PARTRIDGE SHOOTING 
It is also very important when going to one’s place not to show oneself 
more than possible over a low fence. 
To return to the planning of a day’s driving. The size of the beat will, 
to a great extent, govern the strategy. If it be a small beat of 500 or 
600 acres, it will be possible and wise to go over the whole ground before 
lunch, and repeat the operation in the afternoon, those birds that have 
been disturbed and broken up in the morning will have run out on to the 
stubbles and be re -found in smaller coveys and single birds. 
As a rule one can never do much good with fresh unbroken masses of 
partridges after three o’clock, whilst two or three drives off favourite 
barley stubbles late in the afternoon, where the ground has perhaps 
already been gone over twice, are often very productive. 
The keeper should let the tenants know beforehand the day which has 
been selected to shoot over their holdings, and make arrangements to 
engage as many of his farm hands as possible. This will benefit the host, 
as the fields will not be so much disturbed by farm work. The tenant 
farmer will very likely take care that his sheep are put on the grass fields 
for the day — and he will come out to look on, and stay to lunch, taking as 
keen an interest in the sport as any one of the party. 
At the same time the labourers will have a pleasant change from the 
rather monotonous round of farm work, and should they have a good 
lunch and go home with a couple of rabbits or their equivalent in cash, 
plus their ordinary day’s wages, they will be more likely to take an interest 
in game preserving and shooting generally, than if they were not con- 
sidered at all. It is a thoughtful act on the part of the master to provide 
ginger beer, cider, or shandy-gaff for the drivers about 4 p.m. This will 
be much appreciated, and will freshen them up wonderfully, especially if 
the weather be hot or the going heavy. 
When the actual day of shooting arrives, it is much better to make an 
early start. No sportsman worthy of the name minds breakfasting early; 
if it be November the days are short, and it is a great pity to have the last 
drives in the dusk when birds and neighbouring guns are difficult to see ; 
it is also rather heartbreaking for the keeper of the beat, who may see 
the whole of his year’s work spoilt by this pandering to the over -luxuri- 
ous tastes of his master’s guests. 
When drawing for places the question is often asked ; “ How many do 
we move up ? ” Very often the answer has not been thought out. As a 
matter of fact if the number of guns is an even one, i.e., four, six, or 
177 
AA 
