Phoines Estates

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Shoot Rules and Procedures

All shoot participants must adhere to the following ‘rules and procedures’.

• Please observe the guidance/ instructions of the Headkeeper and the Underkeepers.
• Prior to the day commencing, please confirm to the Headkeeper the validity of each participant’s shotgun certificate and evidence of appropriate insurance; the presence of any young/ novice/ foreign participants, so that appropriate action can be taken as deemed necessary during the day; plus declare any health issues that may become relevant whilst on site (e.g. diabetic, heart condition). First aid kits are provided in each shoot vehicle.
• General advice on procedures will be verbally given before shooting commences, including information on current weather/ ground conditions and the use of appropriate footwear/ clothing (including any necessary eye/ ear protection). Plus suitable flags/ ‘high visibility’ clothing will be provided to relevant shoot personnel, so as to make them more visible on the shooting line.
• All personnel will be transported around during the day in shoot vehicles (i.e. the shoot vehicle and beaters trailer). Passengers must stay seated at all times whilst the vehicles are in motion with shotguns suitably slipped and dogs on leads under control. Care must always be taken when getting in/ out of the vehicles, especialy when wet.
• Shooting on each drive can commence straight away but most promptly cease on hearing the whistle. If an emergency signal is given during a drive (i.e. due to the presence of saboteurs), stop shooting and return to the shoot vehicles, unless otherwise directed by the above named persons. Shotguns must be treated with care at all times and be ‘in proof’ (i.e. in a safe/ sound condition). Ensure shotguns are always broken with the barrels empty when not in use/ at the end of each drive, plus suitably slipped when being carried. Only carry cartridges of the correct gauge and chamber length of your shotgun. Plus remove all empty cartridges from your peg at the end of each drive. Shotguns must only be pointed and fired at game birds (i.e. NO ground game or other bird species), with no shooting allowed ‘down or behind the line’, unless the headkeeper gives specific instructions to the contrary. When waiting on the pegs, loaded shotguns must be kept pointed at the ground with the safety on. In the event of a malfunction, keep the shotgun pointed at the ground until it has been corrected or summon necessary help.
• All participants in the shooting line must be aware of the layout of each drive (i.e. landscape, direction of flight etc) and the location of other people at all times (i.e. beaters, pickers-up). If you are in doubt – DO NOT shoot!! Dogs must be kept under strict control at all times, with no retrieval of quarry from the shooting line allowed during drives. Plus the use of mobile phones is not permitted during drives.
• The consumption of alcohol will be strictly controlled, with anyone obviously under the influence being prevented from participating/ continuing to shot. Children (i.e. anyone under 16) are only permitted with prior authorisation and then only at the parent’s own risk, with the parent being fully responsible for the child at all times

Failure by any participant to observe proper standards of safety and behaviour will result in instant expulsion from the shoot.