Ready for the Season? Your Essential Game Shooting Checklist

The game shooting season is here, bringing early mornings, changing countryside and the welcome return of shoot days. Whether you are heading onto the grouse moors, preparing for partridge or looking ahead to pheasant season, now is the time to make sure both you and your equipment are ready.

Check Your Gun and Cartridges

Before your first day, give your shotgun a thorough inspection or arrange a professional service if it has been stored for several months. Check the barrels, action and safety mechanism, and make sure you have suitable cartridges for your gun, quarry and the requirements of the shoot.

A secure, well-fitting gun slip is essential for transporting your shotgun safely between drives.

Dress for the Conditions

British weather can change quickly, so comfortable and waterproof clothing makes all the difference. Your kit should include:

• A weatherproof shooting coat
• Comfortable boots with good ankle support
• Hearing and eye protection
• A cartridge bag or shooting vest
• Gloves, hat and additional warm layers
• A cleaning kit for the end of the day

Avoid wearing brand-new boots for a full day in the field—break them in beforehand!

Refresh Your Shooting

A few visits to the clay ground can help sharpen your reactions and rebuild confidence before the season becomes busy. Concentrate on safe gun handling, smooth movement and sensible shooting distances rather than simply counting your scores.

Know What to Expect

Driven days usually involve several drives, with Guns positioned at numbered pegs while beaters move birds towards the line. Always listen carefully to the safety briefing, understand the start and finish signals, and never take a low, unsafe or uncertain shot.

Pick up your spent cartridges, mark any wounded birds carefully and respect the work of the keepers, beaters, pickers-up and dogs. Good manners and safe behaviour are every bit as important as good shooting.

Start the Season Prepared

The best shoot days are not measured by the size of the bag. They are about responsible shooting, good company, working dogs and time spent in the countryside.

Check your equipment now, book some clay practice and make sure you are ready to enjoy the season safely.