Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2019 i Shooting Gazette

The shooting community is notably generous in way of raising funds for a wide variety of charities, but what is it about the people who run some of our bigger names? Put aside the blinkered ignorance and denial of scientific research by the RSPB and its more vocal mendicants and consider the RSPCA. Founded in 1824 by, amongst others, William Wilberforce, it was initially more exercised by overworked cab horses than small furry creatures, but over the years, has spread its wings to encompass a broader remit. As assiduous in its fundraising as in its core purpose, it has become rich in the process. Regarded as a safe haven including by those whose later lives have been shared and enhanced by pets and attracting large bequests from the elderly, it…

We have so many amazing places to shoot around the British Isles but I would love to go back to the 1980s for a day on driven grey partridge in Norfolk – the speed and challenge is second to none in my mind. Joining us first would be George Digweed. I was lucky enough to be in his company on a grouse moor in North Yorkshire a few years ago and he really inspired me with his shooting technique and his knowledge of country sports. Second up would be chef Mark Gilchrist. I think it’s more important than ever that we eat what we shoot and educate the public on the amazing dishes you can conjure up with game. Mark could cook a fantastic meal for us at the end…

Do we really have to join in with the silly hats, faux reindeer antlers, tinsel and other assorted jollities that will inevitably accompany Christmas on our little syndicate shoot? ES and TG, by email Uncle Giles writes Gentlemen, the world, I am sure you will agree, is not in a very comfortable place just now. Everywhere you look there is conflict and cruelty, unkindness and incivility. Our own small country is polarised and divided and blighted by forms of tribal antipathy and aggression not seen here since the Dark Ages. Even Mother Nature seems bent on exacting a form of revenge upon us as a species for our prodigal abuse of her gifts over the generations. It is a bleak outlook. So, absolutely, you must join in the innocent festivities…

Serves four Ingredients • 1kg grouse,pheasant, partridge and rabbit, legs and breast meat • 1tbsp plain flour • 2tbsp olive oil • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 1 jar redcurrant jelly • 200ml brown chicken stock For the marinade • 1½ litre red wine, such as Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon • 200g carrots, medium, cut into slices 2cm thick • 60g celery, cut into slices 1cm thick • 20 baby onions, peeled but left whole • 6 garlic cloves • 6 cloves • 6 juniper berries • 4 pieces dried orange peel • 1tsp black peppercorns, crushed • 1 bouquet garni (a few parsley stalks, 4 bay leaves, 6 sprigs of thyme, tied together) For the garnish • 1tbsp olive oil • 200g smoked streaky bacon, diced…

Charles Gordon's father Archibald Gordon joined the Army as a surgeon in 1836 and saw service in the Anglo-Sikh Wars of the 1840s. After the death of his wife giving birth to Gordon in 1853, he remarried a lady from London in 1860 and went on the father three girls, Gordon’s half- sisters. Archibald Gordon retired from the Army in 1870 and lived in London. Exactly what relationship Gordon had with his father is unknown but on visits to London to see him, Gordon did a tour of the London gun shops and settled on Purdey to build him guns for his collection. His purchases from Purdey mirrored his Dickson purchases and he bought 15 guns and pistols from Purdey, eight of them being muzzle-loaders and two being pinfire. As…

“How we spend our time and how we feel about it contributes to national wellbeing because it shapes our lifestyles, our relationships with others, our health and our collective wellbeing.” Those 30 words were taken from the Office for National Statistics’ Life in the UK report of March 2015 and were quoted in BASC’s Personal Value of Shooting report which was published the following year. The latter report is based on a survey of 1,457 people and brims with statistics and opinions about the myriad benefits shooting bring to its participants. While it might be almost five years old, it nevertheless makes for compelling reading and I would recommend anyone trying to persuade a friend or relative who’s in need of a reboot or looking for a new hobby to…

Engineering: 10/10 When you first pick the gun up it’s clear that you are handling something special, equally so when you assemble it. Exceptional quality to the very highest standards in every respect. Looks and finishing: 10/10 A best gun in every respect, the equal of anything that I have handled. Handling: 9/10 A pleasure to shoot on a wide range of targets, exceptional handling even with the slightly heavy barrels. You can, of course, change the specification to your liking at the time of ordering on this length barrel – I would probably opt for something around the 1,530g mark. Reliability and customer service: 9/10 This a new gun on the market, however the Woodward style is renowned for its strength and reliability. A single gun can be delivered…

The Clydach range of pet food uses British ingredients, works closely with ethical producers and ensures all of its products are healthy, grain-free and promise the best for performance in working dogs. The food consists of a range of natural meats, fish and poultry including English venison; sustainable salmon sourced from North West Scotland; Suffolk Duck from Red Tractor assured farms and Welsh lamb grass fed on the Snowdonia National Park. The Clydach range has naturally high levels of Omega 3 and 6 and is a good source of EPA and DHA helping to support a dog’s heart, joints, cognitive function, visual development and gives a glossy coat. Visit clydachfarmgroup.co.uk…

Game for grouse When people think of grouse thoughts naturally tend to lead towards the Glorious Twelfth. But how many would entertain the thought of heading on to the moors as late as December? Adrian Blundell has forgotten more about grouse than most will ever know and it was he we turned to for reasons why even in late season they are still king of the game birds. Doggy downtime It would be terrible to forget about our four-pawed friends at Christmas time and in this issue Wendy Bardsley explains how best to include your gundogs in your Christmas plans and why – albeit temporarily – they should be able to use Christmas as a short break before it all starts again. Just don’t wear them or yourselves out!…

John Dunk’s interesting letter about the issues raised by Guns being helped by stuffers (October issue) arrived just a few days after I had enjoyed an excellent day at driven partridges which also happened to be my first experience of shooting with a full-time stuffer. Looking back, I can record several observations which are relevant to this debate and which I should like to share with your readers. My stuffer was an active countryman who was keen to observe for himself how this shoot operated. I therefore had an extra pair of eyes with which to spot approaching targets. However, as this was my first day this season, such help was probably not needed. He was also able to assist with quarry identification, which may well have been necessary, given…

Educating and communicating: It’s vital to educate and communicate a brand’s history and heritage, especially when it has 160 years of knowhow. I am confident in the products Aigle produces for the markets we cater for, and I am grateful for this aspect of the brand, in particular, as you don’t need to create a story if it’s already there for you to tell. Within my role I find it’s important to talk about the history of the brand you represent, its innovation, high quality and the craftsmanship involved to tell your consumers a real story, such as where it comes from and how has it been made. Listening and learning: The most important aspect for manufacturing a product is to listen to the consumer on how the product is…

Q Is my shotgun certificate at risk if I get caught drink-driving? A Do you really need to ask? The answer is, of course, yes. If you cannot be trusted to use a car in a safe, responsible and legal way the police are, very properly, going to wonder if you can be trusted with a gun. As a consequence, any drink-related offending will most likely lead to the swift revocation of your certificate. The attitude of society towards drink driving has changed and sentences for drink-related convictions have become harsher. The Home Office Guidance advises the police to consider “evidence of alcohol or drug abuse that may indicate that a person is unfit/unsuitable to possess a firearm due to the possible impairment of judgement and loss of self-control… Usually,…

The joy of a great day’s shooting can create a wonderful feeling of inner warmth. Certainly it brings great happiness. However many days’ game or pigeon shooting one enjoys (I have never had a day out with the gun that I have not enjoyed) only a few press the button of superlative pleasure. The ingredients that create ecstatic joy can vary, but interestingly, rarely relate to numbers. Many factors come into the equation, such as the quality of the birds and the challenge they offer, especially when you shoot above form. Some hosts have the magical touch of sprinkling the day with love, humour and warmth in a special way that gels the party and ensures great happiness for all. “ I collapsed in the car at the end of…

In his book Men and Sheds (New Holland, 2002), Gordon Thorburn tells us that ‘‘wise men’’ were generally hermits – and that hermits had a retreat where they lived and kept things of significance. According to Thorburn, they “collected strange objects, the importance of which others could not understand” and in time, these places became the hermit’s “intellectual pantry, his workshop, his spiritual home”. Understandably, given the title of his book, Gordon Thorburn was talking of sheds but much of what he writes applies equally to readers of Shooting Gazette. While I’m not suggesting we’re all hermits – far from it bearing in mind the generally gregarious nature of game shooting – most of us, where household space and finances allow, like to escape into a place of our own…

With his all-consuming purchases, Gordon was bankrupting his estate. He was made aware of this and a trust was set up to administer his affairs. However, Gordon’s three half-sisters pounced and thought more drastic action was needed. They petitioned the court in Edinburgh for the appointment of a curator bonis and the court, after hearing evidence of Gordon’s mental state, decided in favour of the sisters. Evidence was given in court that Gordon was “weak minded, childish, facile and easily imposed upon”. When the curator bonis was appointed the three half-sisters (all unmarried) wasted little time. They sold off everything belonging to Charles Gordon. First to go was the silver and the plate then the wine cellar. The gun collection was auctioned off at Dowells in George Street, Edinburgh, on…

Q I very often struggle to shoot on bright winter days when the sun is low and find wearing sunglasses to be a little uncomfortable. Can I do anything about this, other than be very selective with my shots? A This may sound an obvious thing to say, but the first thing I would investigate is the reason the sunglasses feel uncomfortable. As a matter of course, I now do 99% of my shooting wearing glasses, mainly because I was at a shoot two years ago and a spent pellet – admittedly a big one – broke the skin on my cheek. I am sure I do not need to explain what could have happened had it hit me in the eye. I find that most of my game shooters…

The new Defender may not have won over all the traditionalists but it has created a huge amount of interest online. In the first two weeks after its unveiling, Land Rover recorded 1.2m visits to its website, 750,000 different uses of the online configurator (about 740,000 of which might well have been by me) and 40m views of its and key media’s videos. The first car was ordered online 36 minutes after the live unveil, and I was very pleased to hear that one of the optional extras chosen on it was a stainless steel, spill-resistant dog bowl.…

1 (and winner of the Ferndown Shield) Jane Sawyer with lab.d. Hitowngreen Falcon 2 (and winner of the Sweep Parker Memorial Trophy for the highest placed Lincs Area member other than the winner and the Lintran Challenge Trophy for the best retrieve of the day other than the winner) Gill King with lab.b.Teeshot Macey 3 Martin Abbott with lab.d. Cuckavalda Nin CoM (Winner of Springflight Trophy for the highest placed yellow) S. Probert with lab.b. Hawksigg Bellisima CoM Chris Johnson with lab.d.Tildaross Byron CoM Charlie Albone with lab.d. Lowsommer Trail Blazer…

It has been an interesting season so far. I’ve had the offer of lots of runs and I’ve seen some good dogs with long straight lines and tenacious hunting. The field trials ranged from superbly well organised to what the hell’s going on? Some trailers looked very smart, donning new shooting suits, while there are those who still look like they are taking the rubbish out. The judging has been mercurial to say the least - with odd judging appointments/pairings and decisions that are beyond comprehension. Social media has had some very good and some very bad posts but all extremely entertaining. The ever increasing demand for trial preparation training for housewife handlers and handlers from overseas has brought about the increasing money making opportunities for some in the field…

“Some dogs might have been a bit over enthusiastic, one new beater might have got a bit lost, but what a joy is was to be out again.” Like the kid who lives next door to his school, I usually cut things a bit fine when heading for the shoot yard less than a mile from home. So when I rolled up on our first day, the yard was heaving with dogs, beaters, Guns and fellow pickers-up – plus the gamekeeper, his numerous relatives and a brace of tractor drivers. It was great to greet everyone and be greeted like a long lost friend after a lifetime gap of eight months away. “Come yew orn together!” hollered the gamekeeper, “Let’s goo an’ rattle up a fuw paartridges”. The Guns ambled…

THE AUTHOR of the Letter of the Month will receive a pair of Wexford boots from Dubarry of Ireland (RRP £325). The knee-length side-zip boots – designed for both men and women – are handcrafted from waterproof Dry Fast-Dry Soft™ breathable leathers. The high quality of the boot is reinforced throughout with an insulated GORE-TEX® lining that wicks moisture away from the foot, ensuring the wearer remains dry and comfortable all day. Dubarry’s new hard-wearing durable outsole gives maximum grip whatever the ground conditions.…

Partridge breasts with pear puffs SERVES 12 PEOPLE Ingredients • Defrosted pastry 5in squares • 12 partridge breasts • 6 ripe dessert pears • 375ml medium dry cider • Salt and black pepper • Small bunch of fresh sage with stalks removed • 12 strings of redcurrants (optional) • 6 tbsp redcurrant jelly • Beaten egg to glaze Method Place partridge breasts in a shallow dish with the cider, seasonings and a few of the sage leaves, roughly chopped – allow to marinade for 15 minutes. Peel, halve and core two pears and cut into 24 slices, keep remaining pears to one side. To assemble, lay half the pastry squares on the work surface, place two slices of pear side by side on each, then lay a partridge breast on…

What do you do with your used plastic shotgun cartridges? Chuck a handful in the bin here and there, knowing you shouldn’t really but hey… Throw them into your recycling in the hope but not certainty they’ll be dealt with responsibly by Whatever County Council? Or do you collect them and send them off for recycling by a specialist company? With the focus on the reduction in use of plastics – and especially single-use ones – it’s vital that all shoots and shooters take responsibility for their used cartridges and also use fibre wads. As for lead shot, I’ll tackle that in another column. Spent plastic shotgun cartridges are classified as ‘non-hazardous directive waste’ and as such can be deposited in household waste in ‘small numbers’ but who knows what…

For your chance to win a bottle of Taittinger Champagne for Picture of the Month, send us a team photograph or a picture of something unusual from your shoot. Send high-resolution images or prints with captions to Shooting Gazette Gallery, Ti Media Ltd., Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF or email: martin.puddifer@ti-media.com. Pictured are the Guns from the shoot day at Belvoir Castle, which is featured on pages 22-31 of this issue. Lydia Brown sent this image of her dog Tank with a note to say he was “thrilled to be out shooting again”. Michael Kruger-Davis writes: “This photo shows myself and my shooting companion, Michael Elmes. We are both avid readers of Shooting Gazette and very keen shotgunners. We are about to shoot field and game sporting…

The Boxing Day shoot has long been a fixture in my family’s calendar. In fact, it’s hard to imagine how my sporting life would ever have been launched without that symbolic day in the shadow of Christmas. For many years it came as a festive routine, as surely as carols and holly boughs. Thirty years after making my first appearance in the beating line, I can look back on 1,000 thrills and spills from the muddier end of the shooting world. “A hen pheasant rose with a clatter from the wet rhododendrons and I dropped her into the dewy grass.” In the early days, I was flung into a gang of cousins and siblings and sent plunging into the deepest cover like a team of cocker spaniels. We stumbled and…

Virtually all the Gordon muzzle-loaders, whether by Purdey, Dickson or Harkom, are in mint condition. Gordon just admired them and never intended to fire any of his collection. When they were all sold in 1908 they were regarded as so antiquated that their new owners just viewed them as baubles and locked them away. But not so his more conventional breechloaders. Gordon favoured hammer guns and ordered hundreds of them. When they were sold in 1908 they had a practical use, so many Gordon hammer guns have seen substantial use. It is very exciting when somebody shows me a Dickson hammer gun and I look up the record and tell them it is a Gordon gun. No. 4312, completed on 8 January, 1890, pictured right, has seen a lot of…

And so to the test, complete with a selection of cartridges from 21gram No.7½s up to some punchy 36gram No.4s. It may be a stunning gun but it’s of little value if it cannot handle the range of modern loads regularly in use for today’s game shoots. Starting on the 40ft tower it was a pleasure to shoot, delivering some exceptional patterns. The ejectors were perfectly timed and faultless. Now we have the measure of it on to the 80ft tower, then the 90ft and finishing on the 130ft for some very high targets. It handled the heavy loads without complaint and absorbed the recoil incredibly well. A gun with stunning aesthetics which are matched by its handling, an absolute pleasure to both look at and shoot.…

FLINT VENTILE COTTON SHOOTER JACKET BY FARLOWS £749 farlows.co.uk “There should be a shooter in all field collections” declares Farlows in its preview of this jacket, which is one of the most comfortable shooting garments I’ve tested for a number of years. It’s also one I was dreading getting dirty. It is lightweight and from the cuffs to the length the fit is almost perfect. You won’t suffer from any loss of movement or impediment from the presence of the belt buckle – one of the many features that make this jacket stand out. Oh for some shoulder pocket support, though. While it’s not cheap, this English-made jacket deserves to be shown off everywhere from the grouse moors to foreign climes after 1 February. MACDUI BOOTS BY ROYAL…

Q What is the repertoire of commands that I should use on my new dog? A You have three sets of commands of course: verbal, whistle and hands/ arms. And let’s not forget eyes as well. Which whistle range, voice commands and arm direction you use is entirely up to you as the dog will Pavlovian respond to whatever action is associated with the command. Just make them consistent and distinctive so that the dog can interpret them easily. The single peep for sit, double for turn and repeated peep for recall is simple enough with the get-in/get-over/get-under/get-out/get-back sequence and the palm up for sit or stay. Possibly lie down if you want the dog to relax during training (i.e. off alert and no commands will be coming). But as…

On 31 August, at a sugar beet training day in Norfolk, Don Ewings passed away doing something he loved surrounded by people who loved him, writes Di Ewings. Shooting Gazette kindly asked me if I would like an obituary placed in the magazine. Obviously the memories of being a wife of 34 years are not as relevant in this instance as the memories of those with whom he shot, picked-up and those for whose dog clubs he volunteered, so I thought I would ask for some of those people to share their memories. Bob Sharman of Suffolk Gundog Club writes: “Don was always keen to help – as part of the team he became a fixture at both the Suffolk Schools Farm Fair and the Suffolk Show. He enjoyed chatting…

How to win For your chance to win either a Pintail Explorer smock (top) or a Seasons jacket (right), email high-res images to martin.puddifer@ti-media.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.…