Innholdsfortegnelse for 13-Apr-2016 i Shooting Times & Country

OF COURSE pigeon shooting is a year-round activity but this time of year is a high point with spring sowing providing a magnet for the woodies. I joined Tom Payne in an albeit pretty wet hide in Oxfordshire last week. I learned a huge amount that day and really enjoyed the reconnaissance. It’s endlessly fascinating to watch these mysterious birds and how they learn new tricks — from balancing on top of young rape so they can pick off the growing part, to digging down to eat seed buried below the surface. I took away two big things: one was that, in many ways, a bag of 25 when conditions are hard is more impressive than 100 over maize stubble. It’s all about the fieldcraft. The other was not to…

Nearly one thousand farmers took part in the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust’s (GWCT) 2016 Big Farmland Count and the results were revealed last month. There was a total of 130 different bird species recorded across 900,000 acres by more than 970 farmers from every county in England, as well as some responses from Ireland, Wales and Scotland. The five most abundant bird species seen were woodpigeon, starlings, rooks, fieldfares and lapwings. These totalled 91,513 sightings, which made up around 40 per cent of the total number of birds recorded. A spokesman for the GWCT commented: “It is interesting to note that this top five list is almost the same as for the 2014 and 2015 counts. The only difference for this year is that lapwings have appeared, pushing chaffinches…

Food festival will promote game meat Great British Game Week is set to expand this year, with the launch of the Great British Game Food Festival. Supported by BASC and the Countryside Alliance, the festival will bring together specialist game food producers at London’s Borough Market from 20-21 November. The event will aim to showcase the wide array of “delicious, healthy, and sustainable foods” available from UK producers. Climate change good for some UK species Climate change has helped more species in the UK that it has harmed, according to a new study by wildlife groups, including the RSPB. A survey of 398 plant and animal species since 1970 found that 152 had been affected by climate change in some way, with “more species impacted positively than negatively in the…

Where does your work take you? My patch extends from London to the Humber and west to Leicestershire. Luckily I am based at home in West Suffolk, so I am within a two-and-a-half-hour drive of most of the patch. What does a typical week involve for you? Weeks vary tremendously depending on the time of year. The main focus of my work relates to the recovery of woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest and the enhancement of woodland habitats. This includes working with many landowners, stalkers, organisations and the media on promoting the sustainable landscape management of wild deer populations to meet the landowners’ objectives. This includes general enquiries, specific advice, deer management planning, deer impact and activity monitoring, Best Practice in deer management events and deer vehicle collisions. What…

“With 300 trade stands covering a multitude of sporting activities, little wonder that the three halls were packed” There he was, rubicund, stalwart, twinkle-eyed and the epitome of the well-turned-out gamekeeper. My old friend Brian Mitchell, headkeeper of the renowned Castle Hill Shoot in North Devon, once met never forgotten, was holding court at the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) stand at the annual West of England Game Fair. The event took place this year, as usual, at the Royal Bath & West Showground at Shepton Mallet on 19 and 20 March. Let me set the scene. This was the 20th anniversary of the fair, which has grown over the two decades rather as an acorn does into a massive tree. I recall that the first somewhat tentative show was held…

1 Reconnaissance is important, especially with regard to the weather. The straightforward option may not be the right one when setting up. A warm afternoon with light cloud cover and a gentle breeze is ideal. 2 Don’t risk a build-up. Usually, the food source available will not sustain an interested pigeon population for long. Once you see 50 or more birds feeding, take your chance. 3 If birds use a wood as a roosting spot or resting wood around your drillings, resist setting up near it. It is easy to ruin your shooting. 4 When decoying, use dead birds that are in a good condition. Flappers work really well to add movement. Choose flappers rather than magnets. 5 Get your timings right. Shoot the drilling too early and you will…

STUART CLARKE Gun: 32in Zoli Z Sport choked three-quarter and three-quarter. Cartridge: NSI Sipe No. 5s, Stuart said: “I love the NSI Sipe 5s; they are hard hitting and great value.” GEORGE DIGWEED Gun: Perazzi MX 2000 choked full and full. Cartridge: 34g Gamebore pigeon extreme No. 5s. George said: “I had extensive involvement in the design of the cartridges. The reason I use full-choke is that you need to get as many pellets as possible into the vital areas and this combination works perfectly.” PHILIP FUSSELL Gun: Browning A1 with 30in barrels choked full. Cartridge: No. 7½s. Phillip said: “7½s kill well out to 50 yards and that’s far enough.” WILL GARFIT Gun: Kemen 12-bore, 32in barrels choked three-quarter and three-quarter. Cartridge: Gamebore Velocity, 28g No. 7½s. RUPERT GODFREY…

Brothers Will and Calum Thompson run Eat Wild in Cirencester, which they founded in 2010 with a view to bringing real food to real people at real prices by harvesting, cooking and retailing sustainably sourced wild meat and game. The pair will be giving demonstrations in the Game Cooking Theatre at the Field & Country Fair in June. To book tickets to the fair, visit www.fieldandcountryfair.com/tickets-2/. To find out more about Eat Wild, visit www.eat-wild.co.uk. Spring brings warmer days, longer hours of daylight and, with the drillings (see p.17), the opportunity to bring home decent bags of pigeon. Though perhaps more often thought of as an autumn dish, the rich, sweet and nutty flavour of woodpigeon makes a lovely meal at any time of the year. In this recipe, it…

I have always maintained that spaniels never go for walks, as every excursion away from home is really a hunting expedition. I was reminded of this the other day when I was exercising my spaniels in a local wood. Rowan, now aged nearly 10, disappeared for a moment. A minute later I heard a couple of short, yippy barks, followed by loud squeals. The errant spaniel then appeared, looking very pleased with herself and carrying a large adult hare she had clearly just caught. Giving tongue on fur rather than feather is a fault she inherited from her grandmother, (her own mother is silent), but as a rule she rarely chases ground game, having worked out years ago that hares are faster than her. She has always been hard-mouthed on…

Hedges have a language of their own, if the glossary in Robert MacFarlane’s book Landmarks is anything to go by. According to MacFarlane, a “boodge” is a word used in Herefordshire to refer to the confinement of livestock by stuffing bushes into a hedge. In the same county, a gap in a hedge is called a “glat”. In Cumbria, the bank of earth on which a hedge grows is a “cop”, while a build-up of soil and stone along the base of a very old hedge is known as “kes” or “kess”. In Suffolk, to cut the top off a hedge to within 2ft to 3ft of the ground is called “buckhead”. In Northamptonshire, a “bullfinch” is a hedge that is allowed to grow high without laying, while in Kent,…

Silver birches are among the first trees to come into leaf in the spring, their delightfully delicate pastel-green leaves a reassuring sign of the changing season. But while birches in Cornwall may already be in full leaf, those in northern Scotland will be displaying little more than swelling buds — a reminder that even in this small island spring arrives in the south several weeks before it reaches further north. Though there are 60 species of birch, it’s the silver birch that is the dominant species. It grows throughout the British Isles, thriving on poor sandy soils where nutrients are few. It’s also widespread throughout northern Europe and north-west Asia, while it’s one of only two trees native to Iceland. The other is the downy birch, a species that also…

“Continuous monitoring can pave the way to a longer certificate life” Anew “encoded reminder” system will make it easier for GPs to inform the police if they believe a firearms or shotgun certificate holder should not be in possession of a gun, following a change in legislation this month. As of 1 April, the application and renewal forms for firearms and shotgun certificate holders in England, Scotland and Wales have changed and a permanent marker will be placed onto an applicant’s medical record. This allows GPs to raise any issues during the lifetime of the certificate rather than just upon application or renewal. The new system was developed after the British Medical Association voiced concerns about weaknesses in the process. As before, during the application for or renewal of a…

READ River Pikeis an essential read for piking enthusiasts as author Dilip Sarkar MBE shares his extensive personal knowledge of the Midland rivers for a comprehensive look at the subject. With contributions from Des Taylor, Neville Fickling, Chris Fowles and many more, this deserves a spot on the bookshelf of any keen angler. RRP from £35. Visit www.harperanglingbooks.co.uk to purchase and for further information. WIN BASC has joined forces with the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and the Northern School of Game and Wildlife to give teenagers the chance to be gamekeepers for a weekend. Taking place at Newton Rigg College in Penrith from 3-5 June, the competition will appeal to 14-16-year-olds interested in a career in gamekeeping, stalking, conservation or shooting. To enter, potential students should write a short essay (no…

Anglers could help to save the common scoter duck, according to RSPB Scotland. The numbers of these rare breeding birds have been dwindling in the UK, despite there being a number of suitable habitats in Scotland. A three-year research project by the RSPB’s Centre for Conservation Science has now concluded that restoring the balance between fish and invertebrates in common scoter habitat is key to their recovery, and in some cases, angling could be one way to help. Dr Mark Hancock, an expert from the RSPB’s Centre for Conservation Science, said: “Of all the lochs we investigated during this work, scoters bred most often at those with the shallowest water and the most large, freshwater invertebrates. “It soon became clear that there were more insects where there were fewer brown…

BASC’s Green Shoots Mapping software has been revamped to work on touchscreen tablets and smartphones. The updated programme will make it even easier for members to record bird sightings and shoot bag data. Visit po.st/mapping for further information. Pupils from Ysgol Pen y Bryn school in Swansea got to see some woodland animals up close last month, thanks to a scheme funded by the Countryside Alliance Foundation. Janet Barber from the Pant Glas World of Nature brought five different types of owl, snails, cockroaches, a hedgehog and a rabbit for the children to meet. RSPB Scotland says it is disappointed that a final decision over plans to give legal protection to wild beavers living in Scotland has been delayed until later in the year, “to the detriment of the environment,…

TRAGIC TROLLING I am sure your readers are aware of the tragic death of nine-year-old Bonnie Armitage on 2 April when, riding her Shetland Lindsay to the Cotswold hounds, she was kicked by another horse. Deaths in the hunting field are, thankfully, rare. My dear friend Gems McCormick died out with the Fitzwilliam (Milton) last November. Both Gems and Bonnie died doing what they loved, which is a small crumb of comfort. But what makes me sick to my stomach is the way that the anti-hunting fraternity has used the death of a child to show how “committed” they are to the anti cause. Twitter and Facebook trolls have crowed about “karma” and how “nothing good came of bloodlust”, and those are two of the more repeatable posts. The trolls…

Wild-bird keepers are the same the country over in what they need to do day-in, day-out — the only difference is the habitat and the landscape they work: the low-ground pheasant or partridge shoot, or the heather moorland grouse moor. Many keepers have made the switch from one to the other and, not surprisingly, have done well, because the primary part of their role is to control the numbers of predators that are out to eat the ground-nesting birds. Habitat plays its part, it’s true. But without controlling the numbers of predators, even with very good habitat, your ability to produce a surplus to shoot is compromised. Control the predators and even with a poor habitat, you can succeed at least to a degree. Lamp-shy foxes Spring is without doubt…

“What makes black-grouse unique is the variety in their diet. In its own way, it may be as wide as man’s” There is probably no more charismatic a gamebird than the blackgrouse. Once found in more or less every county in England, it thrived on the lowland heathlands, and in good breeding seasons large numbers were shot. The loss of the heathland, and most forms of beneficial management, led to the demise of the bird until it came close to extinction. In the end, it owed its survival in England to the northern grouse moors, where it managed quite well despite the fact it was out of its lowland comfort zone. Elsewhere, especially during the bad old days of mass afforestation, it was treated as a pest by foresters. In…

DECOY PIGEON CAROUSEL With three arms and six mounts for birds, this innovative new carousel is ideal for decoying crows and pigeon. The decoys are easily mounted and the small movements make them appear lifelike. The three arms and six mounts are included. (Uses 4 x AA batteries, which, like decoys, are not included.) • www.bushwear.co.uk • Price: £29.99 CAMO NET PIGEON HIDE Manufacturer Anson & Deeley says its Stealth Ghost netting is an “unbelievable advance in concealment technology”, and the net that comes with this kit measures 5m by 1.5m for a spacious hide. Its backing layer of black micromesh adds depth and shadow and is effectively a shooting two-way mirror! • www.uttings.co.uk • Price: £64.99 HEAVY-DUTY HIDE POLES These new twist-and-lock hide poles have an alloy…

How to attract kingfishers WATERWAYS Q I am keen to encourage kingfishers to return to my local stretch of river. What can I do to help? A The European kingfisher is present across Europe, Asia and parts of North Africa. Its principal requirements are a soft riverbank in which to make a burrow and a ready supply of small fish. The female will lay between five and seven eggs, half of which will not live beyond a few weeks as the business of having to catch fish underwater is a hazardous one. In the stretch of chalkstream that I look after, there are thousands of minnows, and a lake that borders the river supports a large head of roach and rudd. Each year we have two pairs of kingfishers, which…

NIGHTINGALE The first nightingales will be arriving back from countries such as The Gambia in the next week or so but sadly in smaller numbers. This has always been a species with a southern-English distribution but the range has been shrinking for about 50 years. If you have never heard one of these brown, robin-sized birds and you have a reason to be in a southern county in the next month, particularly Kent or Essex, see if you can get yourself on an organised nightingale walk. The song of a male as he performs in his woodland amphitheatre is intoxicating. Traditionally thought of as a species associated with coppiced woodland, nightingales are now more likely to be found in scrub, particularly on wetter peat-based soils. The spread of muntjac deer…

After 1945 the majority of gunmakers ceased loading their own cartridges because it was no longer financially viable. Those who offered their own brands had them custom-loaded by one of the major manufacturers. But there were still a number of small loading concerns operating, one of which was Joe Bentley, of Liversedge, Yorkshire. My first contact with Joe was in August 1960. I had just set up a small cartridge-loading business, mostly supplying my shooting contacts and friends who were only too happy to obtain their shells at a slightly lower price than proprietary brands. I possessed loading equipment — basically an Erskine machine — but needed a regular supply of components. An advertisement in the classified column of Shooting Timesled me to Joe — and a friendship that was…

24 APRIL INTRODUCTION TO WOODPIGEON SHOOTING BASC Head Office, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham Tel 01244 573029 28 APRIL NGO GOLDEN PHEASANT CLAY SHOOT Rhug Estate, Corwen, Denbighshire Tel 01833 660869 30 APRIL THE 2016 FEMMES FATALES CLAYSHOOTING CUP Royal Berkshire Shooting School, Pangbourne, Berkshire Tel 01491 672900 2 MAY THE NORTH SOMERSET SHOW North Somerset Showground, Bathing Pond Fields, Wraxall, Somerset Tel 08456 342464 6 -7 MAY GWCT/BASC SHOOTING FOR THE FUTURE COURSE Allerton Project Visitor Centre, Loddington, Leicestershire Tel 01425 651013 14 -1 5 MAY WHITFIELD ANNUAL CLAY SHOOT Whitfield estate, near Hexham, Northumberland Tel 07925 597676…

Roe deer in Scottish cities could become a sustainable source of healthy meat and potential employment, according to deer managers and MSPs. Speaking at an event entitled “Meeting of Minds” in East Kilbride last month, held to look at the challenges and opportunities presented by growing roe deer populations in urban wooded green space, officials from South Lanarkshire Deer Group explained how deer management could contribute if managers are better utilised. David Quarrell, chairman of South Lanarkshire Deer Group, said: “With new approaches and some investment in chill facilities, there are opportunities for roe deer to become an important community resource in the Central Belt. “Roe deer venison is lean, nutritious meat, yet few people locally get the opportunity to taste it. With different approaches, local restaurants and butchers could…

Introducing red squirrels to the Isle of Man could have a “devastating impact” on the island’s existing wildlife, according to experts at the Manx Wildlife Trust. As reported in last week’s issue of Shooting Times,the Manx government is considering releasing the endangered animals for the first time. A public consultation is currently being held to consider possible risks, but forestry officials don’t believe that the squirrels pose a substantial risk (News, 6 April). However, the Manx Wildlife Trust disagrees, claiming that the scheme would “impact on habitats already battling with environmental pressures”. A spokesman for the trust commented: “Limited suitable food sources for the squirrels on the island also raise concern about the impact the animals could have on birds’ eggs.” He continued: “The trust believes that time and resources…

Thank goodness for HRH the Duke of Cambridge — the shooting world needs someone who will stand up for our sport, who will be listened to and who speaks sense (News, 6 April). Who better than our future King? Prince William understands the benefits of shooting and stalking to the economy, the environment and to conservation, and his summing up of well-regulated big game hunting as a “fine balance” is spot on. I fear too many ill-informed people believe that when a wild animal comes to the end of its life, it simply lies down and goes to its eternal rest. Those of us who live in the real world know that is not the case. The old or sick animal will either be killed by its own kind or…

“There’s no one avenue of fish investigation I want to travel with such myopic monogamy” There’s a man called Steve mending my rickety conservatory. Steve is a fisherman and he is just aching to talk about fishing. He’s built himself a new tackle box; it started out in wood, then with a craftsman’s desire to ever-improve, he decided to cast his wooden version in fibreglass. “My wife’s been giving me earache all winter,” he admits. “She says the fibreglass fumes are giving her headaches.” He appeases her with squid caught from the pier in autumn and eked out of the freezer over the winter months. “I was trying to keep the squid for bait,” he confesses. “But anything to keep her happy.” What keeps sea anglers happy at this time…

THOUGH IT MAY seem surprising to readers of this column, there are many gundog owners who are unsure about the differences between field trials and working tests. The former are serious examinations of a dog’s working ability, conducted in the shooting field in conditions that are supposed to replicate a normal day’s shooting. In contrast, tests are run using dummies rather than live quarry, and take place largely during the spring and summer. In many ways tests are a much fairer way to examine a dog’s ability than trials, as each retrieve is (or should be) the same for every dog, which is never the case in trials where luck plays such a huge part in the final outcome. However, I have been to tests where the inability of the…

BILL HARRIMAN BASC’s head of firearms and global authority on guns MAT MANNING Airgunner and journalist from the West Country BRUCE POTTS Shooting Timesrifle reviewer and stalker DAVID TOMLINSON Highly regarded writer and ornithologist LIAM BELL Shropshire gamekeeper and keen wildfowler GRAHAM DOWNING Shooting consultant and sporting author PAUL RAWLINGS Gundog expert and A-panel spaniel judge CHRIS DE CANI Riverkeeper, with specialist knowledge of chalkstreams TONY BUCKWELL Veterinary surgeon with a special interest in gundogs TONY JACKSON A game Shot, keen stalker and former editor of Shooting Times TOM PAYNE Professional shooting instructor and avid pigeon shooter SIMON WHITEHEAD Author, professional ferreter and rabbit controller IAIN WATSON Keen stalker and senior CIC international trophy judge Contact the team Email: stanswers@timeinc.com By post: Shooting Times, Pinehurst 2, Farnborough…

“Why is the RSPB playing in the sandpit with a grubby urchin like the League?” Somebody once told me that a certain animal rights charity was staffed by former hunt saboteurs who had grown too heavy to run across fields. This is unfair. As somebody who is gravitationally challenged myself, I have qualms about repeating such a joke. (Though not quite enough qualms, obviously.) Leaving aside the childish quip, there is a more serious point; that such charities may not be quite as respectable as they like to make out. Recent whistleblowing revelations from a couple of former employees of the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) have received extensive coverage in The Timesnewspaper. The League has published a rather peevish rebuttal on its website. The facts do not make pleasant…