Sharps Shoot Syndicate

Beaters pre-shoot briefing

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Welcome!
Thank you for supporting Sharps Shoot Syndicate. Your support for our shoot is much appreciated.
Sharps members wish you a safe and enjoyable day with us.

Shoot Captains:
Please follow instructions from the shoot captains (or their nominated deputies):
Beaters Captain AC Gun Captain MA
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First Aiders:
RD MB
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Safety:
All those involved in shoot activities have legal responsibilities to take reasonable care of the health and
safety of themselves and others. Please report any health and safety concerns to an appropriate person.

General Dos and Donts:
Please park any vehicles as advised by the shoot captains. Look out for loose dogs when parking.
Guns and beaters usually walks between drives. Vehicles are not usually taken beyond the yards or
tracks.
Please be aware that we beat and shoot across fields containing both crops and livestock. Keep
livestock disruption to a minimum. Follow the shoot captains advice as to which crops are
permissible to walk over.
Be aware of where guns are standing and take note of their direction of fire.
Please stick to defined tracks and access points wherever possible.
Please do not force your way through hedges or cut additional access points.
Where possible, please open gates to walk through rather than climb over them.
Please keep any dogs under control at all times, especially in the vicinity of livestock. Follow the
shoot captains instructions on dog control at all times.
Please leave gates as you found them either open or closed.
Please take all litter home with you, and if you see any litter the Syndicate and Landowners would
both be very grateful if you can pick it up, if it is safe to do so!
Young beaters are most welcome, but any beaters under 18 must be accompanied by a responsible
adult at all times
There is to be no smoking in the barns or, in the woods or around crops in dry weather.
Please assist in marking any shot game and helping to retrieve it.

Equipment:
Please wear stout footwear and clothing appropriate to the season and weather.
A first aid kit is available in the shoot barn.
Safety spectacles are available on request.
Cold running water and soap for hand washing is available at the barn. There are no other hand
wash facilities anywhere on the shoot. You are advised to also bring your own wipes and/or anti-
bacterial gel for hand cleansing.

Drive starts and stops:
The gamekeeper will start drives using whistle blasts, and the holders of radios will be informed.
The drives terminate on the sound of one long whistle, and the holders of radios will be informed.




PTO
Sharps Shoot Syndicate Beaters pre-shoot briefing
Version 1 - September 2014.

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Risks:
All beaters and shoot helpers must be aware of the following risks:

Wooden bridges can be slippery, especially after wet weather, frost, or snow.
Use handrails where provided.
The shoot land contains some steep banks, take care when climbing these.
Use the steps and/or handrails where provided.
If a route looks dangerous, ask the beaters captain or a Syndicate member if a safer route exists.
The shoot contains hedges that have grown in deep ditches. Take great care and test your step
before committing your bodyweight, as apparently firm ground around the hedges may give when
walked upon.
Old fence boundaries may have resulted in fallen and rotten wire and barbed wire being hidden by
vegetation.
Where possible, the Syndicate has covered barbed wire at access points with plastic pipe.
Please cross at these points where possible.
The shoot contains some rough ground, ploughed ground, and areas of vegetation that can obscure
trip hazards. Avoid these, or take extreme care if you decide to enter at your own risk.
Hedges and woodlands contain thorny vegetation such as brambles and Blackthorn. Take care
walking through these and be aware of the danger to yourself and others from any branches flicking
back.
The shoot contains some derelict buildings, barns and other structures. Do not access these at any
times.
The Syndicates storage barn also contains farm equipment and scrap metal. Do not touch or interfere
with this equipment and material.
The shoot contains an open, fenced off, silage pit. Do not enter this area and dog owners are advised
to keep their dogs under close control and preferably on a lead around this area.
As the shoot contains both farm animals and reared bird species there is a risk of picking up bacterial
contamination on your hands and clothing whilst on Syndicate land. You are advised to wash your
hands before eating and drinking.
Always handle dead game carefully and always wash your hands after handling dead game.
Be aware of any falling game and lead shot.