A tough decision

[Powell93 5]

Hi all, I've been wanting to be a gamekeeper for a while now but i am not sure on whether or not its for me, as I am fairly keen on my mountain biking and some other sports. I fully understand that game keeping is a 25/8 job, and I am not sure on whether I am ready to give my sports up for this type of life, fortunately my mum has a friend in Scotland who knows the head keeper of the estate and may be able to swing me a weeks experience up there (coming from Bristol) and hopefully this will be a real eye opener. But basically what im asking is... did any of you gamekeepers out there give up something you enjoyed in order to pursue this career and do you regret it at all?

 

 

Regards

Lee

[stiggy 6]

what ever you want in life you have to make tough decisions, if you dont do it now then you never will. wait till your married with kids and other responsibilities......

 

goodluck

[Powell93 5]

As simple as that answer is it has helped

 

cheers

[WILF 46,834]

I would say that if the decision is that hard then its most likely not the job for you

[FightTheBan 1,147]

Agree with the above.

 

To be a keeper (or at least a good one) you must only see yourself doing this for the rest of your life.

 

You need 100% commitment or you wont last a year.

 

FTB

[Lab 10,979]

If you see it as a job, and a job only then i would walk away now. Its a way of life!! You cant count the hours and guarenteed when you arrange something like a night out a problem will pop up.....

[Powell93 5]

I know the hours are somewhat unpredictable and tough, but i honestly cant see myself doing anything else. I have looked at other careers and options but nothing seems to suit, i'm trying to stay optimistic but I know i must be realistic, hopefully the week with my mums friend may reveal what my decision is to be

[toby1066 413]

make your decision once you have the week under your belt like you say it will be an eye opener good luck

[danw 1,748]

Mate the hours aren't unpredictable you can set your watch and calender by my job to answer your question what do you give up well the answer is everything I am now single handed I have not left the estate since the poults arrived have worked first light till dusk and some every day missed most of the important parts of my three children's lives and have a wife who considers herself a single mum in past jobs I was paid less than a child's pocket money and lived in some real shitholes, been treated like a c@nt by idiot headkeepers and worried myself thin before the first shoot of the season.

 

 

Would I do anything else would I feck /would I do it all over again in another life? you bet,could I do anything else.never.

 

If you can give all to the job then you will make it if you can't then you will be like so many that go to college leave do a season then go plastering or labouring cause they can't hack it

 

 

Good luck I hope you make the right decision for yourself

[Powell93 5]

Mate the hours aren't unpredictable you can set your watch and calender by my job to answer your question what do you give up well the answer is everything I am now single handed I have not left the estate since the poults arrived have worked first light till dusk and some every day missed most of the important parts of my three children's lives and have a wife who considers herself a single mum in past jobs I was paid less than a child's pocket money and lived in some real shitholes, been treated like a c@nt by idiot headkeepers and worried myself thin before the first shoot of the season.

 

 

Would I do anything else would I feck /would I do it all over again in another life? you bet,could I do anything else.never.

 

If you can give all to the job then you will make it if you can't then you will be like so many that go to college leave do a season then go plastering or labouring cause they can't hack it

 

 

Good luck I hope you make the right decision for yourself

 

Thanks, sounds like a rewarding life, and labouring is the last thing I wanna do, all I've heard from people is that its good to get into a trade right now but honestly I cant see the rewards from what seems to be such a repetitive job, im not saying it doesn't have its advantages but its just not me

[Powell93 5]

Mate the hours aren't unpredictable you can set your watch and calender by my job to answer your question what do you give up well the answer is everything I am now single handed I have not left the estate since the poults arrived have worked first light till dusk and some every day missed most of the important parts of my three children's lives and have a wife who considers herself a single mum in past jobs I was paid less than a child's pocket money and lived in some real shitholes, been treated like a c@nt by idiot headkeepers and worried myself thin before the first shoot of the season.

 

 

Would I do anything else would I feck /would I do it all over again in another life? you bet,could I do anything else.never.

 

If you can give all to the job then you will make it if you can't then you will be like so many that go to college leave do a season then go plastering or labouring cause they can't hack it

 

 

Good luck I hope you make the right decision for yourself

 

Thanks, sounds like a rewarding life, and labouring is the last thing I wanna do, all I've heard from people is that its good to get into a trade right now but honestly I cant see the rewards from what seems to be such a repetitive job, im not saying it doesn't have its advantages but its just not me

[mattyv1433 8]

Its up to you mate.Like people say its a way of life and not a job.Well this is true.Long working hours,getting up early hours in the morning.Out foxing late at night to keep ya birds from getting damaged.Dogging in to keep your birds on the estate, and most of all keeping them b*****d poachers of the land

[PatterJack 11]

As others have said, Its a way of life. Alot of young lads get into keepering expecting to drive around in a landrover all day doing the odd trap here and there. I've seen more lads jack in after a year or two than i have stick at it.

If your willing to put the effort in and stick at it then u will reap the benefits.

I would advise you to try and get a few weeks or a summer work experience rather than just a week so you get a good look at it rather than a taste.

[Powell93 5]

what about part time keeping? I know the morn with full time is cheap accommodation and a vehicle, but i doubt those perks come with part time?? anyone shed any light on this?

Edited October 22, 2010 by Powell93

[danw 1,748]

Mate part-time keepers have to hold down another job to support themselves as part-timers,

The reality is part/full time you will still have to commit the time to your birds they are not like other jobs where you close the doors at 5 and go home to be successful nothing else must matter but keeping your charges alive and on the estate.

 

 

What experience of keepering do you currently have? if you want to come and see what I have to do in a day I am about an hour and a half from Bristol