The number of Norwegian hunters going game shooting in Denmark and other countries like Sweden, Scotland and England is on a steady rise. Personally, I have been game shooting in Denmark every year since 2005, often several times each year. I have also had the pleasure of experiencing game shooting in wonderful countries like Sweden and Scotland. Nevertheless, after almost 15 years of game shooting, I still feel like a beginner in the field of shooting, even though I have been fortunate to accumulate some experience in this area, during all these years.
Driven shooting requires that we as Norwegians think differently
When chasing small game and gamebirds in Norway, we almost exclusively go rough shooting or walked-up shooting, with or without our dogs. Driven shooting, the tradition so common in Denmark, Scotland and England, and yes, even in our neighbouring country, Sweden, does not exist at all in Norway. Therefore, we as Norwegians must think differently when we participate in driven shoot days abroad. A basic requirement is to carefully follow the instructions given by the shoot-captain. Please notice there is no room for individualism and personal quirks when you participate on a driven shoot. For, unlike in Norway, where you shoot alone or with just a few good friends, there are numerous shots participating on a driven shoot. They are all equally important, and you are not the lead-singer, nor the star of the show! So, if, for instance, the shoot-captain says at the start of the day that “only flying game may be taken this day” you certainly do not want to pull the trigger on any foxes, hares or roe deer (which, unlike in Britain, may be shot with a shotgun in the Scandinavian countries). If we as Norwegians want to be welcomed to participate in driven shoot days abroad, we must behave in an appropriate manner. When shooting in Denmark we need to carefully observe the 45-degrees-rule, which means that you should only shoot high birds at a 45-degree angle, or more. In Britain, they often say that that you must make sure you see the sky behind the bird before you pull the trigger.
Only high shots must be taken
The main rule to consider when you participate on a driven shoot day, is not to shoot too low, that you must only fire at high birds in the air above you. If a bird flies low you must let it pass without shooting at it, even if it comes straight at you. Norwegian hunters are often well trained in shooting low shots at flushing willow grouse, ptarmigan or blackcock. Often, we shoot instinctively when shooting upland game, but to shoot instinctively on a driven day, to shoot at almost everything that flies, may be fatal and may be followed by the most serious consequences. Remember that there are always beaters and dogs in the forests, bushes and hedges in front of you, as well as pickers-up and retrieving dogs behind you. To fire into the vegetation in front of you is highly irresponsible, even if you don`t see any beaters or dogs. It can be compared to like suddenly changing lane in traffic, without bothering to check your side-mirror and your blind spot! It is total lunacy. The barrels of your gun should never be pointed at a fellow human being, loaded or unloaded it makes no difference. Many places in Norway, there is a tradition to shoot birds on the ground, especially the ptarmigan. But to shoot a running pheasant or a duck on water is totally unacceptable in countries like Denmark, England and Scotland, and will be considered both highly irresponsible as well as displaying a total lack of good behaviour and sportsmanship in the field.
Wear protection
It is important to use protection on a driven shoot. By this I mean primarily three things; protecting your eyes, protecting your hearing and being visible to the other shots. A pair of budget shooting glasses may be a cheap insurance against eye injury. Such shooting glasses are produced to be able to withstand a direct hit from a pellet, protecting two of your most valuable assets; your eyes. For what would you do without your sight? Or, how do you think the rest of your life will be without it? Surely, the chance of this happening to you may be marginal, but are you willing to take the risk? For one thing is sure; You will never again hunt nor shoot if you lose your eyesight. Examples of people who have lost on or two eyes while game shooting does exist in Scandinavia, as well as on the British Isles. Your ears should always be protected when you shoot, in the field as well as on the shooting range. One powerful blast is enough to damage your hearing for the rest of your life. For those who think that ear defenders are unpractical, ugly and clumsy, I recommend Napier Pro9 hearing defenders. These defenders are so light and discreet that you hardly notice them in your pocket between the drives. Nevertheless, they effectively protect your ears from loud sounds up to 32 decibels! Except when you are wildfowling or pigeon shooting, please consider using signal colours when shooting with others. A hat, a vest, a shirt, an armband, a collar or a pair of gloves in signal red or blaze orange can very well make a big difference in whether or not the other shots sees you or not. This helps minimize the risk of a grave shooting accident happening when game shooting.
«A Father`s Advice» - The poem that never goes out of fashion
A beautiful poem that can never be quoted too often, is Mark Hanbury Beaufoy`s «A Father`s Advice». Beaufoy wrote this poem around Christmas time in 1902, since he had bought his 15-year-old son a shotgun for Christmas that year. Beaufoy was an eager shooting man and he loved the outdoors, but he was also a politician and member of Parliament for the Liberals. We can only imagine how many shooting accidents as well as irresponsible behaviour this poem has contributed to prevent through the years.
A Father`s Advice
If a sportsman true you’d be Listen carefully to me. . .
Never, never let your gun Pointed be at anyone. That it may unloaded be Matters not the least to me.
When a hedge or fence you cross Though of time it cause a loss From your gun the cartridge take For the greater safety’s sake.
If twixt you and neighbouring gun Bird shall fly or beast may run Let this maxim ere be thine “Follow not across the line.”
Stops and beaters oft unseen Lurk behind some leafy screen.
Calm and steady always be “Never shoot where you can’t see.”
You may kill or you may miss But at all times think this:
“All the pheasants ever bred Won’t repay for one man dead.”
Keep your place and silent be; Game can hear, and game can see; Don’t be greedy, better spared Is a pheasant, than one shared.
