Stepping into the world of shooting is exciting, but the new language alone can feel like you have stumbled into a secret club. We’re breaking down some of the most common terms that you will hear on a clay pigeon ground or game shoot.
Back gun
On occasions, a gun will stand slightly behind the main line of guns as a back gun. Their job is to shoot the birds that slip through unscathed.
Bag
The bag is the total number of game shot on a day. You might hear someone say “the bag was 120 birds today”, it’s simply the final tally.
Beaters
Beaters is the term for people who walk through the cover crops or woodland during a drive. Their job is to gently move the birds forward towards the line of guns. Without them, there would be no drive at all.
Brace
A brace means a pair of the same bird that have been shot, for example brace of pheasant.
Clay ground
Before heading out onto the field for a game shoot day, many people will head to their clay ground to practice. Instead of live game, clay disks are launched into the air to mimic different types of game birds and rabbits. It’s the perfect place for beginners to learn gun handling and safety in a controlled environment.
Drive
A drive is part of the day where guns will be on their pegs and beaters move through woodland, cover crops or moorland to encourage game birds to take flight towards the line of guns. A driven shooting day will consist of between 4 and 7 drives.
Elevenses
Around mid-morning everyone involved in the shoot will pause for a break and indulge in some refreshments. Guns will often be served light nibbled such as sausage rolls, pork pies, with sloe gin, and soft drinks.
Flush
The beaters will flush out the game birds out of an area of cover towards the direction of the guns.
Game
Game refers to the quarry being shot. Depending on the type of shot, this could be pheasant, partridge, grouse or ducks. On clay ground, the clay is the game.
Game season
The period in the year when certain species can be legally shot. Seasons vary depending on species, for example pheasants can only be shot between 1 October and 1 February.
Gamekeeper
Think of the gamekeeper as the manager of the shoot. They’re responsible for the land, the birds and ensuring the day runs smoothly. Gamekeepers will know their ground and their birds like the back of their hand.
Ghillie
A ghillie is a traditional Scottish game and fishing guide. In stalking, they assist the stalker, using their knowledge of the land to get the gun close to the deer.
Guns
A gun doesn’t always mean the firearms itself, it can also mean the person shooting. If you are invited to be “one of the guns” on a day, it means you are part of the shooting line.
Left and right
A left and right means a gun bringing down two birds in quick succession, one with their first barrel and the second with their next shot.
Live on the peg
Live on the peg means as soon as guns get to their allocated peg, they can start shooting rather than waiting for a signal.
Loader
On big days with a large bag, you might see a loader standing with a gun. The job of the loader is to handle the gun and cartridge, they will re-load one gun whilst the shooter is using the other, then they will swap. This allows the shooter to have a fully loaded gun at all times.
Open season
Another way of saying when the period when quarry can be shot legally. Each species has its own open season, and outside of it, they’re strictly protected.
Peg
A peg is the guns designated spot on each drive. Each gun is assigned a number at the beginning of the day, that number corresponds to a peg in the field from which each gun shoots.
Peg draw
At the start of the day, pegs are usually allocated by a peg draw. Guns pick numbered tokens or cards at random to decide their shooting positions. It keeps things fair and adds a bit of anticipation.
Picking up
Traditionally, picking up is carried out immediately after each drive, it is the process of a trained gundog retrieving the shot game birds. Skilled dog handlers will work in harmony with their dogs to ensure every bird is collected promptly.
Quarry
Quarry is the species that a gun is legally allowed to shoot on that day – pheasant, partridge, grouse, duck, or even rabbits on a rough shoot.
Runner
A runner is a bird that has been hit, but not cleanly, and manages to run. Gundogs are used to find the scent trail to ensure no quarry is left unrecovered.
Stalking
Stalking means hunting deer on foot.
Underkeeper
An underkeeper works alongside the head gamekeeper, helping rearing birds, habitat management, predator control, and keeping the day running smoothly.
Driven shooting
In driven shooting, game birds are flushed towards the line of guns by beaters and dogs. It’s the most traditional style of British shooting.
Rough shooting
Rough shooting involves guns walking across the ground themselves, flushing game as they go. It’s more informal than a driven shoot day and often involves a smaller bag.
Wildfowling
Wildfowling is the pursuit of wild ducks and geese.
