Innholdsfortegnelse for 24-Jan-2018 i Shooting Times & Country

Some months ago I took a friend ferreting. On the way out to rural Essex from his home in Shepherd’s Bush, he declared that he couldn’t remember the last time he’d been to the country. I could. It was when he came to my house in Scotland some years previously, and — for someone who had never picked up a gun — shot some clays extraordinarily well. He wrote up the ferreting day and a number of you got in touch to say how much you enjoyed the piece (Baptism of fire, 22 November). Some weeks later, he told me that in spite of early misgivings, he could sort of see the attraction of fieldsports. This was followed, later that weekend, by a brief text which simply said: “Reading Memoirs…

Sir, It is fantastic that the city of Birmingham has been selected to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games. However, the shooting community at large is bitterly disappointed that all shooting sports have been omitted from the events list (News, 17 January). The given reason, as I’m sure you’re aware, is that Birmingham is too far from a suitable shooting venue. You perhaps aren’t aware, though, that Bisley is a mere 129 miles away — equidistant to the Olympic velodrome in London, which will host the track cycling events. Quite simply, the committee’s reasoning therefore seems redundant. In a rather parochial sense, England currently tops the all-time leader board for shooting medals won during the Games, so axing the sports really is shooting ourselves in the foot. But just as importantly,…

12 FEBRUARY REALLY WILD DINNER Hassop Hall, near Bakewell, Derbyshire Tel 01773 546400 16-18 FEBRUARY THE GREAT BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham Tel 08443 380338 25 FEBRUARY THE SAVILLS COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE POINT-TO-POINT Badbury Rings, near Shapwick, Dorset Tel 07974 141933 1 MARCH GWCT GAME 2018 CONFERENCE Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge Tel 01425 651013 3 MARCH BASC NATIONAL WILDFOWLING CONFERENCE 2018 Ramada Hotel, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands Tel 01244 573024 24-25 MARCH THE 2018 DEER STALKING FAIR Border Union Showground, Kelso, Scottish Borders Email deerstalkfair@gmail.com…

Join us for dinner Members of the Shooting Times Woodcock Club are invited to the Old Palace at Hatfield House on 24 March for the 34th annual club dinner. Attendees will enjoy an evening drinks reception, three-course dinner and a charity auction and raffle to help support the work of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust. Tickets cost £75 or £70 for guests under 35 years old. Visit po.st/ WoodcockDinner to book. Next deer stalking fair is on the way The 2018 Deerstalking Fair is coming up, held on 24-25 March at the Border Union Showground in Kelso in the Scottish Borders. All the best and latest deer stalking clothing, footwear, optics, firearms, larder equipment and vehicles will be on sale at the event, while there will also be a…

I found David Tomlinson’s piece on the ring-necked parakeet very interesting (Sporting Answers, 10 January). I have only ever seen one of these birds and that was while roost-shooting woodpigeons on New Year’s Day in the mid-1990s. I later told my grandfather who, as a member of the “Forgotten 14th” Army stationed in the Far East during World War II, recalled seeing thousands of these birds in their natural environment. He said they were a tremendous nuisance to the native farmers, the parakeets flying down from their Himalayan mountain roosts at dawn to raid the crops grown in the valleys. The Indian farmers had no shotguns with which to defend their crops and had to resort to flagging the birds off, which was often something of a thankless task. The…

Date: 8 and 9 January 2018 Venue: Sandringham Estate, Norfolk, by gracious permission of HM The Queen Terrain: brambles, laurels, bracken beds, trees and rhododendrons Game: Pheasants, partridges, hares and woodcock Steward of the beat: David Clark Chief steward: John Dickson Judges: Jon Bailey, Richard Claydon, Malcolm Taylor and Dai Ormond Sponsor: Eukanuba Winner: Jamie Smith and Abiann Flawless (right) Second: Gareth Davies and FTCh Heolybwlch Denman Third: Andy Waterhouse and Spiriteddawn Mystic Fourth and Guns’ choice: Sam Thatcher and Windwithe Solitaire of Strigidae Diplomas of merit: K. Varty’s FTCh Ardcaein Fall of Delphaven; W. Clulee’s FTCh Croimhor Turn of Poolgreen; A. Jones’s Episcopi Kiwi;W. Clulee’s GatekeeperBryn of Nederscot;R. Preest’s Centrewalk Topaz; W. Clulee’s FTCh Jackshea Ted of Poolgreen; J. Fanjul’s Windwithe Winter Night, handled by N. Gregory; J. Atkinson’s…

“A good few dogs have, over the years, been put out of trials for failing to pick woodcock” WOODCOCK ARE VERY special birds and the more we learn about them, the more fascinating they become. We now know that most of the individuals we see in the UK have come from as far away as Estonia, Belarus and even Russia, with some travelling as many as 3,000 miles to winter here. They are birds that birdwatchers hardly ever encounter so are often regarded as being rare, which they are not. Some years ago I counted more than 50 during a day’s shooting in the Suffolk Brecks, a figure I submitted to the county recorder for the last British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) Atlas . The recorder couldn’t believe I’d seen…

Gamekeeping has a controversial history, where regional extinction of key predators was the aim. At the same time we have a great message about conservation of wildlife in the living and working countryside, which almost everyone can buy into. But how do we resolve the difference? The key is to understand that I do not aim to remove the predators in the long-term. My aim is to hit them hard when it matters most for my game, then allow recolonisation. As a result, my annual “bag” of crows and magpies, for example, is roughly the same. What I am doing is taking out an entirely sustainable crop of these birds each spring, then allowing them to recolonise. I may need to repeat the process each year to maintain my pheasants…

Is my dog hard-mouthed? GUNDOG TRAINING Q I recently had my spaniel put out of a trial for hard mouth. It was a hen bird that was lightly touched and had run a long way but died on the way back. I felt the bird and there was slight damage on one side of the ribs. However, the dog had already had two dead birds in his first run and they were all right, or rather I assume the judge was happy as they were not shown to me. Surely with the skill involved in picking the runner, the slight damage could have been overlooked? A good game-finding dog was excluded from the awards by eliminating it. A Dogs that are hard-mouthed may not damage every head of game that…

Latin name: Galanthus nivalis Common name: Snowdrop Other names: Candlemas lily, fair maid of February, little sister of the snows, flower of hope How to spot it and where to find it: In January — when Christmas is a distant memory and days are dark and dank — the brave little nodding head of the snowdrop is a welcome reminder that spring is round the corner. Snowdrops have been found in Britain since 1597 and are considered by many as native. The bell-shaped blooms are not composed of petals but of six white flower segments known as tepals. The inner three tepals are smaller and have a notch in the tip. Interesting facts: The “gala” part of the name is from the Greek meaning “milk”, probably a reference to the…

There’s not much colour on a twite, especially at this time of year, making it a hard species to identify. Start with the much more common linnet and take away the red and, in the winter, add a yellow bill and you’ve got a twite. This is the slightly dumpy, northern equivalent of the linnet, typically breeding on the moor and feeding on weed seeds in surrounding fields. The trend to feed cattle on silage made from re-sown grass fields has taken away a lot of the weed seeds that birds would traditionally have found in fields of rough grass or root crops. In the winter, most birds move to the coast, so the birds of West Yorkshire may well now be on the salt marshes of the northwest or…

BOOK Bright Seeds is holding an open day at its Swallowcliffe trial site, near Salisbury in Wiltshire, on 5 February to showcase its game cover and conservation crops. The cover crop specialist said that visitors can “see for [themselves] what has remained standing through a very wet and windy season”. The event runs from 9am to 4pm and refreshments will be provided. Tel 01722 744494 or email sales@brightseeds.co.uk to book. WATCH Hugh’s Wild West follows celebrity chef and nature lover Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (of River Cottage fame) as he pursues his fascination with wildlife in the West Country. Heading to locations from the Jurassic Coast to the Forest of Dean over the course of the series, Hugh gets close to nature in a variety of situations, including trying to catch minnows…

The National Trust has picked three new shooting tenants as partners to help deliver the High Peak Moors Vision and Plan in the Dark Peak project over the next five years. The Countryside Alliance says that by selecting these shoots to be partners, the National Trust has given them the chance to demonstrate the good that shooting can do in helping to boost wildlife and enhance the landscape. Discussing the arrangement, Andy Beer, regional director for the National Trust in the Midlands, said: “We’ve made our decision based on what we think is best for nature. The High Peak is a managed landscape and we have chosen tenants who have committed to work with us to carry out land management which is good for the birds, plants and insects. “With…

1 Farlows tweed shooting gilet £479 www.farlows.co.uk This green herringbone tweed gilet offers increased protection from the elements, featuring a high closing front, hand warmers and both patch and flap pockets to replicate the field coat style. Available in 38-46in. 2 Swazi Apparel kagoule smock RRP £399 www.swazi.co.nz This new technical jacket for hunters is lightweight — only 880g — with a roomy upper body and a chest pocket that allows easy access for a radio antenna. It features a high periphery vision hood, extra-large hand warmer pockets and riveted flaps. 3 Le Chameau Giverny boots RRP £100 www.lechameau.com Comfortable boots for everyday outdoor activities with shock-absorbing dual density Cross soles, the Giverny also boasts all-terrain grip and cushions and supports the foot to prevent fatigue. Available in sizes 3-8…

“Mr Poole even took to wiping my eye. There are so few sports where those aged nine to 90 can participate equally” Staring down at my empty coffee cup I thought about a headline I’d just read: “One in five UK journalists earns less than £20,000.” I’m not one of them but still, the writing game is never going to be a big bucks sort of gig. A month or so before, I was in a sitting room in Bridgnorth with long-time reader Henry Yates. I’m a Celebrity... flickered on the television in the background while we discussed whether socks should be worn inside or outside your breeks. Henry, a Purdey Award panel judge, had very kindly invited me to the Manor Farm shoot in Shropshire. “There’ll be six Guns…

One of the attractions of shooting is that it takes more than a bit of rain or a covering of snow to put us off. It is extremely rare for a shoot to be cancelled because of the weather. But looking back on a long shooting career, I can recall a number of days when it would have been much more sensible to have either packed up early, or even cancelled altogether, rather than carry on regardless. On one occasion, on a rough shoot in Sussex some 30 years ago, we continued all morning despite torrential rain. My springer was, at that time, young and fit but she became so wet and chilled that she collapsed. I wrapped her in my Barbour and carried her the best part of half…

This is my eighth season being a headkeeper on an estate in the Cotswolds. Having entered the gamekeeping profession full-time at the age of 23, my initial knowledge came from running a small shoot in Suffolk for a farmers syndicate and having a BSc (Hons) degree in conservation and environment. The small shoot was an ideal stepping stone as I learned how to rear pheasants, control predators, manage habitats and run shoot days on four or five 50-bird days. Gamekeeping on a small syndicate presents all the problems a larger shoot has but with a lesser financial burden if things go wrong. Making mistakes can be costly, but a good way of learning. Written in the stars My main passion has always been shooting; I was born on 1 October…

“The rolling block is the only action used to make rifles, shotguns and pistols in large numbers” I have always liked Remington rolling blocks — I own 10 rifles and shotguns on that action. I decided it was time to add a US Navy Model 1870 pistol, which is built on it too. Designed in 1864 by Joseph Rider, the rolling-block action had a hinged breechblock that was locked by the hammer as it fell. The breechblock was locked by a quadrant-shaped block on the base of the hammer. It was strong and simple to use, which recommended it to the military mind. The system was very popular in the late 19th century and many Scandinavian and South American nations adopted it as their service rifle. The Egyptians also used…

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,…

The exlana is an intriguing new breed of sheep, using genetic stock from 14 different breeds from around the world. Developed in south-west England by Sheep Improved Genetics Ltd, it is described as an open, composite breed. Selective breeding has allowed the company to develop the exlana as a shedding sheep. In the winter, its resilient coat resembles wool, but copes well with both cold and wet, rarely exceeds 2cm. In the spring, the animals moult this coat, and may shed a number of times during the course of the summer, leaving a short hair coat. While wool was once the most valuable attribute of a sheep, it is no longer. Breeding a wool-shedding sheep has considerable commercial advantages, for such animals do not need shearing, and reduces fly strike…

“The failure of some applicants to hold the line gave Durham’s dodgy scheme legitimacy” I don’t think I am a natural trade unionist, but in at least one respect the comrades have the right idea — we either stand together or get picked off one-by-one. The relevance of this for shooters was highlighted by P. Cree’s splendid letter, published under the headline Stand up and be counted (Letters, 13 December). It detailed how Mr Cree had told fellow shoot members that BASC advised that nobody should pay “illegal” medical fees, only for three members to admit that they had indeed paid up because “it was the easy way out”. Mr Cree went on to explore, in a wonderfully well-argued manner, how such attitudes are counterproductive. We all know that Police…

Late January and its almost over — just a few more cocks to shoot and the keeper can relax for a wee while. That’s the theory but the practice is probably rather different. The season may be almost over but the cycle never stops. In a couple of months the first eggs will come and game production for next season will be under way. If, like me, you are largely dependent on wild-bred birds for your sport, now is the time to start thinking about protecting your nesting game from predation. While there is a strong temptation to get out and start nailing predators, it pays to make a plan of what you propose to do. Too often predation control is a bit haphazard and perhaps less effective. Please note…

Do we have an inclination to become rather too set in our ways? I am thinking specifically of driven shoots, where the tendency is, season after season, to shoot the drives in a fashion that, while it may have become time-honoured, can lead to a degree of predictability. In many cases this is precisely what is required and expected, but occasionally it may be well worth looking quizzically at a drive, if only to consider whether it could be improved or at the very least give the birds something to think about. Often, though, the topography of the ground leaves no alternative but to continue along the tried-and-tested route. However, as I witnessed a few days ago, a bold innovation can sometimes achieve remarkable results. The shoot where I regularly…