Beating and Picking Up: What to Wear for Your First Season on the Shoot Team
Plenty of people attend their first game shooting event as a member of the beating line, spending the winter walking in woods where they’d normally never set foot – walking through cover to flush birds toward the guns.
Picking-up teams work with trained dogs to retrieve shot game, positioning themselves where they can safely watch birds fall and mark where they land. A typical shoot will have around six or seven drives per day, and lots of equipment doesn’t survive the rigours of the thorny undergrowth.
The Countryside Alliance recommends the following on your first day: Arrive early, pay attention to the pre-drive briefing, follow the beaters who are on either side of you, and try to walk through cover instead of going around it. You’ll sit on the beaters' wagon while you wait for each drive and no one gets on or off until it has stopped.
Here are some tips to help you choose suitable clothing when attending a shooting event for the first time.
Dressing for the beating line
Beaters are working for hours on their feet. The Countryside Alliance lists thornproof and waterproof clothing as priorities, with muted browns and greens being preferred over brightly coloured clothing or black. The shooting location could even have a dress code, which would require you to wear a shirt and tie.
Begin with the legs, because this is where you’re most likely to get scratched by brambles and soaked by wet kale. Over-trousers that pack away, like the Musto Fenland Packaway Trousers, have an opening at the bottom of the trouser leg so they can be put on over your boots. Then you can consider gaiters such as the Barbour Endurance Gaiter, that include an outer shell made from Cordura, and a waterproof and breathable liner.
You will have to choose whether to wear wellies or boots. If you are going to be standing in water all day then neoprene lined wellies such as the Aigle Parcours 2 Iso will be the best option. If you are going to be doing a lot of walking on drier, firmer ground then you might want to consider wearing a waxed nubuck boot such as the Härkila Saxnäs HI GTX or the Meindl Peru GTX which is available in both men's and women's versions.
As far as the upper body goes, it is better to layer than to rely on one large coat. You will be warm when climbing up hills, but cool towards the end of the drive. BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) suggests that you should find something that will keep you warm and dry, but it doesn't have to cost the earth. Rips and tears are bound to happen in this environment.
Wax cotton is probably the best type of material for this sort of thing, as it is resistant to thorns and can be re-waxed if needed. Take a look through our selection of men's and women's wax jackets. To help keep your torso warm, we suggest using our own label fleece gilets: the Marlow for men and the Melrose II for women. These allow for full use of your arms for holding your stick.
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The need to dress appropriately when "picking-up"
You will be stationary for lengthy periods of time at the back of the line, but when it’s time to end the hunt, you will have to move quickly. This requires much warmer clothing than what’s required by someone beating the woods (i.e. a warm waterproof jacket and quieter colours as you do not want to distract the shooters).
This includes a good insulating layer such as a double knit fleece, e.g. the Harkila Torsby, underneath your waterproof shell; a tweed hat with waterproof qualities; gloves that you can use to operate a gun's safety lock and give whistles; and both Primaloft and Merino wool socks that are worn within your boots. These items help to keep your hands and feet from getting cold while you stand. The longer you stand without moving, the colder your extremities will become. These items should be purchased prior to spending money on a new outer garment.
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What to bring (and your dog’s kit)
Travelling beaters are minimalists, usually taking only a stick they can afford to lose and some water (as long as lunch is supplied). Picking-up teams are different because they have to take much more with them. BASC's "what to take" list includes a whistle, leads, a game bag, a basic First Aid Kit, towel(s) and water. The Barbour Tartan Trimmed Slip Lead is an easy-to-use, quick-release rope lead. You should give your dog priority before leaving for the drive back home. That's exactly why you should consider the Towel Lined Barbour Tartan Dog Drying Robe. We also have plenty of dog coats in our dog section.
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What comes home wet?
Most of what is carried to the field. Clean your wellington boots before the mud has time to set. Dry all of your leather footwear slowly but carefully and keep your waterproof clothing in an area that has good airflow. For waxed coats, apply a layer of Barbour Wax Thornproof Dressing on your jacket by the end of each season. Our re-waxing guide will help you to do this.
On some shoots, the season ends with a shooting day for beaters. The beating team is given the opportunity to come out and shoot as thanks. If you are able to get to the Peaks, take the boots you'll wear to one of our stores in Bakewell and test wearing our overtrousers and gaiters over those boots to check all three fit together.
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