Or, if the husbands are out duck-shooting, it's time for their wives to kick up their heels, with fine fare, special-occasion drinks and royal outfits to boot.
One group of friends meets annually for a ''duck-shooters widows' brunch'' at Chatto Creek on the opening day of duck-shooting season.
The women - some of whom had been meeting for the brunch for 18 years - even renamed Chatto Creek ''Chateau Creek'' for the day, one of the women, Jill Becker, of Chatto Creek, said.
''It's all very posh.''
Discussions about the best ways to cook the ducks their duck-shooters brought home took place had over a five-course meal that started with rose wine and a raspberry jelly flute and continued with crispy Asian prawn cups, parmesan and ricotta ''gnudi'', venison carpaccio and, of course, a duck dish - shredded Peking duck crepes with hoisin sauce.
By the time dessert was finished the women would have been there almost three hours, Chatto Creek Tavern owner Lesley Middlemass said.
The women said they chose a different theme for their brunch every year, one year decorating gumboots, another fascinators, other times coming in camouflage outfits.
This year, the theme was ''posh'', and outfits featured ''bits of bling'' and tiaras.
