Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Shooting Gazette

Talk to any qualified nutritionist and chances are that both milk and meat, now including game meats and venison, would be recommended in balanced diets. Take milk first. My school provided full fat milk which we consumed ad lib and later, milking 120 Friesians, I watched this white gold go into the dairy food chain. But two things have changed: children don’t drink as much milk now and the price paid by wholesalers has depressed the market, but not as much as it has depressed dairy farmers. Now, we have an advertising campaign with the tag line ‘Humane milk is a myth, don’t buy it’, over a cow seen pictured behind barbed wire. Perversely misleading, it is promulgated by an anonymously funded organisation started by an Irish animal rights activist…

We asked for your reactions to the news that ScotRail had banned the transportation of firearms on its services following the discovery of an unattended licensed firearm on one of its trains last year. Aonghas Johnson wrote: “It’s nothing you wouldn’t expect from ScotRail. Perhaps the “prawn” that left his gear unattended could have cared about the consequences but, sadly, didn’t. Use EasyJet?” Mark Rogers wrote: “Another example of how shooting will slowly but surely be made an impossible sport to participate in. It would be difficult to ban it outright, but death by a 1,000 cuts...add to this the likes of banks, financial services, insurance etc. all refusing to offer or removing services from legitimate shooting related businesses is making it hard to participate in and operate services for…

Dear Uncle Giles, I have been invited to shoot some pretty senior driven partridges and I really want to do them – and myself – justice. When chaps talk about shooting partridge they all say, “Two in front and two behind! Just so! That’s the way to do it!” I am not sure that makes as much sense as they confidently assert it does. Could you explain, perhaps? Yours fretting MS, by email Uncle Giles writes It is interesting, is it not, how easily these old adages and aphorisms roll off the tongue? Aided and abetted, I’ll warrant, by a tincture or two. Well, yes, it would be smart to snap two partridges in front as they clear the hedge and then turning smartly on your heel - “Two-three-four!” as…

“It’s not just about guns - you need to show what sport is out there and how lucky we are to be able to partake in it.” What was your season like last year? Most of my sport is international big game hunting as opposed to game shooting in the UK. I am lucky enough to go on at least one or two safaris a year. In recent years I have hunted in Tanzania, South Africa, Alaska, Texas and Austria. I’ve hunted a lot of different species and feel that each one brings its own challenges. I do a small amount of bird shooting here with friends, which includes wildfowling and driven partridge/pheasant. Over the years I’ve shot just about every quarry species in this country and have then progressed…

“In all of my adventures there has always been a strong camaraderie amongst sporting men and women.” After 13 thoroughly enjoyable years in the Shooting Gazette editor’s chair I am now moving on to new challenges, following the sudden and devastating death of my wife Wendy earlier this year. But don’t worry, the magazine will be in good hands because Martin Puddifer will be taking control. Martin and I have worked together on the magazine for the last 11 years so his apprenticeship has been long and fruitful, and I have no doubt he will serve Shooting Gazette and its readership extremely well. Apart from being diligent, intelligent, witty and perceptive, he is also considerably more organised than I am, which is an increasingly important skill in the world of…

“The Blue Rock was a variation of the Empire model, which was designed specifically for live pigeon shooting.” Boxlock non-ejectors, the mainstay of the rough shooter for over a century, are in little demand these days and are difficult to sell. Similarly, their upmarket cousin, the boxlock ejector, is also out of fashion as the Beretta continues to impress with its functionality. But what about form? If you can find certain unusual boxlocks they still command very high prices. I am thinking of such guns like Harkom of Edinburgh’s very individual boxlocks with gold washed internals, or Holland & Holland’s Aero Gun, originally designed for shooting down Zeppelins. To this list can be added the Greener Blue Rock pigeon gun. The Greener Blue Rock was a variation of its…

During the late 19th century there had been a growing disquiet about the practice of live pigeon shooting, particularly as it was a sport driven by gambling. With the Captive Birds Act of 1921 live pigeon shooting was banned in Great Britain but it still flourished on the Continent of Europe. It was very popular in several countries such as France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco and Italy, and many of the big challenge matches were very much on the social calendar of the day. The leading pigeon shooting ground in France was the Cercle des Patineurs situated in the Bois de Boulogne, in the west of Paris. Pigeon shooting was particularly popular in Monaco and the International Concours was held there during January and February. This competition attracted the best…

A Diana airgun, a punch ball and tiny pair of rugby boots were waiting for me when I was born. The first helped shape my life, the latter two shaped my nose. I wonder where does a passion for hunting really come from? Is it in the blood, or influenced by peers? If I’m honest I suspect it may be either, or often both, as indeed it was in my case. My ancestry on my father’s side was that of Norfolk gamekeepers; my grandfather, who I worshipped, had left Norfolk as a young man. His nickname as a youngster was Demo, short for Demon, and I gather it was well-earned. The son of a gamekeeper, my grandfather was apparently always in hot water. He had killed and skinned every cat…

When you have been testing shotguns for as long as I have, it is easy to get a little blasé when something really special appears for a trip to Grange Farm for testing. However, shooting with the Christian Hunter over-under was one of those rare occasions where I was reminded what a uniquely privileged position I find myself in each month - it was an absolute joy. Grange Farm instructor Bruce Marks and I were able to test a 20 bore Christian Hunter alongside the 12 bore, which made for an interesting comparison. The 20 bore was short in the stock and had obviously been built for a lady or a youth, and though I found it to be quite lively in the hand it nevertheless impressed. The straight-hand grip…

It is testament to the esteem in which the old Discovery is held that no car I can think of had engendered as much hostility before anyone had even driven it than Land Rover’s fifth generation SUV. As the owner of six Discoveries over the years, I’ll admit I greeted designer Gerry McGovern’s proclamations of premium this and luxury that with dismay. When I first saw the show cars with their Range Rover front, rounded off slightly weird back and ivory leather interiors, my mood didn’t really lift. The last version of the Discovery was like a favourite old waxed jacket for me – worn absolutely anywhere, not to everyone’s taste but adored nonetheless. So it was with a degree of trepidation I walked out to the test Discovery that…

It is now becoming clear how the market for UK forest property is taking shape this year. Although a good number of plantations have been advertised for sale, supply is down on 2016 and at the end of June this year supply of investment forests (excluding mixed use or amenity woodland) was back by about 40 per cent. The drop was less pronounced in cumulative asking price, which showed a 20 per cent correction; this highlights the regional differences between forest values – it is actually very difficult comparing like-for-like in forestry as each property has unique characteristics affecting value. Of course, forestry - like any property asset class - has different grades or qualities that influence marketing and price. To be classed as ‘prime’ investment assets, forests should typically…

Q My seven-month-old springer is chasing sheep and I cannot seem to stop or recall him. It is very concerning as he now knows how to get into the field and takes every opportunity to chase them. A Unfortunately this is quite common amongst dogs that are not exposed to farm animals. They, of course, see it as great fun, even if they mean no harm. You need to very quickly go back to the basics of socialisation. Being around livestock, horses, chickens and sheep should be no big deal to the dog, coupled with a healthy awareness that it is not acceptable to chase anything in a field. You need to spend a lot of time finding animals and deliberately walking through and near to them quite calmly with…

The BASC Chudleys Scurry League continued at the Royal Welsh Spring Fair at the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd. With the first two qualifiers already taken place, dogs and their handlers were vying to cement their place in the grand final with those all- important qualifying points up for grabs. Handlers were faced with testing scurries such as the Long Retrieve, Multi Pick Up, Pick N Mix and the Obstacle. A huge congratulations goes to Keith Welsh and his dog Will.I.Am for impressively clinching first place overall with a staggering 180 points tallied over the weekend, which sits him at the top of the league table on 270 points. Results on day one SCURRY: MULTI PICK UP 1 Keith Welsh with Will.i.Am 2 Julie Higgins with Cody 3 Paul Williams…

If your sporting wardrobe is looking a little threadbare (and even if it’s not) you’d be a fool not to enter our fantastic competition to win £1,000 worth of shooting clothing and accessories courtesy of Alan Paine. The question you’ll need to answer to be in with a chance of winning is about as difficult as putting on a hat, we promise. Competition p54 What shotgun would you love to be presented with on your anniversary? David McKay Brown’s (right) half-century in the gun trade will be extra special for one American customer, who is about to come into possession of a very special pair of Glasgow-made shotguns that bear all the hallmarks of this iconic gunmaker’s skill and passion. Happy anniversary! p56…

10 Number of shooting and wildlife organisations involved in the production of The Code of Good Shooting Practice 10th The birthday gundog retailer Sporting Saint is celebrating in September 2,000 Number of qualifications awarded by Sparsholt College in 2017. £800 Amount raised for the GWCT following a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at Glemham Hall, Suffolk £13,000,000 Size of a government fund aimed at increasing the size of England’s woodland £260,000 Amount raised over the past 15 years by the Paglesham Clay Pigeon Club’s annual charity shoot…

We would have to shoot at Perrystone in Herefordshire, the estate that I grew up on and where my father is still headkeeper today after 34 seasons at the helm. We’d start at Jacobs Ladder, move onto Lawns and Bennets 2. For lunch would have to be Henrietta’s famous partridge tagliatelle and we would finish with the Bracken Bank (I would be on Peg No.2). The team would have to be made up of family and friends and first on the list is Adrian Hanks, not only is he my dad and an excellent headkeeper but he is also one of my best friends. I have learnt a lot from him and to top it off he’s not a bad shot either. Tim Hanks, my younger brother, is a butcher…

Q I was planning to travel to Scotland from London this season with a friend to shoot. I understand that ScotRail has banned the carriage of firearms on all its services. Is this true? If I carried, say, my friend’s barrels and he took the stocks and fore-ends in his suitcase would this change things? A At the time of writing, ScotRail has banned the carriage of firearms on its services. I understand someone absent-mindedly left a shotgun on a train and this has led to a review of its policy and a departure from the National Rail Conditions of Travel. The website says: “Unloaded firearms, properly licenced, with prior permission of the Train Company and carried in accordance with the law and any other specific instructions are permitted.” As customers…

TRAVEL The shoot is easily found between Newbury in Berkshire and Basingstoke in Hampshire. Heathrow Airport is just over 40 miles away, so less than an hour from the shoot. Southampton Airport on the coast is slightly nearer at around 40 minutes; both have good road links to the shoot. Newbury’s rail link is around 20 minutes away, but the nearest train station would be Basingstoke, just an eight-mile cab ride away. The shoot is a 56-mile drive from Piccadilly Circus, W1 – a pretty do-able 90 minutes from town. STAY For a little refinement, the Tylney Hall Hotel near Hook is really very sumptuous, but The George & Dragon near Tadley is right on the shoot’s doorstep, with either headkeeper Kevin Rolls or shoot host Darran Ritchie usually picking…

“My dog has entered middle age with the kind of regal dignity known only to labradors.” As the years go by, I foster a growing respect and admiration for my dog. Scoop will be six years old in September, and she has entered middle-age with the kind of regal dignity known only to labradors. During her life, she has toiled over grouse moors, hunted for partridges and plunged into frozen estuaries, taking it all in her stride without a moment’s hesitation. I couldn’t have chosen a more enthusiastic partner if I’d tried. We took on a second labrador last year, and it has been interesting to see how the old matriarch has adapted to share the spotlight with a younger model. Despite some initial doubts, the two dogs were soon…

“The rifles were all high quality but hadn’t seen the light of day since they were first purchased last century.” The Holt’s sale in June coincided with one of the hottest spells in London I have ever experienced, with the temperature reaching a whopping 35˚C. Princess Louise House, where the sales are held in Hammersmith, is at least cavernous with little glass, but we did have to ask for permission to loosen our ties. To me, the star lots in the sale were a group of six rifles from the gunroom of the Windsor-Clive family. They were all high quality rifles but what made them particularly appealing was this was the first time they had seen the light of day since they were bought last century. Out of the six…

The fascination of US-based collectors for English sporting guns has long been known, but what of the trade in the other direction? When one considers American gunmakers the name of John Moses Browning of course leaps the front of the mind, but even Browning has a whiff of the ‘Old West’ about it. Indeed, perhaps the best known of the American manufacturers are those from the films and games of our childhoods, with the likes of Colt, Remington, Smith & Wesson and Winchester ingrained alongside images of weather-beaten wanderers and the strains of Morricone’s great scores. This is, of course, doing a great disservice to the American gunmaking industry, a feeling brought sharply to light the moment one lays one’s eyes upon the beautiful Christian Hunter sidelocks which are the…

The Extra Special from Chas. Smith & Sons of Newark (1910); the Special from Chas. Smith & Sons of Newark (1900); the Keepers from Chas. Smith & Sons of Newark (1927); and the Star from A.J. Rudd of Norwich & Yarmouth (1910). The Standard from A.J. Rudd of Norwich (1922); the Original from Plumbers Ltd. of Great Yarmouth (1910); the Pheasant from E. West of Retford (1900); and the By Royal Appointment from West & Son of Retford (1922). The County from West & Son of Retford (1927); the Smokeless from James & Tatton of Longton (1919); the Special Smokeless from James & Tatton of Longton (1919); and the Brown Quality from Skinner & Co. of Leek (1910). A COMET OF BELGIAN EXTRACTION A box of .410 Comet cartridges hand-…

It has recently been announced that only electrified cars will be sold in the UK from 2040. While this doesn’t mean the death of the internal combustion engine, as hybrids are exempt from this, it does beg a few questions. One does have to wonder where all the electricity for these cars is going to come from, given that brown outs are being predicted as it is. Furthermore, the infrastructure of charging points, especially for people who park on the street, is going to take some serious thinking about. And lastly, the types of batteries used in cars are far from the most environmentally friendly things to make or recycle just now, so some radical rethinking is required for this grand policy pronouncement not to backfire badly.…

“Most importantly, the photograph shows a very strong, mutually supportive relationship between a man and his dogs.” You know the sort of thing. A photographer is invited to talk about the circumstances surrounding what they consider to be their ‘best shot’. Well, I have one. But it’s not what you might suppose. It isn’t in colour and it doesn’t show a dog spectacularly clearing a fence with a pheasant in its mouth. For me, though, it ticks all the boxes. Most importantly it shows a very strong and mutually supportive relationship between a man and his dogs. It is the sort of relationship that must underpin any effective working partnership. And, not for nothing, is it at the heart of everything my book The Gun’s Dog tries to emphasise. It…

The Golden Retriever Club held its novice trial at Teffont Magna by kind permission of Edward Waddington and the generous invitation of Mr and Mrs Henry Pelham, writes Bruce Ross-Smith. The trial was judged by Colin Pelham, Allan Buckland, Bruce Ross-Smith and Jill Gardner. The weather was not the kindest but gradually improved during the day as did the scent. The guns shot brilliantly and the standard of the dogs was very high. Six dogs from the 12 starters went through to the last round. Results 1 Mrs B Becksteiner-Bickler with gr.d. Bell Oktave Benjamin 2 Bill Warnett with gr.d. Pandapaws Brigand CoM Andrew England with gr.b. Dairycott Populus Tremula CoM Fiona Baird with gr.b. Treuniar Drimmie CoM Marion Hanman with gr.b. Haddeo Teyla…

The Dove Valley Working Gundog Club’s a.v. spaniel tests got the season off to a very competitive start. The first test took place at Bagots Park, near Abbots Bromley, and welcomed people of all ages and abilities. With both an open and novice test running simultaneously, it was a busy day for the judges with lots of dogs turning out for the first fixture of the Dove Valley calendar. The day came to a climax with a run-off between the open winner Glanhowy Lark of Greenbrush with its handler Alastair Ross, and novice winner Glenugies Ruff Diamond with its handler John Parr. The novice dog was victorious on the day. The final novice spaniel test was held at the Osmaston Estate, near Ashbourne. Many congratulations must go to Derbyshire Daisy…

Praise for shooting as government lays out its post-Brexit rural agenda Environment secretary Michael Gove MP has highlighted the importance of both game shooting and land management as plans are drawn up on the future of the countryside in preparation for the UK’s exit from the EU. Mr Gove praised the conservation work of the shooting community during an address to the All Party Parliamentary Group for Game and Wildlife Conservation in July, stating, “those who have an interest in game shooting have by definition an interest in sustainability”. The comments came at the event aimed at discussing the government’s Agriculture Bill, which will provide a framework for a new policy that will eventually replace the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). Mr Gove praised the high number of agriculture workers…

How did you get involved in game shooting? We’ve always had a shoot on the farm I grew up on and I couldn’t get out enough from the earliest age. How did you get involved in shoot management? From 1992 I ran the shoot while working in London but only as a family affair. When I left London in 1999 I rented the shoot next door and that meant selling days. I was worried about turning a hobby into a job, but found it was rewarding so I carried on and here we are today. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned as a shoot manager? Don’t forget to enjoy it. Ultimately you are selling pleasure and if you are grumpy you fail that objective, however good the shoot is. What…

SERVES FOUR PEOPLE Ingredients 8 partridge breasts 50g peanut butter 10g chopped chillies 10g chopped ginger 10g chopped garlic 10ml soy sauce 10ml sesame oil 10g chopped coriander Cornish sea salt Milled black pepper Method Mix the peanut butter with chilli, ginger, garlic, soy, sesame and coriander to make the bang bang sauce. Season well. Dice the partridge in equal pieces and place onto bamboo sticks, marinade in a little olive oil and chopped coriander. Season the partridge and sear in a hot pan or over a chargrill for two minutes each side. Remove from the grill and allow to rest for two minutes. Serve with the bang bang sauce.…

CEMENTING US-SCOTTISH RELATIONS Members of the McKay Brown family (shotguns that is) came together last September for a day on partridge near Dumfries. Pictured, from left, each with their own McKay Brown over-under is: Bob Grutza, Carey Seven, David McKay Brown, Lou Browning & Courtney Smith. Pictured are the guns, the beaters, pickers-up and gamekeepers from the Manydown shoot in Berkshire, which is featured on pages 34 – 40 of this issue. Pictured are the guns, the beaters, pickers-up and gamekeepers from the Miltons shoot on Exmoor, which is featured on pages 20 – 28 of this issue. PICTURE OF THE MONTH Victoria Cree sent us this photograph of five-month-old Freddie William Easton who can be seen poring over our July issue. Freddie’s father is a headkeeper at Newburgh Priory…

TRAVEL The shoot is only 45 minutes by road from Taunton and the M5, and the closest airports are Exeter and Bristol. Tiverton Parkway, Taunton and Barnstable railway stations will get you in the area. Going by road is the simplest but if you can drive in daylight so much the better as the views are tremendous. STAY With so many good shoots in the area there are a number of hotels catering for the shooting man or woman. I stayed at the Royal Oak in the village of Winsford, which with its drying room, dog friendliness, gun safes, et al, plus rooms and cuisine all floated my boat. It is also a pebble toss from the shoot (royaloakexmoor.co.uk). The Hartnoll Hotel in Tiverton is another fine choice with all…

An early Christmas present Further to the letter from Dr Nikki Thompson in the August issue, my renewal was due on February 21 this year. I can confirm my reminder letter arrived on October 31 of last year and that the home visit and medical checks were both prompt. My shotgun certificate was returned to me on December 19. Not quite so fast, but I have had renewals that have run quite close to the renewal date before, so I was quite impressed with their service. I am a BASC shotgun coach and get clients who are applying for certificates for the first time and these seem to take about eight to 10 weeks, which to me seems reasonable. David Cater By email Temporary licences come in handy My shotgun…

Twenty-seventeen sees global heritage brand Alan Paine celebrating its 110-year anniversary. The fieldsports label is offering one lucky Shooting Gazette reader the chance to win items including a shooting suit, which comprises a shooting coat, waistcoat and breeks from its popular Compton tweed range. A ladies’ equivalent of the clothing offered in this competition is available to lady guns. What you’ll win... Compton waterproof men’s coat Compton men's shooting waistcoat Compton men’s breeks Compton men’s cap Ilkley men’s shirt Ripon silk tie Tweed travel bag Compton men’s breeks (RRP £149.95) Crafted from pure wool tweed, these breeks come with a water repellent outer so there are no nasty surprises if caught in a shower. Fully lined with cotton, they also come with several handy pockets. Compton waterproof men’s shooting coat…

The type of pigeon used in live pigeon shooting was the variety known as the Blue Rock pigeon. The best variety was known as the Lincolnshire Tin Blue Rock. They were fed in Lincolnshire by farmers in the wintertime who also built dovecots for them. Other Blue Rocks were bred in Oxfordshire specifically for the purpose of live pigeon shooting. A great many Blue Rocks were also bred in Antwerp for use in the Continent and W.W. Greener, writing in his book The Gun And its Development, 1884 edition, stated with just a hint of jingoism: “They possess none of that gameness peculiar to the English bird”. At some of the large and permanent live pigeon grounds, such as at Monaco, large dovecotes were erected and many birds were bred…

“As if on rails, a steady trickle of ones and twos came downwind and turned to swing into my safe shooting area.” There are occasions when pigeons are decimating a crop but it’s almost impossible to shoot over the affected field because of the difficult conditions surrounding it. This was the situation on a field of peas where pigeons had eaten from about five or six acres. The farmer had put out a number of spinning deterrents but the birds had got used to them and fed confidently. A gas gun was not an option as it was the first field outside a town. Residents would have been more disturbed than pigeons with regular loud bangs from dawn till dusk throughout the summer months. The proximity of the town was…

The Beretta SO sidelock is a very fine basis for any gun, and the Christian Hunter is no exception. This style of sidelock has been around since 1935, so you should have no concerns over the reliability of strength of the gun, especially since the design has subsequently been altered and improved by Tony Galazan. I like many of the visual decisions which have been made in designing the gun. The engraved cap on the Prince of Wales grip (shown above) is particularly attractive and an optional extra I would probably be persuaded to swing for. The wood is as good as you will find on any best gun and has been finished to an exceptionally high standard. There is delightful figuring present with good, strong grain through the hand.…

“When you are picking a bird that you want to shoot try and look for the one that is in clear air, that is, not right next to other birds.” Q How should I tackle high partridge during the season? A We are now seeing more and more shoots presenting partridges like pheasant and as a result they are getting taller and taller. Indeed, on certain shoots like Drumlanrig or Linhope the partridges could be argued to be extreme and often higher than most pheasant shoots. However, for the purposes of this article I am going to talk about a normal 40-yard partridge. The first thing to get right is your equipment. I have talked at length about this in previous articles so won’t dwell on it, but I would…

Here we all are back at the start of the field trialling season. As my column is written in advance there will already be a win in a two-day open by the time this hits the stands! We will all be waiting for draws and keeping everything crossed that we get a run. I was really glad to hear that we may well be getting a lot more retriever one-day open field trials if the recommendations put forward by the retriever working party of Sara Chichester, Jane Coley, and Phil Highfield for the Field Trial Committee are put into place. Having read their paper on collecting and collating the necessary information to make the recommendations regarding Preference in Retriever Open Stake Draws, I think we are finally on the road…

A three-year-old English springer spaniel from Ashbourne, Derbyshire, has won the Kennel Club open spaniel gundog working test held at Chatsworth House, Derbyshire, by the gracious permission of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. The judges were Malcolm Taylor and Terry Frost. The event is kindly sponsored by Eukanuba. Deepfleet Deni of Moonreed, owned and handled by Alastair Ross, was awarded first place at the test which saw spaniels tested on hunting, quartering and retrieving to hand. Caroline Kisko, the Kennel Club secretary, said: “English springers and cocker spaniels are both very attentive, intelligent breeds, which lends well to their ability to use their natural working instincts to perform for their handlers in the field. Congratulations to Alastair and Deni for their victory against such tough competition. We wish them…

HOW TO WIN For your chance to win a Ridgeline Bushmaster Smock, email your high-resolution pictures to: katemaxim@outlook.com. Please put “Gundog Picture of the Month” in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by the Shooting Gazette judging panel. Good luck! The prize will only be posted to winners with a fixed UK postal address.…