Dressing The Part For A Day Out Pheasant Shooting
Pheasant shooting is a sport rooted in tradition. Clothing and looking the part is an equally important part of the shoot day.
There are few images that evoke British culture more so than a day out pheasant shooting, regaled in the finest tweeds and hunting accessories. The clothing is rooted in tradition but as well as dashing good looks, pheasant shooting clothes serve a highly functional role.
The materials and colours of pheasant shooting clothing are very much Tweed and natural greens and browns. Why Tweed? The weave is not only very classic but the material offers huge flexibility, an essential requirement to all hunters to be able to move with ease and react instinctively to driven birds. The heaviness of Tweed not only offers warmth but resistance to wind and rain. The colours are seated in country hues of green and brown to extend cover and camouflage for the shooter.
Clothing is very much worn on a layered basis to allow the shooters to not only keep warm but to easily take off a garment as they warm up. Hats again serve both a functional and style role – peaked caps keep the sun out of the eyes or when the heavens open, the rain from going into the eyes.
Jackets have changed somewhat in recent years but still favour the waxed Barbour type of jacket that not only offers protection but are also "quiet" jackets that do not rustle or make unnecessary noise to detract from the pheasant shooting. Large, deep pockets for hip flasks, spare gun cartridges and other hunting accessories are essential. Padded shoulders to buffer the recoil of the shotgun are also seen on the stock bearing shoulder.
Footwear is again practical and functional to cope with the different terrain and inevitable mud so Hunter wellington boots are very much de rigueur. Shooting sticks are often carried for the discerning pheasant shooter to wait in comfort until the birds are driven his or her way.
Pheasant shooting traditions go beyond the clothing and a good day out shooting will start with drawing pegs to determine who is shooting with whom and where. At the end of the shoot, tradition also dictates that the shoot is laid out at the count and that the gamekeeper and all beaters are tipped and commended for the way the pheasant shooting has been managed.
Pheasant Shooting with Cowans Sporting
At Cowans Sporting we love not only the shoot but all the traditions rooted in pheasant shooting. Craig Denman has many years of experience in the game industry and is on hand to help both novice and veteran shooters have a great day out. Please call us on 01387 760284 to make a great day out pheasant shooting.