Advice & Information on Becoming a Beater

Article by Matt

First words

Joining a game shoot as a beater for the first time can be a nerve racking experience. You will probably have lots of questions and not really be sure what will happen or be asked of you.

First of all I'd like to say, don't worry! I have been on a lot of shoots around the North East and they have all been very friendly and welcoming. Although I have been beating for many years I am always learning and I'm sure I always will be.

If you are going for your first shoot as a beater you will have to be prepared. Check the weather forecast and dress accordingly, get to know where and when you will meet. Lots of shoots I know often meet in one place one week and somewhere else the next. Make sure you get someone's telephone number just in case you get lost or need to check on times.

What to wear?

Deciding what to wear and whether to dress smart or not is important. Again it's always best to check what other people will be wearing. Usually a call to the shoot captain or the gamekeeper will be enough to point you in the right direction. Some shoots require smart dress i.e. Shirt and tie etc. Either way keeping warm and dry is a must. Wellies or good walking boots will be essential. You will be covering some distance over the day so they need to be comfortable but also keep you dry and hopefully warm.

A good waterproof coat is again essential. As a beater I wouldn't want to wear my finest waterproof coat as you will find out all the brambles, hedges and trees that you will be going through might damage it. You will need waterproof trousers as well, or another option could be some jeans with chaps of gaiters to help protect your legs.

Try to avoid anything to bright and colourful, try to keep to darker colours. As you will soon discover, we shooters like our green colours!

Make sure you have a robust zip pocket to store keys, mobile phone etc. You don't want to be losing anything in the middle of a drive as you will struggle to find it again.

When you arrive

Depending on the shoot, people can arrive an hour before the beginning or 10 minutes before. Make sure you get there with plenty of time to spare to introduce yourself and meet and greet the rest of the team. You will very quickly get to know fellow beaters and shooters alike. Try to find someone to stick with for the first day. They will keep you right and offer any advice you might need.

Driving the lines

Be sure to listen and take on board any instructions. Breaking the line as it pushes forward or allowing your dog to push onto the next drive is less than ideal for a beater. Keep a close eye on the beaters to your left and right. Keep pace with them and you won't go far wrong. The two main things are, if in doubt, ask and have fun!

Need beaters?

If your shoot is in need of beaters please Contact the site with your needs and we can put an advert out.