I was chatting to our local stalker today (he provides most of the local venison in these parts) about shoots, and how I wished I'd had the opportunity to train Chloe for working.
He said that traditional pheasant shoots are "dying out" (I think that's how he put it) and that folk want to pit their wits against wild birds now. He said that we have a healthy population of woodcock here and, as cockers were originally trained to flush woodcock, I got to wondering why Skye folk haven't capitalised on this. There is one estate I know of in the south end of the Island, where they have woodcock and some pheasants, but from what I gather, its a fairly low-key, small set up.
So, for those of you who work their dogs, do you agree with him?
Him and a few friends apparently go out for a days shooting now and then with their dogs (I might ask to tag along one day). He also told me that he'd been approached by a guy from Ireland last year, who wanted to come over here with a group of mates to shoot woodcock and was prepared to pay thousands! He refused, cos he was worried about it not being professional enough for them.
Any thoughts? Could I open up a shooting estate? (Just kiddin on that last sentence obviously
)