Innehållsförteckning för October 2022 från Sporting Gun

Gamebird releasing in Wales is under scrutiny. Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has called for evidence into the way gamebirds are released into the Welsh countryside. The initiative follows a similar announcement in England, reported in the news pages of Sporting Gun last month, and has come at the behest of the Welsh government, which has asked NRW to consider options for regulating the activity. Nadia DeLonghi, head of regulation and permitting at NRW, said that the call for evidence would concentrate on, “the number of gamebirds released, where they are released and their impact on the environment. We also want evidence of the positive impacts of management activities associated with game shooting.” Currently, the NRW only regulates the release of gamebirds within the boundaries of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.…

September 9-11, Welsh Game Fair, The Vaynol Estate, North Wales September 11 Hampshire Country Sports Day, Bereleigh Estate, Petersfield September 10-11 Target Sprint British Championships Final, Lord Roberts Centre, Bisley September 17-18 Weston Park Country Fair, Weston Park, Shropshire September 17-18 British Shooting Shotgun Series Skeet and Trap Grand Final, East Yorkshire Clay Shooting Ground September 17-18 CPSA National Inter-Counties ABT Championship, National Clay Shooting Centre September 21 Firearms Awareness Training (Rifle) Course, Graythwaite Estate, Cumbria September 25 50 Target FITASC Open, Barbury Shooting Ground September 27 Wild Boar Certificate 1 Course, Elveden Estate, Norfolk September 28 100 International Sporting Shoot designed by George Digweed, West London Shooting School September 30 BASC Young Shots Intro to Clay Shooting Day, Lakeside Sporting October 2 BASC World .410 Championships, Dovey Valley Shooting…

Pursuing ducks on the foreshore is one of my favourite forms of fieldsports. The thrill of the chase is exciting, and each outing on the saltings will result in different outcomes and experiences. As much as I love using decoys to tip the scales in my favour, I do enjoy a good flight or two travelling light and intercepting the birds using fieldcraft and minimal equipment. Flightlines and ducky destinations Setting up in the right location is key to success, as there isn’t the lure of decoys to pull passing birds if you aren’t in the right spot. The two rules of thumb are either to set up on a flightline or where the ducks intend to end up. Trying to pick out flightlines over a vast expanse of marsh…

Ingredients Oil 4 venison loin steaks ¼ pint good venison or beef stock ¼ pint red wine 3 tbsp blackcurrants, topped and tailed A few leaves of parsley Method 1 Heat the oil in a frying pan and, when hot, quickly fry the steaks on both sides, until brown and cooked to your taste. Remove from the pan and leave to rest. 2 Add the stock and wine to the juices in the pan and stir until boiling. Turn down the heat and allow the stock to simmer until it has reduced by a quarter. 3 In the meantime, put the blackcurrants in a liquidiser, but keep one or two for garnish, and blitz until you have a purée. When the stock is ready, add the blackcurrant purée and stir.…

Driven game shooting is not immune to inflationary pressures. Price rises in your favourite pastime have been driven by, well, among other things, more expensive fuel, the paucity of birds due to bird flu, in the main in France, and higher wheat prices because of the war in Ukraine. All the more reason to be on form. A session at your local shooting ground to get you warmed up before your first shoot will help iron out any problems. A good shooting coach will focus on these areas and look to get you shooting at your best from the off. Right-handers To take a straight-driven target, the left foot is moved half a pace in front, the weight shifted on to it as you step, then the gun is mounted.…

One of the most common questions for those taking up night shooting is which type of spotter to use. In essence, there are two basic types – night vision or NV (either tubed or digital) and thermal. The former give an enhanced view of the landscape by massively amplifying the amount of light they receive. Thermal imagers, however, work on an entirely different principle – they ‘see’ the world in the infrared part of the spectrum (in other words, in varying degrees of heat) and then translate the information into a visual form. One of the advantages of NV is that when it’s teamed up with a good infrared illuminator, you can often identify animals at enormous ranges. In the right conditions, for instance, the eye-shine from a fox can…

Suppressor overtrousers If you are looking for 100%-waterproof protection, within a lightweight, silent and durable design, then the Suppressor overtrousers are just the ticket. They’ve been specially designed for the all-round outdoorsman who wants versatile, breathable hunting overtrousers that can deliver across all game-hunting activities, from big game to waterfowl. The Suppressor overtrousers also feature deep hand pockets and an attachment D-ring on the front waist, ideal for hanging birds. Price: £149.99; for more information, visit: stoneycreekeurope.co.uk/suppressor-overtrousers.html Suppressor jacket This jacket is specifically designed to maximise your experience in the outdoors, where adventures may take you across rugged mountain terrain, dense bush or open plains. It’s purpose-built for all-round outdoorsmen who want a versatile, 100%-waterproof and breathable hunting jacket that will perform across all big-game, waterfowl and upland game-hunting activities.…

I love this time of year. The new season always carries with it excitement, hopes and expectations. I don’t need to tell you that this season is going to be remarkably different from any other season. Avian flu on the tail end of a pandemic has meant that many shoots this year will not go ahead (see p8). It is the perfect storm and smaller shoots are feeling it the most. The good news is that some shoots have managed to get poults – at a price. It remains to be seen how many of us can afford to shoot this year, with of prices of a bird around £50. Along with the increased cost in cartridges, fuel and grain, things don’t look good. But let’s look on the bright…

A right royal time was had at this year’s Game Fair, least not by Jonathan Young, the former editor of The Field and Shooting Times, who was presented with a distinguished service award by the Princess Royal. Mr Young declared himself “extremely honoured”. Collin Teago also received the same award for his wildfowling work on Lindisfarne, off the Northumberland coast. They were among the 120,000 plus people who attended the fair held over the last weekend in July at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, and who enjoyed the numerous attractions, and stalls on display over the three days. Clay shooting figured prominently and chief among the competitive events was the CPSA’s Champion of Champions shoot. This invitational saw county champions from across England tackle a 50-target English Sporting course before a 25-target…

They say only mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the midday sun. I can reliably add keen pigeon shooters to that list. We had been waiting for the rape fields to be harvested, as we knew pigeons would desert standing crops to get at the tiny black seeds. We also knew that farmers love to rip up rape stubbles. So having scouted a field that had been cut but three days earlier and finding it crawling with birds, I phoned Paul to see if he was available the next day. The conversation went something like this: Me: “Paul, there are 1,000 pigeons on farmer X’s rape stubble, and if we don’t shoot them tomorrow he is likely to rip it up and we will lose the opportunity.”Paul: “Have you…

West London Shooting School first opened its doors to the public in 1901 and is one of the oldest continually operating shooting schools in the UK. This history is evident in its roll call of legendary coaches who mastered their art onsite and in the shooting wisdom that’s been passed down through the decades. “Our long history has meant that there’s an enormous depth of knowledge of coaching and gun fitting at West London Shooting School,” says Mark Heath, who serves as manager, instructor and gun fitter at the school in Northolt, west London. “But we also look forward. There’s a culture of continuous learning among the coaching team. This helps to ensure that clients are receiving the best instruction in a relaxed and professional atmosphere.” All comers West London’s…

One of the most common problems I encounter is poor recall. This is something that can often develop as a pup reaches adolescence. When we first bring home our eight-week-old puppy, it will basically want to be with us, around us – we are the centre of its world. If it has been reared properly, it will have had plenty of human contact and so it will naturally have learned that all good things, especially food, come from its breeder and now its new owner. During the early stages of puppyhood, most owners will spend lots of time interacting with their new pup, teaching them the basics such as sit, wait and, of course, to come when called. Quite often a ready supply of treats will encourage the pup to…

It may be an illusion, but I am pretty sure that as you get older, time goes faster – and we always seem surprised about that. So, in time-honoured fashion, I can’t quite believe that Twig is already four months old. It has been a pretty full-on period, with such a lot happening that it is hard to know where to begin. Twig is growing like mad and, looking at her build-wise, she takes after Percy; she has a broad chest and I think she is going to be a powerful little bitch, as she is already crashing through what remains of our flowerbeds, and she shows no fear. The amazing thing is that her markings are almost a carbon copy of Dott’s. It is remarkable, and I am sure…

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 PIGEON 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. IAN SWEETMAN GUNSMITHING Owner of I S Sweetman Gun & Rifle Makers and former gunsmith at Purdey. RICHARD ATKINS TECHNICAL Expert on the technical aspects of ballistics and shotgun performance.…

Seeland Dog Active ladies’ jacket A lightweight, windproof and waterproof jacket with a hint of stretch. The jacket features underarm ventilation zips, four pockets, a removable hood and a removable pouch for dog treats. Price £169.99; gb.seeland.com House of Bruar Illann reversible cashmere gilet A super-soft garment that would work as a mid-layer when outside or top-layer when indoors. Crafted from a two-ply cashmere, it offers luxurious warmth. Price £325; houseofbruar.com Härkila Saxnäs GTX women’s boot A robust, hard-wearing nubuck leather boot featuring a waterproof Gore-Tex Sierra membrane and Vibram outsole. With a two-year warranty, they are built for long journeys. Price £269.99 ; gb.harkila.com The Original Muck Boot Company The Apex Pro 16in insulated boot Featuring a thermal-regulating fleece lining and Vibram Arctic Grip outsole, this waterproof boot launches…

The brief for this article was to look into what we already know – or rather, think we know – from our past experience with lead shot, and to consider that in relation to what we are told as a result of moves toward using non-toxic shot, primarily steel. It is a massively steep learning curve for all concerned. For shooters, of course, but the cartridge industry has been put in an invidious position. This situation has come about due to the abruptness with which a proposed ‘five-year voluntary initiative towards phasing out lead for live quarry shooting’ became a ‘non-toxic shot for game entering the food chain’ in the coming game season. This latter mandate was largely brought about by the change in lead-level restrictions in game entering the…

Are you looking for a quality side-by-side shotgun? Perhaps you might want it specifically for driven or walked-up shooting, or for general pottering or all-round use. Or perhaps it may be simply that you prefer the more traditional look, handling and overall feel compared with an over-and-under. Ideally, you would like a Best gun, and from a London gunmaker, but there is just one small but significant snag: your pockets aren’t deep enough. There is no need to despair though, as there is a shotgun marque offering all the qualities of superb build standards and exacting craftsmanship while not carrying the price tag of a bespoke London gun. Look no further than AYA, a Spanish gunmaker which has been a firm favourite among British shooters since its products started to…

Orston expands it ranges Orston Shooting Ground, home to the 2022 Clay Shooting Classic, recently acquired planning permission to construct a full-bore rifle range. The new facilities at the Nottinghamshire ground are set to include a 20-lane 100m range, a two lane 200m range, a two lane 300m range and a 40-metre running boar range. All firing points will be covered and the ranges will feature electronic target systems. The new facilities are expected to be operational by early 2024. The Shotgun & Chelsea Bun Club relaunches The ladies’ shooting club relaunched to great applause at The Game Fair. International Skeet top shot Georgina Roberts is now at the helm of the organisation and has welcomed Cheryl Hall into the fold as resident Sporting coach. To keep up with the…

The BBC does not impartially reflect rural life and country issues, according to a survey conducted by the Countryside Alliance (CA). The findings will make uncomfortable reading for the BBC, said Tim Bonner, the chief executive of the CA. Out of 3,400 respondents, 94% rejected the BBC’s contention that it covered rural issues fairly. High-profile programmes Countryfile and Springwatch came in for particular criticism for their ‘sanitised’ portrayal of rural life. In fact, 89% of respondents said that Countryfile failed to represent the countryside. Chris Packham, who co-presents the various seasonal watches, was also criticised for his perceived political bias. However, Farming Today, the BBC Radio 4 programme, was viewed more positively. The BBC said: “Programmes such as Countryfile and Farming Today cover a range of topics and views when…

There is probably not much need to describe the woodpigeon, though it may sometimes be necessary to distinguish it from the closely related rock and stock doves or feral pigeons. The woodpigeon, however, is noticeably larger and the white wing bars, band across the underside of the tail feathers and neck ring contrast strongly against its grey plumage and immediately identify it. Naturally shy in the countryside, it is commonly found in our towns and cities, where it can be more approachable than its rural cousins. Its call – a husky cooing, is one of our most evocative summer sounds. Spread Although we tend to associate the woodpigeon with Europe, its distribution extends considerably further and it might be encountered in places as far afield as the foothills of the…

Schöffel Norfolk shirt The Schöffel Norfolk shirt is a favourite, and this month we include the French Partridge print. The cotton is cut for a flattering fit, with elastane providing stretch and comfort. I would recommend sizing up if you plan to pair this with a waistcoat, to give ample material for freedom of movement around the arms. Price £79.95; schoffelcountry.com Alan Paine Fernley ladies waterproof breeks The Alan Paine Fernley breeks are comfortable, with a flattering, stylish look. Fully waterproof, with taped seams and an Airtex mesh, they are also lightweight enough for warmer days. The classic Woodland green colourway will pair with a range of shooting coats and vests. Price £174.95; alanpaine.co.uk Barbour Otterburn gilet The Barbour Otterburn gilet deserves a place in your wardrobe as we head…