Innholdsfortegnelse for 29-Jun-2022 i Shooting Times & Country

A crackdown on hare coursing called for by Shooting Times will start before the end of the summer, with the full set of powers in place for the next coursing season. Police have struggled to contain the scourge of illegal hare coursing in recent years and, despite frequent arrests and seizures, existing penalties have not served as a deterrent. After a protracted campaign by Shooting Times contributor Ed Coles, the Government amended legislation this year to give police new powers and to increase the penalties for poachers under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (News, 11 May). However, questions remained over when these powers would be ‘enacted’ by the relevant minister. Now Shooting Times has been sent a formal Government business circular that states: “Preparations are in hand to…

NatureScot has been asked to step in amid accusations that estates have not done their bit to manage deer properly. The demand for all landholdings to step up and reduce deer numbers came from the South Grampian Deer Management group. Douglas McAdam, the independent chairman of the group, explained: “Red deer numbers in the area from a recent count in March 2022 sit at around 6,974, down nearly 24% from a population of 9,135 in January 2019. “This represents the result of sustained culling in the area over the past four years but, for the group to achieve what is required and deliver for both the public and private interest, more needs to be done and deer numbers will have to be reduced further. However, red deer are an iconic…

CUTTING OFF THE LIFEBLOOD Bill Flood (Letters, 1 June) implies the public will flock to the defence of our sport if the shooting community moves away from lead shot. The public will, of course, do no such thing, any more than Wild Justice will temper or reduce its attacks on shooting. This position assumes that lead shot is only used in shotguns. The current proposals from the Government include a ban on the use of lead shot in ALL forms of shooting — that includes small-bore rifles and airguns too. Those involved in these two activities will confirm that non-lead ammunition for small-bore and airguns is simply not viable: it has not proved possible to produce a projectile that will provide the energy and, more importantly, the accuracy required to…

It seems that the world is moving at such a pace these days, with change ostensibly happening every day and always another problem just around the corner. While the human world is all rather hectic, it seems that, conversely, the natural world wants to just quietly go about its business. I have been exceptionally fortunate to have just visited Namibia, where my wife and I spent two weeks travelling around in an old Hilux with an aged roof tent on top. It was a trip that took the pace of life, and two weeks without phone signal or Wi-Fi really allowed us to pause and reflect. But what was more special for us was the time we had to watch the extraordinary wildlife that Namibia’s national parks had to offer.…

Gamekeepers have dressed in distinctive clothing since the inception of the profession in the late 17th century. Usually provided free of charge as a perk of the job, such attire was traditionally made to measure by a bespoke tailor though, from the late 1940s onwards, owners of some smaller sporting properties started to purchase off-the-peg suiting for reasons of economy. Until the mid-7419th century, gamekeepers wore a uniform made of green velveteen cloth, hence the nickname ‘Old Velveteens’, which was once commonly used by country folk when referring to a keeper. Consisting of a green velveteen frock coat, a green velveteen waistcoat, breeches and leggings, a top hat and leather boots, this attire was easily recognisable by rich and poor alike. Over the years, the green velveteen uniform gradually evolved…

Nothing ruins a fine day on the hill like a blistered heel. We’ve all been there. Add to this the misery of wet feet or cold toes and the perils of poorly picked footwear can really add up. The diversity of settings in which fieldsports occur places a range of demands on our footwear and getting the right boot for the job can be a difficult task. However, as anyone who has recently purchased a pair will attest, boots are big business and manufacturers are constantly working to make their products the ones we choose. So what should you be looking for in a boot? If your quarry is to be found in the high and wild places, you’ll need a boot that’s equal to the terrain. Support is critical…

The cautious questions have started: “Seen many about?” and “How are you doing?” The interest in wild broods has taken on a greater intensity this season. Bird flu has banjaxed the flow of eggs coming in from the Continent. Pressured to make up the shortfall, British game farmers — who for years warned against relying on cheap imports — have been unable to supply the increased demand. Some shoots have already written off the season, leading to keepers being made redundant, livelihoods lost. Shoots, for whom wild broods were in the past more of a nice thing to have, are now relying upon them to enable a few limited days to take place. Whether your shoot is one of these or a dyed-in-the-wool wild bird affair, the good news is…

LONG HAIR, SHORT hair or wire hair? Most of us have a favourite breed regardless of what sort of coat it has, but the length and nature of a dog’s hair does make quite a difference when it comes to living with the animal, especially if it’s one that lives indoors. It’s certainly something that anyone deciding on a specific breed of dog should think about carefully. There’s no choice of coats with a labrador, except when it comes to colour. However, I’ve met quite a few labradors with remarkably long and wavy coats. There’s no way that these dogs can be called longhaired, but they would be frowned upon in the show ring. According to the breed standard the labrador’s coat is a “distinctive feature, short dense without wave…

For the pigeon shooter in Essex and Suffolk — and, judging from the various reports, the country as a whole — the recent spring was one of frustration. Following the severe winter, during which huge quantities of cartridges were used in an attempt to keep the thousands of birds off valuable Brussels sprouts, spring cabbage and other green crops, it was obvious that as soon as a thaw set in, and more food became available to the flocks of near-starving birds, the number of pigeons shot would decrease considerably. In fact, this is what did happen, but much more drastically than anyone could have foreseen. Bags of 50 or more in two or three hours dropped off suddenly to nil. Relatively few pigeons were to be found in this area…

COGSWELL & HARRISON The name Cogswell & Harrison is well recognised today, as the firm has been in business to a greater or lesser extent into recent times. This label comes from an earlier time, when the founder of the dynasty, Benjamin Cogswell, was trading on his own account. The paper label with blue ink illustrations and lettering dates from when Cogswell’s premises was at 224 The Strand, which was from 1842 to 1856. The label carries the Royal Warrant for Queen Victoria:“Dieu et mon droit” (God and my right), incorporating the motto of the Garter: “Honi soit qui mal y pense” (Shame on he who thinks ill of it). The bottom of the label reminds customers of the “large variety of new and second hand guns, rifles and pistols…

Q I worked some new ferrets at the tail end of my season, but the jills wanted to play about when I was trying to retrieve them. Is this a problem I can overcome or do I look for new stock? A New ferrets are always testing because, in most scenarios, you never know the full facts and history behind them. Ferrets are similar to any other young and inexperienced animal; patience and training prior to your outings is what is called for. I would start by getting the ferrets used to travelling through pipes, being stood over and picked up in a variety of ways, while not scaring them or getting them overexcited. By getting your ferrets accustomed to these actions when they emerge from an underground tunnel, you…

“The investigation appears to be fundamentally flawed” The RSPB has been accused of sensationalism over claims that illegal burning of heather on deep peat is widespread. The accusations from the Countryside Alliance came after it emerged that much of the information used by the RSPB in a new report was provided by an animal rights activist; some was demonstrably false and almost none was deemed worthy of investigation by Defra. The RSPB came under heavy criticism from countryside and shooting groups after it launched a campaign to encourage the public to report any moorland burning they saw (News, 16 February). Controlled burning of moorland vegetation is a legal activity to manage habitats and control wildfire risks. The RSPB’s approach, which asked for witnesses to contact a hotline, was widely seen…

FISHING Long before Hugh Falkus’s Medicine fly ever danced past a summer sea trout, the fish were angled for with worms and maggots. Either of these fished under a float remain deadly for sea trout. For the traditional approach, use your garden fork to lift some docks and find the grubs underneath them. They are a famously effective bait for all the salmonids. BIRDS With birds arriving any day now, give your pens one last look over. Make sure any repairs are sound, clear the perimeter, check that pop-holes are not obstructed and that the water supply is functioning.…

Gamekeepers and land managers are being encouraged to take part in an RSPB survey. Despite extensive and authoritative work by the GWCT, the RSPB has decided to commission its own research into the effect of gamebird releasing on protected sites. This has proved to be a significant area of contention after Wild Justice launched, then withdrew a challenge on releases in 2020. While the RSPB’s move was met with a cynical response from many keepers, the GWCT expressed its support and encouraged the shooting community to engage with it. Dr Roger Draycott, director of advisory and gamebird policy at the GWCT, said: “This is an opportunity for game managers in and around these sites to provide the RSPB with their views and practical experience of gamebird releasing and management and…

I look forward to Shooting Times landing on the doorstep. Some weeks, however, I wish you could push the News, Letters and Diaries to the back. Like many readers, I read ST from covertocover. Not so the issue dated 15 June — by p14 I’d lost the will to live. Shoots bailing, trail-hunting suspensions, Brexit headaches, wader declines. Even the British Game Assurance daring to call released pheasants “wild meat” was galling. I picked it up again to read the positive stuff. Richard Negus’s moth trap piece was brilliant (Young minds like moths to a flame, 15 June). Nothing killed, just children with the same sort of curiosity that started me on a lifetime of hunting and pest control. You don’t learn to hunt or respect nature by stepping out…

"You do know that the rabbits are undercutting the caravans, I suppose,” my wife asked rhetorically during the week. “Some of the vans look as though they’re about to slip away into a sinkhole, never to be recovered. I could really do with you knocking a few bunnies off just to show the tenants that we’re trying to do something about it. While you’re out, try to get the one that’s eating my chives.” Well, it’s not often that Mrs G deliberately begins a conversation about shooting. Still less frequent are the occasions when she actively commissions me to undertake my favourite pastime. “You’ll have to stay off the site itself,” she continued. “One or two fewer bunnies would be appreciated” “But a few bangs and one or two fewer…

“The rich, milky grains of laid barley prove irresistible to woodpigeons” This is an incredible but difficult time of year for pigeon shooters. Many will walk around the British countryside, dreaming of winter rape flocks and wondering what has happened to all the birds. Some will have packed the gun away altogether, excitedly anticipating the first oilseed rape or winter barley stubbles instead. However, the pigeon shooters who behave like this are not pigeon shooters at all — they are glory seekers. They want the good times and are not prepared to put in the hard graft to manage numbers during the leaner times. Because they only come out in times of plenty, they don’t get the opportunity to learn about the quarry. Therefore, when a shooting situation presents itself,…

“Some think hi-tech gear works like Harry Potter’s cloak and makes them disappear” Airgun shooters have developed quite a distinctive dress code over the past couple of decades and it tends to revolve rather heavily around camouflage. We get a lot of flak for our fondness for dressing like trees, but concealment is important when you need to sneak within very close range of wary critters with finely tuned survival instincts. While I am not entirely sure why so many airgun shooters regard camouflage patterns as de rigueur for Game Fair attendance, they do help to hide the human form among the green and brown hues of the British countryside. That said, any sombre colour will achieve a similar effect if you keep still and make the most of natural…

If you search for “tiger-striped labrador” on the internet, you will find a picture of a fox-red lab whose owner dyed him to look like a tiger. It’s amusing but not very convincing, as the lab’s drooping ears look nothing like the pointed ones of a tiger. However, it was a reasonably good effort and I’m sure it made lots of people laugh, though whether the dog shared the joke is another matter. I wonder what sort of reaction you would get if you took a tiger-striped labrador to a trial? Apart from the fact that you would receive very strange looks from fellow handlers, I don’t think the judges could stop you from running, for the J-regulations, the rules that govern trialling, don’t cover such an eventuality. We have…

Q We have been offered some yard muck from a livery stables for our game crops, but we have already planted them. It’s free but we have to organise and pay for moving it. Do you think it is worth collecting and putting somewhere for next year, or will the goodness wash out over the winter? A With fertiliser prices as high as they are — and little sign of them being any cheaper next year — I would accept the offer and arrange collection as soon as you can. Put it somewhere out of the way until next spring, and it will be fine. It won’t lose any of its nutritional value and it may even improve as it rots down. Yard muck adds nutrients and improves the soil’s…

The case against a member of the Quorn Hunt has been dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence. John Finnegan had been due to appear before Leicester Magistrates’ Court on 20 June charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs. The charge against Mr Finnegan related to an outing of the Quorn that took place near Belton in January this year. The CPS offered no evidence against the defendant and the case was dismissed by the magistrates. In a separate case, a former whipper-in of the Pytchley with Woodland Hunt is to face a Crown Court trial after he was accused of seriously injuring a hunt saboteur. Chris Mardles, 25, is accused of grievous bodily harm after his horse is said to have crushed a saboteur at…

“We were seen as the custodians of the countryside, now we’re scum of the earth” The risks from bullying and harassment have been highlighted in evidence to an inquiry into rural mental health. The rising pressure of online and real-world activism on those involved in country sports has created an increasing challenge to mental health. A Scottish gamekeeper told Shooting Times that the incessant pressure left him suffering from anxiety. The keeper, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s hard to see a future for shooting and the chance that I can pass this shoot on to the next generation seems very slim.” The environment, food and rural affairs committee of the House of Commons began an inquiry into rural mental health earlier this year after it emerged that…

Tradition is a fickle thing when it comes to shooting. While most of us are perfectly happy to pull a museum piece out of the gun slip as we get to our peg, the notion of wearing similarly archaic kit singles you out as something of an oddball. Obviously, tweed garments in some shape or form appear in most wardrobes. But when temperatures plummet, the rain comes down sideways or sleet obscures the next-door peg, most of us will zip our nylon bodywarmers to the neck and pull on a Gore-Tex softshell drysuit faster than you can say hypothermia. I am inclined to think we are missing a trick and my submission for the defence of natural fibres and traditional tailoring is the humble sweater — in particular one worn…

“It was my wonderland and I would gaze for hours at great glass display cabinets” Galloway is a sporting paradise, from the highest hill to the murkiest marsh. You can stalk, fish and flight ducks to your heart’s content, but the bounty of available game is associated in part with large areas of rough and generally inaccessible countryside. We’re a big place without many significant towns and, although people come from far and wide to enjoy this landscape, there are surprisingly few gunshops here. When I was a child growing up on a diet of shooting, I would beg my parents to be left for an hour or two at M McCowan & Son, a sporting goods shop in Castle Douglas. This was my wonderland and I would gaze for…

“I sat in the shelter of a tall blackthorn hedge and let my surroundings swallow me up” I’ve been noticing roe deer in all kinds of unexpected places. As we approach midsummer, the does have moved away from their normal haunts to drop their kids and the bucks are suddenly obvious in their red summer coats. It’s a sign of the changing year, just as larger gangs of five or six winter-coated deer often seem like a symbol of January or February. Most bucks in Galloway were clean by the first week of May and several have turned out with excellent heads after a mild winter. I have my eye on one or two of these boys that I’ll aim to catch after the rut, but there’s also a fair…

Sportsman, politician, amateur entomologist and naturalist, and first-class gentleman cricketer, the 6th Lord Walsingham was designated the joint-second top Shot in Great Britain by Baily’s Magazine in 1903; his counterpart was Reginald Rimington-Wilson. He was also considered by many to be the best all-round game Shot in the country during the Edwardian era. Trustee of the British Museum for 43 years, a trustee of the Hunterian Museum and of the Royal College of Surgeons, high steward of Cambridge University and high steward of King’s Lynn and a magistrate for Norfolk, he published a scientific paper on the distribution of deer and other ruminants in California and Oregon. And, together with his first cousin, Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey, he also co-authored the shooting classics Shooting: Field and Covert and Shooting: Moor and…

Q A lot of airgun shooters use laser rangefinders. Is it really essential equipment when shooting airguns over relatively short ranges? A While some shooters can judge range quite accurately by eye, a laser rangefinder takes away the guesswork. Though airguns are usually used to tackle quarry over short distances, hold-over of approximately 1in is often needed at around 10m when working with a 30m zero. With that set-up, some hold-under is generally required at between 20m and 25m, then hold-over as the pellet drops down from the set zero. Airgun pellets can have a distinctly curved trajectory, particularly when using a sub-12ft/lb gun, so accurate range-finding is very important to ensure precise pellet placement.…

Some 409 years ago, a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry VIII brought the house down at the Globe theatre — or, more precisely, a small cannon did. Free of shot but with a full charge of powder, it was supposed to add realism and dramatic effect to the performance. It did, when smouldering wad set fire to the thatched roof, destroying the timber-framed theatre. No fatalities were recorded, but one man’s breeches were set alight and had to be doused with ale. The Globe was rebuilt with a tiled roof and reopened in 1614, but pious Puritans closed the theatre for good in 1642, concerned that actors, being an ungodly bunch, may spread their licentious ways to the general public. In 1997, a new Globe opened. Built using materials and skills…

At this time of year I travel to Hampshire for a spot of trout fishing, which invariably involves an afternoon nap by the water. You might think sleeping is a criminal waste of good fishing time, but I beg to differ. When the trout are rising, so am I; but when the sun is high the fish tend to keep low — and again, so do I. For me, a snooze amid the sounds associated with the waterside is part of the experience. The sound most likely to close my eyelids, at any time of day, is the patter of raindrops on the roof of a veteran Land Rover, accompanied by the rhythmic wet clacking of the short wipers on the flat glass windscreen. Parking up to spy a misty…