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I act as underkeeper on our syndicated shoot. I studied engineering, and so have no idea what its like to study gamekeeping etc. at college.

I've learned from various books, articles and my mate Ian, who is our keeper. His dad was a keeper before him.

 

webber

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Well here are a few questions pm me please,

 

whats the general pay amount?

do youget any extras..eng car house dog ect

what do you do during summer months..pre- shooting season ?

 

thanks in advance

 

Really does vary from place to place and circumstances...

 

Some may get extras like you say, car, house etc... not normally dogs.

Summer months are all maintainence, rearing, general setting up for the season. Making sure everything is ready, from cuting out rides, repairing or building pens, feeding, cover crops, planning any new drives, making sure that its all up and running for the season... Then the pest control side of it as well.

Can be long hard days, in every weather condition. If its got to be done its got to be done. Pay isnt brilliant i'll admit. I know many keepers that are not paid, but have a house on the estate, like i said, its dependant on where you are...

You will find these days that many a keeper has another job, business, or are very lucky and employed full time and have the house, car etc.... Its hard work, but if its your passion, you'll love it...

 

I cant get enough of it, get thoroughly bored being stuck indoors for hours on end, and can spend hours lost on the estate working. Its got to be a passion, not just a job. Its very hard to find a job at the moment, and i hate to say it but i think its all slowly winding down...

 

My advice, if you are 14, get qualifications in other things. Study 'keeping either after you have other qualifications, or as a hobby working directly with a keeper. Do it if you love it and are pepared to work hard, or you may look back and think you should have done something else, but not have the other qualifications.

 

But me..... I wouldnt change it for the world! ;)

 

.Joe

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Well here are a few questions pm me please,

 

whats the general pay amount?

do youget any extras..eng car house dog ect

what do you do during summer months..pre- shooting season ?

 

thanks in advance

Loads of folk think keeping is about drivin bout in a landrover with a sack of corn and a shotgun :D:D:D. Or even better get a high ground job on a grouse moor .You just drive about on a quad with a shotgun and a box of matches ... :D:D

It is in reallity not like that but instead of dwelling on the facts that it can be a struggle to get started and there are very few available jobs I'll answer your questions as best i can . Part -time or do-it yourself shoots operate at a lower level but let's assume you want to be a Keeper -even a Headkeeper -on a big Shoot.

As an Underkeeper starting out you won't earn much and may have to find digs or travel from home but as you gain skill and the trust of employers things 'll look up.

Pay will be pretty much around the average wage but a you might get a house ,a vehicle for work use that you might be allowed to use privately for local use,maybe a dog food allowance etc . On the other hand you will be working long hours and will be effectivly on -call 24/7. Like Joe said ,"If it needs doing ,you do it ".

 

The summer is actually the busiest time.You'll be tied to the job from dawn to dusk .

 

Down fall of many a Trainee Keeper is the ridiculous idea that they, as teenagers, are entitled to some sort of private life involving the pub,their mates and the wrong type of birds....

The lives of a successful trainee keeper and novice monk have much in common .Long hours,sparce accomodation ,clean livingand celibacy.

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Guest ragumup
is there a gamekepper on here that could just let themselves lnow to me as i was just wondering if i could ask them a few questions as im considering it as a job wjen im older as im only 14 now thanks

 

Louis123

One of the worse problems you'll find is scum shooting your birds out the trees at night thus making you look a useless twat on your shoot days indirectly taking money out your pocket and kicking you out your house/ kids out there school etc and also so yobs running your birds down with their cars for fun

Then there's the gangs of lurcher lads SOME with no respect for any ones livelihood and would nick the snot off their grandmas nose

 

Then there the general public letting their dogs disturb your drives and thinks its funny and say right to roam and then wonder why your pissed off :(

 

ps its a great job :blink::clapper:

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I'm doing a National Diploma in Countryside Management and hoping to get a job in Keepering at the end of it.

 

Not being big headed, but I know quite a bit about it all already as my grandad is a Keeper (but sadly packing it it at the end of the season) and has been for 40 or more years. As said before it's not all about driving round in a Land Rover, with a sack of feed and a firearm.

 

Lots of hard work with very little time to yourself. If your only 14 years old, you've got to be willing to miss out on going out with mates, going drinking & getting skirt.

 

Hope it helps

 

 

Tony.

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