I instantly saw David Beckham.. In the eyes..

I didn't know any of that. I assumed they would be held captive until released for a shoot.  I don't think there is much pheasant shooting in these parts. Certainly nobody I've spoken with at the clay clubs I use have ever mentioned it.

That said there must be some as there are often pheasants around at some time over the year. It's often possible to hear shooting from my son's boat when we are fishing there but not at the sort of intensity you'd expect from an organised shoot with driven birds - probably  just one or a couple out pigeon shooting in a vain attempt to save their crops. Certainly the farmer who runs the marina doesn't even bother with that despite them scoffing some big holes in some of his fields.

A bit Gregory Peckish !   

I thought Mrs Burnham could have made an effort  !  at least had her hair done.....

You are right Klondike in that the hunting season starts on October 1st  but the poults ( young birds) are released from the rearing pens at the end of July beginning of August  ) .
Usually after the crops have been cut  so they can roam the fields and get a bit bigger before the shooting starts.
Some do get eaten by foxes but they release hundreds of poults so some always survive .
They are quite literally  everywhere around here at the moment .
For what it's worth  it's illegal to shoot peasants on a Sunday in the U.K. .

Weird clothes, weird people,

In the words of the immortal Dick,

'Oh you are awful, but I like you!' 😂😂

Quote from: GrannyMac on Today at 06:24:08 AMPossibly.🥳

😂😂😂 it does help 

Quote from: klondike on Today at 10:29:53 AMYou'll need to keep an eye out for wild tortoises. A herd of those will strip it bare in no time.

Vicious creatures that will turn on you in an instant if disturbed during an eating frenzy. They have ne known to strip a male to the bone in seconds