Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2020 i Sporting Gun

The GWCT has joined forces with BASIS, the training organisation, to provide the first best-practice qualification for the game sector. The certificate in game management will give qualified individuals professional accreditation that demonstrates high standards of practice. The first course starts on 10 March at the GWCT’s Allerton Project in Leicestershire. Meanwhile, a new GCSE in natural history is to be offered to pupils from September next year by the OCR exam board. The GCSE is the idea of nature writer and broadcaster Mary Colwell and Caroline Lucas, the Green Party MP, in response to the growing awareness of environmental issues among young people, including conservation.…

I mentioned in the previous issue that the family was about to be joined by a new member. A new dog and a breed that I have little experience of: a teckel. We chose her recently from a litter and she looks as though butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. A stalking colleague said to me after seeing a photograph of her that she would run rings around me. She comes from a line of hunting teckels and I am looking forward to the future escapades she was born for, which you will, of course, all read about. Run rings around me indeed. How could he say such a thing? The cheek! Meet Lotte.…

• In some circumstances it can be a good thing to have a heavy trigger weight — the chance of an accidental discharge is much reduced, for a start. Many manufacturers often wind the values up to minimise the chances of ending up in court • When a rifle is nestled on sandbags or a precision rest, the weight of the trigger pull has less effect on the bullet’s point of impact than when the gun is less well-supported on sticks or even fired freehand. Make sure you set the trigger for how it will be used • A trigger that is set too light can be very dangerous, so take great care when adjusting yours. Follow the manufacturer’s advice, if there is any. There are various tests, such as slamming…

Last month we looked at how understanding what a dog can see in terms of colour, movement and contrast can be a benefit when teaching a dog to mark a dummy or game. There is an advantage in a dog with the ability to watch a bird as it is shot and falls; it makes the retrieve more efficient and ensures any injured game is returned to the handler promptly so it can be humanely despatched. “Do not send your dog until it is looking out towards the dummy” The colour choice of dummy is important in the early stages of training a dog to mark, as it can help a dog to see a retrieve more clearly and thus build confidence. To recap, dogs see colour in a totally…

This little dog makes me laugh. He really is a goon and nothing fazes him. Last week I took him up to some woodland with water-filled ruts, which Percy decided he would like to run through. He didn’t know how deep the water was and disappeared then came back up like a humped-backed whale breaching the ocean. A quick shake and he did it again and again. This month he has been introduced to his lead. Initially he reacted like a ferret on the end of a bit of string but we can now manage to get up the road – after a fashion. Some trainers claim that putting a lead on a spaniel too early can reduce the dog’s drive but in Percy’s case that may be a good…

Roberta Ladies Smock This smock combines the best of the old with the best of the new. The tweed outer is waterproof and windproof. A fleece lining makes it super warm in cold conditions and there is even an adjustable hood. Price: £599 Visit: Oliviatullett.co.uk Alan Paine Aylsham Men’s Gilet This popular gilet is now available in new colours, moss and grape. It has two zipped pockets, tonal embroidery to the back collar and comes in seven additional colour options. Price: £84.95 Visit: alanpaine.co.uk Zamberlan Hunter Pro GTX boots If you are shooting on rough terrain, these boots will give you all the support and comfort you need. Gore-Tex lined for warmth and comfort, the boots also have Vibram soles and a rubber toe box to protect those digits. Price:…

As a field gun the Beretta 690 Field I is lightweight, handles well and comes with enough options on barrel lengths and calibres to keep most shooters happy. As you would expect from a gun out of the Beretta stable, it is solidly made. This good looking model offers high-grade Turkish walnut and extensive engraving. At just over £2,000 it is great value. The 690 Field I is designed for the field but would perform just as well on the clay ground and may be the only gun you will ever need. SCORES ON THE DOORS Build quality 22/25 Handling 23/25 Styling 22/25 Value for money 25/25 Total: 92/100…

Groups representing rural interests in Scotland have welcomed the proposed strengthening of the law for wildlife crime. The Scottish government has proposed strengthening the law in the Animals and Wildlife (Scotland) Bill. The changes would see convicted offenders jailed for up to five years or fined as much as £40,000 for the most serious offences. BASC said it welcomed the positive steps that have seen a reduction in wildlife crime in Scotland. Ross Ewing, political officer for BASC in Scotland, who gave evidence to the committee dealing with the bill, said: “The penalties proposed in this bill will go a long way in addressing all forms of wildlife crime in Scotland – from hare poaching, to deer poaching, to raptor persecution. It is vital that we send a strong message…

Liverpool City Council’s decision to scrap a spin-off from the Great British Shooting Show cost the city about £5m in lost income. Bob Prattey, chief executive of ACC Liverpool, which runs the Exhibition Centre where the show was due to take place last October, said the cancellation would present financial challenges. He said he had formally assured Joe Anderson, the city’s mayor, that the show would not feature trophy-hunting exhibitors, a claim made in a petition which prompted the council to axe the show. The move hit not just the organisers but hoteliers and traders.…

New members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) are being offered two months’ free membership this year. Existing members who move onto a direct debit will also benefit from the deal. The NGO defends and promotes both gamekeeping and deer management and members receive benefits including third-party insurance up to £10 million and big discounts on trade products. The NGO will be at various events across the country this year, starting at the Great British Shooting Show at the NEC in Birmingham from 14 to16 February. To find out more about the deal, visit www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk…

Of all the species of mammal that occur across the world, few can deny the success of the brown rat. Travelling with man as he migrated across the planet and learning to live alongside him, it has spread from its probable origins in China and Mongolia to almost every corner of the world. With only a few rare exceptions, it exists as a mostly unwelcome neighbour just about anywhere that we are able to live. Love the brown rat or, more likely, loathe it, it is adaptable, intelligent and highly social, and has to be acknowledged as the most successful of the mammal species alongside humans. Origins In Britain, the brown rat was first recorded around 1730. It quickly supplanted the black rat, a smaller animal that had arrived here…

This is great fun, acquiring a few add-ons you will need. You probably have bought a gun-slip and cleaning kit with your gun, so I won’t feature these, although they are essential. You will also benefit from: • Skeet vest — these come in all sorts of styles and are widely available • Gloves — I like to wear gloves in the cold weather, and for grip at other times. I prefer the thin type that allow me to load easily • Cartridge bag — some clay shooters put their kit in a holdall-type bag but I tend to use a dedicated leather cartridge bag for its specific purpose • Ear defenders — there are two basic types: those that fit inside your ears and those fit outside, often referred…

If you are fortunate enough to have someone who can help you with training, you still need to plan. Paying heed to what I have said about colours and contrast; if you are going to use a dummy thrower think about the background. If you have a lot of trees of bushes behind the thrower, the dog may not be able to see the dummy clearly. To start with, try to use a clear skyline and get your dummy thrower to launch the dummy high in the air so it stands out clearly against the sky. You don’t want to use a light-coloured dummy for the retrieve, a dark or two-tone one will stand out far better. Remember, at this stage it is all about helping the dog to gain…

Ah, the dreaded summer itch. Seasonal allergies are common among dogs and their duration depends on which pollens individuals are allergic to. Those unfortunate enough to react to alder, hazel or yew pollens, for example, can start itching in late winter and many grasses, oil seed rape, nettles and docks will continue to pollinate through to early October. Don’t forget that allergies are often inherited, but there are a variety of ways to mitigate the problem. Immunotherapy “Seasonal allergies are common among dogs and their duration depends on the individual” Effective in around 60% of patients, immunotherapy (or hyposensitisation) requires blood or skin testing to identify the pollens involved. An aqueous solution of these pollens is then produced and injected regularly in small doses under the skin. Eventually (usually after…

Originally invented as a way to make a Beef Wellington pocketable, the shooter’s sandwich is a wonderful thing. A terrine of sorts, made by hollowing out a loaf of bread, filling it up with goodies and pressing it overnight to be tucked into tomorrow. This recipe is intended to be made with leftovers, perhaps from a bacchanalian game feast, but just as easily from a Sunday roast, Christmas dinner, or indeed, from cooking other recipes in this lovely book. SHOOTER’S SANDWICH Ingredients Makes one massive sandwich • One crusty loaf; could be sourdough, doesn’t have to be (same goes with a roll if you’re going mini) • Your favourite condiment: I used Dijon mustard • About 400g leftover cooked meat; I used confit partridge (my favourite of the game birds)…

If you grew up in the 1980s you will remember the Rambo knife. Back in those days it was possible to sell what are now classed as offensive weapons to children and this knife was a favourite among us youngsters. It had a serrated edge to saw through branches and bone, a compass on the hilt, a fishing line and hook inside the hollow handle and some sewing thread (who would have thought Rambo would be into needlework?). It sounded great. If you were stranded behind enemy lines you could catch a fish, find your way home and do a bit of embroidery to pass the time. The only thing was that all these things were useless. Even the blade of the knife was blunt and never held an edge.…

It’s the time of year where you end every shoot day with soggy tweeds, chilly toes and mud where you didn’t think it was even possible for mud to get. And what about your gun? If it’s anything like mine it’s been subjected to heavy rain, howling winds and dirty, wet gun slips. My gun is already booked in for a full strip-and-clean service once the season is over, as this is a vital part of gun maintenance, but I wanted to know what I should be doing at the end of each shoot. Is there a basic cleaning routine that could help protect my gun and keep it in better overall condition? I wanted to get a professional opinion, so I went to visit Ian Sweetman, renowned craftsman and…

A while back we featured the Browning B25, a stalwart with a pedigree stretching back to 1926 and still considered by many to be the jewel in the company’s crown. The B25 was expensive to manufacture and beyond the pockets of many mainstream shooters, though, so Browning looked to produce a new gun for the mass market. It came in the form of the Citori. It was built for Browning in Japan by Miroku and drew heavily in the classic B25 design. Crucially, it came with a lower price tag and ever since the first examples became available in 1973 it has been tremendously successful. The Citori has won any number of awards and is said by some to be the most popular range of over-and-under shotguns ever made. Early…

Was it the birds, the Guns, the beaters and pickers-up, or a combination of all of these? I was pondering this question as I drove back from North Wales recently. I’d had a great stay at the Wynnstay Hotel in Machynlleth and then went on a shoot nearby (more of this in a later issue). The food at the hotel was fantastic and that helped make my stay enjoyable. But what made that driven shoot so good? At the tail-end of the season there wasn’t a huge amount of birds about, but I shot a couple of fairly high pheasants on the first drive, which to my gratification fell like stones. If I hadn’t hit another bird that day it wouldn’t have mattered. A clean kill with one shot where…

8 February BASC Northern Ireland Range Day Baronscourt Range, Newtonstewart, Omagh 14 – 16 February The Great British Shooting Show NEC, Birmingham shootingshow.co.uk 20 February Young shots day Sporting Targets, Bedfordshire 22 February Ladies Clay Shooting Day Dovey Valley Shooting Ground, Machynlleth, Powys 28 February Gunsmiths’ evening The Jockey Club, Newmarket, Suffolk 9 March Introduction to woodpigeon shooting West Kent Shoot School, Paddock Wood, Kent March 21 – 22 Holts Auction of Modern and Antique Guns Church Farm Barns, Wolferton,Norfolk holtsauctioneers.com…

The British Shooting Show kicks off a year of trade and retail events when it returns to the NEC in Birmingham over the weekend of February 14 to 16. Leading manufacturers will be among the 600 exhibitors present to highlight their latest equipment and launch new products. There will also be trade stands with smaller specialist companies promoting their wares. Visitors will have the opportunity to handle guns of all shapes and sizes and try optics and accessories. In addition, there will be stands of artisans demonstrating crafts such as engraving and barrel making. For those interested in air rifles, there is a 60-lane range to test your prowess and the equipment. For more details and tickets go to shootingshow.co.uk…

Will Garfit is adept at creating something rather special from a blank canvas. Those not possessed of such a talent can only marvel at those who see beauty in something unprepossessing and then have the skill and determination to realise that vision. Vision It was that vision that prompted the young Will Garfit to act on a hunch and buy a 69-acre abandoned gravel pit while he was still an art student. That was in 1970 and those who have been lucky enough to enjoy the shoot and land at Hauxton Pits in Cambridgeshire over the past 50 years owe Will’s understanding bank manager, who agreed to lend him the £8,250 required (a little more than Will had bargained for and “money I didn’t have”), a debt of gratitude, along…

“The ethos is sustainability, something we could all learn from” Guns can become overly excited when looking at adverts for or videos of super high or (latest buzzword) ‘extreme’ pheasants. Anybody involved in shooting could name plenty of well-known shoots. These shoots may be renowned for the height of their birds, their location or the fact that they focus on a country pile. It could be said that these shoots are the ‘film stars’ of the shooting world. There is nothing wrong with this but up and down the country there are many small, DIY shoots that are the backbone of our sport and probably don’t receive the recognition they deserve. Craven Farm shoot near the pretty village of Stillington in North Yorkshire is one such. It is a true…

Ingredients 1 onion, chopped 1 leek, finely sliced 50g butter 110g minced venison 140ml/ 1/4 pint stock 1 tbsp tomato purée 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 25g flour '2 soft bread rolls Extra butter for frying Method Melt the butter in a frying pan and fry the onions and leek until soft. Remove from the pan and add the venison. Fry until almost cooked then return the onion mixture to the pan. Add the stock, tomato purée, seasoning and nutmeg and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Blend the flour with a little cold water, add this to the pan and stir well until the mixture thickens. Cut the rolls in half and scoop out the insides. Fry the cases in butter until they are golden brown, drain well and then fill…

DISTRIBUTION: Thought to have originated in northern China, though now common worldwide with the exception of Antarctica and parts of the Arctic uninhabited by man UKDISTRIBUTION: Widespread, particularly close to human habitation IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern OTHERNAMES: Norway rat, Hanover rat, common rat, wharf rat, street rat, sewer rat and more COLLECTIVENOUN: Pack, plague, rats or swarm FOOD: Fully omnivorous and will eat anything, although cereals are an important food item. Will predate the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds and has been known to deliberately hunt small fish and birds as large as ducks HABITAT: Mostly linked to man-made environments, otherwise prefers damp habitats such as riverbanks BREEDING: Can become sexually mature from as young as five weeks, breeds all year round and produces as many as…

Age 47 months Well, that’s about it for another shooting season. We have finished all our rough-shooting days and just have a couple of beaters’ days to look forward to. I have been reflecting on how Ted has performed over the past year. The most notable improvement has been in his hunting, which I am sure is down to the amount of beating I have been doing with him. That said, he will no doubt have to have a bit of a refresher in the coming months. There is a phenomenon in the gundog world called January Dog Syndrome ( JDS), whereby your normally well-behaved and well-trained dog seems to forget everything it has been taught and takes on a life of its own. Lapse Ted is normally 100% reliable…

Of course! Don’t forget the cheap, easy, basic stuff: • Reduce other allergens (house dust mite, food) • Don’t let dogs on beds or furniture • Avoid exercising when pollen count is high • Wash pollens from the coat after exercising • Try a simple outside shower attachment • Avoid exercising in long grass • Consider the placement of plants next to windows/kennels • Try hypoallergenic bedding (plastic basket, vetbed) I do hope this summer is less itchy for your dog and less scratchy for you as a result.…

FRAN ARDLEY GUNDOGS Owner of Tarncrag Gundog Training, with more than 10 years’ experience. 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 plant expert and is the Midlands and Eastern adviser at Bright Seeds.…

RABBITS Look sharp What characteristics do you look for in a knife to gut a rabbit? Ed says: I lose knives regularly and the one I have at the moment has been used as screwdriver and is now lacking a point but is still doing a job. It does have a serrated edge, which can be useful if cutting them up for other animals. For gutting I would say a sharp, short-bladed knife such as an Opinel is good. Remember, we get accustomed to a certain knife, the way it feels and the knack of using it. VETERINARY Solution to digestive nerves My Labrador passes frequent, soft, jelly-like stools on working days. Is there anything I can do to deal with this? Neil says: This sounds like a lower bowel…

Percussion Normandie Jacket, trousers and gilet This season, I have been dashing across the country and on every shoot I see people wearing Percusion gear. In Scotland, England and Wales (I’ve not had the pleasure of going to Northern Ireland yet) this affordable brand seems to be the garment of choice for many shooters, beaters and pickers-up. There is good reason for this. I’ve been wearing the Percussion Normandie 3-in-1 suit for two seasons now for all my sporting activities, whether that’s beating, shooting on a walked-up day or for driven shooting. The jacket is comfortable, well cut and waterproof. It has been tested in heavy rain and performed well. In warm weather the coat can be vented by opening the pit zips and the breathable lining does a reasonable…

• Made from a soft 100% brushed polyester tricot, laminated for a fully durable, noiseless outer material • Treatment – DWR to repel excess water and dirt and prevent stains • YKK zipper for a sturdy, reliable fastener • Membrane – Deer-Tex Performance shell is Deerhunter’s own high quality waterproof membrane with a five-year membrane warranty • Taped seams for full 100% waterproofness • Thornproof outer for stalking in rough ground…

FOR SALE GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and model Benelli Silver 828 Choke Multi Calibre 12-bore Barrel 30in over-and-under Price £1,895 CONTACT DETAILS Name Mick Henson Tel 07795103658 County Dorset GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and model Winchester SXP Wildfowler Choke ¼, ½, ¾ Calibre 12-bore Barrel 30in Price £300 CONTACT DETAILS Name Alun Oddie Tel 07921 524518 County Cumbria GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and model Browning B725 Choke Multi Calibre 12-bore Barrel 30in (small stock) Price £1,300 ono CONTACT DETAILS Name David Burns Tel 07955 888972 County Cheshire (Wirral) GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and model AYA Choke Fixed Calibre 12-bore Barrel 25in side-by-side Price £650 CONTACT DETAILS Name Chris Hamer Tel 01495 224251 County Monmouthshire GUN TYPE: SHOTGUN Make and model Armsan A612 semi-auto Choke Multi Calibre 12-bore Barrel 28in Price…