Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Sporting Gun

Woodie wisdom Woodpigeons are a wiley adversary and myths on how to shoot them are abundant. Peter Theobald applies his decades of experience to this type of pest control. His first piece of advice is to stop thinking that there is a magic decoy pattern. There isn’t one. Instead, concentrate on reconnaissance and look for flightlines and pigeon activity in fields where you shoot. Next, check the weather and then build your hide near where your intelligence leads you to believe the pigeons will start feeding. This can mean having a hide in the middle of a field. Do this and your effectiveness as a crop protector could well improve. Find out more on Page 26…

DNA dogs Dog owners in the south-west will be able to have their animal added to a national DNA database. Avon and Somerset Police have taken a lead from their Gloucestershire force neighbours and facilitated a dog swab testing kit opportunity for owners to register their dogs. The kits cost £74.99 from dnaprotected.co.uk. In the event of theft, such evidence will be incontrovertible. Gamekeeping help The Raise the Game initiative has been launched by the Gamekeepers Welfare Trust and this year has welcomed two more partners on board – the British Deer Society and British Game Assurance. The scheme aims to support gamekeepers and their families. Ladies smash it A mixture of experienced and novice Shots recently competed in West London Shooting School’s Ladies Course Competition. Adèle Standard took first…

The Game Fair at Ragley Hall is set to be one of the best yet. The three-day event, running from 29 to 31 July, will showcase all the things we love about the country and will celebrate our many country pursuits, both new and old. This year, for the first time ever, Sporting Gun readers get two free tickets worth up to £70 in total when they subscribe to the magazine before the event. See page 16 for details. If you already have tickets, then you can still get a great deal when you subscribe at the event. You can save up to £27.76 on a subscription and get a free pair of House of Cheviot shooting socks or a bottle of sloe or damson gin. Just make your way…

I like to use an assortment of different gear to aid my shooting adventures. The goal for carrying and deploying the kit is to encourage birds within range and to conceal my location. I also have plenty of other items that will assist the day and help in the event of running into an issue or something not quite going to plan. One boon of summer shooting is using an off-road vehicle to drive to the ambush location, helped by the firmer ground. The 4x4 allows me to bring lots of equipment to provide various decoying options. My summer outings are civilised compared with wildfowling, where the challenge is to condense the kit to yomp it to the objective under my own steam. And if you only have the option…

Phil Gray came to win it all – and he did. He topped the podium in the Sporting event, claimed his Blaser F16, then almost accidentally won the Pool Shoot for a healthy cash payout and a pair of Pilla glasses. He made the Classic look easy, but his path to the top was not. Phil had to tackle Paul Murgatroyd’s tactical target setting, and hundreds of other competitors all hungry for success. Setting Dan Martin, who organised the event with his team at Orston, explains the route Sporting competitors had to take to reach the podium. “First, there was a qualifying round, of two 75-target courses,” he said, “a red and a blue for a total of 150 targets. The top five competitors from each class and category were…

Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert Regrettably, it is most likely that your dog is suffering from a seasonal pollen allergy (SPA). While humans that are affected by hay fever sneeze, wheeze and get red, runny, itchy eyes, our canine companions suffer with itchy skin. Seasonal pollen allergy SPA is caused by an inherited predisposition to develop hypersensitivity-mediated skin disease against environmental allergens. Quite why it occurs we do not know. After all, there is no benefit to the body mounting such an extreme reaction to harmless pollens. The chemical reactions that result in itching, or pruritus, are complicated and rather bewildering. Suffice to say that SPA is associated with the dysregulation of cytokine production and aberrant T-cells, which results in the release of inflammatory substances, including histamine…

Picky about the crop I’m glad to see that Peter Theobald and Tom Sykes are still protecting farmers’ crops from the ravages of wood pigeons and corvids. In my area, the ‘old guard’ of pigeon shooters have been noticeable by their absence of late. A couple of farmers I know were recently commenting about the lack of interest shown by pigeon shooters who had formerly raced to their assistance when the birds were working on their crops. I have also spoken with several keen pigeon shooters who said that their decoys had largely been redundant this spring. They said that the increasing expense of ammunition and no market for their bag (local game dealers are not, apparently, prepared to pay for wood pigeons at present) only encourages them to stay…

I am new to shooting and hope to soon buy my own gun now my shotgun certificate has arrived. I read that I must buy a gun that fits me and have been told that if I intend using fibre-wad cartridges, I should consider a gun with a shorter forcing cone. Is that correct? Richard says: Forcing cones exist to help make the transition of the shot charge from the cartridge to the barrel bore, being a tapered cone from the chamber diameter to the smaller bore diameter. Cones were almost always ‘short’ (under 25mm long) when felt and fibre were the main wad materials. More recently, gunmakers have been making cones longer as plastic wads can expand much better than fibre wads and have the potential to improve patterns.…

We have a dog that runs riot on our small syndicate shoot. He does not come to the whistle and once a bird flies he is off after it, sometimes going through what is the next drive. I have offered to do some training with him after the season. What do you suggest? Fran says: This is not an unusual situation and it sounds as though the dog has discovered the joys of ‘free hunting’. That is to say he is hunting and chasing for himself, rather than the handler. There are a number of issues here. The first is that the dog is obviously not on the stop whistle, probably the most important control command with a gundog. I would suggest this dog needs to go right back to…

What do you do with the pigeons that are too badly shot for human consumption? Do you use them as decoys? Peter says: I have often wondered what people who advocate using full choke for decoyed pigeons do with the birds they ‘pillowcase’ at 20 yards. You see it in game shooting videos where the bird is so close the pellets can be seen to pass straight through. I use quarter choke in both barrels for pigeon shooting, which is effective out to 45 to 50 yards. I have no ambition to take on birds beyond that distance and by improving my decoying skills, I have no need to. So, the short answer is that I never smash birds too badly for human consumption.…

One of the biggest upheavals to the way we conduct our shooting is unfolding before our eyes. The move away from lead ammunition continues to confound and divide those within the sport, with many left wondering how it will affect them and concerned as to what equipment they will be able to use. How many times has the question been asked: “Will my gun be OK with steel shot cartridges?” I’m sure that it will be asked many more times. The many forums on social media make it clear that there are still a great many people only just becoming aware of what is going on. Sporting Gun tries to assist readers work their way through this minefield of concerns and put things in some perspective. The situation is a…

CHARLES SMITH-JONES SAYS: “This is an attractive gun which was well respected and much sought after in its time” A Winchester gun may have its origins in one of several countries despite the all-American image. Oliver Winchester’s original firm founded in 1866 has long since disappeared in a succession of takeovers. It went into receivership in 1931 and was acquired by the Western Cartridge Company, which later became the Olin Corporation. Olin manufactures ammunition bearing the Winchester name but the Herstal Group’s subsidiaries, FN Herstal in Belgium and the Browning Arms Company of Utah, also produce Winchester firearms under licence. The 101 Game gun is an example of one of many models produced by the prolific Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The wide range of guns based on the Winchester 101…

I return to the subject of air rifles again this month with a look at three collectable models. All share a common theme in that when they were designed by their respective manufacturer they almost certainly all had the theme of military training in mind. In the end only one was ever used as a military trainer, but more of that later. Webley “The Germans were great fans of training rifles and had a number of models in their stable” The first rifle probably needs no introduction as it is probably one of the most famous British air rifles ever produced. I hazard that most people with even only a passing interest in airguns will have heard of – the Webley & Scott MKII Service. The name is a bit…

This year we are working with The Game Fair to offer two free tickets when you subscribe to Sporting Gun before the event on 29 to 31 July. If you have already bought your tickets, or get free entry through BASC, then you can come and see us on the stand and subscribe there. This year we are offering a free pair of House of Cheviot shooting socks, or some sloe gin with each subscription. You can also save up to £27 and get your magazine delivered to the door. We also hope you will come and meet the team over the three days of The Game Fair. It is always nice to get your feedback and hear what you want to see in the magazine and read on our…

The Game Fair takes place this year amid a particularly uncertain time for British society and the wider world. Lest we need reminding, there is the war in Ukraine, with all its implications, including food shortages because it is a major wheat producer, and the resultant refugees – all of whom need to be fed. At home, there is a febrile political atmosphere with a backdrop of industrial disputes. And there are supply chain issues causing shortages of goods, which have resulted in pushing up prices, giving us the so-called cost-of-living crisis. But for many – far too many – the cost of living has been a crisis long before it became the latest political catchphrase. This is where the Country Food Trust (CFT) and other food poverty charities it…

People are often surprised when I tell them that Paul and I seldom have difficulty in getting pigeons to respond favourably to our set-ups. More often than not, they immediately ask me what pattern we employ. Familiar The fact is that pigeons do not feed in any kind of recognisable pattern. And, in any case, the shape of your layout is the least important aspect of a successful day. By all means, try to create a situation where incoming birds present the easiest shot, either by leaving gaps in the pattern for them to head for, or by positioning the decoys not too far from your hide. Just remember, most of the work involved in a decent day has already been done long before we arrive at the field to…

There we were minding our own business and setting up the range for the annual skills test mentioned above when the squatter was spotted. A blue tit had decided that the shot holes in one of our shooting butts were the perfect place to raise this year’s brood. It is an ideal spot, sheltered, filled with sand and safe from any predators. Just a little inconvenient for us, as that is one butt we can’t use until the youngsters have fledged. It is a great sight, though. I dread to think what a rude awakening they would have had if we hadn’t spotted them.…

Of all the wild ducks that visit our shores the pintail has to be one of the most handsome. Robert Ruark’s ‘Old Man’ described it as “the best-looking duck in the business”. Slightly larger than a mallard, the drake is unmistakably elegant with his chocolate brown head, white neck and grey flanks while the long black central tail feathers that give him his name make up about a quarter of his overall body length. The duck is, as in most waterfowl, a less striking mottled brown but is just as easy to distinguish, being more slender and agile with a noticeably pointed tail. Both ride higher in the water than most ducks and have a very distinctive profile. In Hampshire, one traditional name is the sea pheasant, taken from the…

Barbury Shooting School DISCIPLINES English Sporting, Skeet, simulated game, an 85ft tower and FITASC and Compak events. ADDITIONAL FACILITIES A cafe, gunroom and sporting agency. MOBILITY Pathways and car park are lightly gravelled. Most stands are on flat ground and the clubhouse is wheelchair accessible. WHEN IS IT OPEN? Monday-Friday, 9am-4.30pm Saturday, 9am-3pm Sunday and Bank Holidays, 9am-12pm. PRACTICE ROUNDS A Claymate system is available across all sporting stands. Clays are 41p or 33p for members. Caddies from £10. TUITION Adult lessons from £85 per hour, excluding clays and cartridges. MEMBERSHIP Annual membership from £85 with reduced rates on practice sessions, tuition and events. Hire guns or store own for free. DESCRIPTION Tucked into a quiet corner of the North Wessex Downs, Barbury Shooting School offers a wide variety of…

There are many factors that come into play when running a successful game shoot. They include vermin control, cover crops, maintenance and the relationship with the Guns – be they syndicate members or roving Guns. All must work together if the shoot is to gain a good reputation. Among the myriad tasks of a gamekeeper is the siting and upkeep of release pens. When it comes to siting pens, Mike Appleby likes, where possible, to build pens on well-drained ground and facing south, so they will get lots of sunlight. It is fine to site the pen on a gentle slope, but it is best to avoid steep slopes. A steep incline aids the poults in flying over the fencing, which is not ideal in their first few days –…

May has been a slow month for pigeons, unless you’re lucky enough to have peas to shoot over. There are still a few patches of rape but the flock has moved on to pastures new and easier pickings. So I find myself waiting to see if we have any storms that will provide some laid corn to tempt the birds back. I also find myself trawling through my memory thinking about some of my favourite days in the hide. I hazard that for most shooters breaking the 100 mark is always a day that sticks in the mind and I’m no exception. It was my 16th birthday and a Saturday when a little bit of fortune came my way. That spring I started working at Six Mile Bottom in Cambridgeshire…

I am sure we have all witnessed the scenario on a shoot day when a dog is sent for a retrieve, picks a bird and then runs over to another bird, drops the first then picks-up the second. It’s even worse if the first bird is a runner and the dog drops it as he decides to collect a dead one. The pricked bird then runs off and the dog drops the dead one to chase after the runner. It is mayhem and, believe me, if it is your dog performing the ‘swapsy’ game, you will not be able to dig a big enough hole quick enough. On a more serious note, it is a really annoying habit, especially if you are picking-up. Imagine you have marked your birds down…

Lots, actually, and basic, simple things include: • Reduce other allergens (house dust mites, fleas, food and so on) • Don’t let dogs on beds or furniture • Avoid exercising when pollen count is high • Wash pollens from the coat after exercising • Try using a simple outside shower attachment • Avoid exercising in long grass • Consider the placement of plants next to windows or kennels • Try hypoallergenic bedding and wash it regularly (use a plastic basket and Vetbed)…

A friend recently had a young labrador diagnosed with exercise-induced collapse. I am about to purchase a puppy. How will I know if it will be affected? Neil says: Exercise-induced collapse (EIC) is a condition associated with exercise intolerance and collapse in labradors aged between seven months and two years. Weakness of the limbs, a rocking gait, foreleg extension and ataxia of the hind limbs are seen after five to 20 minutes of strenuous exercise, which might explain why it is more common in field-trialling dogs. EIC seems to be temperature-dependent and affected dogs have a raised body temperature during bouts. The cause is a mutation of the dynamin 1 gene (DNM1), which has been found in labradors, Chesapeake Bay and curlycoated retrievers, Welsh Pembroke corgis and some labrador crosses.…

Hicks & Brown Aldeburgh fedora This fedora offers classic style, protection from the sun and comfort. Crafted from paper straw, it is lightweight and features subtle finishing touches of guinea and pheasant feathers with Hicks & Brown’s signature pin. It is available in the natural colour pictured, with either a brown or black ribbon. It also comes in cream with the same colour ribbon choice. Price £74.00; hicksandbrown.com Holland Cooper jodhpur jean White jeans are a bit like Marmite, but the Holland Cooper jodhpur jeans are a wardrobe game changer. They take inspiration from the classic jodhpur and provide the perfect blend of style and comfort. Finished with the signature Holland Cooper gold hardware, they come in a selection of colours. Price £99.00; hollandcooper.com Schöffel Sunningdale shirt The relaxed fit…

Some time ago, Blast from the Past looked at the venerable Brno Model 2, a real workhorse of a small-bore rifle that started production in the 1950s. Rugged, unpretentious and dependable, the Model 2 changed its name and was updated when Brno rebranded to CZ. The CZ 452 is much the same rifle, but has evolved into a number of variants. Production finally ceased in 2011 when CZ replaced the 452 with its newer 455, continuing to manufacture only one 452 model – the American – in a left-hand version for a few more years. Similarities All of the 452 variants have common features, such as a carbon steel barrel threaded into the receiver frame. Later production models feature hammer-forged barrels, a manufacturing process using the directed blows of a…

UK scientists in bird flu initiative Leading scientists in the UK are to join forces in a major initiative in the battle against bird flu. The avian influenza H5N1 virus that has gripped the UK, France and other parts of continental Europe has been one of the most devastating outbreaks in recent years. So much so that many shoots have either abandoned plans for the forthcoming season or severely curtailed them, as we have reported in Sporting Gun. Now Defra has announced that it will oversee a consortium of British scientists who will work together in the hope of finding new ways to contain future outbreaks. The eight-strong consortium is headed by the world-leading research team at the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and has received £1.5 million from…

Why would BASC challenge the UK REACH proposals when it seems to have accepted that steel shot is the way forward? A voluntary move away from lead shot for live quarry shooting, with steel shot as one of the alternatives, does not mean we should not fight restrictions being imposed on us, especially when they attempt to impose one-size-fits-all restrictions on all outdoor recreational uses of lead ammunition. Most of the proposals are not evidence-based and, on lead shot for live quarry shooting, the timescales are too short. Steel shot is among a number of lead alternatives that ammunition manufacturers have been producing and improving on for decades – the catalyst in the UK being restrictions on the use of lead shot for wildfowl and/or wetlands that came into effect…

Many thought that by leaving the European Union the UK would be freed from the shackles of mega-state bureaucracy and win back the ability to set its own laws. In short, paddle our own canoe again. Well … Yes, small gains have been made since we cast adrift from the Continent, but as the potentially game-changing lead shot review being undertaken by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) clearly proves, we’re still merrily dancing to the union’s tune. All thanks to agreements and protocols signed during our term of membership. Warning OK, we knew the review was coming because two years ago the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) along with eight other countryside organisations kindly announced on our behalf a five-year, voluntary move away from lead shot for…

The glorious roe rut will be alive next month. Proceedings start around mid-July and rise to the peak later in the month and into the first weeks of August. That said, rutting behaviour may be seen earlier and although it is seen on one estate, it doesn’t follow that it is happening to the same intensity elsewhere. The action can vary even on estates that are not far apart. Catching it is all about being on the ground and keeping one’s eyes open for the signs. I have witnessed rutting activity at the end of June (very early) and as late as 29 August (not that unusual). One thing is for certain: when a single doe comes into season (oestrus) it will start to heat up and the woods and…

Ingredients 2 venison sirloin steaks 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce 1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks 2 onions, cut into chunks 6 bamboo skewers Method 1 Cut the steaks into 1in cubes, or bigger if you prefer. 2 Place in a bowl and cover with the sweet chilli sauce. Make sure each piece of meat is well covered,then leave to marinate for at least half an hour, longer if possible. 3 Soak the skewers in water as this stops them burning as the meat cooks. 4 When you are ready to eat, thread the meat and vegetables on to the skewers in any order you like. I like alternating meat, onion and meat, and pepper. 5 You can cook these straight on the barbecue or, if it’s a…

DISTRIBUTION: Widespread, breeding across much of the Palearctic, including northern Europe and North America. Migrates to overwinter well to the south of its breeding range, as far as the equator. IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least concern, but numbers are decreasing. HABITAT: Breeds on open unwooded wetlands. In winter it mainly inhabits sheltered estuaries, brackish marshes and coastal lagoons. FOOD: A dabbling duck that feeds predominantly on plant material such as seeds and the rhizomes of aquatic plants during winter. Its longer neck allows it to reach items other ducks cannot. During nesting season its diet will also include aquatic insects, crustaceans and molluscs. BREEDING: Pairs are typically formed during spring migration, groups of males pursuing the female in flight until just one is left. Breeding takes place between April and…

In the late 1800s, the NRA moved from its original home on Wimbledon Common to Bisley, where it created a new capital for great British shooting. More than a century later, Bisley is home to the CPSA’s headquarters, the British Army’s Target Shooting Teams, Bisley Shooting Ground and, for the past 20 years, the National Clay Shooting Centre (NCSC). “The NCSC was built as a world-class Skeet and Trap complex for the 2002 Commonwealth Games,” says manager Oliver Jones. “Today, our instantly recognisable skyline of white canopies covers a line of state-of-the-art layouts that cater for shooters of all abilities. “We offer more than 90 Promatic machines across our range of Trap and Skeet disciplines, and everything is fully automated. We have top-of-the-range computer-controlled scoring, trap sequencing and acoustic release…

I had a call the other day from a mate who is a very experienced shooter. What he wanted to know was basic, but something he hadn’t had to think about for years. He’d got a job on in which he was going to have to shoot a fox right in among some farm buildings, so wanted a reminder as to where he should aim. Full credit to him for asking – far better to do so than risk missing or wounding an animal. Although the majority of hunters are relatively competent at the ranges their rifles are intended for, it’s surprising how few really know where to position the crosshairs when their quarry unexpectedly appears at a very close distance. Some will aim straight on, others will hold high,…

For the first time in 40 years of owning dogs I find myself in the slightly daunting position of being able to choose a new addition to the canine Ridley family. All our previous dogs have come to us, to some degree at least, by default in that a puppy was the only dog or bitch in a particular litter. That said, I have been lucky enough to be able to choose the breeding that I was looking for, if not the individual pup. However, despite my limited choice, they have all turned out to be brilliant working and family dogs. With the arrival of our first home-bred litter of cocker puppies I have had the opportunity to watch six youngsters grow and develop. It has been hard work but…

When I was growing up, I used to see loads of rabbits with myxomatosis. These days I hardly see any with that dreadful disease. Are rabbits becoming immune to it? Ed says: I see very little myxomatosis to concern me as a rabbit controller. There are various strains of the disease and each will have a different effect on a population. I think the main threat to a rabbit with this disease is being an easy target for predators as opposed to the disease itself.…

I always enjoyed watching your shooting videos on YouTube and want to film some days myself. What is the best way to do it? Tom says: It is amazing how far technology has come in a few short years and most of us now have an HD camera in our pocket. Filming the action from a day is a great way to capture the moment forever and enable you to share it with friends and, if you are so inclined, on social media. For best results when filming on your own, I would recommend a GoPro and a ShotKam. They can be used to create fantastic little films with ease and a little post-editing. GoPro quality is now unbelievable but often a little too wide angle to see the quarry…

Icouldn’t resist asking Longthorne for a second gun to try. This time a standard – if you can call anything ‘standard’ from Longthorne – actioned piece. Where do I start with this stunning, 100% English-made beauty? My full-time job, as a lot of you know, is being a shooting coach and my part-time job is reviewing guns. How lucky am I? The gun I tested here is a Longthorne 12-bore, 32in barrelled, sidelock. What is a sidelock, you ask? Or a boxlock or trigger-plate for that matter? When choosing a gun to test, I try to find a new model that has been recently released or something a bit different or unusual. Or I will go for an everyday gun that readers might be considering. Oh, and I may just…