Innholdsfortegnelse for 22-Jun-2022 i Shooting Times & Country

Three Yorkshire estates have won Redlist Revival’s Life on Land Awards, which are given to landholdings that exceed the top 1% in the UK for abundance of a key species. Swinton was one of the country’s best performers for hen harriers, Egton for lapwings and Coverhead for black grouse. Swinton also ranks in the top 10% nationally for curlew numbers; Egton is in the top 1% for curlew and Coverhead is in the top 1% for both curlew and lapwings. Mark Cunliffe-Lister of Swinton Estate and chairman of the Moorland Association, said: “We are delighted to see recognition of the work undertaken by estates to help rare birds to survive and thrive. These success stories are underpinned by many years of work and investment by the estates themselves and fostering…

Hunters in the Baltic states are preparing to use their skills to resist a potential Russian invasion. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania all boast relatively high percentages of hunters, as well as large areas of wild land and forests, which they know well. In Ukraine, local hunters have reportedly taken part in ambushes of Russian troops alongside Ukraine’s army and civil defence forces during the defence of Kyiv. Now Estonian and Latvian hunters have told Shooting Times that they too are preparing to be part of the resistance to potential Russian invasion. One teenage Estonian hunter described joining the Young Eagles of Estonia, a paramilitary youth organisation, so he could use his hunting skills in the country’s defence. And a Latvian woman — whom Shooting Times has decided not to name…

RESCUE DOGS FOR OLDER SHOOTERS I read David Tomlinson’s recent article with interest (Puppies and pensioners, 11 May) and thought I would share some of my experiences, which may benefit David’s correspondent Margaret and others. Having tragically lost a young dog a few years ago and desperate for a replacement, we made many phone calls. Word of mouth brought me into contact with an acquaintance who had retired a field trial labrador, which we took on. This proved a good partnership for everyone and I was able to work the dog, which is what his previous owner wanted. Since then I have taken on two older retired FTCh dogs from the same kennel and worked them too. With our involvement with a gundog training group we met a representative of…

The rat in the living room was the final straw. I will put up with a lot, but I will not put up with a rat in my living room. The ridiculous rat saga began with a neighbour’s desire to have his own eggs. When rats moved in below the hen house, he refused to poison them in case the hens ate the poison. Eventually, the rats got too much and he tore the hen house down to get rid of them. However, rats do not evaporate, nor do they pack their things and take the bus. They find the next available set of holes and move right in. Those holes were under our oil tank and, once they got settled in and unpacked, they rapidly found the course of…

Bismuth is suited to all older guns, if in cases shorter than 70mm. Try Gamebore Bismuth at around £1.20 per shot. BioAmmo Blue (above) will soon be available in 65mm and is suited to older British guns at around 55p per shot. Steel Standard steel loads can be used in guns proofed after 1954 with chokes of a quarter or less. Check case length — 70mm cases can only be used in chambers marked 23/4in or 3in. For 2½in chambers, use 65mm, 67mm or 67.5mm loads. If the gun has been sleeved and reproofed for 70mm cases, steel is fine.…

I sat on the patio enjoying my coffee. In the background, from my revamped hutches, the squeaks and squeals pierced through the birdsong. My two ferrets, Merrin and Sandy, had given birth to what will hopefully become the next generation of my grafters. Due to a few ferrety bereavements, I have been left with a smaller, more mature squad than I would have liked. I have therefore imposed a lot of pressure on myself to mix in some more quality. My ferrets don’t understand this, of course, they simply do what they are bred to do. Over the decades I have learned a lot, especially from Bob Merrin. He is a staunch advocate of whatever animal you are breeding from, whatever line you wish to continue, the whole aim is…

I ENJOYED THE ID.4 GTX and I’d say my opinion of electric cars has changed in a positive way. I was pleasantly surprised by the 300-mile range, which was pretty accurate. I drove it all week and didn’t have to plug it in. The ID.4 GTX Max is a fully loaded, high-end SUV that thinks it’s a hot hatch, and it’s not bad off-road. It’s not quite ready to compete with the established pickups in that arena, but it’s a good effort. On the road, it is £56,565, but the level of tech and trim does come at a premium. NEED TO KNOW Manufacturer Volkswagen Model ID.4 GTX Max Battery Lithium-ion total capacity 82kw Useable 77kw Power Front motor 109HP/ 162Nm Rear motor 204HP/ 310Nm Combined 299HP/ 460Nm 0-60 5.9…

May mornings are magical almost anywhere. They come close to perfection during the first hour or so after dawn when the sky is clear, a turtle dove is croodling somewhere not very far away and roe deer are grazing in the meadow while humanity is enjoying its customary Sunday morning lie-in. There is an especially piquant pleasure in roe stalking when London is barely out of sight beyond the treetops of the encircling woods, and when the slumbering humanity in the cottages round about are of the kind from whom crowded commuter trains exact a daily penance. All pleasures have to be paid for in one way or another; a 4.30am start is a bit of a shock but when it comes to fieldsports, a dawn rise is often part…

There is a lot of scope here OPTICS Q I am looking for a scope that I can use on my Tikka T1X rifle in .17 HMR for rabbits and occasional foxes where I can alter the aim point quickly for different ranges. Any ideas? A One scope comes to mind, which is the Meopta Optika6 MeoPro 4.5-27x50mm. Made in the Czech Republic, Meopta has good lenses that boast edge-to-edge clarity, with great definition at all magnifications and a generous eye relief at 3.94in. The light transmission is also impressive. Rabbits on a wet, dark autumn evening will prove no problem. Meopta quotes a light transmission of 91% during daylight and 88% in twilight conditions. This is because Optika6 rifle scopes come with Meopta’s own MeoBright lens coatings. You also…

The mass destruction of hounds, harm to foxes and enormous damage to wildlife and biodiversity are the most likely outcomes of proposed changes to the law on using dogs to control wild animals in Scotland (News, 9 March). The warnings of serious unintended consequences of the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill — which is to replace the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 — came in submissions to the Scottish parliament’s rural affairs, islands and natural environment committee, which is shortly to begin scrutinising the legislation. “We rely on the footpack to flush the fox from woodland” Among those slamming the proposals was Strathspey Estates headkeeper Ewan Archer. Strathspey is home to a nationally significant population of capercaillie, which experts predict will be extinct in Scotland in 20 years,…

After a year of tragedy in the gamekeeping and shooting community, a programme to support keepers and their families is to expand. In the past 12 months, two gamekeepers have killed themselves and another was killed accidentally. There was also the tragic death of a beater on a shoot (News, 26 January). The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust (GWT) is to train a network of volunteers to support those going through trauma. The Raising the Game programme is a partnership of shooting and gamekeeping bodies led by the GWT, which offers a package of support including, among other things, a mentoring service, a focus group supporting promotion at grassroots level, and Jamie’s Helpline, which is free, confidential and available 24/7. It also includes the STAG and HIND courses, which focus on leadership,…

A flock of at least 200 pigeons and around 30 jackdaws lifted from the peas on a shower-swept, blustery June morning. A faulty gas-gun and wind-torn bird-scarers were evidently not doing their jobs. Human intervention was required. Numbers had built quickly. A few were feeding hard on the lower 12 acres near to the estuary where the crop grew thickest. But the majority rose and fell like clouds over the higher, larger portion of the field. One patch of crop in particular, under the umbrella of an ancient oak on the eastern edge, was badly damaged. Ragged ends and bald stems showed that the greedy grey hordes were gorging themselves at my expense. Birds scattered into trees around the periphery of the farm and watched my progress as I constructed…

As I set an early alarm to catch the lowest possible tide of the week, the house was being battered by a torrential rainstorm and my outlook for the morning was bleak. I had organised myself with crab creel and a fresh rabbit for bait. All I needed to do was prise my eyes open and trundle the van the 15 minutes to the hunting grounds. I wasn’t looking forward to getting cold and wet staggering over the rocks, but I still had that tingle of anticipation. I need not have worried because I stepped from the dim porch the following morning into blazing sunshine. Scotland had done it again, whipped out the big guns at a moment’s notice to entirely change the face of the day. Mist was rising…

£10,000 For this, a superb sidelock ejector by most London makers, made before World War II, should be within reach. If you want a Purdey or a Boss, it won’t be mint but it should still be very nice. £7,000 A Best sidelock ejector by a top Birmingham or provincial maker, in immaculate condition. £5,000 The best boxlock in the best condition, cased with all its accessories. Or a sleeved Best London sidelock. £3,000 A second-tier, second-quality sidelock or a very good boxlock. £1,500 A good-quality boxlock in full working order with good wall thickness. £650 A post-war Birmingham boxlock or a good but well-used earlier one. Under £500 A very serviceable, if well-used, boxlock that has been well repaired and looked after.…

In 1988, I visited a farm shoot in Kent where the prime drives had been wiped out by the Great Storm that had ravaged the countryside in October of the previous year. The enterprising syndicate had sited clay pigeon traps among the stumps so as to recreate, as far as possible, their favourite pegs. It was a clever idea and it was tremendous fun — I enjoyed it then and I enjoy it now. But, as with so many things, I believe it is better undertaken in moderation. Except that, as with every clever idea, there is always someone who decides to do it bigger and better. So what was a simulation of an exciting pheasant drive, for example, is now a representation of the most intense pheasant drive ever…

THOUGHTS FROM THE FIELD There is a fascinating travelogue in the British Film Institute archive made in 1922 by George Woods-Taylor. It documents Edward, Prince of Wales’s state visit to India and Burma. The future Edward VIII, born 128 years ago tomorrow, was an avid country sportsman. The Prince, who was 28 at the time, is seen watching dancing girls and taking the salute from numerous regiments. Rarer still is the footage of him participating in a Nepalese tiger hunt, with 700 elephants drafted in to act as both gun bus and beaters. The camera work is shaky at one point as the elephant was fractious due to the proximity of a man killer. The movie ends with a tableau of three shot tigers over which HRH and his entourage…

A major change to the Government’s approach to food, farming and the rural economy appears under way. With the cost of living increasing sharply, and food security coming under pressure from the war in Ukraine, the Government is making a major shift towards promoting food production and away from rewilding-type environmental schemes. A crucial change has been major cuts to the Landscape Recovery Scheme. Formerly almost £800 million a year — roughly one-third of the agricultural support budget — was allocated to the scheme, which was intended to support the conversion of agricultural land. This budget has been cut to £50 million over three years. Retired farmer Alan Hamilton told Shooting Times: “It has become much clearer in the past few months that a steady supply of cheap food is…

BASC has published its response to the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) proposals to restrict the use of lead ammunition (News, 18 and 11 May). BASC strongly opposes some elements of the proposals, but less strongly opposes others. The HSE has proposed a phased withdrawal of nearly all lead ammunition over a time period of between 18 months and five years. This includes lead used for shooting live quarry and targets, when used in shotguns, rifles and airguns. While some specific ammunition types would be allowed for longer than others, the end result would be a ban on most use of lead ammunition. BASC has chosen to focus its opposition to the proposals on target shooting disciplines, saying it opposes a ban on the use of lead to shoot clay…

It has often been said that the only way to make a small fortune from shooting is to start with a big one. There are so many variables, and so many things that are forgotten and left out of a shoot’s budget, that it is easy to get it wrong. This is one of the reasons why so many smaller commercial shoots struggle to make a profit, and why so many self-employed gamekeepers only manage a year or two running their own shoots before going back to work for someone else, or changing careers completely. That said, there are people who have and are making a good living from commercial shooting, and many more who run smaller syndicate shoots that break even or occasionally make a profit. The big boys,…

Modern airguns have come a long way over the past couple of decades. Yet despite all their technological advancements, it is still hard to beat the simple pleasure of shooting a basic break-barrel. Pre-charged powerplants, recoilless firing cycles, multi-shot magazines, adjustable power and even electronic triggers are now considered standard equipment by many airgun shooters. These features can certainly enhance the shooting experience, so why do so many shooters still love no-frills airguns? It is something I found myself thinking about when wandering with my Weihrauch HW95K. I have some of the very latest high-powered pre-charged airguns, all of which would have made easy work of a dusk foray in pursuit of rabbits for the pot. So my decision to choose a spring-powered airgun over them seemed a little odd.…

The late Cyril Adams, who made a fortune selling restored English guns to eager American buyers, recalled walking into Purdey’s one afternoon in search of old guns and being told there was nothing good in. He noted a pile in the corner and asked about them. “Oh, those are just old hammerguns, nobody wants them” was the reply. Cyril bought them all for a trifling sum and did very well on the other side of the Atlantic. Those were the days! Cyril was not alone. Several British dealers got in on the act and made a lot of money. Back then you could actually put a pre-1898 shotgun in a box, take it to the post office and send it direct to the buyer anywhere in the US via parcel…

In a good year for voles and mice, I can have four pairs of barn owls on the farm. They raise healthy broods then the evening sky is filled with white shapes hunting in the long grass. It’s a delight and at certain times of year you can see seven or eight birds coasting in the twilight on a short walk around the boundaries. I love the sound of a barn owl calling under the stars and I’d be hard-pressed to think of a more beautiful or elegant bird in the British countryside. When vole numbers dry up, my barn owls recede dramatically. I always have at least one pair but even they will struggle to do more than rear one or two chicks. Of course, it makes sense that…

Times are changing and no more so than with cars as we’re seeing more outright electric vehicles. Enter Volkswagen’s all-electric SUV, the ID.4. It comes in six flavours of varying trim and motor. We’re taking a look at the higher-spec, sporty GTX Max. So let’s grab an extension lead and get behind the wheel. I wasn’t overly excited at first, but I realised my indifference came from misreading the spec sheet. Indifference turned to intrigue as the futuristic SUV rolled down the drive. Intrigue turned to excitement when I noticed the GTX insignia on the back. This should be fun. On first impressions, this VW is futuristic with a dash of stylish sportiness. The moonstone grey does look like lacquered grey primer, but I like it. It complements the 20in…

Fire up the cold smoker and cold smoke the peppers over oak for around an hour. Put the peppers in a jug blender with a dash of sherry vinegar, the walnuts, anchovies, chilli flakes, cumin seeds and breadcrumbs and drizzle in plenty of olive oil until it come about halfway up the peppers. It sounds a lot, but you will have lots of dressing left over. Blitz to a smooth, thick purée. Add a little additional oil and some of the liquid from the peppers – plus more sherry vinegar if it tastes a little flat. Transfer the dressing to a bottle or tub and set aside for later.…

This delicately illustrated paper label, showing two sportsmen in action accompanied by their dogs, dates from 1841-1849. Parker, Field & Sons was a partnership between John Field and William Parker. Field was Parker’s son-in-law and his sons, William Parker Field and John Shakespear Field made up the ‘& Sons’ part of the name. Parker died in 1841 and Field in 1850. Confusingly, later guns were styled ‘Parker Field’ rather than ‘Parker, Field’. The company traded in London until 1886. The label carries the Royal Warrant for Queen Victoria and claims to be gunmaker to the Board of Ordnance, the East India Company and Hudson’s Bay Company. Further claims to be “armourers to the Metropolitan Police Force” show the company was a successful one. Few know the name today, as no…

For all the talk, what counts as a big bag? To some extent, it’s a matter of perception — and that’s not making light of the issue. Some of the most vociferous members of the red trouser brigade need to realise that many shooters are not willing to die in a ditch for large-scale commercial shooting. Given that the best way to win an argument is to avoid having it, I’d say the commercial promoters of big baggery would be wise to keep their heads down. Yet we are still left with the problem of definition and here personal perspective certainly comes into play. On the same basis that I am a visitor but you are a tourist, it is hard to be truly objective. The vast majority of shooters…