Gamekeeper

Gamekeeping is a way of life as opposed to a typical nine-to-five — it is physically and mentally demanding but the rewards are truly special

The modern gamekeeper is an ever-adapting species. Having graduated from Newton Rigg College in May and progressed into a trainee gamekeeper role, working on grouse in the Angus Glens, this is a fact that I am all too aware of.

The transition from student to full-time gamekeeper is difficult; along with the often long-distance move to your job, the new responsibilities can be daunting. This is the first real jump into life, and becoming completely independent involves managing many aspects of personal life that may not have been fully considered previously.

I’ve found it extremely rewarding to be working in the job I trained for two years to do. The responsibilities I face challenge me to work hard and, now that we are in the thick of the grouse season, I am seeing the benefit of all the hours put in through spring and summer. At the end of a shoot day, I think of the first brood of grouse I spotted on my beat. Knowing I have worked my hardest to drive them through the butts on a shoot day is truly special.

Keeping in touch

A must-have, which helped my transition from student to gamekeeper, is social media. Whichever side of the fence you sit with regard to the pros and cons of Facebook, Twitter and the like, they are key to the welfare of many keepers working in remote areas of the country. Gamekeeping can be a demanding job, and social media can allow regular check-ins with friends and family, so you are never far away from someone to talk to.

For the majority of my fellow graduates, we have progressed into trainee jobs across the country and love our newfound responsibilities. However, gamekeeping is a way of life as opposed to a typical job, and some friends have already found themselves in a position where they are not happy. For whatever reason — from being treated poorly by employers to the simple realisation that it is not for them — they have already left the profession.

As I said, gamekeeping is an everchanging career. A generation ago, it was the norm for a keeper to spend his whole career at one or two estates. This is now rare and gamekeepers often move to and from several estates throughout their working lives; if not leaving the profession altogether for a career change.

With the vast array of skills you develop working as a gamekeeper, many doors are opened for alternative career paths. This is vital to remember as there are many who say keepering leaves you a “one-trick pony” for the future; I don’t think that could be any more wrong. 42 • SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRY MAGAZINE

The conflict between gamekeepers and the so-called conservationists remains a big challenge, though I feel we use the wrong terms to describe each side.

Success stories

In reality, we are the gamekeepers, we are the conservationists and we are the manpower — 350,000 directly paid jobs as a result of shooting — that works tirelessly to benefit not only game, but also the flora and fauna that thrive as a result of land management for shooting. These success stories for active conservation throughout the UK cannot be praised enough.

I was extremely lucky to receive the Frank Jenkins Memorial Trophy from the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation last month. Several Long Service Awards were also presented to gamekeepers who had been in the profession for 40 years or more. It was inspirational to speak to these respected and knowledgeable members of the community, and to listen to how the profession has changed over their career.

I look forward with anticipation — and a dollop of hope — to seeing how it will change over my career, too.

“Social media is key to the welfare of many keepers working in remote areas of the UK”

With the grouse season in full swing, the hard graft during the spring and summer is paying off