It can be difficult for an outsider to break into the sometimes somewhat closed community of shooting. It’s usually a case of someone you know or a friend of a friend introducing you or your dad. Having Working dogs is a big bonus and can lead to the door being pushed wide open for you. If you don’t know anyone who can get you an introduction try and find out which pub your local shoots go to after their day. Be there from about 3.30pm on a Saturday. The shooters, keepers, and beaters aren’t usually hard to spot. Depending on the shoot the best people to get talking to are the keepers and beaters so go where they go, not the shooters who may be just paying guests and haven’t got a clue about the shoot and it’s organisation. Don’t be pushy, just float your interest and once you get the opportunity don’t fluff by being picky about when you can go, or what you do. When the keeper says jump the answer is yes and how high!!!! Discussions about the merits of his or her orders can come later - like about after 5-10 years of going on the shoot. Otherwise shut up.
Good luck. It’s a great world once you are in.
