Innholdsfortegnelse for 13-Dec-2017 i Shooting Times & Country

Some months ago an elderly reader sent me a delightful letter. His charming missive culminated with the witty assertion that I look like I “should still be doing my A levels”. I recalled his words the other day when I was sitting at my desk thinking about how much I am looking forward to Christmas. I still get a stocking, I still buy a present for my dear dog and, just to be safe, once again this year I’ll put out a mince pie for Father Christmas. But actually, as the years go by and a little stubble grows on my chin, I look forward to Christmas itself less — and get rather more excited about all the shooting that happens over the festive period. This year, I really can’t…

Angus gamekeepers raise £4k for charity Angus gamekeepers have raised almost £4,000 to support children and families at a charity clay shoot. Staff from Glenogil estate decided to host the shoot in aid of Tayside Children’s Hospital after headkeeper Danny Lawson’s son received “unforgettable support” from staff. The estate also donated proceeds from a second charity clay shoot and raffle to the Sandpiper Trust, which helps to save lives in rural areas. Mr Lawson said: “When my son, Rex, was born he had to be taken to the high-dependency unit because he was starved of oxygen for a short time during labour. It was quite terrifying for my partner Clare and I as Rex was our firstborn, but the staff made us feel at ease. It was like a team…

CARE ON THE MOVE AND IN THE FIELD One aspect of rabbiting that is close to my heart is the welfare of our charges, especially when travelling. No one would expect a man — nor a dog or ferret — who has been cramped in a vehicle, fed rubbish and exercised little to perform to full capacity when working. Travelling with animals always complicates matters but we are their world as much as they are ours. My dogs have large, airy crates that they can relax in when they are accompanying me in my truck and the ferrets have large cages at home if we are away. Once we actually get to the fields and warrens, we have a responsibility to get our animals back safely. Barbed-wire fencing, steep cliff…

“Having been hit by 8lb of angry gander, the short-eared owl was lucky it was still able to fly” There was a time when over much of the countryside the sight of a greylag, the great grey goose, was a rare and welcome sight. But not any more, for much of the year at any rate. The greylag has not quite reached the status of one of its cousins, the Canada, and been classified as a complete pest, but it is not far from it. Like many visitors from overseas the greylag goose has taken this country to its heart and settled in nicely, reaching extremely high breeding densities in many areas. Quite where many of these embryonic populations came from is open to conjecture; were they the result of…

BILL HARRIMAN BASC’s head of firearms and global authority on guns MAT MANNING Airgunner and journalist from the West Country BRUCE POTTS Shooting Times rifle reviewer and stalker DAVID TOMLINSON Highly regarded writer and ornithologist LIAM BELL NGO chairman, 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,…

Q I’ve always been intrigued by the partridge in the pear tree in the Christmas carol, as I have never seen a partridge in any sort of tree, let alone a pear tree. Am I missing something? A I have never seen a partridge in a tree either, so did some research on this. The traditional song — The Twelve Days of Christmas — we all know had its origins as a teaching tool to instruct young people in the meaning and content of the Christian faith. Each of the 12 days mentioned in the carol has a religious significance, with the partridge apparently symbolising Christ who died on the cross. I am not sure of why the partridge is in a pear tree, but perhaps it helped the rhyme.…

Latin name: Sorbus torminalis Common name: Wild service tree Other names: checker or chequer tree, griping tree, sorb How to spot it and where to find it: One of the rarest of British species, the wild service tree is occasionally found in oak and ash woods or in ancient forest. Its leaves look similar to those of the maple, with three or four unequal lobes, though they are not as distinct as the maple’s leaves. They turn a rich golden crimson in the autumn before falling. The tree produces clusters of cream or pink flowers in the spring, which ripen to dark leathery fruits called chequers. The tree can be identified in the winter by its leaf buds, which are light green and hairless. Interesting facts: The fruits of the…

Q I have a really good chocolate Labrador that I use for picking-up. He has a soft mouth and is brilliant at finding wounded birds, but he has a real talent for finding old carcases and eating them. I am getting increasingly concerned that he will suffer some real harm, but is there any way of stopping him doing this? A Several years ago when I was running a large picking-up team of dogs, I encountered this problem with a yellow dog. All the spaniels were fine, but for some reason this dog could not stop himself from homing in on anything that smelled foul. Despite my best efforts to cure the problem he did once end up at the vets with a severe throat infection after swallowing another rotting…

The shorthorn is one of the historic cattle of England. The first shorthorn herdbook — and the world’s very first herdbook for any breed — was published in 1822, and the Shorthorn Society was established in 1875. By the time of World War I, the shorthorn was reputed to be not only the most numerous pure-bred cattle breed in the UK, but the most widely distributed around the world. It had become a hugely influential breed, valued for its docility and productivity. Though originally a dual-purpose breed, 60 years ago it split into two varieties: beef and dairy. Beef shorthorns tend to be slightly smaller than dairy, but both are red, red-and-white, white or roan, typically with the short horns from which they take their name. In the last century…

Q Is there any law surrounding the number of guns you can legally have in one cabinet? A There is no legal limit as to the number of guns that you can put in a cabinet. The test is whether you can shut the door and lock it with all your guns inside it. If you can, all is well; if you can’t then you need to get a bigger cabinet. Some licensing departments record what they think is the maximum number of guns your cabinet will hold. This is not a limit being imposed on you, it is just a marker on your record to alert them that you may be approaching capacity. Similarly, the stated capacity by a maker such as “four-gun cabinet” is simply an indicator of…

ENTER Entries for the gamekeepers’ classes at Crufts 2018 are now open. The competitions are hosted by BASC and are open to gamekeepers, owners of working gundogs, gundog teams and young handlers. They will be held on gundog day — Sunday, 11 March 2018, at the NEC in Birmingham. The top individual dogs owned by gamekeepers will go head-to-head in a final show in the main arena for the “Best in Gamekeeping Class” title — and the chance to win the Northesk Memorial Trophy. Visit po.st/Crufts2018 to enter your dog. The closing date for paper entry forms is Monday, 8 January 2018 as postmarked. EAT Before your freezer is crammed full of turkey, we have one last grouse recipe to tempt you with ahead of Christmas Day. This roast curried…

Last month’s Autumn Budget was too urban-focused, say rural groups, who have highlighted areas where it is lacking for those who live and work in the countryside. Chancellor Philip Hammond’s announcements about new funds for house building came in for heavy criticism. The Countryside Alliance warned: “The failure to recognise the equally pressing need for affordable housing in rural areas will only exacerbate the problem of young people in rural areas unable to find a home, with negative consequences for the future of sustainability of shops, schools, services and increasing rural isolation.” CLA president Tim Breitmeyer agreed: “It is worrying for a Chancellor to be so explicit in describing a policy so completely focused on urban areas. The shortage of homes in rural communities is no less acute than in…

DESPITE MY intention to go to the HPR Championship at Elveden, I failed to make it. An old knee injury flared up, making walking painful, so I decided reluctantly that tramping along in the spectators’ gallery wouldn’t be much fun. As it turned out, I’m sure I made a wise decision. Friends who went reported that the first day was dire. I gathered that only 11 birds were seen and just three or four shot, hardly giving even the best dogs the chance to show their worth. It was not, to quote one friend, “a good PR exercise for HPR field trials”. On the second day, the dogs were hunting the wind breaks — the long lines of Scots pines planted many years ago across what was then heathland. There…

“Wild rabbits are seldom found because they succumb to VHD in their burrows” I can report that I have just seen a young rabbit. So what, you may mutter. While four or five years ago the fields and hedgerows round my cottage were alive with rabbits, they had vanished within 12 months. Since then, I have seen the odd rabbit and occasional droppings, but the evenings when I might have shot six or seven with the little .22 rimfire are no more than memories. Myxomatosis, you may speculate; this seemed the obvious answer but I only found one adult dying from the foul disease. No corpses were seen, no pathetic blind and suppurating animals by the roadside or flattened on the tarmac. Was it, I wondered, an outbreak of the…

Q I have always had English springers, but having seen some trial DVDs of the cocker championships I have decided to try a cocker puppy in the spring and would like some information on the differences between the breeds. A As you may already be aware from watching the DVDs, there is a wide diversity of type in the working cocker spaniel strains, but their work is not that different to that of a springer overall. This does not only apply to physical appearance, but also intelligence, trainability and biddability. A good working-bred cocker from a reliable strain will be a joy to own. With their rise in popularity as shooting and competition dogs there are many good breeders producing sound puppies. The physical size of a cocker does not…

13 DECEMBER GAVIN GARDINER AUCTION OF FINE MODERN AND VINTAGE SPORTING GUNS Sotheby’s, London Tel 01798 875300 14 DECEMBER HOLTS AUCTION OF FINE MODERN & ANTIQUE GUNS Princess Louise House, Hammersmith, London Tel 01485 542822 20 DECEMBER BASC YOUNG SHOTS GAME DAY Chillington estate, Staffordshire Tel 01283 810910 14 JANUARY THE BARRIE MURDOCH MEMORIAL TRIAL Wickenby Airfield and Woods, Lincolnshire Tel 07974 234883 17-18 JANUARY LAMMA East of England Showground, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire Tel 01754 890001 23 JANUARY GWCT FARMLAND BIRD ID DAY Fawley Court Farm, Herefordshire Tel 01572 718730…

ANTI SOCIAL MEDIA It was encouraging to read the Countryside Alliance’s proactive stand on the repeated accusations of illegal raptor killing by gamekeepers (News, 22 November). However, I do feel more needs to be done. There are numerous anti-shooting groups on social media and their propaganda goes largely unchallenged. If we consider that the most prolific users of social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, are the young, these are the people the shooting industry needs to win over, not alienate. I am active on Twitter and if I see any tweets that are derogatory or inaccurate about shooting I do my best to point out the facts, but the anti brigade is vociferous and vicious. I’m pretty thick-skinned but it can get extremely unpleasant. Every time a tagged bird…

“The Boxing Day buffet is the perfect time to be creative in the kitchen” Christmas marks the turning point in the season; most of the bigger let days are done and we begin to wind down for a more relaxed January. I love all the festivities, though fitting in shopping around a busy shooting schedule takes planning, so these days all my preparations tend to be done online and at the last minute. Perhaps I need a team of elves, not beaters? Family, friends and a social life are often sidelined throughout the year because of work commitments, which is why Christmas Day is a special time to enjoy with my nearest and dearest. The birds are double-fed on Christmas Eve — leaving only the barest of essentials to do…

“Without breaking stride she scooped up the rabbit. She made it look much easier than it actually was” Stretching our legs as we walked down the narrow Yorkshire lane, I was confident that this was going to be a more successful day than it had been when I visited previously. On that occasion, my lurcher Tawny’s athleticism, hunger and drive were curtailed by the dire weather. Today, however, looked champion. I was having a walk out with Shaun — who was armed with a harness full of nets — and Tawny. The ferrets I was going to work were strong, driven and experienced, despite their tender age. I picked these ones because I thought they would work in the inviting, open warrens perfectly. The weather looked good, we had bags…

I’m half way up a mountain on a November Sunday morning in northern Greece. Below, in the fog-filled valley, comes the sound of a priest calling the faithful to prayer. Closer to hand I can hear the muffled shouts of hunters, for Sunday is the day they enJoy their sport. I am an interested observer but, frustratingly, there is not much to see. I glimpse an elderly man in camouflage but with a bright orange waistcoat and a shotgun over his shoulder. A couple of ancient 4x4s grind their way up the dirt track past me, their armed occupants returning my wave. I’m always keen to see what sort of dogs the hunters are working but I only see one. This is a beagle, nose-down and hunting with purpose, its…

When I floated the idea of buying a deep-fat fryer to my mother, she said, “No, no, no, absolutely not. I won’t have one in the house.” Ironic, as her own mother had one built into the worktop of her kitchen — different times. One can make deep-fried delights without one, though the technique should be approached with caution and getting rid of the oil afterwards is a bit of a bore. And while there is a certain thrill to be had seeing something sizzling ferociously in hot oil, deep-fried food shouldn’t form a daily part of one’s diet. Arancini, or deep-fried rice-and-meat balls, are a bit of a challenge to make but this recipe is a great way to use up cold, leftover pheasant stew or casserole. Pairing with…

Q I want a metal carrier for logs, bales and even deer to load and unload on my ball hitch on the truck. Can you recommend one? A There are several makes and models of game carrier available on the market for the purpose of extra carriage or keeping the load outside the truck body for cleanliness. How many times have you cursed the fact that you did not bring a suitable container or bag to keep the interior of your vehicle from being soiled from the game you have just shot? There are plastic buckets and containers available on the market but these still have to be stored within the vehicle where the smell can still be an issue and temperature is not usually conducive to correct meat preservation.…

Q Are there any reasons, other than the obvious one — which is the safety of the beaters, dogs and Guns — that there is usually a “no ground game” rule on shoot days? A The safety of the other Guns, the beaters and pickers-up and their dogs is the reason ground game is not generally shot on shoot days. The exceptions being driven days on hares, which are run very differently to driven pheasant days, and mini driven/rough shooting days where rabbits and hares are fair game. Shooting ground game on rough days is great fun, and as long as everyone is happy that it is shot, and the Guns are conscious of their surroundings and understand what is a safe shot and what is not, I can’t see…

The marsh tit is the more common of the two brown tits, though “less rare” might be a better term, given that we’ve lost 75 per cent of our marsh tits since 1967, compared with 90 per cent of our willow tits. Marsh tits are not quite as specialised in their choice of breeding habitat but they are nowhere near as adaptable as blue tits or great tits and are not likely to nest in gardens. One thing that has tempted marsh tits out of their woodland haunts is bird food, especially sunflower hearts, provided for them by kind gardeners or at pheasant feeding stations. Marsh tits are hoarders, flitting back and forth to bury or hide their prizes. They can’t compete with blue tits and don’t hang around to…

Q I have noticed that one of my dogs has broken a tooth. It doesn’t seem to be causing her any problems. Is it OK to leave it? A A broken tooth, especially if the root canal is exposed, can be painful to a dog. Animals won’t always show their discomfort as they are evolutionarily conditioned to mask pain fairly well; they consequently respond differently, are much more stoical and have no concept that they can be helped. With our current state of knowledge in veterinary medicine, it is no longer necessarily appropriate to simply ignore broken teeth in our patients. The outer layer of the tooth is called the enamel and inside the tooth is the pulp cavity. This “pulp” is where the blood vessels and nerves that serve…

“If we set store by evidence, we have to be ready to shift if compelling new evidence emerges” Because I recently expressed the view that releasing lynx in Kielder Forest might not result in a biblical plague of giant cats marauding across England, I am now seen as a “lynx hugger” by some. “How about those sheep killed by an escaped lynx in Wales?” says one accuser. He might also have pointed out that when a lynx escaped from a zoo in Devon in 2016, it also scoffed a few lambs. Not good PR for lynx, I admit. Yet I fail to see the direct comparison between roe-eating lynx taken from the wild in Sweden being released into a vast, roe-saturated, state-owned forest, and a couple of hungry, captive-bred lynx…