Sporting Etiquette

One of the delights of following fieldsports in Britain is that traditional values still apply to the sports and, above all else, there is a genuine respect for the quarry. Because hunting, shooting and fishing are inextricably linked with wildlife and habitat conservation, it is important that visitors appreciate and observe the etiquette of the British sporting field.

If you are visiting the United Kingdom as guests of a reputable sporting agent such as Hendry Ramsay and Wilcox, your hosts will explain the unwritten rules of which you should be aware. Otherwise, here are a few pointers.

All conduct in any country sport should be such as to ensure minimum suffering for the quarry. Similarly, sport should be conducted to avoid any negative impact upon ongoing wild populations unless a management scheme requires a reduction (e.g. in a scientifically determined deer cull). Respect for fellow sportsmen and women is also of paramount importance. It is an immutable principle of sport in Britain that no bird or animal be killed unless (a) it will be used as food or (b) it is a serious agricultural pest.

When game shooting, those tenets mean that shots should never be taken at any species that has not been positively identified as legitimate quarry, that shots should never be taken at ranges that are outwith the capacity of shooter and gun to achieve a clean kill and that shots should never be taken at such close range that the bird would be damaged beyond acceptable table condition. Shooting low or close birds is considered to be very unsporting.

When shooting in company, it is unacceptable to shoot any bird that may provide a more sporting target for a neighbouring Gun unless that Gun has already taken two shots at it and missed.

Much of the sporting etiquette that has evolved in the United Kingdom is based on simple safety considerations. Britain has a far lower rate of shooting accidents than almost any other country in the world and much of this is due to the rigorous application of safety rules. In particular, no gun, whether loaded or not, must ever be pointed at another person. When walking in line or standing at a peg, the gun barrels must at all times be pointing into the ground or high into the air. The sloppy practice of carrying a gun across the body with the barrels pointing sideways is totally unacceptable in Britain. Guns must always be kept unloaded except when in position to expect a shot and should be carried between drives in a gunslip or with the breach open. Guns must always be unloaded before crossing a fence, ditch or other obstacle or before being handed to another person. When shooting driven birds, the barrels must never be swung through a neighbouring Gun when turning to take a bird behind. Equally, a gun must never be fired in a direction that may endanger a beater, stop or picker-up.

Standards of dress vary considerably on British shoots. Many still adhere to traditional tweeds, breeches and neckties but others now permit some relaxation, especially for overseas guests. Your host will normally advise you if there are particular requirements.

Your host will also advise you regarding gratuities for gamekeepers and ghillies.

Return to British Fieldsports Information Index for more information about hunting, shooting and fishing in the UK
Go to Hendry Ramsay and Waters main website for the internet's best range of sporting opportunities in Britain and the country's top online shop for shooting accessories and fishing tackle