It's in the bag!

Owner of Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Billy Hamilton recounts a successful day at the Border Game Bag, ending in a feast fit for royalty.

Friday 13th November saw my long awaited venture into the Border Game Bag at Westruther. Joined by Bill Dodds, my old partner from the Hotel, and two long standing Hotel guests who had travelled from Ireland especially, namely Stephen Potts, and John Kirkpatrick. By no means their first foray into shooting in the Borders. Their twice yearly pilgrimage to the Buccleuch Arms (their second home) normally brings them for grouse, pheasant and some evening duck shooting, but the temptation to try this game bag out was too great.

The forecast was dreadful, rain and howling wind, however, a short drive to Westruther and the sun came out and after a short briefing by our host Doug Virtue we were off along with 4 merry keepers in search of the ultimate prize, the Border Game Bag.

As Doug had suggested, the idea was very simple, to try and hunt as many different species as possible and it was up to him and his keepers to at least present the species to us in some way! The game card names 12 varieties as listed below.

Grouse, partridge(grey), partridge(red-leg), pheasant, snipe, rabbit, brown hare, blue hare, pigeon, woodcock, mallard, teal. A formidable list to try and achieve in one day.

Shooting over Westruther covers up to 12,000 acres and there lies some very different habitats and coverts for all these species.

So we drove into the first field close by a wetland where Doug asked us to be as quiet as possible and we would walk low behind a dry stone dyke so as to get into position as 2 of the keepers were going to drive the game over our heads with any luck. Well, a couple of over enthusiastic dogs and the greylag geese were off and never to be seen again! Never mind, guns were in position by now and prior to any flighting happening, a brown hare wanders out in front of Stephen whereupon he felt it would not be sporting to take out a motionless animal. There followed distractions from some snipe and a flight of teal who got up from the pond and the hare had gone! The guns kept below the height of the wall and while the 2 keepers brought in the wetland area more teal and snipe passed over head. What an amazing start to the day, the bag consisted of 2 species, snipe and teal (my first teal).

Next up, we were to walk a woodland strip down with 2 walking and 2 guns at the far end whilst keepers went through the middle of the woodand. Plenty pheasant out my side of which I let most go, towards the last section of the drive there were a lot more pheasant got up and the elusive woodcock! Well both John and I both bagged a woodcock each on either side of the wood and Stephen and Bill popped some pheasant and a brace of partridge. After this? 5 species in the bag. Though guns were unloaded as the whistle had blown at this point, 2 hares shot up between Bill and myself. Typical!!

Next drive was again walked up, it was a field full of drains and the perfect place for low lying quarry and maybe even a hare Doug said! However, it was right by the wood we had just drawn and we suspect game had moved off here as very little moved indeed, except that is for the partridge which found lead in it from John and Bill and then decided to hide from the keeper and his dog! (it was a red leg and it was found about ten minutes later!) The elusive greys were still to be found!

Still 5 species, so we moved on just up the hill where we were to be offered a mini duck flight, to bag the mallard! As the keepers drove the pond towards the guns, there appeared to be nothing but hen pheasant coming over us, cocks went to the right over Bill. We weren’t there to shoot pheasant but we did shoot some higher birds here, the pond was well above us anyway so this was a good option. Then a sneaky single mallard got up and flew out of range of Bill and a few minutes later when it circled back it was in range of Bill, who presented with this option for bag quickly reloaded and brought it down bringing the species count to 6 and the prospect of a good dinner!

We took the chance of a short break here and discussed with Doug the plan. Well this next section would be a short walk to a wood where he knew there was grey partridge and that we would hear them and we would need to be very quick onto them with extra lead! Prior to this we would possibly view some hare and snipe and out of the covert at the top together with the greys would come the red legs too. Well this is where is hot my only partridge of the day and though I saw the greys come out, as Doug said they were incredibly quick and low and fast. About 15 of them shot out between Bill and Stephen who were….both reloading… aarghh! A couple more pheasant were brought down here but the action wasn’t really on my side. Shame about the greys as that was to be our only chance of the day! On the way back to the car we decided to keep the guns loaded in case Mr Hare popped out, but wasn’t to be.

Lunch, and to relive some memories! 6 species in the bag, could have been 7 with the greys, could have been 8 if Stephen had not been so sporting!! The experience so far had been tremendous and had bveen a good mixture of driven and walked, but the walking had been easy. The weather(remember the forecast was awful) could not have been more pleasant, and whuilst we had a break, the dogs and keepers had time to recharge.

Lunch was in a simple hut near the top of Raecleuch with a distant view of the Eildons and the Hotel had done us proud with some piping hot thick lentil soup, pork pies, Scotch egg and cheese and bread, washed down with a nice bottle of Syrah and some coffee to follow, perfect!

The next section was high on top and was going to present us with grouse. Well, after a good walk to get into position, and a snipe along the way, we found ourselves in the thick of a grouse moor for the next hour. Though many grouse passed my direction, many are still there to tell their story, however, after a few too many cartridge, I did shoot my first grouse! The experienced grouse shooters in my colleagues of the day shot another 6, and a rabbit, which seemed to take forever to find. 2 further woodcock missed, some pheasant and partridge bagged and we headed back to the vehicles. A lot of walking on this drive and some difficult terrain certainly where I was but worth it.

Doug was all for setting for home when I mentioned pigeon, whereupon there was a bit of muttering and decision making going on….15 minutes later… we found ourselves perfectly poised at the edge of a high wood and found pigeons being driven out at high velocity! None of us had been subject of a pigeon drive before, but it was harder than you think. Along with a few partridge out too, they were high and very fast, unlike the usual pigeon which bobs and darts.

4 pigeon in the bag, one each, bringing the species count up to a respectable 9 out of a possible 11 seen. Though we still discount the “standing still hare” that Stephen let go!

Seen here with our sporting bag for the day and our 9 species. A thoroughly memorable and enjoyable days shooting and one that remains very special in the memory for ever more.

Shot in Order
Teal, Snipe, Woodcock, Pheasant, Partridge Red, Mallard
Lunch
Grouse, Rabbit, Pigeon

Missed
Hare, Grey partridge, Geese(though these were never in range!)

However, there was more to come!!

After a short drive back to the hotel, we dropped our game into the game store and then into the bar for a pint and to begin recounting the day. Our next step, of course, was to prepare dinner. So Stephen and John and I repaired to the kitchen and along with the help of Kat(one of our lovely waitress) who had never set eyes on a dead bird let alone pluck and draw one, set to and organised what was to be a wonderful feast! Kat was instructed in the preparation of game and was really extremely good and keen on the subject without batting an eye lid when it came to the innards!

We then left a rough idea of a style of menu and left this with our Sous Chef.

So an hour or so later, what was laid in front of us was a feast fit for a King and I have recorded the menu from Friday below. We were all well and truly blown away by the skill of the cooking, simple though it was, it was cooked to perfection and using very simple ingredients. (The chefs had no idea I was going to spring this on them!) We started with a Chilean Pinot Noir and for main course we had a Rioja Gran Reserva, which complimented the grouse incredibly well along with the haggis, which believe it or not makes a perfect match!

Well done to Doug and everyone at Westruther and well done again to Kat, who then expertly helped me prepare the boys dinner on Saturday night! The salmon was caught by Mr Darbys fishing party who were staying at the Hotel, and Richard Darby helped us in preparing the game also.

Friday Night’s Game Bag Feast!

Pan fried breast of teal, braised red cabbage, plum gin sauce, salad leaves and game chips
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Grilled snipe on toast
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Roast woodcock
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Roast grouse wrapped in bacon and stuffed with haggis with a rich red wine and Port jus, roast potatoes and vegetables
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Border Tart

Day 2 menu

Pan fried breast of Pigeon on a red onion marmalade with a sloe gin and blueberry fruit sauce
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Duo of Tweed salmon,
Hot smoked over Earl Grey tea & poached in a court Bouillon
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Roast partridge, red wine jus, parsnip crisps, potatoes and vegetables
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Local cheese and vintage Port

What they say about us...

"Billy, Kelso races group weekend visit: Just a quick note of thanks to you all at the Buccleuch for making our weekend such a memorable one. We really appreciated the thoughtfulness of everyone, particularly Stephen who was very happy to help with any request we had. The general opinion was that this would become an annual event- so be warned!!"

Sue Day