07/11/2026
BGT: BEHIND THE SHOOT #2
WHO'S WHO ON A SHOOT DAY?
If you've never been involved with driven shooting, it can sound like everyone is speaking a different language.
So let's make it simple.
THE GAMEKEEPER
A central part of the shoot, with responsibilities extending well beyond the actual shooting day.
THE GUNS
The people doing the shooting, normally standing at numbered positions called pegs. Some may have their own dogs.
THE BEATERS
The team moving through woodland, cover and helping move and flush the game towards the waiting guns.
THE BEATING DOGS
Often spaniels, hunting cover and flushing game while remaining responsive to their handlers.
THE PICKERS-UP
The handlers and trained gundogs responsible for retrieving shot game. BASC emphasises that picking-up dogs should be trained, under control and capable of marking and being directed towards game.
And here's where gundog training suddenly starts making sense.
Hunting isn't just an exercise.
Steadiness isn't just an exercise.
Marking isn't just an exercise.
Casting isn't just an exercise.
The stop whistle isn't just an exercise.
They're pieces of a much bigger working picture.
You don't need to shoot to appreciate that.
And your dog doesn't need to work on a shoot for understanding that original job to change the way you look at its training.
NEXT: GAMEKEEPING, THE OTHER 364 DAYS.
