Innholdsfortegnelse for 3-Nov-2021 i Shooting Times & Country

Terrier enthusiasts have offered their services to help solve Glasgow’s rat problem. Rats and rat attacks have been at the centre of a dispute between council officials and refuse collectors. Chris Mitchell, of the GMB union, told Good Morning Scotland: “Our members are coming across rats every single day, people walking about the streets are seeing rats in back gardens and going into houses — they are absolutely everywhere.” Despite being based on Scotland’s east coast, the Tweed Valley Rat Pack was quick to volunteer to solve the problem with a spokesman saying: “At your service, Glasgow City Council, and at a price cheaper than industrial action.” The pack recently reported 321 rats killed by four dogs in a single session; however, even at that impressive rate, Glasgow’s estimated 1.3…

The Government has made a brisk about-turn after there was a furious response to the blocking of an amendment that would have protected rivers from pollution with sewage. Arthur Wellesley, the 9th Duke of Wellington, who owns stretches of the river Stinchar in Ayrshire and the Loddon in Hampshire, introduced an amendment to the Environment Bill that would have forced water companies to reduce the amount of sewage they discharged into rivers. However, the Government whipped Conservative MPs to vote the amendment down. The response from anglers was one of fury, with an organised campaign mounted to ‘name and shame’ MPs who had voted against the amendment. Among those who joined in the campaign was angler and Shooting Times reader Floyd Hansen, who said: “It’s outrageous and disgusting that water…

It’s an annual pilgrimage for some, a once-in-a-lifetime experience for others and it was a first for me. Red stag stalking annually draws much-needed visitors from around the globe to rural Scotland to partake in the traditional and sustainable management of the UK’s largest land mammal. With two days’ stalking booked on the Mamore Estate above Kinlochleven, this trip promised to be an adventure, a steep learning curve and an experience to be treasured for years to come. Testing terrain Mamore is part of three estates, covering 114,000 acres, that are owned and managed by Jahama Highland Estates. Regarded as some of the finest stalking ground in Scotland, the terrain can be testing and includes the infamous north face of Ben Nevis. “The roar of the stags echoed out of…

It was one of those shoot days when all the elements were against us. Every drive seemed to face the roaring wind and the freezing rain that burrowed its way through our layers to soak our core, forcing even the bravest Guns to hide beneath the peaks of their flat caps. Lunch could not come soon enough, as not only did it bring a change of clothes, but a hot drink and shelter within the lunch hut nestled at the top of the wood. Eyes adjusted from the December light into the dim but warming gas-lit interior, revealing a rickety old oak refectory table and relics from the shoot’s past. Slumping into a creaky Victorian chair, I broke into my lunch box with my Clumber’s jowls warming my knee. Relaxing,…

The Grange at Northington in Hampshire, the foremost example in England of Greek Revival architecture, has been sympathetically restored by English Heritage from a semi-derelict state to its former glory. It has the addition of a modern theatre building and now serves as a world-class opera venue in stunning surroundings. Few operagoers or members of the public who visit the house and grounds are aware, though, that the property was once the hub of the 8,231-acre Grange Estate, which from the 1870s until 1932 was considered to be the best partridge shoot in southern England. The guest list included the Maharaja Duleep Singh, Earl de Grey (later 2nd Marquess of Ripon), the Earl of Carnarvon, Lord Walsingham, Henry Rimington-Wilson and other legendary Victorian and Edwardian Shots. Originally the seat of…

Michael had blown through his inheritance, but he still put out only one line from expensive deep-sea fishing charters because, as he said, he wanted to catch only one blue marlin at a time. He’d have been fine smoking his cigar on a peg in a partridge shoot, but out here in the million-acre Galana ranch his legs couldn’t carry him fast enough in a rough shoot for vulturines. The camp host, Johnny, thought about this and put out a line of beaters in orange jumpsuits, imagining he could get the guinea fowl to behave like driven pheasant at Farleigh Wallop — but that never worked. Leaving Michael behind at the Land Rover, Tonio and I would head out into thick commiphora bush until we heard the cackle of a…

Over the years I’ve been to all five championships, but I’m not a regular attender at any of them and I make a point of not reporting on these events. I’m not a trialler and there are others better qualified than me to commentate on them. I’ve only once reported on a championship. It was the 2013 HPRs, the first time that the event had been held since 1996. I felt it important that this particular event received recognition in Shooting Times. I enjoyed my two days at Swinton and wrote what I thought to be an honest and fair report. To ensure that I didn’t make any howlers, I checked what I had written with Rory Major before publication. No handler has qualified more times for this championship than…

WESTLEY RICHARDS This small label comes from a case containing two percussion pocket pistols. It carries the Royal Warrant for William IV and the address “170 New Bond Street, London”. Though the manufacturing facility was in Birmingham, Westley Richards had a well-established presence in London, with its renowned agent, William Bishop, in charge there. There is no doubt that the London agency helped to secure orders from the gentlemen and aristocracy who frequented the capital. Very much of its time, this rather naive but nicely styled ink drawing, with its florid lettering, is quite rare. William reigned for only seven years, between 1830 and 1837.…

THOUGHTS FROM THE FIELD St Hubert’s Day falls on 3 November. Little is known about the early life of the Belgian who was to become the patron saint of hunting. Legend has it that Hubert skived off on Good Friday, preferring a day’s stag hunting over lengthy prayers and contemplation. Imagine his surprise when the stag he brought to bay appeared to bear the image of Christ on a blazing cross between his antlers. Unsurprisingly, the young aristocrat took to a life of prayer, becoming the first bishop of Liège. St Hubert continues to be held in high esteem in Belgium, France and Germany, being associated with regard for your quarry. In some churches in Britain, hounds and horses receive a blessing on the Sunday closest to 3 November. This…

The use of Britain’s environmental law to attack shooting looks set to remain a major tool of campaigners, despite Wild Justice suffering another embarrassing courtroom defeat. Last week, the campaign group, whose multiple failed legal actions have cost the taxpayer tens of thousands of pounds, said it will appeal a ruling that dismissed its challenge to the muirburn regulations in England. The case was dismissed as ‘not arguable’ on any of its grounds by a High Court judge. However, undaunted by the almost total absence of any possibility of success, Wild Justice has announced that it has applied for the case to be ‘renewed’. This is similar to appealing a court’s decision and would need the first judge to be shown to have made an error in how he interpreted…

DOG Check your dog’s paws after a wet day out. Wet weather can cause a range of problems for dogs, and paws are one of the most commonly affected areas. Checking for inflammation, cuts, mats or build-up of material can prevent more serious problems. AIRGUNNING Rediscover the joy of the air rifle. With the leaves coming off the trees, now is the time to use the stealthy and deadly air rifle to reduce populations of pest birds in line with the general licences. You may even pick up a grey squirrel while you are at it.…

The RSPB has been accused of selectively reporting facts following the publication of its latest Birdcrime report. The annual report has been a key campaigning tool for the charity in recent years as it has shifted towards an increasingly anti-shooting stance. This year’s report, which closes with an appeal to donate “just £3 a month”, claimed that 2020 had been the worst ever year for bird crime in England. It focused on bird of prey persecution, particularly those incidents that could be linked to shooting. Responding to the report, Glynn Evans, BASC’s head of game and gundogs, said: “BASC has a zero-tolerance attitude towards raptor persecution, condemning all forms of illegal behaviour. “The figures presented by the RSPB provide for damaging headlines but do not tell the whole story. Population…

When the BBC wanted a dark and mysterious setting for Great Expectations, it chose Tollesbury Wick Marshes. When ITV needed a shadowy and disorientating backdrop for the thriller Liar, it too chose Tollesbury. In Apple TV’s Essex Serpent, Tom Hiddleston walked through smoke with blood on his face against the backdrop of... yes, you’ve guessed it. There’s something about this coastal corner of Essex that directors obviously love. Infinite skies meet limitless seas. Apparently endless marshes blend into the huge fields of dark plough. Frets and sea mists abound. You can see why it works so well as a setting for fiction. No one could be a better-qualified guide to this evocative area than Clive Houlding. As secretary of the local wildfowling club, he was influential in securing the purchase…

While shooting in the field I often change my kit around, trying out new gadgets and gizmos. Yet, perhaps the most consistent and long-standing item, and one I am reluctant to change, is my old leather gun slip. It’s been with me for years and, despite the abuse it has had, it has protected my guns perfectly. I’ve even trusted it with my test guns, some of which were eye-wateringly expensive. My slip was quite pricey, and represented something of an investment when I bought it, but I believe in the saying ‘buy cheap, buy twice’. That said, a gun slip is essentially just something we need to transport our guns safely, securely and discreetly, so a cheap-and-cheerful one can suffice. Fellow Shooting Times contributor Tom Payne believes a good…

Over the years, I have written many thousands of words regarding my pursuit of the rabbit. In my youth, I trudged the hedgerows of rural Kent with my grandfather carrying a couple of ferrets in an old hessian sack. I learned to read the signs of an active burrow and how to set the handmade hemp purse-nets. In later life, I continued my passion for ferreting, but instead of my grandfather for company, I was joined by a couple of collie-cross lurchers, Midge and Tilly. These two canine rabbit-catchers gave me my first glimpse of how exciting working in partnership with a dog could be. Fast forward 40 years and I find myself once again heading north up the M6 in my quest to bag a few rabbits in one…

With harvest more or less wrapped up for the year on my patch, the annual exodus of rats is now under way as the rodents leave the barren fields in search of new feeding grounds. On one of my local farms, this sudden influx created a great opportunity to put the NiteVizor VP200 XTR night-vision add-on through its paces. Shooters have embraced digital infrared optics over the past few years. As well as offering impressive performance at a sensible price, the VP200 adds an extra degree of versatility to the mix because it connects to a conventional telescopic sight to convert it to night vision. Apart from saving you from constantly having to swap optics or splashing out on a separate gun to pair with an infrared sight, add-ons enable…

For many, 2021 started busy and has only become busier. With so much catching up to be done with friends and family, suddenly November was rapidly approaching. We are back to starting and ending the day in the dark and finding the time to catch fish has become a challenge. However, I seized an opportunity to catch a bass one morning, before watching two great mates marry after a year of postponements. I was on the south coast again and tackling an estuary that I have often unsuccessfully fished for mullet. In previous trips, I have ventured out with a few friends and between us we have scoured the coastline in search of activity. A bass has often been the fish that has saved a blank session. So with a…

It is hard to believe that we are more than halfway through autumn hunting and our opening meet is less than a month away. There has been a distinct improvement in scenting conditions during October and hounds have enjoyed some busy mornings of late. The laying of trails for a day’s hunting takes a lot of organisation, and quite a bit of thought is required to make sure you use the country you have available to best effect. We have a number of options with regards to how the trails are laid. Mostly they are laid from horseback or on foot, but we also have the ability for them to be laid from a quad. Mostly in the autumn, we are out early in the morning for a few hours,…

Why use a red light filter? LAMPING Q Why do people use red filters on lamps? What’s the advantage? I feel it limits the distance that you can see. A It’s thought that rabbits and foxes are less easily spooked by a red light than a white one and many people (including me) agree that it is easier to see an animal’s eyeshine with a red-filtered lamp. Due to the fact you’re adding a filter in front of a lamp, you will indeed reduce the lamp’s power. However, these days, more and more shooters have gone over to high-power LED torches. The advantage here is that the diodes inside are coloured, so each colour is as bright as the other. You can also get a very tightly directed beam with…

Latin name: Chelidonium majus Common name: Greater celandine Other names: Rock poppy, cock’s foot, kenningwort, sightwort, swallow wort, tetterwort, wartwort, devil’s water How to spot it and where to find it: Greater celandine is a lanky plant of woodland rides, hedgerows, roadsides and waste ground. It has strongly lobed greyish-green leaves and bright, custard-yellow flowers that measure up to 1in across. They have four distinct petals that do not overlap. It flowers from April to the end of October, after which it displays long, narrow seed pods. Interesting facts: Greater celandine is a member of the poppy family (Papaveraceae), so is not related to the similarly named lesser celandine, which is a member of the buttercup family (Ranunculaceae). It has long been used in medicines, with its distinctive orange sap…

Laboratory research does not always match real-world conditions. Sometimes, the disparity is due to a small yet significant factor that the researchers failed to include in their modelling. Something like this has just been revealed in the field of shotgun ballistics. A new piece of science has blown apart the myth that steel shot must be inferior to lead. The fact that most shooters couldn’t tell the difference between an appropriate steel load and lead was shown in a huge piece of fieldwork carried out a few years ago in Texas (of which more later). But this more recent research suggests a reason why steel performs as well as lead in practice, despite the latter having greater density. The new study was commissioned and funded by BASC, but conducted by…

The Home Office has changed its statutory guidance on firearms licensing. Media reporting has connected the change to the Plymouth shootings; however, Shooting Times understands that these changes have been planned for some time. The most important change for most certificate holders is that every firearm certificate application will now have to include a medical declaration verified by a medical practitioner. Importantly, the practitioner does not have to be the applicant’s own GP, and a number of specialist services are now available where an applicant can pay a charge of around £60 for a doctor to review their medical records and sign the declaration. Under the new guidance, social media accounts will not regularly be checked and enhanced measures, such as scrutinising Facebook and Twitter, should only be used where…

The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust (GWT) and a local moorland group have encouraged keepers and deerstalkers to seek help if they are struggling with their mental health. The appeal came as family and friends prepared for the funeral of a Perthshire man whose body was found in woodland near Comrie in Perthshire. Andrew Eadington, who was only 26, worked as a deerstalker and volunteered for Killin Mountain Rescue Team. Alice Bugden of the Tayside and Central Scotland Moorland Group said: “Andrew’s death is a tragic loss that will be felt throughout our community.” Andrew’s colleagues at Killin Mountain Rescue Team also paid tribute, saying: “We were all devastated and stunned to learn of Andrew’s sudden passing. Known to us all affectionately as ‘Dochy’, we have lost not just a committed team…

Illegal duck hunters caught red-handed Four Belgian men are facing court after being charged with releasing ducks for shooting. The four residents of Antwerp are alleged to have bought 1,000 young ducks from a dealer and to have released 500 of them on a private hunting estate. Releasing birds for shooting is not allowed in Belgium, and in 2019 the same men were given a formal warning by the Nature Inspectorate after they were caught releasing pheasants. Woodcock wait for November full moon Woodcock appear to be holding off until the November full moon before they make their migration flights to the UK. All the GWCT’s tracked birds were sitting tight in Russia and Scandinavia and sightings from coastal observatories were still few and far between at the time of…

The Home Office reported this year that there are almost 1.4 million legally held shotguns and 600,000 other legally held firearms, which are mostly Section 1 rifles, in the UK. Of those, 5,000 have been reported stolen since 2011 — that is 500 thefts a year on average. Firearms used in crime tend not to be stolen sporting guns. The fashion among criminals is to convert replica pistols to fire live ammunition. Customs officers have seized more than 500 such conversions at the border since 2018. The police, however, take firearms security very seriously and your licence stipulates the measures you must take to prevent them getting into the wrong hands. Rare as it is, targeted burglary of firearms is a crime and it does sometimes happen. In 2019, a…

No matter what hobby or sport you participate in, there are always new products coming to the marketplace. Some bits of kit are gimmicks but others are genuinely innovative and enhance your capabilities. When I started in the deer management industry in the late 1990s, sound moderators were just coming in, bringing many benefits to both the shooter and the quarry. One notable impact was that it reduced the herding of deer, which happened when they heard the shot and panicked. Since then, I can think of only two changes in stalking equipment that have really improved what we do. The first is the development of modern shooting sticks, from a single hazel pole, to twin sticks, to tripods and eventually over the past few years, stalkers have taken to…

When I was in my late teens I was an enthusiastic rough shooter, but I was also a dogless Gun. My principal quarry species were woodpigeons and the occasional rabbit, the latter usually shot sitting after a careful stalk. I would have liked a dog, but I didn’t really think I needed one until I shot my first pheasant. Bagging a pheasant was a huge prize, but though my pheasant dropped smartly to my shot, it was clearly a runner and it had fallen in a jungle of brambles. More than half a century later, I can still recall my panic. I desperately needed a dog, but as I hadn’t got one there was nothing else to do but to retrieve the bird myself. Twenty minutes later, scratched and bleeding,…

The shooting season is now in full swing here and we have just started on the pheasants. The weather has finally turned a bit colder and the dogs are settling into their working and trialling routine well. Keepa has made a great start to his trialling season with a win in an all-aged stake, a fourth in a tough open two-day trial and a further win in a one-day open trial, qualifying him for the Irish Retriever Championship. I now have seven weeks to prepare him as much as possible. The ground in Ireland is tough. It was awful to walk on, let alone hunt and find game in. Though I was thrilled with Keepa’s performance over the three days, it did highlight some areas that need tightening up. One…

This article will appear shortly after our first High Park shoot. I will, of course, let you know how we get on. Meanwhile, the generally pleasant routine of pheasant care goes on. Horsefield, by the way, is looking distinctly nervous. This may be partly because, as last year, I have told him that his job is on the line and that if he doesn’t produce the goods on the day, I shall be looking for someone else to help me with the running of High Park. I cannot, of course, expect Horsefield to guarantee suitable weather for the occasion. So I am besieging the weather gods with prayers for a cool, dry day with a breeze fresh enough to help first-time flyers on their way. Ideally, I would like a…

FINDING SUITABLE ground for the HPR Championship is far from easy. To be tested satisfactorily, the continental breeds require plenty of open ground, varied terrain and, ideally, a variety of quarry species. To appraise a working HPR, judges need to see the dog range and hunt, so you don’t want too plentiful a supply of game. However, you do want sufficient numbers for most of the competitors to be given the chance to both point and retrieve. In recent years, the Swinton Park Estate, near Ripon, has provided the near-perfect venue. It was held there in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 and, most recently, in 2019. Its popularity is easily explained. The ground is ideal, with everything from open moorland to small woods and rough ground. It is also close to…

The story of National Car Parks is now one of the City’s fairy-tale legends. After five years in the Navy, Sir Donald Gosling was working as a trainee surveyor with Westminster City Council in 1949, when 24-year-old Ronald Hobson called to see him. Hobson had conceived the idea of clearing away the rubbish from a bombed site in Holborn and using it as a car park, but needed planning permission. Gosling told him how to get it. The two became friends and soon after formed a partnership, which still flourishes after 30 years. They had £200 between them but, after a slow start, were looking for more bombed sites. Now with net assets of £30 million, National Car Parks has 600 parks in Britain, manages more in Europe and is…

This is an all-round lure that can be very effective for reservoir trout at this time of the year. Fished on a floating, intermediate or fast-sinking line with a variety of retrieve styles and rates, it will still catch fish. One good alternative is to fish using the washing line method, with a buoyant fly on the point and a cormorant, and perhaps a buzzer, on the dropper. It can be used as a lure or nymph, stripped back on a sinking line. Overall, it is a very versatile fly.…