Well this is a first! An actual blog, never thought it would come to this but it’s a good way to get information to people and for you to see what actually happens behind the scenes and how we got here.
My Husband Stuart and I took on the lease of a 1500 acre shoot in the glorious Scottish Border this summer when the previous tenant (who Stuart was the Keeper for), pulled the plug. Not to go into all the details, but we couldn’t see all the hard that we had put into the shoot the previous season go to waste, but what an almighty risk!
Personally I have not received any payment since March, my own shooting school was closed during the first lockdown and now I can now only do a small amount of professional 121 lessons from a safe distance. More refunds going out of that business than income.
We receive no furlough, no Government assistance at all, we do not qualify for anything. Any income from game shoot days goes back into feed and fuel & the trucks maintenance and upkeep, I suppose we will know where we stand in Feb once we’ve done the calculations, but we will not give up! We can live like Kings on game and venison….!
I am really proud of ourselves, especially Stuart for his achievements to date. The shoot days are pretty spectacular and the drives and birds are a sight to behold! We have added Gun Dog Training days & Field Trials Training on live game, as our ground is absolutely perfect for this and it has been a real success so far. I still wake up at 3.00 am with a head full of worry, but that’s just me. Then shoot day arrives and I don my Tweed and host my clients and take a lot of pleasure in their enjoyment!
It’s not all glamour and Tweed though, I am covered in mud from head to toe, feeding birds, pegging out drives, trying to sell shoot days in dwindling Scottish tiers, rescheduling days, stressing out in between, turning away bookings from out of area clients, keeping on top of the COVID risk assessment, sorting all the admin, answering texts and emails from clients worried about their deposits, keeping on top of social media and the website. You just have to get on with it.
COVID has had a massive impact on all of us, but our small business will need to hang on by the skin of it’s teeth if we are to survive, as we do not have much time left in which to reschedule all the postponed shoot days.
I am not sure if people actually understand that we do not put their deposits in our pocket, it goes back into feed and fuel, ammunition, our time (NOT 9-5, pest control is out of hours most time), maintenance of trucks and quad bike, insurance – we do not take a salary! If their day is cancelled that just means no final payment to us which might give 2 people a tiny return for many months work. The birds still need to eat until they are able to be shot, that’s just the way of things in this industry.
The shot game is another issue, the game dealer has fewer outlets and therefore doesn’t really want to take very much. So I have been encouraging our Guns to take as much of the game as possible, if they want to shoot and continue their sport they have as much responsibility as we do to help use up the game. Thankfully most of our Guns understand this and take plenty of the bag. I do ask them a week or 2 prior to their shoot to inform friends and family to make preparation to take some of the game and give them assistance on prepping it.
In October we hosted a Ladies day and they took the whole bag between them!
So tomorrow we have a shoot day and I am sanitising and charging the radios, sorting out my shoot brief, making sure my truck is loaded, dealing with last minute requests from the Guns, organising my deer stalking kit for later on today (squeezing in a bit of deer control), making the lunch for tomorrow and writing this blog!
Finally, I wanted to say if anyone is feeling the pressure of this year, of this awful virus, of things they just can’t control, please reach out. I am here to talk to and sometimes that’s all that is needed, a friendly voice and someone to listen.
Just. Be. Kind.
TF
You are doing an amazing job under incredibly difficult times, we were over the moon with our day last year, you and Stuart were the dream team bringing yhe day together and i am very much looking forward to still getting one this season, I’ve never actually had a proper lesson before so you can pencil me in for that next year too!
Thats so kind to take a minute out of your busy life to think of others…
The few times our group has attended your shoot we have being made feel so welcome, its a privilege to shoot on such fine land
and I’m positive you and Stuart will make a success of the estate for many years to come .
Thank you Mark, hopefully we will get together again before the season ends, it’s so great to meet like minded people that have fun and can take a joke!
Stay safe. T
Wonderfully written and a great insight into what you do. I assumed it was a life of luxury and just goi g out to shoot. I didn’t realise all of the hard work that goes on in the background. I hope you can survive this virus and continue to grow and succeed. Best of luck to you both. X
Dear Paul, the best business is one that looks easy to everyone else, you just turn up, shoot amazingly presented birds and leave.
Nobody sees the days of hard work and prep that goes into a day, gradually moving feeders in small increments over weeks to get the birds where you want them, all the vermin control and feeding.
Then some a-hole lets his dogs off the lead through the drive on the day where we were going to next and all the birds have been chased out.
That’s just a tiny part of what we face in a limited season.
I wouldn’t change a thing! x
Very difficult time to start something new but your determined and positive response will carry you through. Maybe some local shops would take some of your game if it came with some information about the health benefits and a simple recipe or two.
Hopefully the vaccines will come through and everyone will be chomping at the bit to get outside and enjoy your services.
Best wishes for your success, everything after this will seem wee buns as we say.
💐👍
Thank you Ruth much appreciated comments. In normal circumstances I wouldn’t be too worried about the start of a new business venture, however, COVID and the very nature of what we do, with the addition of the lockdowns have really impacted so we just need to get through these few months and re-evaluate.
Game birds are worthless but absolutely delicious, so educating is important which is what I will be doing in future blogs, as am happy to give it away if used. x
Tracy, both you and Stuart are the most genuine, people I have met. Your ethics, safety and responsibility to the land are to be celebrated- you care, and that is evident in your practice and your words. These are tough times and especially for you both, carry on what you are doing- there is no couple better at this than you both. We have loved everything we have participated in that your businesses offer- professional, well organised, great value for money and a friendly, hospitable approach. Keep up the ‘great’ (but hard) work. Better days are coming! Well done, love this blog!
Thank you – love you both xxx
Thank you Tash, much appreciated comments. With a bit of luck, I’ll see you in January and you are most welcome any time for a lesson – well, when you’re let out of your tier that is! 😀 x
Wishing you both well. It certainly sounds like you are doing things very professional, which in this day and age! Is the only way forward.
Hopefully when this virus is on top of things will resume to normal and to get through we have to stick together and hopefully rise above it.
Tracy, love the blog! The pair of you have, & continue to work so hard. So much more than a job – a passion & lifestyle! It ‘s been a rotten year but things will get better. ‘Whit’s fur ye’ll no go by ye!’ If you could get me to hit a target you can do anything. Much love to you both.
Babs, what lovely words thank you! So sad we’ve not been able to get together for a while, but soon as this mess is behind us that will be the first thing! Love to you both xxx
Fantastic commitment and honesty from fantastic people. Looking forward to your updates Tracy!
Thanks Sis’, really glad you guys are up here now and you can be my sounding board! At least you are the sane one in our Family! 😀 xxx
Well said Tracy. You are doing a fabulous job xxxxx
Thank you Sarah, you at least knows what goes into this business, as one that has also taken a risk! If we can work together and help each other we won’t go far wrong! xxx
Trace, I think you are over-egging this…. from what I know you swan around in ya camo or ya tweeds … walking ya dogs, poking at the odd pheasant, only when the weathers good, then hobnob it with the guns on shoot days, swilling vast quantities of sloe gin and sausage rolls, while poor Stuart does all the donkey work. I know you wanna look like you’re working hard…. but don’t make it more than it is!! Xx
That’s me rumbled you are NOT welcome here again!
A real friend will insult you, that’s how you know they love you!
Stay safe my friend and look forward to a natter and putting the world right soon – love you too xxx
Love you Trace, you’re awesome and a real inspiration xxx
Nice to see a shoot that has actually thought about the COVID rules!
Hi Ben, thank you for reading.
I am surprised to hear you say that about the COVID rules, have you experienced otherwise? It’s a dangerous game they are playing and put’s our whole shooting industry at risk.
I have a very clear COVID risk assessment for the shoot days, not just for the Guns but for the beaters, pickers, handling of game, everything. It’s only a few changes to the norm and very easily implemented, so not sure why others cannot follow suit?
Look forward to catching up when allowed! T