Innholdsfortegnelse for January 2018 i Shooting Gazette

Jonathan Young, editor of The Field and group shooting editor at Time Inc UK Specialist, where he oversees titles including Shooting Gazette, has been made a Master of the Worshipful Company of Gunmakers. Mr Young took the Master’s oath at the annual Gunmakers’ Company nomination dinner at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London late last year. The Company runs the Proof House and both promotes the art of gunmaking and holds statutory authority over the proofing of sporting guns and military small arms to test for soundness of barrels and actions. “The Company’s dedicated team of craftsmen, under the leadership of Proof Master Richard Mabbitt, not only proofs fine British shotguns and rifles, but also military weapons systems, including the Mk44 30mm cannon fitted to the new aircraft carrier fleet, and the…

Shayne Dean, gamekeeper at Lees Court Estate in Kent, has won the NGO Educational Trust Bellamy Award for his part in developing an education programme on the estate. The Lees Court Education and Research Network (LEARN) was set up to help educate the public on conservation and the role played by gamekeepers, and has enabled disabled visitors to experience the countryside. Since the initiative was launched in 2013, Mr Dean has worked to educate students at Plumpton College, the local primary school and the Scouts, and has helped host visits to the estate. Mr Dean was also instrumental in the estate winning the 2013 Bronze Purdey Award and has organised a number of fundraising events. He commented: “It’s a huge honour to have won the award, and it’s fantastic for…

My dream team day would be held at Lochinch on Stair Estates, which belongs to my friend Jamie, Earl of Stair. Lochinch’s grounds are perfect for pheasants, and the shoot is run by Jamie, who is from a long line of shooting men. Up first is my forebear Lord Kennedy, later 13th Earl of Cassillis. He enjoyed a wager. In August 1822 he backed himself at 40/1 in £50 notes to shoot 40 brace of grouse, and ride from his shooting box at Feloar in Perthshire to Dunnottar Castle in Kincardineshire and back in a day, a round trip of 140 miles. He set out at 4am in the rain and had his bag by 9am. Using relays of horses he was at Dunnottar by 2pm and was back at…

Dear Uncle Giles, I’ve been invited to attend a high bird shoot day this season. I’m a tad nervous as I know my limits, which is to say I won’t get near most of what will be presented. Should I decline the offer or perhaps subtly talk to the host ahead of time and ask to be pegged where the sport is more suited to my abilities? ERM, by email Uncle Giles writes Your concern does you considerable credit, in my view. The current fashion for shooting extremely high birds seems to be testing the ethical credentials of our sport to their very limits; to say nothing of the abilities of ordinary sportsmen like yourself. Spending a day shooting unsuccessfully at marginal birds can be a profoundly dispiriting experience. However,…

The Great Abundance now being behind us, the question of New Year’s resolutions inevitably arises. And what most people put at the top of their list is to lose some weight and, in this regard, I stand with the majority. I have a target, too. Not merely the one advised by the medics of my acquaintance but the one suggested by my tailor. Or more particularly by his prices. You see, I have a perfectly good shooting suit. The real McCoy. Built 20 years ago in 24oz estate tweed with all the trimmings and as good today – bar a few darns here and there from vaulting occasional barbed wire fences – as ever it was. Except it no longer meets round the middle; which is a shame. And which…

Howdahs had been in use for centuries in India and Africa, at first strapped to camels and later to elephants for transporting people. Although in essence a simple platform on the back of an elephant, they were often built in very lavish style just like the very best furniture. They were built from the finest materials, exotic hardwoods, inlaid with other esoteric woods and decorated with precious stones. Like an expensive carriage, they were status symbols and were often embellished to denote the wealth or status of an individual being transported. They were regularly used for daily transport as well as for hunting and military use. The example shown is a lavish Howdah dating from the late 19th century. It has a framework of teak with applied gilt to filigree…

Krieghoff has long held the attention of clay shooters but with its Parcours models it is hoping to start making a real impact in the field. On a blustery day on the farm taking on some rapid pigeon I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the ability of the K-20 to get moving at a decent speed whilst remaining steady. This was no doubt thanks to the 32” barrels on our test gun, which also have a part to play in the consistency with which the gun mounts. Also worthy of note are the crisp trigger pulls and recoil control. Sadly, it is not all glowing on the handling front, though the issues I faced were probably ones I would get over with time. Firstly, the barrel selector…

Lockyer of England 52 It’s a melancholy truth that old shotguns sometimes become forgotten shotguns, gathering dust as they do in the back of the cabinet never to be fired again. Thank goodness then for Lockyer of England, a company based in Dorchester which is now breathing new life into old sporting arms in some very imaginative ways. John Walker went to meet the team and let’s just say his article could give you a few more ideas of what to do with that bored out hammer gun you inherited. Shooting advice 77 How do you deal with those end of season birds, the January gems that have slipped through the lead net and know exactly what the guns down below are going to do even before you do? Choke…

A new competition has been launched to celebrate the champions of British game. James Purdey & Sons, Boisdale Restaurants and Taste of Game have teamed up for the inaugural Eat Game Awards. They have embarked on a national search for those individuals and businesses that have shown success, innovation and passion in working with game meat. Supported by some of the biggest names in the industry, the initiative will in turn support the Country Food Trust charity and raise awareness of the benefits of eating game and the field-to-fork ethos. Members of the public are being asked to nominate their favourite game meat business or person, with 10 categories to choose from, including best restaurant regularly serving game; best pub regularly serving game; best game chef regularly cooking game; best…

I have spent much time recently talking to people who buy and sell shooting. From private landowners to commercial shoot managers, it has been fascinating to hear their take on where our sport currently resides and also where it is heading. The two most pressing concerns amongst the movers and shakers in the business, however much purists might object to the term, are improving the standards of shoot management at all its levels, including conservation and public perception, as the number of shooting folk increases year on year, and secondly, ensuring that the complementary increase in numbers of shot game finds its way into the food chain here and more globally. A number of people questioned asked why an activity that brings in more than £2bn annually to the national…

David Whitby, Petworth Estate headkeeper and Shooting Gazette columnist, on what it takes to become a gamekeeper. You must want it: I don’t mean just fancy giving it a go; I mean want it so much it hurts. To be fanatical about shooting and think keepering will satiate this couldn’t be further from the truth. Keepering is not about shooting but providing shooting for others. You will sacrifice social and even family life – weekends mean nothing and unless you end up heading a large commercial shoot, your remuneration will never cover your effort. Add as many strings to your bow as possible: Qualifications covering everything from deer management and quad bikes to safe lifting, first aid and dealing with rodenticides, get as many as you can. The world we…

TRAVEL Thrushwood Farm sits just three miles to the north of Guisborough on the B1269 to New Marske. It’s a similar distance from Saltburnby-the-Sea, Marske-bythe-Sea and Redcar. You can be on the A171 in no time at all, a road which links up with the A19 and A66 and eventually the A1 north or south. There are also railway stations at nearby Longbeck and Marske, which is a useful option to have to hand if you're stuck (northernrailway.co.uk). STAY The following quartet are all close to the shoot and will more than suit your needs. There’s the four-star country pile that is Gisborough Hall (gisborough-hall.com); those who love the coast should try Brockley Hall (brockleyhallhotel.com) or The Spa Hotel (thespahotelsaltburn.co.uk); Grinkle Park is also well versed at hosting shooting parties…

Balanced discussion required on mental health It was refreshing to read Helena Venables’ article We Need to Talk in the November issue. As the consultant psychiatrist who spoke at the Ryton Police Professional Development conference for FEOs earlier this year, the following comments may be helpful. Firstly, there is an ecological fallacy germane to the assumption that one in four certificate holders will have mental health problems in any year: this would only be the case if certificate holders were just the same, mentally speaking, as the general population. The likelihood is that they are not, particularly given the exigencies of being granted a certificate. Moreover, suicide by firearm represents a tiny proportion of the total, less than one in 50. Just one, of course, is too many, but it…

“ We have had some fantastic days this season with notebook, camera and shotgun in hand - though not all at once of course.” What does your shooting diary look like in January? Have you mostly finished up by now, or do you go hell for leather, accepting as many invitations to pull the trigger as possible before the curtain falls on another driven shooting season? There will still be opportunities to pull the trigger after February 1 of course - woodpigeons and clay pigeons spring to mind - but for some it’s just not the same. January is one of the quieter months of the season for me, although looking at my gamebook, shoot days at this time of year always manage to throw up some enthralling drives and,…

Q My dog is 14 months old and to date has been very good in training and is progressing well. Just recently he has gone very flat and has started to ignore dummies after finding them and responds less to commands. It’s very unusual for him and I am getting concerned. What should I do? A Let’s assume it’s nothing health-related and it’s happening regularly in your training, and agree, between us, that this is not unusual. A gundog in training can go flat for a number of reasons. The first might simply be boredom. The repetitiveness of certain tasks can simply lead to no interest in a bright dog. It might be that as the dog matures and gets more honed hunting instincts and experiences a wider world, it…

How to win For your chance to win either a Pintail Explorer smock (top) or a Seasons jacket (right), email 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.…

How does January at Rievaulx compare to the other months of your season in terms of the bags / quality of the birds? I think when you’re a large sporting estate it’s important firstly not to over-let your January days. You will generally have a good idea how the last the few weeks will pan out by mid-December, and there are always plenty of clients waiting in the wings if needed, with bags then being tailored accordingly. As far as quality is concerned I have mixed feelings; many of the birds that’ve flown well have already been dispatched by the guns, and towards the end of January you are dealing with the wily birds! Does your foot ever come off the pedal as the end of the season draws near…

Austin Reynolds’ shooting party takes luncheon in Blenheim Palace after a splendid double gun day on partridge. Austin's company includes: Glen Reynolds, Conor Reynolds, Terry Mullett, John Kelly, Kevin Parish, Tom Powell, Stuart Curtis, Richard Ince, John Eaton, Ken Parker & Josh Beauchamp. “I am pleased to attach a photo of my son Jonny Shuter with his first grouse, shot on the Craiganour Estate, writes proud father Matthew Shuter. “The birds were shot with a 28 bore side-by-side AYA. Jonny is 14 years old and the shots were a right and left!” Many thanks to Alistair G. Mitchell for sending in this image of himself and his friends during “an excellent day’s shooting” at Thornham Estate in Suffolk on November 18. From left: Thomas Mortimer, David Mortimer, Andy Simpson, Alistair…

Having grown up on a largely commercial shoot in Herefordshire, where my father is still the headkeeper, it was inevitable that I was going to end up working in the shooting industry. Before starting work at Lady’s Wood Shooting School in South Gloucestershire, nearly five years ago now, I had already been keepering a syndicate shoot for six seasons. The shoot is owned by the now proprietor of Lady’s Wood, Ernie Hemmings. We were introduced in early 2008 by a mutual keeper friend who knew Ernie was looking for a new keeper and that I was keen to get back into the trade, albeit on a “part time” basis. We quickly hit it off and as Ernie gave me a tour of the shoot I fell in love with an…

“It was a night of two flights; one balmy and soft, the other determined to see off my fingers and toes.” It is hard to find a trend in the weather as the winter grinds on. Periods of bone-crushing cold alternate with mild, sloppy conditions in a kind of disjointed see-saw. The comparison was at its most striking last night as I stood in a warm, blustery breeze to flight woodcock. Just a few hours later and under cover of darkness, I flighted wigeon at dawn under the most miserable, ice-cold conditions I can ever remember on the Solway. It was a night of two flights; one balmy and soft, the other determined to see off my fingers and toes. I spend a fair part of my winter watching woodcock.…

Until the passage of the Metropolitan Police Act 1829, Great Britain was a lawless place. Any form of travelling was fraught with danger, be it returning from the theatre in a city or travelling to another town. There was virtually no form of any official protection and little chance of the perpetrator being caught. Accordingly, the general public simply armed themselves and thousands upon thousands of pocket and travelling pistols were built in the 18th and early 19th centuries. They were often built in pairs as an insurance in case one did not go off and afford a second shot if need be. The deterrent effect was important and this is where the man stopper pistol came in. These were short-barrelled pistols but of very big calibre – 10 or…

“We were thrilled to have achieved our ambition of 60 birds for the birthday shoot, but could we go on to make the magic 100?” It was my pigeon shooting pal A.C.’s 60th birthday and guess what, we went pigeon shooting! The challenge was to shoot 60 pigeons to celebrate the day. He lost a leg years ago as a young man and has got about on a crutch ever since but the strain on his one leg and opposite shoulder, taking the weight through the crutch, has begun to take a toll on bone and muscle which has resulted, unsurprisingly, in odd aches and pains. A.C. is remarkably stoic and active but likes to have company to help with all the physical side involved in a day’s decoying. Though…

Krieghoff is probably best known for its competition guns. This K-20 has a shallow action thanks to the unique locking slide, following the same sort of idea as the old Remington 3200. This system allows these guns to be very flexible, meaning a range of barrel gauges can be fitted and used on one action body. The 20 bore K-20 allows for 28 bore and .410 barrels to be used, making for impressive flexibility. The gun operates on a mechanical trigger system, ideal for smaller bore cartridges and lighter loads as you won’t suffer from the sometimes inconsistent recoil of smaller cartridges to re-set the selector. The barrels themselves are 32” mono block barrels with 3” mag proof chambers. The gun is very well engineered and solid; for example each…

MEN'S PTARMIGAN WINDSOR TWEED COAT BY SCHÖFFEL £599.95 schoffel.co.uk You always know what you’re getting with Schöffel, don’t you? That must be why there are so many Oakham gilets and Ptarmigan Ultralights in the field. Made from pure lambswool, this tweed coat is for cold days when you need to keep your limbs warm but daren’t risk layering up in case you start sweating like a gamekeeper without his radio. The jacket is long in the body, but don’t for a second think there’s more fabric than there needs to be. There were no issues when taking a shotgun from broken-over-the-arm to ready-to-fire, no matter how fast I mounted my 12 bore’s stock to my cheek. Two recent days in Yorkshire and Powys proved its waterproof and windproof…

To send, or not to send, that is the question. Trialling is all about split-second decisions; the handlers, the judges the guns – everyone’s brains are processing information and acting on it within milliseconds. Sometimes not thinking about something is a good thing. You just act instinctively, but at other times we need a little more time to bring thoughts and experience together and decide on the course of action. In a trial, the sending times and set ups can be crucial. If a judge sends a dog on a runner speed it's essential for the dog to quickly gather the wounded bird and for it to be dispatched as soon as possible. However, if a handler is faced with a tricky retrieve, they may need more time to figure…