From the “Hints to Grown Sportsmen”

Believe it or not but I'm still on the subject of shooting and I'm quite determined to remain here until I know my way. At the moment I'm wading through a thicket of birds (there are so many of them – so many I've never even heard of!) one can shoot during the season but I'm not at all ready to talk about them just yet. That's why I'm turning back to my earlier notes that deal with bringing them down and disposing of them in a proper way. It sounds awfully bloodthirsty and cruel and I keep my sensibilities locked away so that they don't stand in the way of my research.

I've mentioned in one of my previous posts that “Hints to Grown Sportsmen” is a curious little book, because it's written as a series of chats between friends during the actual sport, where an accomplished sportsman instructs his less accomplished friends in the art of shooting. Here is one such example:

- Look at these broken stones – the birds sit there in general, and are hardly perceptible from their similarity of colour. You may pass them many times without being aware of it. Let us hunt the soft moss upon this bare and bleak-looking hill. Now see, the dogs are quite desponding, and never having found game in such a place, barely hunt. Are you satisfied?

- Indeed I am! Let us return.

- No; we cannot go back without finding one covey. Let us try that cairn, and place our men so, that if we do find any, they may mark them. Look, our attendant to the left is making signs, they are wild as hawks. They are up – we shall find them with difficulty. Up again!

- Did I do right to fire?

- Perfectly; you might have killed – and you have, too! See, the bird you shot is falling at the turn of the hill, and a leading bird too! Now we shall get them – let us make the most of the covey.

- I think I counted six brace and a half; we have five brace, and two are gone out of bounds. I have a mind to have a brace of these preserved; how shall I carry them?

- Smooth their feathers, and lay them in your handkerchief, roll it up carefully, taking care there is no blood; now a little heather over and under, I think will do.

The next bit is probably my favourite part, because it allows us to penetrate into the thoughts and feelings of a sportsman after a day of sport:

Let us send our men home, and spend the end of this lovely day by ourselves. I confess I feel a sort of annoyance at travelling all day with a servant behind; and I cannot help looking back with some pleasure to those times, when all my little arrangements were begun and completed without assistance. The dogs seemed more under my own control when let out of the kennel by their master, and each partridge, as it went into the pocket, had an individual value – (here, with the quantity we bring home, we cannot be so independent,) – and this, I think, gives a great zest to those days when we start late after rain, and can only try for an old black cock, or endeavour to get within distance of a buck. On these occasions how delightful is it to make the gun but a sort of excuse for our wandering, and, seated, upon one of the rocks in the wildest spot to be found, ponder over auld lang syne; the company we are in, the weather, the wildness of the scene, can make a moderate bag all that we desire… See, the snow falls in clouds, home we must go; the dogs are frozen. How we cling to that we like, when the thing itself – nay, even the capability of enjoying it, is no more! Many, many will be the recollections we shall experience of this our trip!

Ah! Nice, isn't it?

Farida Mestek is the author of “Margaret's Rematch” (newly edited and with a gorgeous new cover), “A Secret Arrangement” and “Lord Darlington's Fancy” - romantic stories set against the backdrop of Regency England. You can learn more about her books at her blog Regency Sketches.

The Question of What Is Sport and Some General Bits of Advice

In today’s post on the subject of fowling I’m going to rely on the same authors whose ideas and opinions I referenced and used in my previous one.

I’m going to start with Robert Blakely, the author of “Shooting: A Manual of Practical Information On This Branch Of British Field Sports”, who in his book on the subject gives what he believes is the most accurate definition of sport (which I find fascinating) and shares his opinion on what sport is not.

The birds are in many cases collected together in considerable quantities, which go under the name of batteaux, where they serve for gala days of sport to the nobility and gentry. We have ourselves always looked upon these exhibitions with pain, and we conceive them totally opposed in principle to the real spirit of English sports. We never could comprehend a man’s feelings in killing a quantity of game under such circumstances. Sport it certainly is not.

To enjoy and obtain this there must be a given portion of uncertainty and trouble connected with its persecution. If a man could kill all the game of an extensive and well-stocked preserve in an hour, there would be no sport in the case, in the true sense of the word. It would be one of the dullest and most uninteresting acts of life.

But where he has to seek, and to find, and to ramble for miles through a thickly-wooded or moorish country, there is pleasurable excitement produced, and this is the creative and sustaining principle of pure sport, and the true source of all enjoyments which the pursuit of wild animals can confer on man.

It is to wander about; the hopes entertained here, and the fears there; the disappointments met with on the eve of realized advantages, that constitute the current of exhilarating feeling and lively sentiment, which we connect with the healthy and natural indulgence in field sport generally.

It is a bad spirit for a real sportsman to cherish to be always craving for great success, and to be perpetually out of humour both with himself and every one about him, if he does not get his bag sooner and better fitted than all his neighbours and competitors.

There is an exclusive and selfish bitterness lying at the roof of all such trains of thought and the habits they engender; and the best receipt for eradicating this pernicious principle is, to look lightly and carelessly on the sport, and to make it a means, and not an end.



To continue with some general bits of advice on the sport of fowling, I’d like to enlist the assistance of Marmaduke Markwell, Esq., the author of “Advice to Sportsmen, Rural or Metropolitan, Noviciates Or Grown Persons; With Anecdotes Of The Most Renowned Shots Of The Day: Exemplified From Life, etc.” who has a lot to say on the subject, however, he does it with an indecent amount of humour, which makes me think that he is rather making a sport of sportsmen himself and I would not wish to trust his opinion completely. But he does entertain me so!

If you are desirous of becoming noticed, and wish to introduce a description of your kennel, or a particular breed, do it if possible in the language of a gentleman; or should you be at a loss, recollect we have abundance of authors who might furnish you with quotations.

An implicit attention from young sportsmen, to the relation of any field sport by an old shot is absolutely necessary; besides, when it may become your own turn to relate a day’s pastime, you will have an opportunity of running a parallel, and who will dare to doubt it?

Long stories, long shots, and a little of the wonderful are to be expected. In fact, the marvelous is absolutely as necessary for a sportsman as his fowling-piece, else how tedious must many narrations appear, particularly after a dull heavy day’s sport, with indifferent success.

As for the dogs, I would advise to purchase handsome and creditable looking pointers and setters, for appearances are a great recommendation among gentlemen, such being generally noticed by all ranks, however faulty they may be in other respects.

Dogs purchased at the various menageries in and about the metropolis, will be found a doubtful speculation; beside the mortification of having them claimed by some passenger, just as you may be stepping into your chaise or dog-cart for a shooting excursion.

It were as well also for sportsmen to find an easy and a ready way of procuring a few head of game for their friends before they leave town, least the county they happen to sport in should fall short; or by accident they should shoot rather in a hurry, and have little success.

I would recommend Mr-----; he can relieve all their wants, and that at a very moderate rate. Of hares, pheasants, or partridges, he has always an abundant stock, so that gentlemen may anticipate how many head of game they intend to kill for each friend, without the danger of disappointment.

Should you determine on a thorough week’s amusement, you will do well to keep a register of your exploits; books of this description are now universal among good shots, and to be had of any bookseller in town or country.

Should game be scanty where you shoot, you may easily supply appearances, by filling the pockets with mushrooms, sucking pigs, geese, or Dutch pheasants; at any rate make up a load to walk home with, it will look sportsman like.

If you should shoot a head of game by any accident, put it into the net-bag that hangs by your side, it will appear you have had a dashing day’s sport, not having room in your jacket for the last bird you have killed.

Knocking birds down with the butt end of your piece, after having failed in your aim, is a very unsportsman-like act, and not often attended with success. The usual practice of shutting both eyes, for fear of the flash in the pan, is very much against taking a good aim.

To make up a day’s diversion, should a flock of pigeons pass over your head, it will be the extreme of negligence to omit firing into them; gentlemen may shut their eyes on this occasion, and yet be sure of loading themselves.

It will be equally an easy shot if they should fall in with the samebirds, quietly roosting in the thatch of a barn or farm house, there is no occasion to the proprietor or farmer, though he may be looking on; should the wadding set fire to the thatch, you will have an opportunity of running away by the light.

Until next time!

Farida Mestek is the author of “Margaret's Rematch” and “A Secret Arrangement” - romantic stories set against the backdrop of Regency England. You can learn more about her books at her blog Regency Sketches.

The Question Of What To Put On When You Go Shooting

A fortnight or so ago I was reading a blog post about the beginning of the shooting season and my imagination was instantly inflamed by images of handsome Regency gentlemen in their shooting-jackets, with guns (Did you know that they used to be called fowling-pieces?) and dogs enjoying a fine day’s sport on the moors or in the woods.

Before long, I had a set of characters and a plot-line for another story that I knew I had to write. Naturally, handsome gentlemen and great country estates is always a pleasure to write about, but there is also a terrible secret to deal with, centuries-old enmity to put an end to, a near-death accident to recover from, and something by way of a nice, satisfying ending for everyone involved.

The only problem was that the major part of the story was taken up by a shooting party and I knew nothing whatsoever about shooting. As always in such cases, I took myself to Google Books and, having found half a dozen books with advice and instruction to young sportsmen to begin with, started my research.

There is a great number of things to talk about in connection with the subject, but I decided to dedicate my first post, in what I imagine will be a series of posts, to those necessary articles of clothing that a Regency sportsman had to garb himself in when going fowling. I must say that they had to put on so many garments and supply their shooting habiliments with so many appendages I am surprised they could actually move, let alone walk long distances or be quick with their piece.

Of course, every author, expanding upon the subject, has his own view on the matter and often enough it is quite different to the one expressed by another author, so the best that a sportsman can do in such a case is to think for himself and choose wisely. Personally, if I were a sportsman, I would care about comfort rather than appearance and, as such, would adhere to a rather more sound advice of the following author, who believes that “a good deal of success, and nine-tenth of the real pleasure derivable from shooting, depends upon the right management of the commissariat department”:

A shooting sportsman should be conveniently and appropriately clad. Ease, comfort, and safety, are the three leading points to be attended to. The coats or jackets should be well supplied with capacious pockets; those for hares should be lined with oil-skin; indeed, all shooting pockets should have a lining of this kind, because there is commonly a multitude of articles to fill them with. To all shooters of forty years and upwards flannel shirts are recommended, no matter how warm the weather.

Laced half-boots, with gaiters to reach above the knee or whole-legged, are desirable things. Thick woollen stockings, made of soft yarn, not worsted. The great secret of keeping the feet in good order during continued walking, is the use of the right sort of stockings or socks: and none really answer the purpose so completely and pleasantly as the fine wool made into thick yarn, and home knit. To those who have tender feet, a little soap rubbed on the sole of a stocking will answer a beneficial end.

Taken from “Shooting: A Manual of Practical Information On This Branch Of British Field Sports” by Robert Blakely.

However, Marmaduke Markwell, Esq., the author of “Advice to Sportsmen, Rural or Metropolitan, Noviciates Or Grown Persons; With Anecdotes Of The Most Renowned Shots Of The Day: Exemplified From Life, etc.” has quite a different set of rules he wishes sportsmen to heed when choosing what to wear on such an occasion:

Gentlemen retiring into the country to follow their favourite pastime, will do well to maintain by their appearance a proper distinction from the country-bred squires. For this purpose, it will be necessary for them, when they appear abroad, to avoid dressing like gamekeepers in fustian jackets, slouched hats, and water proof boots.

In fact, he is adamant that boots have no place during the shooting season:

Boots are quite out of ton, during the shooting months; every thing has its proper use, and boots are certainly fit to be worn by gentlemen during the epoch of racing; those sultry months of June, July, and August are proper periods for appearing in them; the good old Spanish proverb is verified by wearing them at such times: what will keep the cold out, will keep the heat out.

Thus he proposes that light shoes or pumps should be worn:

They are particularly calculated for walking over ploughed lands; the clods of earth adhering to the bottoms of your feet, after wet weather, are quite heavy enough, without encumbering yourself with limbering boots or high-lows.

As for the stockings, he is certain that black silk stockings will do very well:

They will be found equally advantageous should you happen to beat through marshy grounds, or cap into a slough – where by chance you may leave your pumps behind – the soil and mud will bear a sportsman-like contrast to the stockings which, from their colour, have the effect of boots, without their inconvenience and weight.

The next piece of advice on the same subject is taken from “Hints To Grown Sportsmen”, a curious book written as a series of conversations between friends on different shooting-related subjects, while the actual sport is taking place. The author of this manual prefers fustian material for clothes, because it is lasting, strong, impenetrable, and fit enough for the weather later in the season. However, he finds laced boots inconvenient on account of their being too heavy and too small and, as for the stockings, he rather gives preference to very thick worsted socks, instead of long stockings, because they give one much more liberty to move.

And, before we part for today, a few words about the importance of an appropriate colour by the same author:

There are some circumstances in which colour is of great consequence; for instance, stalking a deer. In such a case, the dress should be of the same colour as the surrounding objects; for example, bottle green, is an unremarkable colour. Indeed, for my own part, I conceive that colour is of some consequence in a dog, and the one with little or no white will get nearer the game without disturbing it, than one which is all white. It will not, indeed, be amiss to avoid strong contrasts with surrounding objects on all occasions, such as white hats.

Until next time!

Farida Mestek is the author of “Margaret's Rematch” and “A Secret Arrangement” - romantic stories set against the backdrop of Regency England. You can learn more about her books at her blog Regency Sketches.