Innholdsfortegnelse for 10-Feb-2021 i Shooting Times & Country

At this point, I’m not sure if I remember how to take on driven birds at all, but I was lucky this season in that I managed to scrape together a fair bit of shooting. It all ended, happily, with a morning on the Solway followed by a last flight on my pond the following evening. The collective bag was meagre, only a snipe and a wigeon, but it was a joy to be out at all. A couple of evenings ago, after I’d plucked my birds and was sitting down by the fire, the phone rang. It was a keeper from Yorkshire who was ringing to talk to me about writing for Shooting Times. He told me it had been a strange sort of season but he’d had a…

IN THE FIELD As I am an avid reader of Shooting Times, I thought you might like this picture of my son Henry (left), aged six, enjoying his first day out in the field at Ripley Castle in December 2020. Alex Tillisch, by email COUNTING THE COST OF VICTORY The fact that the High Court dismissed Wild Justice’s pest control claims (News, 27 January) was, probably rightly, hailed by the BASC Wales representatives as “a resounding victory for the rural community”. I’m sorry but I can’t agree. Last spring, Wild Justice’s disruptive antics left those wishing to control corvids in England in a quandary because nobody knew exactly where we stood regarding the use of Larsen traps. Even now, the general licences remain a legal minefield to a working-class bloke…

Even though there are a few more weeks before the end of the official winter period, already we can see the signs that spring is getting closer. From the dark days of December, daylight extends in January and February. There is less fumbling around for light switches as dawn starts to break before we emerge from our slumber. The natural world is no different. Catkins dangle from the hazel, while snowdrops and aconites carpet our woodlands with colour. The large flocks of migrant wildfowl and waders steadily reduce, grey partridge pairs sit attentively by the hedgerows. There is a warmth to the winter sunshine, but this is not a time to be complacent. Winter’s grip can soon return long into March and as late as May. For those of us…

It is a small, overgrown wood on the outermost fringes of the estate. Far from the nearest farmhouse, cottage or byroad, it can be reached only by half a mile of rutted track that in winter is impassable to anything but a grownup 4x4 vehicle with suitable tyres. Its very remoteness, however, means that it is rarely visited by woodsmen or foresters and, because it is so undisturbed, it has become a little haven for muntjac. Their tracks and signs are apparent everywhere. Last autumn, I selected a suitable spot and erected a free-standing portable high seat with the object of paying a visit once the last leaves had fallen and the trees were bare. I did this early one morning in the depths of winter. The temperature hovered around…

The gamebird goujon isn’t going to win you a prize for originality but there’s a reason it’s so popular. It’s undeniably one of the fastest and tastiest ways you can prepare game. It also goes down very well with youngsters who can be tricky to feed at the best of times. Admittedly, though, the kids often find themselves fighting over them with me as they are one of my favourite snacks along with a cold beer and a few dipping sauces. “This recipe goes down so well with kids; mine will fight over them with me” In our little corner of East Sussex, there are a few partridge shoots that provide plenty of birds during the season. There is also something nice about eating quarry that you’ve really enjoyed shooting…

I have been trying to get a handle on chick and poult prices for this coming season. Rather unsurprisingly, I am struggling to get any consensus from the keepers who rear a few to sell on and the keepers and shoots who only buy in for themselves. Game farmers are also keeping their cards close to their chests at the moment, no doubt waiting to see how things pan out regarding hens and orders. Personally, I am becoming more confident that we will be shooting this coming season. If we work on the basis that we managed half a season over the past year, we will probably be OK, given the added security of the COVID-19 vaccination programmes. This is accepting, of course, that it will still be a different…

1 Trying to decoy in thick snow is pointless. Pigeon become snow blind, won’t travel and won’t see decoys properly. 2 You can decoy in a light dusting of snow or when snow is melted, especially over taller green crops such as sprouts, stubble turnips or winter rape. 3 Use lofting poles in trees as a focal point for birds flying in light snow. 4 Roost shooting can be great in snow. You disappear as the shooter in the white and birds flock to warm fir woods. 5 If snow is localised, look for areas on your recon that are not affected. These can provide great shooting when the weather is harsh.…

BILL HARRIMAN BASC’s head of firearms and global authority on guns MAT MANNING Airgunner and journalist from the West Country DIGGORY HADOKE Vintage gun expert, firearms dealer, author and journalist 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 TONY BUCKWELL Veterinary surgeon with a special interest in gundogs TOM PAYNE Professional shooting instructor and avid pigeon shooter ELLENA SWIFT Award-winning gundog trainer and canine behaviour specialist TIM MADDAMS Former head chef at River Cottage and runs a shoot in Devon SIMON WHITEHEAD Author, professional ferreter and rabbit controller IAIN WATSON Keen stalker and senior CIC international trophy judge…

It hopefully won’t be all that long now until trout fisheries across the country are back open and we can cast our lines once again. The Viva, apparently named after those old Vauxhalls that everyone’s dad seems to have had, is a killer on rainbows and is particularly effective in low light conditions. It is fished just like a lure. It can also be tied with a goldhead, which gives the fly a good fast sink to attract the attention of those big sleepy fish on the bottom of the lake.…

Most shooters are sociable types. But there are times when a healthy dose of solitude does the soul a power of good. To be alone with the wind and the rain while wildfowling, stalking or foxing is a form of self-reliance. And that is something that is all too rare in the age of state intervention in every aspect of our lives. But how can we capture the essence of this special experience for posterity, or share it with others? It’s with this in mind that I have been impressed by the solo hunter style of film-making. You can find official Solo Hunter episodes on the Outdoor Channel. But this series doesn’t have a monopoly on the concept. Indeed, that would negate the fundamental appeal of this type of enterprise.…

Check your trailer tyres. New legislation has come into force concerning the requirements for trailer tyres. The rules are complex and will cover many shoot trailers and beaters’ wagons. The CLA advises that “to comply with this new regulation, owners of such vehicles are strongly advised to ensure that their tyres are less than 10 years old, and that the manufacturer’s date code is legible”. Late winter can be a great time for a little roost shooting. Slip quietly into a wood before the pigeon are due to come in to roost and wait for their arrival. The key to roost shooting is to stay alert and be ready to move and shoot when you see the bird commit to landing.…

Many thanks for keeping me sane after 13 months of quarantine here, stranded in the Swedish forest and living mainly off venison. I eagerly await your weekly digital edition and devour every word, even the adverts. Keep up the good work. I spent five years in Canada, which I really enjoyed, in the mountainous terrain by the Columbia river. I thought your readers might enjoy the following story. I had been working on the High Arrow Dam — later known as the Hugh Keenleyside Dam — on the Columbia river in British Columbia for three years and was thoroughly enjoying it. I had become a member of the local trap club (clay pigeon shooting) and had taken out a hunting licence for the coming season. I had also made an…

HISTORY notes that the first German shorthaired pointer was shown in England in 1887, but it wasn’t until after World War II that these elegant, all-purpose dogs appeared in the shooting field in the UK, brought back by British Army officers who had served in Germany. I wonder what sort of reception they received on shoots. I’m sure it was a mixture of interest, suspicion and scepticism. The GSP was the first of the continental hunt, point and retrieve (HPR) types to be imported. Today, 17 breeds of HPR are recognised by the Kennel Club. Only six are German, but all have made a mark on the British shooting scene. All have dedicated breed societies. The first was the German Shorthaired Pointer Club in 1952, the most recent the German…

The past year has been a testing time for all of us. I have always felt grateful for the opportunity to spend time in the countryside with an air rifle and, with the day-to-day grind of lockdown becoming increasingly repetitive, I have appreciated the escapism of my pest control rounds more than ever. One of my woodland shooting permissions is a short stroll from my home. Having this little oasis right on my doorstep means I have been able to incorporate a bit of pest control into some of my daily exercise outings. The small wood is managed for pheasant shooting, not that the syndicate had much of a season. Nonetheless, the keeper has continued to tend to his birds and, as is always the case, grey squirrels are making…

JUTE TOW If you open a long-stored gun case for a pre-war shotgun, it is not uncommon to find what looks like stripped clumps of old rope. This is jute tow, which was once sold as a material for scrubbing fouling from shotgun barrels. Today, people use kitchen roll for this purpose, but jute is nicely scouring without being abrasive to the steel bores. Jute is the same material long used to make ropes. In cloth form, it is known as hessian, which is often used to make sacks. While it is a single-use material, it is sustainable because it is plant-based. Perhaps we should reconsider jute as an eco-friendly option for cleaning.…

NI hunt ban won’t affect gundogs The use of gundogs will not be affected by a proposed change in the law in Northern Ireland. Alliance MLA John Blair has brought forward a private members’ bill which would ban the use of dogs to hunt mammals in the province. It would also ban trail-hunting and terrier work. However, Mr Blair has said that the use of gundogs to flush and retrieve quarry would not be affected. RSPCA to hand over prosecutions to CPS The RSPCA will not conduct any more prosecutions. The charity’s chief executive, Chris Sherwood, said: “We believe this responsibility should sit with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which is a statutory public body with regulatory oversight.” The charity has met with criticism over the high cost and low…

Your correspondent Sam Andrews says that “it is well known that springers are a pain in the behind if not fully occupied for 23 hours a day” (Letters, 27 January). I have owned springers for more than 25 years and without exception they have always been totally chilled for the whole day, unless I put on my dog-walking or beating coat. Unlike the Staffordshire, which Sam proudly boasts ‘turns off’ at 6pm, my springers are happy to spend their time lying quietly at my feet or on their beds for the whole day while I am at home during lockdown. Cockers, on the other hand... Sue Cooke, Worcestershire…

ALL THIS newfangled technology does come at a cost and, with a few optional extras fitted, the price creeps up a tad. The on-the-road price for the Jeep Renegade 4xe Trailhawk is £36,500. Fairly eye-watering, but hybrids aren’t cheap. Hopefully, as the technology progresses, the price may come down in the future. There are a few optional extras on the test model — Parking pack, Function Pack II Phev Trailhawk, which includes keyless entry, a fancy charger cable and a full-size steel spare wheel. All that bumps up the price to £39,100. Yep, it’s not cheap. Overall, a good effort from the Renegade. It is definitely capable of getting about, be it in town or country. I’d like a slightly longer electric range than 26 miles and it is a…

Old dogs can do daft things. On a recent walk, my elderly springer, Rowan, decided that a swim in the river would be a good idea. She has always been a strong swimmer, but with her 15th birthday fast approaching, she forgets that she is not as good at climbing up the riverbank as she once was. She decided to take her swim in the Little Ouse on a day when the river was in full flood and the normally gently sloping bank was totally submerged. As a result, she couldn’t climb out and had to be hauled to safety by her collar. Many years ago, I was rough shooting in Scotland on a horribly wet and wild day at the end of the season. There had been a lot…

Latin name: Evernia prunastri Common name: Oak moss Other names: Stag lichen How to spot it and where to find it: Look closely at the bark of broadleaf trees on your next woodland walk; you may spy pale, greenish-grey clusters of tufty growth. This is oak moss — but it is not a moss at all, it’s a lichen. Lichens offer food and shelter to a wide variety of organisms and many are beautiful to look at. But this one smells even better than it looks. Interesting facts: There are more than 1,800 species of lichen in the UK, and their uses are varied. The principal use of oak moss, though, is in perfume. It is an essential element of many fragrances as part of the chypre family, with heavy,…