There are around 3000 full-time gamekeepers working in the UK with another 3000 working part-time. They play a particularly important role in the countryside where they look after areas which are called beats. It is their job to make sure there is enough game in those beats for shooting activities. They must also protect and manage wildlife habitats in their area.
With so many activities to manage throughout the course of a year, maintaining a gamekeeping calendar is vitally important if they are to ensure that their work is carried out efficiently.
Why gamekeepers need to organise their time
Like many of us, gamekeepers always have a million things that they need to do. Unless their time is well-organised, they may find that when clients turn up for a shoot there may be nothing to aim at – a nightmare!
Because there are so many small activities involved in a gamekeeper’s task list, keeping a calendar of when each activity needs to be completed is the only way to make sure that a to-do list gets cleared correctly and efficiently. Although some old hands will say they can keep everything in their head, sometimes people get distracted or too busy and it becomes impossible to remember every little thing.
Organisation of a game-keeping beat
Head gamekeepers and their team, if they have one, need a clear list of work that needs to be done at different times of the year if the beat is to be prepared properly for the shooting season.
A long list always looks daunting, so a more realistic approach to getting the whole list completed on time is to divide it into small steps and complete them one at a time. There’s a great feeling of success as you tick each item off your list.
What gamekeepers do
Many gamekeeping tasks can only be carried out at certain times of the year. Gamekeepers work very closely with forestry teams and farm managers. During spring and summer they are responsible for rearing young birds from hatcheries and making sure that game birds are kept safe from all types of predators. A gamekeeper may need to shoot predators or trap them.
They will need to maintain all of the land’s equipment, outbuildings and game pens. During the season they will become very busy organising the day’s shoot as they hire beaters and supervise their work during a shoot. Some keepers will also be charged with looking after streams and rivers and all of the area’s wetlands.
A gamekeeper’s life is easier if their calendar is organised properly. This helps them to ensure that their clients enjoy their days on the beat.
Sharon writes for Solway Feeders, who provide gamekeeping supplies to meet your needs.
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