Innholdsfortegnelse for July 22, 2015 i Shooting Times & Country

THE REACTION to the proposed reform of the Hunting Act confirmed that politicians care so little about rural issues that they are happy to use them as political footballs and think nothing of destroying communities for short-term political gain. Opposition MPs’ reaction to the vote to amend the Act had everything to do with politics and nothing to do with hunting. There are echoes here of how Parliament behaved 10 years ago when Tony Blair pushed the Hunting Act through to pacify class warriers on his backbenches, who perceived hunting as totemic of class divide. The message has still not got across that fieldsports should not be party political and are enjoyed by a complete cross-section of society. On the plus side, at least we have a political leadership with…

The RSPCA has once again been accused of getting involved in political issues, despite being a registered charity. The RSPCA said “thank you” to the SNP on its Facebook page last week for indicating it would vote against “the Tory attempt to relax the ban on foxhunting” (see p.4). This is not the first time the RSPCA has been accused of focusing more on politics than animal welfare ( News , 8 July). Mo Metcalf- Fisher, a director at the Parliament Street think-tank, said: “It is totally wrong for a charity that boasts of being nonpolitical to come out in support of a political party (the SNP) in this way. The issue of foxhunting is an issue that sparks debate in all parties, including the Conservative Party. This status was…

DEFRA confirmed an outbreak of H7N7 avian flu at a farm near Preston in Lancashire on Friday, 10 July A temporary control zone created at the site was eventually replaced by a 10km surveillance zone and an inner 3km protection zone. Restrictions were put in place before the humane culling of all birds at the farm. Public Health England said the risk to public health was “very low” while the Food Standards Agency said there is no food safety risk. All poultry farms within the control zone were forbidden from moving poultry, captive birds or other mammals except under licence.…

A joint environmental project between London-based railway project Crossrail and the RSPB could boost wildfowling prospects on the Essex coast, by transforming 670ha of farmland back into the coastal marshland that it was some 400 years ago. The Wallasea Island Wild Coast project, located eight miles from Southend-on-Sea in Essex, has seen 3million tons of excavated material from the Crossrail project relocated to Wallasea, where it has been used to raise part of the island by an average of 1.5m. This will create lagoons and other wildlife-friendly habitats and protect these areas with sea walls. While there does not appear to be any wildfowling club activity on Wallasea itself, it is believed that nearby groups could benefit as wintering wildfowl become attracted to the new marshland. The RSPB hopes that…

NEWS IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA Pacific Games history was made when three shooters achieved perfect scores in the single rise event at June Valley Shooting Range in Port Moresby on Thursday, 9 July. Fiji’s Glen Kable and Christian Stephen, and Tahiti’s Tuanua Degage, all scored perfect 100s in the clay target competition at the multi-sport event. Rare butterflies return to Ayrshire AYRSHIRE: One of the world’s rarest butterflies, the small blue, is thriving at Gailes Marsh Wildlife Reserve in Irvine, 30 years after being declared locally extinct. The small blue (Cupido minimus) is Scotland’s smallest butterfly, and was returned to the county thanks to the work of the Scottish Wildlife Trust and Butterfly Conservation Scotland. Around 30 butterflies were transported from Moray to the reserve, where kidney vetch, a plant…

1 COME AND SEE US Don’t leave the Game Fair without saying hello to the Shooting Times team (stand T1505). We would love to meet you. Pick up a terrific offer of three months’ subscription for £19.50 with a direct debit. Each new subscriber will receive a bottle of Naked Grouse whisky and the first 10 each day will get VIP badges to our hospitality area. If you stop by on Friday, 31 July, at 2-3pm, you’ll be able to talk to gamekeeper Liam Bell, who will be signing copies of his new book, On Your Shoot: A Practical Guide to Running Your Own Shoot. 2 HAVE-A-GO ON THE CLAY LINE The real excitement will be on the clay line. Eight stands will provide different types of simulated game or…

To get an average return of somewhere between 30 per cent and 40 per cent on your poults, they need the basics: food, water, shelter from the elements and protection from predators. To raise returns above 40 per cent — and I mean 40 per cent of the birds you release yourself, not the ones that cross the boundary from your neighbours — you need almost to micro-manage everything you do. Attention to detail, especially inside the pen when the birds are at their most vulnerable, will pay dividends later on. We walk round every one of our pens at least three times a day — first thing in the morning, at midday and last thing at night — checking the fence and running back any birds that have flown…

Airgunning Which bipod? I’m thinking about investing in a bipod to increase my hunting range with my air rifle. Can you advise on which model to buy? T. Wyman, by email MAT MANNING SAYS: If you shoot a pre-charged air rifle, the added stability provided by a bipod will certainly tighten groups and extend hunting range. However, you get what you pay for, so steer clear of very cheap models. Most airgunners use bipods when shooting prone, so you don’t need one with particularly long legs — a model with legs that extend from 6in to 9in should give enough reach to keep the muzzle clear of tussocks, while being light enough to leave on the gun when you’re on the move. I’d also recommend a bipod with a swivel…

Paglesham Clay Pigeon Club in Essex raised £20,500 at its 13th annual charity shoot on 3 July, bringing the total that the club has generated for local charities to £215,000. The money from the latest event will go to Havens Hospices, Headway Essex, Southend Hospital Neptune Children’s Society and Rochford MS Society. Overall top Gun on the day was Lee Thompson, with a score of 65 out of 70, while top lady Gun was Mavis Hodson (pictured above, with son Willis) with 51 out of 70.…

Eight Scottish shooting estates have been awarded with the prestigious international Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) accreditation, which recognises their ongoing work benefiting wildlife management and conservation. The WES initiative aims to promote the best game and wildlife management practices, build recognition and raise standards through the introduction of objective accreditation. It is a national version of the EU Wildlife Estates initiative, which is endorsed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General Environment, whose objective is to protect, preserve and improve the environment for present and future generations. The accredited estates are Horseupcleugh estate in the Lammermuir Hills in the Borders; Glenfalloch estate at Crianlarich, Stirling; Glenmuick estate, near Ballater, Aberdeenshire; Edinglassie estate, at Huntly, Aberdeenshire; Tulchan estate, near Grantown on Spey, Moray; Altyre estate, Forres, Moray; Hopetoun estates, at South Queensferry; and…

“It’s not yet clear whether bringing [gray whales] back to Britain is logistically possible: they would have to be airlifted across several thousand miles.” Rewilding Britain founder George Monbiot may first want to consider how to stop the whales swimming away. “Conservationists have defended controversial plans to release 300 terminators into the wilds of Scotland.” With recent calls to reintroduce lynx and wolves to the UK, and the release of Terminator Genisys in cinemas, this satirical Daily Mash article takes a humorous look at the “impact on the ecosystem of 300 muscular Austrian-sounding killing machines”.…

The first conclusive sighting of a live pine marten in England for more than 100 years was made in a wood in south-west Shropshire earlier this month. Amateur wildlife recorder Dave Pearce took two pictures of the elusive creature, which was thought to be extinct in England, while walking in the Shropshire hills. The exact location is being kept secret. The photograph has been verified by Stuart Edmunds, chair of the Shropshire Mammal Group. He confirmed: “The pictures proved conclusive. We matched the exact tree that the pine marten was passing with the pictures that were taken. We have now put out lots of camera trails to see if the animal or its family lives in the area. “There is a possibility that they may have been living here right…

Shooting code to comply with HSE Having written our shoot code for next season to include a new directive from the Health and Safety Executive, I thought your readers might find it helpful. Dress: due to the use of firearms, for safety, high-visibility jackets should be worn at all times. As objects can fall from the sky, hard hats are vital. We recommend that orange hats should be worn by the shooters and white ones by the beaters. Safety glasses should be worn at all times. As we need to retain the peace of the countryside, young beaters should be gagged. Footwear: as the ground is muddy with steep banks, crampon-style boots must be worn at all times. Knee and elbow pads are recommended. Dogs: because they can be unpredictable,…

During the 50-plus years of decoying I had never used lofting poles. Recently, Paul Hart, owner of The Pigeon Shooter (www.thepigeonshooter.com), a respected decoying specialist supplier, suggested that I test them. I tried the set of weighted hangers fitted with my standard full-bodied flocked crows in the top of a dead sitty tree within range of my hide (left). They do a fine job of drawing in distant incomers and generally add confidence. The only downside is the time taken to erect and retrieve them, plus the extra room required in what is usually an already-cluttered vehicle.…

The main attraction for many visitors is Gunmakers’ Row, which brings together the biggest names in gunmaking, from both the UK and abroad, as they put their latest and greatest products on show (see p.38). Visitors will have the chance to talk to suppliers and manufacturers to make sure they are getting the best from their gun — or pick up a new one while they’re there. There’s also something very special for fans of shooting history this year as renowned hunter Jim Corbett’s .275 Rigby bolt-action rifle, which was presented to Corbett for killing the “man-eating tigress of Champawat” in 1907 (News, 3 June), is on display at the John Rigby & Co stand (T1456). This is your chance to see the legendary rifle, before it embarks on a…

My fascination with wildfowling began long before I ever set foot on a coastal marsh. From boyhood, I had read avidly in books and magazines about this wild sport, but most of all I was intrigued by tales of the Wash, its long history of professional fowlers who earned a meagre living from the fowl that they supplied to the London markets. Then one day my father, who was a keen roughshooter, hinted that we might try some wildfowling. It was midsummer and he suggested a trip to the Wash to visit the most famous guide of that area, Mackenzie “Kenzie” Thorpe. I had just finished reading Kenzie the Wild Goose Man by Colin Willock and the prospect of actually meeting the man himself was truly exciting. So, one blazing…

SHOTGUNS Boxall & Edmiston 16-bore shotgun Boxall & Edmiston continues its tradition of launching a new shotgun at each CLA Game Fair with its 16-bore round action over-and-under. Designed to encompass the best bits of its 12- and 20-bore models, the new gun benefits from all the bespoke options offered by the company. It can be configured as a perfect accompaniment for the most discerning shooter. Barrel length, fixed chokes, gun fitting, stocking style, wood selection, engraving options and more are all part of the package. A chance to acquire a beautiful bespoke gun in a very useful calibre. From £28,800 www.boxallandedmiston.co.uk Stand S1594 Benelli 828U Initially launched in a 12-bore game spec, the new and feature-packed Benelli 828U is easily adjustable for drop-and-cast and available in either a nickel…

Everyone knows that a group of fish is called a school or a shoal but the collective terms for individual species may be less known. According to C.E. Hare’s The Language of Sport, first published in 1939, herrings are called an army, smelts are a quantity, whiting are a pod and dogfish are a troop. Other collective terms include a lap of cod, a family of sardines, a hover of trout, a shiver of sharks and a float of tuna. A group of eels can be called a swarm, bed or fry. Most people refer to a leap of salmon but other collective nouns, such as draught, run, school or shoal, can also be applied. The collective term for most other species, including mackerel, minnows, perch, pilchards, roach and sticklebacks,…

It’s a strange thing, The CLA Game Fair. For many of us, it’s an unmissable event, one that we make a pilgrimage to every year. We endure the traffic jams, the long hike from the car park, the crowds of people, and we are even prepared to pay the CLA’s hefty fees to get in. We meet up with friends whom we probably haven’t seen since last year, then moan about the queues, the heat, the crowds and how big the fair has become. The general consensus is that it’s not like it was in the old days. Of course it’s not. It has changed and evolved over the years and, in my view, for the better. My first fair was at Stowe in 1970 and I’ve only missed a…

Fishing on this chalkstream can be quite difficult in July, when some trout can become soporific and hug the bottom, choosing to feed below the surface rather than push their noses up to take something off the top. However, a hatch of caddis fly in the evening will often induce a rise that will continue well into dusk. Many fish are caught on nymphs, though on this small gin-clear river, anything too flashy or splashy scares more fish than it attracts. Fishing late into the night in a hatch of caddis requires good eyesight, not only for changing flies but also for spotting fish. I discovered by accident while float-fishing for tench at the end of a long July evening that, as the light faded, it became easier to detect…

Drones — those pilotless flying gizmos — are all the rage. What are you allowed to do, within the law, if somebody insists on flying a drone over your grouse drive or along the line of Guns on a pheasant shoot? Many will say that the obvious answer is a dose of No. 6 shot. But would that be wise? There have been several drones shot down in the US. Yet as far as I know, only one case has reached court. In California last November, a man called Eric Joe flew his new drone near his parents’ home in the country. The self-assembled device was in the air for just a few minutes when there was a loud bang and it plummeted to the ground. On investigating the crash…

Competitive dog owners are being reminded that places are still open for the BASC Chudleys Scurry League. The annual challenge pits gundogs against one another to retrieve a set number of dummies in the fastest time. There are several events and the chance to take part in an overall scurry league, culminating in a grand final for the top 20 competitors held at the end of September on an estate in the Midlands. For details, visit: www.basc.org.uk/gundogs/scurry-league.…

GOOD TIMES Good news for damselflies, as researchers from the UK, Canada and Finland revealed this month that the insects never lose their libidos, even when they grow old. Food initiative Scotland’s Natural Larder has been awarded a grant of £11,000 from the Community Food Fund to help promote game meat at farmers’ markets. BAD TIMES A Yorkshire terrier was attacked by a seagull in a garden at St Columb Minor, Cornwall, and later put down due to its severe injuries. Police Scotland has reported a rural crime-wave in the past few weeks, with thefts including a quad bike and a large quantity of tools stolen from two separate farms.…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH It’s a different world for elephants In response to A. Carrol’s comments (Letters, 15 July) conveying his distaste for your article on Walter Dalrymple Maitland Bell’s elephant hunting career (White hunter, big heart, 24 June), I would like to make the following points. Anyone who has read “Karamojo Bell’s” books will be fully aware that he was not a privileged white hunter, but a very brave, hard-working individual who suffered a lot of hardship in his career. Elephant shooting and elephant hunting are really quite different. According to recently published government figures in Tanzania, 30,000 elephants have been killed in the Selous Game Reserve by poachers since 2010. The numbers of elephants legally hunted are probably fewer than 40. Mr Carrol is probably unaware that the biggest…

Set off early to miss the worst of the traffic queues. Aim to be there by 7.45am, so you will get a leisurely start to the day, and full value from your ticket. Make sure you pack your shotgun and/or firearm certificate. There are bargains to be had if you are prepared to haggle — especially on the Sunday when traders want to clear as much stock as possible. Leave your dog(s) at home unless you plan to enter one of the many gundog competitions. If you do bring the dog, DON’T leave it alone in the car. See Shooting Times on 5 August for our report.…

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Scottish Game Fair has developed into a major feature in the trophy evaluation calendar, and this year was no exception. The fair, at Scone Palace in Perthshire on 3-5 July, was superbly hosted by the Forestry Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage. The venue proved to be a magnet for stalkers with trophies and for those seeking advice on heads yet to meet the essential qualifying drying-out period of 90 days. As always, too, it was a chance to catch up with old friends and to discover their views on the roebuck season so far, as well as their valued opinions on the recent important changes to the CIC formulae. Over the three days of the fair, a magnificent total of 150 trophies from eight…

It is a little hard to believe, but yes, an organisation with not a great record for producing curlews is trying to tell the rest of us how it should be done by running a curlew restoration project. The RSPB is seeking land where it can advise landowners and managers on the techniques required to achieve an increase in the curlew population, which, in case you were not aware, is in decline. I should point out that, on the managed grouse moors of England at any rate, the bird is still doing quite well thank you. Yet it is in this environment that the RSPB is looking for an area to put into practice the management required. To put the whole thing into perspective, the RSPB began its involvement with…

WHAT WHAT YOU YOU NEED NEED TO TO KNOW KNOW BARREL: VERY STURDY SO THERE ARE NO REAL WORRIES HERE, BUT CHECK THE MUZZLE CROWN FOR DAMAGE. ACTION: MAKE SURE THE RATCHET SYSTEM IS WORKING ON THE SIDE-LEVER, OTHERWISE IT COULD SNAP SHUT SUDDENLY. WEIGHT: 7 3/4 LB LENGTH: 43.5IN FEATURES: ACCURATE AND WELL-BALANCED FULL-SIZED AIR RIFLE. IMPORTER: ONLY AVAILABLE SECOND-HAND. PRICES: AVAILABLE SECOND-HAND FROM £100 TO £200 FOR THE DELUXE. Webley & Scott is a long-established, gun manufacturer, but one airgun stands out from the others produced by the company, and that is the Osprey. Following the theme of naming their guns after birds of prey with their longstanding break-barrel Hawk models, the Osprey was a full-sized side-lever rifle designed with the serious hunter in mind. It proved so…

THE DISAPPEARING TURTLE DOVE: The gentle purring of the turtle dove was once one of the most familiar sounds of high summer in the English countryside. Today its voice is seldom heard, for the population has crashed by 90 per cent. It is now a rarity, even in counties such as Suffolk and Hampshire that were once its strongholds. There is a real prospect of extinction here in the next 20 years. As a summer visitor, arriving in late April and departing in early September, the turtle dove has never been a quarry species here, but it has always been hunted during its spring and autumn passage in the Mediterranean countries. Though hunting may have played a part, other factors have also contributed to this beautiful dove’s demise. A bird…

Is chocolate poisonous? My friend frequently feeds his dog chocolate drops as a reward, but I thought chocolate was poisonous to dogs. Is this true, or just a myth? F. King, by email TONY BUCKWELL SAYS: It is true that chocolate is poisonous to dogs — in sufficient quantity it can cause death. That’s because chocolate contains a substance called theobromine, which acts as a chemical stimulant. Dogs can’t metabolise theobromine effectively so the chemical builds up in the bloodstream. It can cause an increased heart rate, severe diarrhoea, internal bleeding, seizures, fits and death. While “normal” chocolate can be toxic, there are specially formulated, tasty alternatives available, which cause no problem. For that reason, you should feed your dog only safe chocolate-flavoured treats. Training Ignoring the whistle My young…

High up on the border between Galloway and South Ayrshire, the ground breaks up into a vast expanse of tangled wilderness. Much of this fantastic open ground was destroyed when the foresters came to plant their softwood trees in the years after the war. However, there are still some extensive areas of moorland that have remained more or less untouched for centuries. Mighty granite outcrops rear up to more than 2,500ft and, while they never attract the attention of their highland peers, some of the Galloway Hills are every bit as dramatic and wild. You could almost mistake these hills for Wester Ross or the Isle of Harris after a rain when the stones shine and the roaring stags bellow great fountains of foggy breath into the stillness. Over the…