Innholdsfortegnelse for 19-Jan-2022 i Shooting Times & Country

Gamekeepers, farmers and other land managers are being asked to take part in the GWCT’s Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC), which runs from 4 to 20 February. “Gamekeepers and farmers are vital in helping to ensure the survival of many of our cherished farmland bird species such as skylark, yellowhammer, corn buntings and wild grey partridges,” said the GWCT’s Dr Roger Draycott, who runs the count. In 2021, 2,500 counts were completed — the largest total yet. The BFBC has been running since 2014 and has become one of the most important sources of data on the country’s farmland bird populations. “Now we are challenging the UK’s land managers to beat their own record and make 2022’s count bigger than ever,” added Dr Draycott. To take part in this year’s…

The failure of a Bill intended to end foxhunting in Northern Ireland has not stopped campaigners from attacking the sport. Without legislative options, they have turned to gesture politics, with a motion to ban hunting mammals with dogs approved at a virtual meeting of Belfast City Council. The motion, which was brought forward by Alliance councillor Peter McReynolds, noted: “disappointment at the lack of legislative progression on banning the hunting of mammals with dogs in the Northern Ireland Assembly” and described the use of hounds as a “barbaric practice”. It was carried with support from UUP, SDLP, Green Party, PBP, PUP and some DUP councillors. Sinn Fein and some DUP councillors voted against it. Belfast City Council has no power to regulate hunting. Meanwhile, a fresh attempt to bring a…

When I was growing up, we had a string of badly behaved golden retrievers. First came Tilly, who died before her time after consuming a whole crab on Mothecombe beach in Devon. Then came Lottie, who was a wonderful pet but terribly gun-shy and would pointblank refuse to come out shooting. Finally, we had Tess, a strong-willed dog who relied heavily on her instincts to do exactly as she pleased on a shooting field. In fairness to her, she was mostly on the money and would often retrieve things that other dogs had passed over. The fact that she would take game back to the nearest person to her, rather than to her owner, seemed mostly by the by. Diligent The enjoyment I had from those three dogs was largely…

The phrase ‘practice makes perfect’ is never truer than when referring to shooting. Shotgun owners are no strangers to practice, perhaps due to the easy access to clay grounds, cheaper loads — when compared with the cost of rifle ammunition — and the potential of a social round of clays during the close season. But no two shots are ever the same, whether its deer or foxes, so we owe it to our quarry to challenge our abilities in practice, in order to improve our skills in the field. With a rifle, a small error in technique at closer range can be negligible. At longer ranges these errors are magnified, as are any environmental factors such as wind deflection. A great way to test your abilities in field conditions is…

Fine dining for dogs? You’ve got to be joking. I’m not, having read a number of recent newspaper reports about gourmet food for dogs. How about buffalo lungs, sourced from free-range, grass-fed water buffalo, air-dried to produce the perfect high-quality dog treat? At £3.99 a pack, they don’t sound too expensive, but the bag only holds a mere 130g of lungs, so that works out at more than £25 a kilo. You could buy seven 225g rump steaks for the same outlay. However, you have to admire the entrepreneur who manages to turn a waste product into a premium food and sell it at a premium price. The buffalo lungs are marketed by a company called Canine Caviar, founded in California in 1996 and now selling its products in no…

The season is racing to a close and, while the last few days can be hard work, I do tend to find them more enjoyable. Here at home, we have started closing down some of the drives. By closing them down, I mean we have stopped feeding them and taken the feeders and drinkers away. Pheasants and partridges are very mobile during the shooting season. While it would be nice to think that the birds in a particular drive are loyal to that drive and that drive only, nothing could be further from the truth. Over the course of the past few weeks, they will have fed in any number of different drives and moved about at will. You have only got to follow the travels of a marker bird,…

I was reading a biography of Jack O’Connor — in his day, America’s leading authority on rifle hunting — when I read something that made me sit up: “O’Connor killed more deer of various kinds than any other species of big-game animal. By his own estimate, he took more than 100 deer in his life.” Have you got that? The great Jack O’Connor, author of 15 books on hunting and more than 1,000 articles, shot barely more than 100 deer in a hunting career that spanned 50 years. That’s fewer than some recreational stalkers in the UK shoot in just a few seasons. And let’s not even talk about the numbers racked up by professional deer managers. Some of our stalkers engaged in forestry protection probably exceed O’Connor’s lifetime total…

The firearms licensing system appears to be on the point of breakdown as Covidrelated disruption and changes to guidance create chaos in police firearms licensing teams. Late last year, North Yorkshire Police announced it would not accept new firearm and shotgun certificate applications and instead will focus exclusively on renewals. At the time of writing, Thames Valley, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Hampshire Police have adopted the same policy. A number of other forces appear to be informally operating on the same basis, with readers from several different areas reporting that their applications were not being processed by their local force. “This is a failure to discharge the police’s statutory duty” One newly appointed land manager told Shooting Times that their application for firearms and shotgun certificates for use in…

SHOOT The end of the wildfowling season is often the best time to bag a white-fronted goose. They are normally the last of the migratory geese to show up, arriving when hard weather hits Europe in the late winter. The UK has two different white-fronted goose populations, one of which is protected, so you must ensure you are shooting in an area where no ban nor voluntary moratorium is in place. RATTING Dust off that spring-action air rifle, dig out a tin of pellets and go on rat patrol. Shooting rats around buildings is best done with a low-power airgun to minimise risks. And with colder weather having knocked down most of the cover, now is your best chance of spotting a roaming rodent.…

A devastating outbreak of avian influenza among geese on the Solway Firth appears to be levelling off. The disease has killed between 3,000 and 4,000 barnacle geese in the past year. The Solway Firth provides wintering grounds for the entire Svalbard barnacle goose population from Norway and as many as 10% of the birds are feared dead. Barnacle geese are not lawful quarry in the UK, however, wildfowlers had expressed concern both for the barnacle geese and over the risk of the disease reaching the greylag and pink-foot populations. Greylags, pinkfeet and Canadas have all been found dead from the disease and in December a white-tailed eagle died after eating infected geese. However, there have been no other outbreaks on this scale reported. A local wildfowler told Shooting Times: “I…

The article about a garden village proposed on Hall Farm, Arborfield, Berkshire (News, 15 December 2021) has left me feeling very angry and sad. As the shoot was cancelled by the League Against Cruel Sports, why is it not out there protesting against the 4,000-plus houses plan that will destroy wildlife, including fish, not to mention the dairy research being destroyed along with ancient pathways and ancient oak trees? But I suppose as long as the 4,000 homeowners put their rubbish in the right bin and drive an eco-friendly car and use eco-friendly light bulbs, there is nothing to worry about. Especially if they also plant a twig! When will this stop? Our countryside is destroyed and they continue to take away what small piece of green land we have…

“We call them grey ghosts.” The words of Tommy Mayne, director of BASC for Northern Ireland and our host and guide, rang in my ears as we headed out on our first stalk in search of sika. My friend, Giles Sturges, and I had spent the previous two days shooting driven woodcock at Baronscourt in County Tyrone. Five of our team of seven Guns were heading home but Giles and I had stayed on, having been given the chance to stalk sika on the estate. These enigmatic Japanese imports were introduced into Ireland by Lord Powerscourt in 1860 at his estate in County Wicklow. Thirty years later, sika had been gifted to the deer park at Baronscourt in County Tyrone. It is believed that in the 1920s all the deer…

Imagine your perfect driven shooting day — a cheerful host, good hospitality, abundant birds passing over or across your peg, perhaps a faithful hound sitting meekly at heel, attentive to your every command, and, of course, you dropping the birds with a skill that makes your companions gasp. But what about the weather? The classic shooting day would be cool, overcast and breezy. But why are these the most sought-after shooting conditions? Are they really what makes the birds perform best or are they simply what we have all been taught to want? Gamekeeper Steven Fairclough is very much of that persuasion. He described his ideal shooting day as: “Rain the day before and through the night until about nine o’clock the next morning, then overcast with about 15 to…

As the nursery rhyme warned us in our childhood: ‘The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow.’ And, while that remains true for the North and Scotland, down in the South, those gusts are usually laden with rain and sleet, a true test for all those pricey shooting coats. Fortunately, I possess one that is genuinely waterproof and I blessed the makers as I negotiated the Suzuki Jimny through the instant ponds that had appeared on the minor road to a nearby farm shoot. It was a helluva day to be outdoors. A lively storm was hurtling down from the North Atlantic, bringing weather warnings and flash floods, and leaving fallen trees in its wake. More sensible souls were huddled inside watching the rugby, but if you can’t…

OUR VERDICT The Vanguard range from Weatherby rifles was born from the need to produce an affordable version of Roy Weatherby’s Mark V actioned magnum rifle. Howa from Japan was assigned to manufacture the new Vanguard action, and it continues to be an utterly reliable and accurate rifle in its own right today. Often seen as a poor man’s Weatherby, it is actually no such thing. This Vanguard action adorns a whole range of rifles in the Weatherby range and they all come with a sub-MOA — less than 1in at 100 yards — accuracy guarantee. “Clearly American, it has a classic Monte Carlo stock design” This new High Country incarnation is clearly American with its classic Monte Carlo stock design of new polymer construction to cope with any weather.…

Stuart Dent is a busy man and I get the impression that he’d have it no other way. His “always plenty to be cracking on with” might be an understatement on his part, but when was the last time you came across a keeper seeking praise for their efforts? They simply get on with it. The results of Stuart’s endeavours are worthy of recognition, however, and then some. In the spring of 2010, after seven years working up the road with his elder brother on the Coverhead estate, Stuart took on a single-handed role at the now-revered Howesyke shoot in Bishopdale, North Yorkshire. Six months earlier, Helen and Rob Brown had bought the 1,200-acre Howesyke Farm and they had big plans. Stuart described it as a blank canvas — a…

This paper-and-ink printed label contains a lot of information. Beesley, a Purdey employee, left that firm in 1878 and set up his own business a year later. This address, 2 St James’s Street, was his last and was occupied from 1891 until 1939. Beesley died in 1928. This label comes from a pair of guns, proof-tested for blackpowder, noted as ‘EC No 3’, and a charge of 33-gr and regulated for 1oz of No 6 shot. Rather than noting choke in constrictions, he records the pellets in the 30-yard pattern at 145 for both barrels. This comes from a time when guns were made, regulated and tested to shoot as the customer instructed and cartridges made to the specification regulated for. Beesley also notes his Prince of Wales Royal Warrant…

The Government has comprehensively rejected a petition calling for a ban on the shooting of ‘critically endangered woodcocks [sic]’. The petition — which was heavily promoted by birdwatching groups and anti-shooting campaigners — had attracted nearly 15,000 signatures as we went to press. Woodcock are listed by the IUCN as of least concern. This means they are ‘widespread and abundant’ rather than at ‘extremely high risk of extinction’as the petition’s author claimed. Breeding woodcock have declined in the UK but the overwhelming majority of birds are migrants and numbers of winter visitors remain very strong. Responding to the petition, a Defra spokesman said: “Recent population trends for woodcock are likely to be influenced by the extent and quality of habitat rather than shooting. There are no plans for a ban.”…

“When managed properly, fire can be good — both for maintaining biodiversity and for carbon storage,” says expert Adam Pellegrini of the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences. The claim that controlled burning is harmful and causes damaging releases of carbon dioxide has been used increasingly to criticise traditional upland management, especially muirburn on grouse moors. However, an authoritative study has demonstrated that fire can boost the amount of carbon locked up in soil. Dr Pellegrini, the study’s lead author, explained: “Ecosystems can store huge amounts of carbon when the frequency and intensity of fires is just right. It’s all about the balance of carbon going into soils from dead plant biomass, and carbon going out of soils from decomposition, erosion and leaching,” If fires are frequent or intense,…

As I sat low in the hide, the midwinter light began to fade and the thick evening mist settled. I was waiting for teal. The trees surrounding the flightpond were silhouetted against a forbidding sky. Gloomy, yet with the light of the full moon I could see about 100 yards. Soon in the darkness I saw a pair circle the pond. As they set their wings, I rose and fired twice. Too quickly, too far behind. They made off, disappearing above me. For 40 minutes, nothing came, so I sat and reflected on my first season in what I believe might be the perfect syndicate. The modern syndicate is the foundation and nucleus of the sport today. During the post-war period there was a boom in the uptake of group…

A topic that is not often discussed but should be is how to minimise the chance of wounding a deer. The main causes of wounding — or a miss, for that matter — will usually result from one or more of the following: shooting at a target that is too far away or one that is not presenting correctly — fully broadside and standing still — using inappropriate ammunition for your quarry; or insufficient time spent practising with your rifle on the range. Good fieldcraft allows a close approach to deer, gives you time to set the shot correctly and to wait until the deer is in a perfect position before gently squeezing the trigger. Snatching the trigger is another cause of a potentially misplaced round. When you start to…

Like many, I follow various pages and groups on social media and I always find it interesting to read about other people’s training experiences and suggestions. Occasionally, you come across some inspired idea or innovative technique that can be used. It also gives me a really good idea of what the vast majority of gundog owners struggle with day-to-day. This means I am able to plan these problem solvers into lessons and attempt to find constructive, yet simple, ways to help. It did strike me not long ago, however, how many people talk about their dog’s ‘teenage’ stage or phase. The rule of thumb is that there are seven dog years to every human one. This would mean that at around 1½ years old the dog would enter the equivalent…

WE ARE ALL familiar with sprockers, cockapoos and labradoodles, but what do you call a cross between a labrador and a golden retriever? A golden labrador? It’s a valid question, because a cross between these two closely related breeds makes a lot of sense and has the potential to produce an outstanding gundog. It’s hardly a new cross, as the Guide Dogs charity has crossed the breeds for many years as part of its breeding programme, saying “the golden retriever crossed with the labrador has produced the most successful guide dog of all, combining many of the great traits of both breeds”. From a working gundog perspective, there’s not a great deal of difference in the way a golden retriever works compared with a labrador. Enthusiasts will tell you that…

A sudden flurry of snow came swirling over the high bank of the river as we counted out the bag of chub and weighed the best fish of the day. The Swale had again lived up to its reputation as a good ‘back end’ river for chub, and I knew the farmer whose waters we had been fishing would be delighted with the result. Sure enough, he appeared at the door of the farmhouse as we stowed the tackle away in the car, and a broad grin lit up his face as we confirmed his predictions of the morning that the chub would be found in the deep, fast glide under the willows on the bend. “Fresh pot o’ tea on’t hob for thee, lads,” he said, and into the…

How to stop a dog chewing GUNDOGS Q I am having a problem with my 14-month-old spaniel. He seems to love to retrieve, but chews hard on everything. He has chews in the house, but I had to take toys off him because he was destroying them too quickly. I always wanted to work him, but now think that might not be an option. A Chewing is something that is totally individual to the dog. In a similar way to babies, some cruise through the teething stage with no problems, but others suffer badly. Some dogs chew incessantly from day one and can continue chewing well into their second year, but others never do it. I have had both types and everything in between. The safest and most appropriate approach…

THOUGHTS FROM THE FIELD Daniel Lambert was one of Leicester’s finest sons. Born in 1770, he had a varied career as a gaoler, bloodstock agent and breeder of otterhounds, greyhounds and fighting cocks. But he is best known for his role as a public exhibit. In 1806, at 50st, Lambert was declared the world’s heaviest man. Georgian society was fascinated by him, paying for the privilege of an hour in his company. He was no idle slob, however. He is known to have come out on top in a fight with a bear and undertook various acts of strength and endurance, for a small remuneration. When he died aged 39, he weighed more than 52st; 20 pallbearers were required to carry his coffin. There were two pubs named in his…