now fitted a permanent safety frame at both sides of each butt,
               made from black plastic water pipe.  George and myself feel this is a move forward however if anyone is uncomfortable
               with this there will be four sticks stored at the side of each butt.  No-one must shoot from a butt if the frame or sticks
               are not in place.  Once in your butt have a practice swing with an empty gun so you know your shooting space.  For
               guns in the end butts, the pipe frame has been positioned in order to avoid shooting in the direction of the flankers.


             •  Watch out for flankers, they will be in shot range if you are an end or second from the end gun; the purpose of a flanker
               is to keep the birds in the drive and they will move during a drive, so you must be very careful to know where they are
               at all times and not to shoot at or swing through them.  Once in your butt raise your hand to let them know that you
               know where they are.


             •  You are live in your butt once the guns on both sides of you are safely in their butts and pickers up are out of range.

             •  A horn will sound on each drive which indicates that the beaters are in shot range and you must immediately cease
               shooting forward, but birds may still be shot behind.  Do not shoot forward at any time if you feel a shot to be
               dangerous even if the horn has not been sounded.  You should acknowledge to your neighbour you have heard the horn
               by raising your gun vertically and holding it away from your body until he acknowledges back.

             •  On a windy day it may be difficult to hear the horn so this acknowledgement of the horn to your neighbour is
               imperative.

             •  Once the horn has sounded and birds may only be shot from behind the butt, you should always stand in the same
               position in the butt as you were in when taking birds from the front of the butt. When following through a bird it is
               important that you dismount your shotgun before turning to take a bird behind.

             •  You must not stand at the back or out of the butt as there will be no butt sticks to stop you from swinging through.  I
               mention this as I know of instances where guns were shot on other moors by guns standing at the back or out of a butt.

             •  The drive is over once the beaters reach your butt or if you are in a gill, once the whistle sounds.  Shooting should
               cease and empty guns put in their sleeves.

             •  Please keep an accurate count of what you have shot and mark them well.  At the end of a drive wait near your butt
               until the pickers up arrive in order that all your birds can be easily picked up and accounted for. If you walk away birds
               may be left which is unacceptable.  If you have a dog please work it, if not please do not trample over the area you
               have marked as this will destroy the scent.  Leave your spent cartridges and birds in/on the butt.

             •  Great care should be taken should you wish to smoke on the Moor.  Moors can be very dry and a fire can be easily
               started so please ensure your cigarette or cigar is fully extinguished before you leave it.

             •  At the end of the day, each gun will receive a brace of young grouse in feather with more available for purchase if
               required.
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