For many who enjoy a day’s shooting, whether with gun in hand or not, their first experience in the field is likely to have been in the beating line. However, it is not just those keen to shoot that join the beating team. Many beaters return to the line week after week, year after year for the sheer love of it. They are the stalwarts of the shooting community. It cannot be denied that a shooting apprenticeship as a beater is a great introduction to the ways of the countryman, but it can be a little daunting if you’re not entirely sure what to expect on your first day out. So, whether you’re seven or seventy, here’s a brief guide. But, as always, if you’re left in any doubt, do ask a friend or contact familiar with that shoot, or the keeper – in advance, not on the day!
Some estates require their beaters to be dressed smartly, with a shirt and tie, however this is definitely the exception, not the rule. Generally speaking, wear robust clothing in muted colours. When I say robust, I really mean that thornproof and waterproof clothing are the most important factors for your outer layer in the wood and farmland. Wear stout boots or wellingtons - gaiters and wax cotton chaps are also useful, but not essential. What is essential is to dress in layers. If you’re standing around on a cold, rainy January morning (that’s the appeal of beating!) then you’ll clearly need to be kept warm and dry, but if you’re clambering up slopes of briar and blackthorn then you’ll soon be puffing and sweating, so being able to quickly adapt your clothing with a layer on or off is the best bet. Browns and greens are the best colours, bright colours are not appropriate, nor is black. Many beaters wear camouflaged clothing, but not all estates like this. If you’re not sure whether or not you can wear your old army smock then check beforehand.
Beside the clothes on your back, you may need to bring a few other bits and pieces. It’s worth checking in advance whether you need to bring a packed lunch, as lunch may or may not be provided. Definitely bring a water bottle with you, but, it’s probably for the best to leave your hip flask at home on your first day. However, don’t let that put you off gratefully accepting a swig if someone else’s is passed around on the day. Beaters often use sticks and flags. If you have a hazel or blackthorn stick – which you don’t mind getting damaged - then bring it along, but be prepared to leave it in the car if asked to. Don’t worry about bringing a flag. If you need one then you’ll likely be provided with one.
On your first day beating, leave your dog(s) at home. Even if you have what you think is the perfect beating dog, you never know how an uninitiated dog will be behave on the day and a drive can be ruined by a uncontrolled dog. This can be a very costly misjudgement and some people may be rather upset for their day’s shooting to be marred by your unruly dog. Once you have a few days’ beating under your belt then you might consider bringing along your four-legged friend, after having a conversation with a more senior beater or the keeper of the shoot.
It is absolutely essential that you don’t arrive late, so make sure you know exactly where the beaters meet. A what3words grid reference can be very useful for this. I would suggest arriving five or ten minutes early, but don’t turn up too early as you’ll more likely than not get in the way.
It’s vital that you listen carefully to all instructions given and even more vital that you obey them. You’re unlikely to be a flanker or stop on your first day. More likely you will be placed in the middle of the beating line, where errors and inexperience is less of a problem. You should make sure to always keep in line, this cannot be overemphasised. Also keep equal distances between you and the beaters either side of you. Listen carefully to orders to move, halt, tap your stick, keep quiet, and anything else. There may be periods where you have to wait patiently for other bits of covert to be blanked in before your line continues. Another piece of advice, which has become an idiom away from the beating line as well, is don’t beat around the bush. This can be taken quite literally - if your path is blocked by a thicket of brambles other prickly vegetation, don’t skirt it, go through it. The densest of covert is exactly where game birds like to hide, so you may not flush them if you don’t go through it.
As a last note, a day beating is great fun, you’ll be surrounded by camaraderie, cheer and eccentric beating calls. Beaters see the best of the conservation efforts that shooting begets and have a good bit of exercise, to boot. Enjoy it!