Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2020 i Shooting Gazette

So here we all are in September and the start of the partridge shooting season. I have my fingers firmly crossed that we will all be enjoying some fine weather once it’s time to take to our pegs: goodness knows we deserve it. Wherever you are going for your sport and however you prefer your quarry presented, I hope that you have a fantastic season. Our shoot feature this month comes from Cold Aston in Gloucestershire. Chris Warren headed there last season and came away with a fantastic insight into how a young and ambitious team has taken this partridge paradise a long way since it arrived just over a decade ago. Turn to page 18 for more details. Roderick Emery throws up an interesting question or two in his…

Swazi Apparel has raised $10,000 NZD for the New Zealand Tahr Foundation in a bid to help fight government plans to cull thousands of Himalayan tahr in the country’s national parks. Swazi ran raffles to win eight of its high-performance Tahr Anoraks, with all funds raised going to support the foundation. “We are seeing a worldwide trend in anti-hunting groups and governments taking away hunters’ privileges,” said Swazi’s founder, Davey Hughes. “The latest move by the New Zealand minister of conservation to drastically cull tahr, without due consultation, was not control work but indeed more akin to overt eradication. We knew we needed to fight back, so along with Swazi customers, we believed the best way to do that was to support the New Zealand Tahr Foundation, a key organisation…

Practise visualisation: Imagine your dream as a reality – picture all the different aspects and how they all work together. Your business will evolve with time, but ensure you stay focused on your long-term goals. Establishing a clay shoot, in any form, is hard graft. Social media has a knack of omitting an over-biased sense of glamour, and indeed, there are many wonderful moments. The reality, however, is a little different. Be prepared for hard work and investment, with a bit of grit and grime thrown in. Don’t be completely driven by money: In time this will appear as the by-product of a successful business. Be kind — you’re only as good as your last client. Remember, you’re now part of what’s called ‘the service industry’. Front of house is…

This dream team would be ready for the first Saturday in January. The Christmas decorations are on their way down and my tweeds are a little tight, but I’m glad of the extra fat for warmth as it’s a really frosty but dry, bright day. We are shooting partridges and pheasants on Yattendon Estate in Berkshire. Joining me is my late father Alan. A gamekeeper for years, he gave me my great love of country life, but in the end didn’t enjoy shooting himself. I know he’d be standing next to me with my dogs and would want to see the day. Following my father is Matt Hance. He has encouraged me in my shooting and given me confidence. He chats a lot, doesn’t eat a thing, drinks far too…

In September my thoughts turn to wildfowl, to early season flights and walked-up outings on the farm and down into the marshes where the brackish Solway backwaters flood. This seems to have been a good season for mallard, and there were big broods of young from the end of April to midsummer. Conditions were extremely dry in the spring and local rivers shrank to a trickle. The ducklings emerged to find the wide channel of the stream had broken up into a delta of rivulets and islands where the weed lay mouldy and dull in the sunshine. There was a nasty smell as much of this vegetation began to rot and decomposition brought on a flush of insects and flies. It was fun to watch the ducklings gathering invertebrates and…

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It all started with Simon MacGillivray, a fellow pigeon shooting enthusiast who lives near Glasgow and who very kindly invites me to join him for a day or two decoying on stubbles in the area. This fitted in well as a great start to my annual migration north at that time of year prior to meeting Henry for our father and son trip to Aberdeenshire. South-west Scotland catches more than its share of rain and last year it was even wetter than usual, which made harvest all the more difficult. However, by early September, some of the winter barleys had been cut a week before my arrival and, as luck would have it, the forecast was for three consecutive days of dry, sunny weather. A second-hand cold store had just…

Given the disruption to our routines over the past few months, it’s been difficult for many of us to find balance in our lives. I have buried my head in books and magazines of all kinds since 23 March, their themes as varied as fell running, rock climbing and sports psychology. I am currently reading Make It Happen by Victoria Knowles-Lacks, founder of the Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club, which charts her very personal journey in changing her mindset to achieve a sound work-life balance. During his address to graduates of Exeter University in 2008, the late comedian Rik Mayall said that “change is a constant of life, so you must never, ever lose your wisdom”. I am certain that wisdom is something that has helped us all through these…

Rook and rabbit rifles were designed to fire at close ranges of between 50yds and 100yds, using small powder charges to ensure that the spent bullets did not travel too far. In addition, a great many shots might be fired, hence it was important that recoil was not a problem. There was a bewildering variety of rook cartridges on offer to the extent that many rook rifles had to have their calibres engraved upon them. The most common calibres were: .220 Long; 297/230; .297/230 Long; .297/250 (.295/250); .300 (.295); .360 No 5; and .380 Long. They were all loaded with blackpowder and sold in their hundreds of thousands. Fouling was always a problem on account of the large number of shots that could be fired. In the early 20th century,…

All was well on the 40ft tower with the Parallelo doing its job efficiently and handling exceptionally well as expected. The gun showed it has ambition for a trip to the grouse moor at the school's purpose-built butts where it demonstrated that it is more than up to the performance of others costing a lot more. Visits to the 80ft and 130ft towers proved the Parallelo is a true all-round gun with some great kills at some long targets with the trap pushed wide to the left and right. It will do the job on a formal driven shoot, walkedup or as a clay gun if you are keen to enter the annual side-by-side clay competitions.…

At the very opposite end of the motoring spectrum from the Polestar 2 is the Ineos Grenadier, which I speculated a little about last month. Well, I wasn’t too far off target and it really does look very much like an old Defender, while also promising some tasty bits of engineering by the people behind the G-Wagen and engines (including a lovely six-pot diesel) from BMW. The disappointing news is that it may be built at the old smart factory in France rather than next to the soon-to-close Ford plant in Bridgend. It’s not too late to fix that, Sir Jim……

£49.95 oxfordshirt.co.uk A new season calls for a new shirt, does it not? Oxford Shirt Company has been producing quality garments since 1989, and its shirts have been on our radar for a number of seasons. You can expect quality materials, contemporary design and minute attention to detail throughout its range, all for a more than reasonable cost. The Burford-based company knows what shooting folk expect from their garments on and off the peg, and that knowledge is delivered in spades so far as cut and durability are concerned. One shirt I purchased from the company a number of seasons ago is still going strong, which is more than can be said for another from a ‘rural retailer’, which was malformed and missing a button after just one wash. A…

Dog food manufacturer Skinner’s will be giving its products a new look from September. The brand refresh includes a new and contemporary logo and redesigned packaging of its Field & Trial range. Products will also now be sold in paper packaging as Skinner’s bids to reduce its carbon footprint. William Delamore of Skinner’s said: “The brand refresh is only the start of a new chapter for Skinner’s and over the coming months we will be launching some new products that will complement and enhance the Field & Trial range further and provide our customers and retailers with more choice and even better nutrition for their working dogs”.…

The Ancient Mariner rang. “I hear you’re looking for another dog,” he announced with a twinkle in his voice. “Do you want a proper dog this time?” Before I could say no thank you, he plunged on, “I know where there’s a lovely dog for sale – he’s four years old and fully trained. They only want £500 for him… I’ll send you some pics – he’s a really very handsome chap.” My phone pinged and there on the screen was a truly magnificent fox red lab. I’ve had three labs in my time and they’ve all been great companions and excellent picking-up dogs. One of my favourite memories is when, after a cracking right and left, my pair of labs delivered a brace of mallard. But I also remember…

How to win For your chance to win either a Pintail Explorer II smock (top right) or a Seasons jacket (right), email high-res images to martin.puddifer@futurenet.com. Please put ‘Gundog Picture of the Month’ in the subject line. The winner will be chosen by the Shooting Gazette judging panel. Good luck! The prize will only be posted to winners with a fixed UK postal address. THIS MONTH’S WINNER Meet Millie, the four-year-old springer spaniel who can be found beating and picking-up with her owner John Streak on their syndicate in South Devon.…

I would argue that nicking your neighbour’s birds, and indeed those of the next Gun down, in both jest and deadly earnest, are both as appropriate, and sometimes necessary, today as they have ever been. Don’t get me wrong, I am mortified on those occasions when I somehow manage to connect with that lovely high bird sliding diagonally on the wind, which starts well out to the right yet somehow, the moment you pull the trigger, is obviously the bird of the perfectly nice cove on your left. There are also times, though, when a spot of poaching adds hugely to your enjoyment of the day. As long as it is both completely safe and respectful to the quarry, there is nothing better than quietly dropping a few birds at…

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) has launched a series of YouTube films aimed at promoting the benefits of shooting sports. The videos cover a wide range of subjects, from working dogs and gamekeeping to woodland and moorland management, and involve organisations including the British Deer Society, the GWCT, the NGO Educational Trust and Bright Seeds. NGO development officers Tim Weston and John Clarke have been the driving force behind the films following the NGO’s successful showing at last year’s Countryfile Live. “We are thrilled by the positive response that we have received so far to our films,” said NGO chairman Liam Bell. “Few people outside the sporting community truly appreciate or understand what we do but these films really help to give vital insight on the many conservation benefits of…

I thought some comments and views about game shooting from New Zealand might be of interest to your readers who will be well aware of the strong cultural and sporting links between our two nations. We have had driven shooting on game preserves here in New Zealand for more than 20 years now after Kiwis returning from the UK or even UK expats set up shoots on our shores. In this country, Fish & Game is the main controlling authority and it has allowed shoots to be established to the benefit of all shooters and of course to the general benefit of nearby bird life with predators being controlled. All the ground predators are introduced species brought in for various reasons. Stoats and weasels were introduced to control a rabbit…

Partridge pad Thai PREP TIME: 30 minutes COOK TIME: 20 minutes SERVES 3 PEOPLE Ingredients • 150g flat rice noodles (2-3mm wide)• 80ml groundnut oil or vegetable oil• 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped• Coriander, stalks and leaves separated, stalks finely chopped• 1 tbsp shrimp paste• 3 radishes, quartered• 4 spring onions, shredded• 180g raw king prawns• 150g leftover roast partridge or cooked partridge, shredded• 2 large eggs• 100g beansprouts• 50g roasted peanuts, roughly chopped• Lime wedges and chilli flakes (optional), to serve For the pad Thai sauce • 80ml fish sauce• 2 tbsp tamarind paste, thinned with 2 tbsp water• 80g palm sugar• ½ tbsp sriracha• ¼ tsp chilli powder (optional) Method 1. Soak the noodles in cold water for 30 minutes or until al dente, then drain. 2. Meanwhile,…

The Hunter GTX Evo Extreme from Lowa is the boot of choice for Guns and keepers who demand strength and comfort when out in the field. Handcrafted in Germany using the finest leather, SPS midsole technology and Vibram outsoles, these boots will look stylish and your feet will be well supported, while the Primaloft insulation and Gore-Tex waterproof lining will keep them warm and dry. For more information, visit lowa.co.uk. To win a pair, find the 11 words listed and send the completed entry form to: Wordsearch, Shooting Gazette, Future PLC, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough GU14 7BF. Entries to arrive no later than 30 September. The first correct entry to be drawn will win. Note: July’s winner will be drawn at a later date due to lockdown. • Shooting…

What’s your background in game shooting, and how did you come to be a gamekeeping lecturer at Lackham? My grandfather is a gamekeeper, like his father before him, so it’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember. As one of five granddaughters, all brought up in a town environment, he was desperate for at least one of us to adopt his passion for the countryside and luckily for him, I did. I studied for my foundation degree in countryside management at Lackham a few years ago, and then went on to the Royal Agricultural College to complete my degree. During my second year at Lackham I was offered the opportunity to work as a gamekeeper on a local estate. This involved working alongside another lady…

Everyone knows – for plenty of discussion takes place around the shoot lunch table, let alone in magazines – that shot extends into a column after it leaves the muzzle. The length of the string is naturally determined by load, barrel length and choke, but all shots taken have strings attached, so to speak. Sundry tests have proved that pellets arrive on target in a succession, the leading pellets having greater velocity and striking the central area while the slower pellets progress to the outer edges of the pattern. The niceties have demanded investigation on both sides of the Atlantic for more than two centuries. The earliest recorded research took place in 1801, when a Frenchman named Gorbert used a rapidly revolving paper disk to measure stringing. In the 1870s…

In 1883, Holland & Holland patented its Royal hammerless gun, one that was intended to be the flagship of the company, and it continues to be built as the best-quality Holland & Holland gun and rifle to this day. It became such a well-known gun that everybody has heard of the Holland & Holland Royal. Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and it has been copied by many. Holland & Holland was fond of brand names and trademarks and on 28 May, 1885, it registered the trademark “The Royal” to protect its brand. It was a clever choice of name because it had several connotations of being associated with the best, being worthy of a king or queen, or in a simpler derivation, splendid. “The Royal” is so…

Engineering: 9/10 Firstclass engineering and finish, with so many additional features built in. This is a very well-thought-through gun. A couple of tweaks to the stock would make it exceptional. Looks and finish: 9/10 The finish is excellent and, with the elegant lines of the round action, it’s a gun that will look at home in every setting of shooting sports. Handling: 9/10 From partridge to grouse and on to the high birds, the Parallelo can handle them all and more with ease. Value: 10/10 With prices starting from £4,575, it's one of the best value for money side-by-sides on the market. Customer service and reliability: 10/10 I do not know of any Parallelo that’s had any issues, including those at the shooting school that have a heavy work load.…

Q I have spent quite a lot of time training my springer (with the help of a local gundog trainer) and recently took him out to his first shoot day. I thought he performed well, but was wondering whether or not I need to continue training him or just let him get used to working in the field? A You don’t mention the level that you involved the dog on the day, i.e. if you were both there just to observe or if he was fully involved in picking-up. The transition from training to a working dog on a shoot day will, without question, show you where things work and where they do not. It will be very obvious depending on what the dog was exposed to during the shoot…

The GWCT is continuing its search for new members following the launch of its 500 Club back in June. The initiative, launched just after Shooting Gazette’s August issue went to press, aims to recruit 500 new members by Christmas. An increase in membership will bolster the charity’s lobbying power and help fund the work of its dedicated team of scientists and advisers. A range of membership types are available, but the 500 Club is only available to new members able to make a single annual payment. On joining the GWCT, new members will receive a specially commissioned GWCT 500 Club badge and be invited to a drinks party to meet existing members in 2021 once Government restrictions are lifted. For more information, visit gwct.org.uk/500club…

Italian gunmaker Zoli is marking its 175th year with a limited series of 12-bore over-unders. Just 100 of the Model 175 will be manufactured, with only a handful released in the UK. The guns will be made in either game or competition configurations depending on the purchaser’s preference. The Model 175 over-unders will feature low-relief acanthus leaf engraving, the number 175 on the trigger-guard and toplever as well as the Zoli coat of arms. Tom Heapy of Edgar Brothers, Zoli’s UK distributor, said: “Few families can trace their gunmaking history and passion as far back as Zoli. The Model 175 encompasses all this, plus Zoli’s flair for innovation and is a great chance to own a piece of modern gunmaking history.” Prices for the Model 175 start from £10,400. For…

For your chance to win a bottle of Taittinger Champagne for Picture of the Month, send us a team photograph or a picture of something unusual from your shoot. Send high-resolution images or prints with captions to Shooting Gazette Gallery, Future PLC, Pinehurst 2, Pinehurst Road, Farnborough, Hampshire, GU14 7BF or email: martin.puddifer@futurenet.com. PICTURE OF THE MONTH…

Dear Uncle Giles, What kind of sunglasses should a discerning Shot wear in the field? I’d like to avoid looking like a bodyguard, ski instructor or beatnik musician if possible. NKL, by email Uncle Giles writes Perhaps the first thing to clear up before offering advice is whether you are, in fact, a bodyguard, ski instructor or beatnik musician? Because if you are then I doubt that I will be able to help. Or is that perhaps a trifle existential for this time of the morning? Shades for shooting then. There are some specialist brands that offer high-grade protection from both UV rays and random shot while also providing a sight picture of breathtaking clarity in any and all conditions. These come in a wide variety of shapes and styles so…

Do you ever get bored of the constant nonsense that’s peddled about game shooting? You know what I mean, like when someone starts banging on about it being a sport exclusively for gun-toting toffs who blast defenceless birds out of the sky for fun. Fake news, half-truths and tired old stereotypes are spread about as thickly as possible by those who oppose our sport, especially around the Glorious Twelfth. While great amounts of time and effort have gone into trying to dispel the myths about shooting, our messages about its role in the nation’s economic, environmental and mental well-being get shouted down way too easily; unsurprising when the other side won’t listen to a word of what you have to say. Each of our representative bodies has made great inroads…

Holland & Holland has used a profusion of trademarks and brand names over the years, probably more than any other gunmaker. The company has registered 11 trademarks and has used well over 20 brand names. On 28 May, 1885, it registered the trademarks The Royal and The Ross on the same day. These trademarks to all Holland’s rook rifles, The Royal hammerless ejector rook rifle was top of the range and The Ross hammerless ejector rook rifle the same, but of slightly lesser quality. The Royal rook rifle in the 1890s cost 12 guineas (about £13) whereas The Ross cost 10 guineas. The Ross was a high-quality rook rifle as is evidenced by its expense. By comparison a best-quality Royal hammerless ejector 12-bore cost about £80. The rifle was called…

The cancellation of the Game Fair wasn’t a decision that was taken lightly. With the highest regard for public health and wellbeing of those who make the event happen, it was inevitable the major summer extravaganza had to be abandoned. Game Fair gundog events co-ordinator Steve Smith wasn't surprised with the outcome, but his disappointment was softened with his sense of practicality. He said: “As we start organising 12 months in advance we had to put everything on hold until recent confirmation that it wasn’t going ahead. It was disappointing, but the logistics and planning of the big gundog events can be a challenge so we need to focus on next year.” Steve, the proprietor of Wrencourt Gundogs, has been involved with organising and overseeing Game Fair gundog events since…