Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2019 i Sporting Gun

The Home Office has confirmed that firearms licensing fees will not be reviewed this year. The decision was announced by Nick Hunt, head of the Home Office’s serious violence unit, in a recent letter to Sir Geoffrey Clifton Brown MP, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on shooting and conservation. In the letter, Mr Hunt said there was uncertainty around “critical issues”, such as delays in implementing an online licensing system and the need to review arrangements for police to check applicants’ medical records with GPs, that need to be resolved. He said that because of this it was difficult to quantify police costs accurately with regard to the issuing of licences and that an increase was inappropriate for the time being. However, Mr Hunt confirmed that: “The Home Office…

It was a bit of a sad Easter for us as Molly, our old chocolate Lab, had to be put down and on Easter Sunday of all days. It is always a difficult decision but on the plus side, she did have a great life. She lived to a decent age but deteriorated quickly, losing her mobility in the past year. Bess, her daughter, and, of course, Alfie were aware that suddenly she wasn’t around but all is back to normal. Now Bess is running around with Alfie and something tells me that he is not going to be a good influence.…

Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have been around for some time now but in recent years they have become more readily available and popular for a number of reasons. While some people hate them, others, me included, see the potential they can provide when used correctly. Drones have hit the press for a variety of reasons, many negative due to misuse by the unknowing or untrained. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set out strict guidelines for those who want to use drones commercially to pass theoretical and practical training along with a proficiency test. I undertook such a course and this has allowed me to fly a drone both in daylight and at night to a height of 120m and 500m away, which gives me an extensive field…

NAME: Alastair PrinceAGE:28HEIGHT:5ft 10inWEIGHT:13st 10lbOCCUPATION: Finance manager for a rail and constructioncompany in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire. Alastair is right-handed. SHOOTING EXPERIENCE: Alastair lives in Droitwich, Worcestershire with his fiancée and daughters. His first experience of shooting was in 2016 at a work Christmas outing. Since then he has been shooting a few times and was granted his licence in July last year. He has always enjoyed outdoor life and has childhood memories of being taken all over the country to visit National Trust and English Heritage sites. He is looking to shoot at a local club and develop a rounded knowledge of shooting.…

Taking precedence over all of this and written on tablets of stone is “safety”. So here are some questions for you to consider. No prizes for the answers, just quiet confidence that you are on track if you do get them right. 1. On the majority of guns why isn’t the safety catch truly a safety catch? 2. And what should we do about it in everyday gun handling? 3. Of the most common shotgun cartridges used what combination of bores are potentially dangerous: 12-bore, 16-bore, 20-bore, 28-bore and 410. 4. And why?…

Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert Good old Google provides a mountain of information but it can be difficult to put it into perspective. First things first: you need a definitive diagnosis, so get yourself down to the vet’s as soon as possible, armed with a fresh urine sample. Diabetes mellitus — to distinguish it from diabetes insipidus, or water diabetes — can be diagnosed in dogs when there is glucose in urine and a persistently high blood glucose, even when patients have been fasted. If your dog does turn out to be diabetic, all is not lost. What is diabetes? “Stabilisation is difficult unless owners are particular about injecting and monitoring” Diabetes in dogs is almost always Type 1 (insulin dependent). It occurs because of inadequate insulin…

GRAHAM WATKINS GUNDOGS A professional gundog trainer for more than 35 years, he runs Gamegoer. NEIL MCINTOSH VETERINARY A keen shooter and a practising vet in Scotland. TONY BRACCI TUITION Bisley Shooting Ground’s deputy shooting manager and master gunfitter. DAVID FROST LEGAL SG’s legal expert and author of Sporting Shooting and the Law. PETER THEOBALD PIGEONS Pigeon-shooting expert; author of Woodpigeon: The Ultimate Quarry. ROBERT MORGAN ANTIQUES Arms and armour valuer at Holts Auctioneers. ED COOK RABBITS Professional rabbit catcher working over 30,000 acres. TOM SYKES PEST CONTROL & WILDFOWLING Sporting photographer, wildfowler and pest controller. MARC BULL COVER CROPS Marc is our new expert and is the Midlands and Eastern adviser at Bright Seeds.…

I’ve recently been visited on separate occasions by Firearms Enquiry Officers (FEOs) who have given me different interpretations of the law, neither of which I believe to be right. How much training do these people get and is there anything I can do? David says: There is no nationally agreed training package for licensing staff and hence no minimum standard that must be achieved before a member of staff is let loose on the public. The Home Office does issue guidance but it’s not mandatory and many forces choose to ignore it, even if their staff have bothered to read it. I regularly hear of some incredibly stupid decisions being taken by licensing staff. If you get poor or ignorant service from an FEO you should complain to the Professional…

I am right-handed but should I change shoulders because I have a left master eye? Tony says: The first thing to determine is whether you do have a left master eye. There is more to it than left or right master eye, central vision is also a consideration. We see a lot of shooters who change shoulders to then close the opposite eye. The only reason to change shoulders is to have the advantage of keeping both eyes open. We also see clients that think they have a cross dominance only to find that they have a gun that is too low in the comb. The lead eye can’t see above the action when shooting, so the opposite eye takes over. The best solution is to book an appointment with…

We have a shoot on an organic farm but we struggle to get good cover, what can we do? Marc says: Bright Seeds works with various types of organic holdings (most will have bespoke mixtures) and I can tell you good game cover on organic land is possible but it can be a bit harder work than a conventional system. Manure will be your best friend. Combining a mixture of FYM, chicken litter and cow or pig slurry will help get as much available N/P/K and organic matter into your soil as possible but you will need substantial quantities. I advise getting as much perennial crop in as you can (reed canary grass and chicory, possibly under sown with clovers), working hard on mechanical stale seedbeds and drilling as late…

When the weather turns warmer and you don’t want to swelter under what can feel like a mountain of shooting gear, then you will need a waistcoat or vest. Most have a mesh construction that will help to keep you lightweight and cool, but you should also look out for something that is going to be comfortable, so space for shoulder pads is a good idea. You’ll also most likely want a vest with plenty of pocket space for carrying cartridges, but this will not be hard to find.…

There was no consultation and it was done so quickly that many of us risked inadvertently breaking the law. The numbers of woodpigeons and corvids are healthy due to mild winters and food abundance. If they are not controlled we will pay the price when the cost of cereals and vegetables increases. A happy by-product of protecting crops from woodpigeon is that the meat goes into the food chain. Could there be a more ethical way to eat meat? If avian pests go unchecked all we will end up with is a numerous but starving bird population because there will be more birds than food. A calm and measured approach to any change to the general licences must only take place after those who engage with pest species are consulted.…

Holland & Holland has announced a bursary scheme for young gamekeepers and stalkers. The recipient will be given up to £10,000 by the renowned London gunmaker to enable them to pursue a work project. A panel of figures from the shooting world will decide who is the worthy candidate and the winner will be announced in July. Holland & Holland said that gamekeepers and stalkers play an essential role in shaping and protecting shooting and the countryside and that it was looking to help somebody who embodied these characteristics, with an emphasis on sustainability. The money would be used to facilitate their career goals and their ability to communicate their ideas.…

I run the Young Shots programme for my local wildfowling club. Last year, a friend and I introduced clay coaching sessions for the Juniors. We had both been on one of Ann’s courses and want to help produce a better standard of Shot and put the foundations in place for the next generation of wildfowlers. The summer coaching sessions and competitions at the clay ground help to improve the ability of the Young Shots and help them to bag a duck or goose on our flights during the season.…

Venison steak and Stilton parcels Treat yourself with this flavoursome package ingredients 4 venison loin steaks, cut about 1in thick Oil 4oz blue Stilton cheese 4 tbsp cream 5 large sheets filo pastry 2oz butter Lemon juice to serve Heat the oil in a frying pan and quickly seal the meat then allow to cool. Grate the cheese and mix with the cream and season with black pepper. Spread the mixture over the cold steaks. Brush one sheet of filo pastry with butter and wrap round one of the steaks to enclose it. Place on a baking sheet and brush with more butter. Repeat with the rest of the steaks. Brush the last sheet of pastry with butter and fold it over to form a strip about 1in wide. Cut…

It’s easy to be relaxed about the amount of work that needs to be done out of season. But don’t leave things to the last minute and then panic as the new season approaches. I like to start chipping away soonest at the work that needs to be done. I remember telling you about how we roll up the wire around the release pens, to allow us to push the birds straight through the wood on shoot days rather than around the pen. Now it needs rolling down and pegging again, ready for when the poults arrive in a few months. I’ve got eight pens to sort out this year, so you can see how the workload ramps up. First up, we check the posts around the pens. A few…

It would be fair to say that I am pretty well addicted to my walked-up shooting and regular readers will have hopefully enjoyed the antics of my little rough shooting syndicate, the Circle of Trust. Years ago, walked-up or rough shooting was the mainstay of many a Gun and I know for plenty of people it was how they were introduced to the world of shooting. Then along came driven shooting, which proved more accessible to the masses; available and suitable ground got snapped up, small farms that would have traditionally hosted small informal walk-around days for family and friends joined ranks and turned into small driven DIY or farm shoots. As a consequence, trying to find ground to rough shoot became harder and harder. Fortunately, over the past few…

• If you’re trying to deal with a fox that’s in an awkward location, try to lure it out into open ground. A caller is the most immediate solution but if that doesn’t work, a longer-term answer is to put some bait (cat food, roadkill, or whatever) down • Foxes are instinctively protective of their young. While this attribute is to be admired, it can be used against them too as they will often respond to a cub distress call • Just because a fox has realised you are in the vicinity, it won’t necessarily leave the area, especially where it is used to human presence • When you don’t know which direction your quarry is likely to approach from, try to locate yourself where you can cover different possibilities…

This month has been a testing one for Ted and me. Regular readers will perhaps recall that early last year I ran Ted in a spaniel working test down in Dorset and it didn’t go well. Despite only running in two previous spaniel tests, Ted had become what is known as ‘test wise’. He had learnt that one of the people walking next to us would fire a shot and throw out a dummy, which was far more exciting than hunting ground that had little scent and no game. Consequently, he bounced around like a spring lamb and didn’t get his nose down. I decided that would be the end of his short spaniel working test career and that I would only enter retrieving-based tests where his ability to clock…

I recently took my two miniature schnauzer bitches to the vet for their kennel cough drops. During the standard questioning about their health the vet asked me if they had been neutered. I told her no and that both had C-sections when giving birth and that I had not pursued them having more pups. I felt uneasy with the vet’s line of questioning and that I was being given the ‘hard sell’. She told me how many dogs she had seen recently that had not been neutered and had developed medical problems. The none-too-subtle subtext was that it was imperative I had them neutered, at a cost of around £130, and that if I did not, this cost would increase to around £1,000 for a course of treatment, including antibiotics,…

Do we need to fertilise our cover crops, as we are not combining them? Marc says: Yes. Most crops will still grow in the ‘honeymoon period’ (the first two years after coming out of arable rotation or a grass ley) without fertilisers but will struggle after that. Even during this time I would advise feeding the crop to achieve the best results (giving them all the nitrogen they will require) and maintain phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) indices. Although you are not combing the crop, game birds and other wildlife will be combining it by eating the seeds. P and K will also become locked in the lignified plant stems (straw).…

I saw the video of a drone with a thermal imager on Sporting Gun’s Facebook page. Is it worth spending all that money? Ed says: I’m a commercial rabbit catcher and while I enjoy my job, the purpose is to make money. I have always liked to keep things interesting by learning about other control methods and ways to streamline my work. I try to think about the pros and cons of any development in the business. The drone and thermal imager was an investment that has allowed me to find rabbits very quickly in some awkward jobs. It is an amazing viewing platform and a very accurate way of accessing numbers and locations. I am still learning about its capabilities but am very pleased with it so far and…

I inherited a Webley air pistol. Could you tell me roughly how old it is and give me an approximate value? It is in perfect working order and has its box and papers. Robert says: As Webley air pistols go you have quite a rare model there. Collectors know it as the pre-war ‘slantgrip’ Mark I. The Mark I was the first air pistol introduced by Webley, but at around serial number 50,000 it underwent a dramatic change. The previous near-vertical grip with smooth walnut grips change to quite a high raked angle and the grips became Bakelite and chequered. This happened in 1935, and the serial number of yours dates to probably 1936-37. As you might imagine, few, if indeed any, air pistols were produced during the war years…

My two-year-old springer has just completed her first season in the field. She retrieves dead birds beautifully with no sign of marking or hard mouth but from time to time she has damaged pricked game. Is there anything I can do? Graham says: I don’t think that you have a hard-mouthed dog but she clearly has an issue with pricked birds in heavy cover. Either the dog is inexperienced when dealing with something that is putting up a fight; or the first bird that she pegged spurred her. Both situations can be cured with training. You need to give the dog more experience on picking game. See if you can join a picking-up team and explain that you need to give your dog more experience on game. A partridge shoot…

Compression socks are elasticated garments that squeeze the limb, reducing the diameter of the veins and increasing arterial pressure. This causes more blood to return to the heart and less blood to pool in the feet. If you’ve ever been on a grouse moor, whether as a beater, picker-up or shooter, then you know how rigorous a sport shooting can be. A quick recovery from physical exertion means you will take more composed shots. It also means less chance of achy legs. Härkila has brought sporting and medical technology into shooting with its Sporting Estate Sock. In appearance, it is a smart-looking woollen sock but behind the traditional façade is a host of technological developments designed to make you a better and more comfortable shooter. “Behind the traditional façade is…

The round body action, deep engraving and Montecarlo-style stock make this a classically beautiful gun. What’s more exciting is that the Aphrodite is a nice handling gun. The balance and its lightweight make it a joy to shoot and it would look great on a game shoot, but could easily be used on the clay ground. They say a thing of beauty is a joy forever and the beauty is more than skin deep on the Aphrodite. SCORES ON THE DOORS Build quality 24/25 Handling 24/25 Styling 25/25 Value for money 23/25 Total: 96/100…

Having tested a number of Perazzis in close succession they all have the same qualities. The sign of build quality whether in a car or a gun is how consistent a product feels when tested alongside its stablemates. Perazzi has got quality control down to a fine art. Pick up any of its guns and you can be sure that it’s reliable, handles superbly and has a sweet trigger pull. If you are a competition shooter, you want uniformity and reliability because this will allow you to concentrate on the target. The MX2000 S is typical of a Perazzi in that you know you are getting a gun that has been made with passion and a deep understanding of shooting. If you have the money, the MX2000 S will be…

Regular readers of this column will recall last month that I talked about Lefaucheux and his pinfire cartridge. I mentioned in the article that it was an adaptation of the Pauly system. Pauly was another gunsmith who was just too far ahead of his time and let down by the materials and manufacturing processes of the day. His invention of 1812 was the world’s first central fire self-contained cartridge – the ‘progenitor’ of the ammunition we still use today. Volatile The cartridge Pauly invented outwardly looks very similar to a modern shotgun cartridge. However, the Pauly version has a sunken pocket centrally to the rear, which rather than having a separate primer or cap in it was filled with fulminate of mercury and varnished over. Fulminate was so volatile and…

13 February Wild Justice, a campaign group that consists of Chris Packham, the TV presenter and naturalist, Mark Avery, former conservation director of the RSPB, and Ruth Tingay, conservationist and raptor expert, launches and notifies Natural England of its intention to challenge the legality and application of general licences GL04, GL05 and GL06 in their current form under the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 12 march Tony Juniper appointed the new chairman of Natural England 13 march Natural England gives formal response to Wild Justice’s contention about the legality of the general licences 21 march Wild Justice declares itself unhappy with the response from Natural England and lodges a legal challenge seeking a judicial review of Natural England’s decision on the licences being fit for purpose 23…

It is with great sadness that I report the death of Ronnie Crowe at the grand age of 91, writes Peter Theobald. Readers may remember him from the CLA Game Fair, where he set up his sporting bygones stand and posed for photographs wearing his top hat next to the stuffed fox that was playing snooker. Ronnie, who was an accomplished shot, started his career as a reporter and went into photography full time, buying premises that he converted into a gunshop. He was always involved in shooting and qualified as a referee so that he could travel around Europe. He felt he needed to speak French but was unable to master the language so resorted to speaking loudly in a French accent. Ronnie was a larger-than-life character who touched…

I have attended the Northern Shooting Show for the past few years and it has become a highlight in my calendar. The Yorkshire Event Centre in Harrogate is a fantastic venue for a country show as it provides a mixture of indoor and outdoor stalls. There were some great stands, including some of the leading brands as well as great independent stalls. There is plenty to keep you busy with a range of talks and demos throughout the two days. The friendly atmosphere is an ideal setting to meet like-minded people and chat to traders. I would highly recommend this show to anyone who can get there.…

• Time seems to be flying. We still have to put up some more seats and butts as well as a chiller on the ground near the borders. On top of that the buck cull has to be carried out in earnest in May. I will have to get the callers out and clean the reeds to make sure the peep is up to scratch. • Just a reminder: we are seeing a hefty tick burden in some areas — everything does well in mild winters — so make sure you are carrying the tick hook to remove them as soon as you see that they are “feasting”.…

DISTRIBUTION: Common and widespread worldwide IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern. An abundant species PLUMAGE: Most common is a subdued black or in its brilliant orange breeding plumage. Other varieties, such as white and yellow, are occasionally seen. No difference between the sexes PREDATORS: Man, though many fall victim to the Idiot Stacker NESTING: Simple, branch-like structure. Clutch sizes range from just one to several hundred. Squabs are independent from the moment that they leave the nest HABITS AND HABITAT: Prefers open spaces. Generally encountered singly or in pairs but sometimes flocks. Roosts communally CALLS: Commonly heard: pull, bugrit, bliddywind, wedditgo and mistagin FLIGHT SPEED: Variable, but averaging 40mph. Some subspecies, such as the Unpredictable Bolter Columba terra coney often escape their predators in a series of high leaps WINGSPAN:…

• I’ve just been sent a Ridgeline Monsoon Elite II smock to test (retail price £239.99). I’ve been looking for a lightweight, tough and waterproof smock for general use as well as for stalking and shoot days. There are a few on the market but Ridgeline is a brand I trust and this smock seems to tick all the boxes for me. The thing I like most is it is lightweight – 832g. A good outer shell layer is what I need most often. Staying warm is easily done by layering-up underneath. Staying dry and keeping the wind out are not so easily achieved. Here’s hoping. I will let you know over the next few months how this smock fares in all conditions. It has fully taped seams inside, neoprene…

A holistic and logical approach to your physical engagement with your gun will help hone your shooting skills. First up, the eyes. Eyes If you are right-handed it is crucial that your right eye controls the direction in which the gun is pointing. Or your left eye, for the left-handers who shoot with the gun in the left shoulder. When the opposing eye takes over control of the pointing activity, the shot pattern will be placed yards away from the intended place, when the target is out at a distance of 30 or 40 yards from the gun. There are many ways of doing an initial check on eye dominance, but the better processes involve pointing either a finger or ideally an unloaded gun at a distant test object. Your…

EXPERT ADVICE: from SG’s gundog guru Graham Watkins The causes: Introducing a dog to gunfire needs careful consideration. Nowadays, I see few dogs that are genuinely gun-shy; I do see, however, dogs that are “gun nervous”, which in most cases has been brought on by incorrect or hurried introduction to shot. Depending on how bad the dog is, we may be able to work through and rectify this issue. I have heard it suggested on more than one occasion that taking a dog to a clay shooting ground is a good way to introduce it to gunshot. Do not do this. The way clay grounds are constructed to prevent noise disturbance creates an echo from the shot, which can be disturbing for a young dog. The personality of your…

I notice you shoot rifles as well as shotguns. Do you find it easy to swap between the two? Peter says: Twenty years ago when my wife and I used to run a farm shop, one of our best sellers was wild rabbit, which I used to shoot with a moderated .22. We got through about 30 per week, all head shot, and I had no difficulty switching from using a shotgun, mainly because I shoot both weapons with both eyes open. Acquiring the target quickly was essential, so it all became quite instinctive. Nowadays the only rifle shooting I do is when I am on holiday in South Africa, and it is a totally different kettle of fish. Firing a big calibre rifle like the 30.06, at ranges of…

Have you ever been dove shooting in Argentina? If so, is it worth doing? Peter says: Everyone who shoots pigeons seriously should experience dove shooting in Argentina. But it is easy to get carried away and start blasting at everything, resulting in a bruised shoulder and cheek after the first morning. When I went, I opted for a 20-bore over-and-under but many others were using 28s. Even so, my shoulder was ripped to pieces after the first day, having been very selective but still getting through 1,500 shells. Not for the fainthearted but I would not have missed it for the world.…

I am new to shooting and have just received my shotgun certificate from the police. I have done some shooting with friends and am looking to buy my own gun. Do you have any suggestions for something suitable that is an inexpensive all-rounder? Tom says: I am glad that you have caught the bug and are keen to do a variety of shooting. I have a lot of guns in my cabinet as I like to mix it up, but I have collected mine over many years. There are plenty of guns out there that will do a bit of everything. The best thing I can suggest is for you to visit your local gun shop and get a feel for what fits you and comes within your price range.…

We apply ‘muck’ to our plots, so do we still need to fertilise them? Marc says: Yes. The N/P/K in ‘muck’ is not all readily available to the crop. Also what type of muck is it? Is it farmyard manure? Chicken litter? Slurry? You should consult a FACTs qualified adviser for guidance to prevent breaking any Nitrate Vulnerable Zones’ regulations. I rate using manures as part of a programme as it helps keep soil healthy with organic matter and has beneficial microbiology that will interact with and aid your crops. The best approach is to select your worst plots and put a sensible amount on them then rotate your muck applications around the plots each year.…

I am an amputee but I get around fine on crutches. Is it possible for me to shoot sporting clays? Tony says: Yes, but you will have to take some things into consideration. You are going to need both hands free to shoot a shotgun. I have had many clients who are amputees and who shot very well from buggies or wheelchairs. This can present accessibility issues but they provide a stable platform to shoot from. Using crutches will mean that you have good upper body strength, but you need to be balanced and stable when you shoot. Go slow at first and find your boundaries. Also, choose a ground and a coach who can accommodate you. Good luck.…

So multi-function lightweight vests are the way to go and we’ve picked out a few that should suit, whatever your budget. And here's hoping the summer is warm enough to have to wear them. WHAT TO LOOK FOR Lightweight Breathable Pocket space 1. BROWNING SNAPSHOT SHOOTING VEST This smart dark blue vest has places to fit Browning’s own Reactar G2 anti-recoil pads and is mesh constructed to provide extra ventilation. It has four large front pockets and a large rear one for carrying capacity. Its cotton and polyester construction makes it insulating, silent and quick drying. Available in sizes S-3XL. Price: £102 Visit www.browning.eu MADE FOR ANTI-RECOIL PADS 2. SEELAND SKEET II WAISTCOAT This ergonomic waistcoat, created in collaboration with professional skeet shooters, ensures excellent freedom of movement and breathability…