Beaters / Keepers day, the end of the season

Beaters day is the day of role reversal and to celebrate all the hard work that people have put into the shoot over the season. It usually also marks the last day or two of the season at the end of January/ start of February.

I had the pleasure of being invited along to photograph the final day at Culden Faw Estate Hambleden’s shoot near Marlow where I followed the Picking Up team throughout the four drives.

Watching and photographing Gundogs work as they’ve been bred to do never grows old for me. Following packs of Springer Spaniels, Working Cocker Spaniels and Labradors patiently waiting for the horn to sound at the end of the drive, before they then set off to retrieve all of the birds they have marked.

The dogs have different natural elements to tackle in each drive, whether it’s the thick cover in the middle of a woodland where they have to rely on scent alone to discover the fallen birds. Or the tall grasses or crops in a field with wind carrying the scent in different directions before they reach the bird.

Whilst one season ends, the hard work building up to the next is only just beginning. Thousands of people across the U.K. will soon start preparing for the next season managing estates, rearing birds and training Gundogs to do it all over again.

If you’d like to book me to photograph a shoot next season please don’t hesitate to get in touch