Shooting

First days of the partridge season

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The anticipation builds

September 2020 has been remarkable for the stunning Indian summer enjoyed by much of the country, with the partridge shooting season getting off to a glorious start.

Blue skies

Photographs of partridge days

Thanks to Louisa North, head of operations at the British Game Alliance for sharing photographs of her first partridge day with us.

A glorious September day in the field

Louisa says: “I have been shooting on and off most of my life but mainly sharing a peg with my father. I only really started having lessons this year at the Royal Berkshire Shooting School.

Louisa shoots with her grandfather’s gun

“My gun was my grandfather’s and was given to me by my father last Christmas. It is a Beretta S56E, an over and under 20-bore.

“I usually manage about three days a season but this year had eight planned. I hope I can get them all.

“My fiancé’s uncle has a driven partridge and pheasant shoot in Hampshire where I go. It is a beautiful spot and the syndicate members are all very friendly.”

The beating line

Louisa is a firm believer in eating what she shoots and adds: “I actually create most of the recipes that are on Eat Wild. My favourite one at the moment is the partridge satay salad. However I am also working on a partridge and chorizo risotto.”

Taking home the day’s bag

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Partridge tips

Safety is a top concern when you’re shooting partridges
Make sure you know where other Guns, beaters and pickers-up are located
Don’t be tempted to take low shots, even though early season partridges can lose height quickly.
Practising shooting partridges on clays before you go out into the field will pay dividends
Focus on your footwork
Consider the cartridges you are using.
You can replace any chicken recipe with partridge meat
Young partridges taste cooked delicious in salads