Sporting Gun -julkaisun August 2020 -irtonumeron sisällysluettelo

The Scottish parliament has voted to ban the unlicensed culling of mountain hares. The move has caused consternation among landowners and managers. Sarah-Jane Laing, chief executive of Scottish Land & Estates, said: “Mountain hares are thriving on Scotland’s moors and their fate will not be improved by this vote. There is clear evidence that the control of hares helps to combat tick and Lyme disease and protect plants and young trees. Balanced wildlife management is key to meeting Scottish Government targets on biodiversity.” • See Quarry, pages 26 and 27.…

A trail of destruction left by a puppy can be seen at Greenlee: you name it, Lotte has managed to sneak it in. I followed the ‘boss’ in from the garden recently and froze with trepidation to the rebuke of “What on earth do you think you are doing?”Once I realised that it wasn’t directed at me, I moved into the kitchen to the sight of the little beggar on the table. Even with very short legs she has managed to scale the heights. So how our first stalking adventure panned out? I received a call from Dean on the morning we were out to say he had a deer down. When we turned up in the truck to the location I learned that Ozzy, his bonny black lab pup,…

• It is worth taking a moment to look at how other sports practise. For example, those that play golf often use a driving range to hone their techniques. Cricketers use the nets to lift their skill levels. Tennis clubs have machines to throw balls to practise certain strokes • In the case of cricket and tennis, players practise the same shot or stroke over and over again until it becomes second nature and a ‘learned reflex action’, an action that they don’t consciously think about while executing. If shooters were to adopt the same approach then their learned reflex actions would help to deliver the right shot in any circumstance.…

• Make sure you explain what you are doing at all stages; if you use a particular call, for instance, say what it is and why you are using it. • Do your best to point out any wildlife you see as for many people these animals are rarely, if ever, seen. • Be specific as to what they should wear. Quiet, warm, non-rustling clothing, thermal under-layers and a warm hat as well as good footwear will make their evening much more pleasant if it’s cold. A face mask is a good idea in moonlight. • Ensure that you have enough food and drink for everybody. • Explain the safety procedures — a map and address and postcode will allow them to raise help in a hurry if there’s an…

“I am considering breeding from my young labrador bitch but have to confess to being overwhelmed by all the advice I am getting. Any thoughts?” JAMES CONROY, STAFFORDSHIRE First I would say that breeding from your only dog can be fraught and is not entirely without risk. If you are under the impression that she somehow must have a litter to improve her health, think again. You should have a good reason for wanting to breed from her; for example, to keep a puppy, carry on desirable characteristics, improve the breed generally or produce a puppy for a friend. Pause for thought Before considering the multitude of testing that should be carried out on a prospective mum, please consider her suitability for breeding. Is her conformation of an acceptable standard?…

Homing pigeon I read with interest an article by Geoff Garrod entitled ‘A Predicament of Pigeon’ in the June issue of Sporting Gun. I have been shooting for 55 years and during this time I have accounted for more than 100,000 pigeon. About 18 months ago my game dealer closed down, leaving me with a dilemma over what to do with the shot birds. What happened was a revelation. I asked a number of people in and around my village if they would like freshly shot pigeon, including people I have not seen or spoken to before. Much to my surprise many said “Yes”, and it turns out that I can give away every pigeon I shoot. I was originally offered money for them but refused and said they could…

I try to let pigeons come in to the decoys but have trouble hitting them if I leave it too late. Any thoughts? Tony says: You are doing the right thing by letting the pigeons come right in, as we want to be as efficient as possible. It sounds to me that you are falling into the trap of thinking the bird has stopped in mid air and shooting it with a static gun. The key here is to keep the gun moving as you pull the trigger, as the bird will also be moving. When you set up your decoys you should be aware as to how far out the pigeons are, hold your nerve as they come in and as they commit, take your shot.…

My spaniel has horrible waxy ears. No amount of cleaning seems to make a difference. Any suggestions? Neil says: Yes, stop what you are doing. You are probably making the situation worse. We need to go back to the beginning. Ear problems start because of some initiating factor. This could be ear mites, allergy, foreign body (grass seed), other skin issues such as hypothyroidism or seborrhoea, swimming (as water dries the ear out), ear structure (hairy ears, ear flaps, narrowed canal), inappropriate owner interference, or polyps. Some breeds, such as spaniels, are predisposed because the earflaps prevent air circulating. As a result of the primary problem, secondary infections with bacteria and yeasts rapidly occur. These cause more inflammation, pain, head shaking and scratching, so that the ear canals become narrowed,…

When training to heel, is it always best to teach your dog to stick to one side? Fran says: There are no hard and fast rules about this but traditionally we always walk our gundogs to our left as most of us carry our guns in our right hand. You can, of course, train your dog to walk on the right if you are left-handed. It also depends on the breed of gundog. Labradors, for example, should be trained to walk tight to heel, whereas most spaniel handlers are happy provided the dog walks next to them a bit looser but under control. If you have more than one dog, they could well find their own position when walking in a group.…

How do you find shooting in very strong winds? I’ve found it difficult. Tom says: Strong winds can wreak havoc with decoy spreads. I will often use full bodies in strong winds and anchor them down. Hide netting can also be badly effected by the wind, I often peg it to the poles with strong clips. The netting can become a sail and blow the hide around, so I combat this by using guy ropes to anchor it. These are made from tent pegs and paracord and well worth carrying on every outing. The birds themselves will be affected by the wind. Their approach is often slow as they battle the wind, which means you need to be concealed well to prevent them from seeing you. The birds can also…

My grandfather has a Luger pistol, which he obtained during an encounter with the enemy in World War II and has on certificate as a ‘trophy of war’. He’s now very elderly and I wonder if I would be able to inherit the gun as a trophy as it has great sentimental value for him. David says: In theory there is no provision in the Firearms Act for trophies of war to be inherited. However, it is possible to apply to the Home Office for permission to inherit the pistol and have it on your certificate as a trophy of war, but success is not guaranteed.…

Finding suitable footwear for the early summer can be challenging. The mornings can still be damp and yet it can quickly turn warm. I am not a great fan of wellies and the pair I have are lined with neoprene, so when the sun does come out they can get quite uncomfortable. Also, at this time of the year you don’t need the type of heavy-duty boots you require during the shooting season. Tough For the past few months I have been trying out the new Lite LCX 10in stalking boot from Le Chameau, the well-respected French brand. The boots are all handmade in full grain leather and are really lightweight, weighing 1490g. There is also a version that incorporates Kevlar, which adds to the boot’s durability. They are guaranteed…

So was this gun worth the money? With all the new technology it has and the build quality, I would say yes. None of these innovations were gimmicks, they all added to the shooting experience. Yes, you can get a very good semi-auto for half the money and it would perform about as well, but what you are paying for here is top-quality engineering, reliability and finesse. This gun is also a beauty to shoot. The trigger pull is crisp and the recoil is low. If you’ve got the money, the Beretta A400 Xtreme Plus is a worthwhile investment. SCORES ON THE DOORS Build quality 24/25 Handling 23/25 Styling 24/25 Value for money 23/25 Total: 94/100…

With an appointment system and strict social distancing measures in place it is very different from the freedom we enjoyed before lockdown. I have heard some say they have lost their shooting edge because of inaction over the last few months. To be honest, my marksmanship was just as bad as it ever was but I spoke to David Turner about what to do if you have gone off form. His suggestion is that you face your fears in the form of ‘bogey targets’. We all have them. They are the stands where your heart sinks before you have even entered the cage and already you are telling people you are going do badly. A few years ago I struggled with ‘rabbit’ targets. I often scored zero on those stands…

We at Sporting Gun like to think that we are mostly on target but occasionally we are wide of the mark. We let our eyes wander and had two such misses in our July edition. The first related to Charles Smith-Jones’ piece on how to make biltong, entitled Box Fresh. At the top of the first column on p35 the sentence beginning “Untreated wood, which might release …” should, of course, have read “Treated wood …” The second miss, perhaps confirming the perception that all journalists are arts graduates and clueless about science, related to Malcolm Plant’s feature on shot velocity and power, found on pages 44 to 46. In the first bullet point of the kinetic energy calculations box on p45, “Kinetic energy for 30g lead …” the ÷…

This is the time of year I get my smoker out, as smoked venison is wonderful. Read on: Ingredients 1 ready-made pizza base (or if you have time, make a basic pizza dough) small green chilli, seeded and finely chopped 1 jar pimiento, drained and finely chopped 1 jar ready-made tomato sauce for topping pizzas 1 spicy chorizo sausage cut into coin-sized slices Smoked venison sliced finely Emmental cheese slices Method Stir the chilli and pimiento into the tomato sauce and spread the mixture evenly over the pizza base right up to the edges. Scatter over the sausage and venison and top with the cheese slices. Bake in the oven at 220°C for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and golden brown. Serve while hot…

The mountain hare is a true native of Britain, unlike its relations the rabbit and brown hare. It’s also more of a creature of the wilder places that inhabited the ice-free tundra zones during the last Ice Age, later following the retreating glaciers to reach further into the north. It is a hardy animal that remains supremely adapted to life in challenging and inhospitable climates. Hairy feet protect against frozen surfaces and act as snowshoes, allowing it to move with ease over snow and ice. It is also one of our few animals that changes colour as winter approaches, in some instances achieving an almost pure white coat though many, and especially those living further to the south, only get as far as a mottled white and brown. Both colours…

Many people will use a ball when they first introduce a dog to retrieving from water. However, a ball bobbing about in the water can be hard for a dog to get hold of and they can get discouraged when they end up putting their heads underwater. I prefer to use either a “tennis ball dummy” made by Kong or one of the rubber waterproof ones. I tend to avoid canvas dummies as they become saturated and heavy. Remember to always check the bank and water for any obstructions. You can keep your dog on a lead if needs be to enable a more controlled entry.…

Age 52 months Nothing seems to be panning out as planned this year. First, we have had to deal with all the pandemic restrictions of the past few months, then just as we get an easing of these we find ourselves in a heatwave. In some ways I have been grateful for the unexpected extra time, but it has really messed up my training regime with the dogs. I am not too worried about Ted, as he just needs a bit of tweaking here and there, and I have been able to sharpen up his handling skills. However, the unusually hot weather of late has meant that I have had to keep the sessions short. There is a new shoot starting up the road from me and I have been…

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. IAN SWEETMAN GUNSMITHING Ian Sweetman is the owner of I S Sweetman Gun & Rifle Makers…

My black labrador has enjoyed the odd grape or two over the years but I am led to believe they are poisonous to dogs. How has he survived? Neil says: It is a most curious thing, isn’t it? All fruits of the Vitis species have been implicated in toxicity and death after their ingestion by dogs. Only five grapes can, on occasion, kill a 10kg canine, but, for most, the risk is greater the more is consumed. Others, as you say, seem able to eat them with impunity. We do not know why some individuals suffer kidney shutdown up to 72 hours after eating grapes, but they do. Red, green, seedless and seeded grapes have been involved, whether they are commercial or homegrown, organic or non-organic. Grape pressings from wineries…

Have you noticed any difference in the numbers and behaviour of pigeons compared with this time last year? Peter says: Paul and I have been able to carry on with essential crop protection throughout the lockdown. Pigeons have responded well to rotary decoys, probably because they are not being regularly exposed to them by recreational decoyers. What has been noticeable is how many birds are still turning up to ravage our farmer’s peas. In a normal year we can generally whittle down the local population, keeping damage to a minimum. This year, we have killed more than 500 birds from one large field of peas, even though we have never seen more than 400 at once. Only time will tell if the lockdown has had any effect on overall populations.…

I wonder if you can help me identify the age of my Browning Belgian A1, identification number 74521 S7? Robert says: Browning started building date codes into the serial numbers of their shotguns in late 1960. For the decade of 1960-1969, Browning used the letter ‘S’ (standing for ‘sixty’) followed by a single digit for the year, so in the case of your gun ‘S7’ stands for 1967. Most ‘A’ grade guns were sold in the year they were made. Some high-grade guns not made to specific order could remain on hand for a few years before they were sold. The dating code carried on into the 1970s using the same letter ‘S’ but with two digits following; the first being a ‘7’, the second being the year of the…

In over 60 years as a certificate holder I have always taken great care not to advertise the fact that I have firearms. I have recently read that the police now want to interview the neighbours of all certificate holders on renewal. Is it wise to tell everyone in the locality that I have firearms? David says: Not in my view. At the moment this is only a suggestion and I think it would be most unwise if it were to become part of the licensing process. Not only is there the security issue you raise but some people have difficult neighbours and could be the subject of unwarranted criticism.…

Harkila Herlet Tech Long Sleeve Shirt This shirt is not only extremely lightweight and breathable, but has also been treated with Insect Shield making it tick and mosquito proof. Comes in willow green and is available in sizes S-3XL Price: £89.99; harkila.com Seeland Hawker Low Boots These 7in high boots have a Seetex waterproof membrane and are extremely lightweight. Made from suede, leather and polyester they should be tough too. Available from the end of July in sizes EU40-48. Price: £109.99; seeland.com Seeland Hawker Prym 1 Camo Trousers Made from a super flex stretch material for maximum movement, and a honeycomb effect lining designed for extra breathability, these trousers are designed for the field. Available in waist sizes 32-44in. Price: £149.99; seeland.com For the Love of the Land This 224-page…

I received a pair of Ariat Burford insulated zip boots to test at the end of last season and they have not been a disappointment. They do the basic things insulated wellies are meant to: they keep you warm, they keep you dry and they are green. What these boots do very well, though, is keep your feet fantastically comfortable. I have worn them on two shoot days, as well as for other jobs around the shoot after the season. I often find that wearing wellies all day and walking any great distance in them makes my feet and ankles ache, which is why I have favoured lace-up boots for long days. However, I think these Ariats are easily good enough for prolonged use. The tech Ariat’s ATS stands for…

Fashion, so we are told, always goes full circle. The trend with modern shotguns tends towards longer barrels, with 30in and 32in commonplace. The 25in and 26in barrels of 50 years ago are now unpopular. Some of this is due to the types of shooting that occur nowadays, with game shooters using heavier guns with long barrels for higher and higher birds, while clay shooters are using lighter cartridges. This has allowed makers to produce longer-barrelled guns in lighter weights that swing just as quick as the shorter-barrelled guns of the past. “In the 18th century, Spain and Italy produced the best barrels in the world” Lead Unless you have been hiding under a rock, longer barrels means a longer sight base. This in turn means the shooter is able…

In what is likely to be a harbinger of things to come for the shooting community in the UK, Shooting Star of Suffolk has announced the arrival of a fully biodegradable game and clay cartridge. The biodegradable case and wad has been developed by BioAmmo, a Spanish company, and is made from a certified biopolymer of vegetable origin. Significantly, and in view of the phased move away from lead shot by 2025, the cartridges are available in steel as well as lead. For the present this is in 12-bore in a 70mm case from 24g to 34g. A 20-bore version and 3in cases will be available at a later date.…

The year of no shows The Northern Shooting Show has been cancelled and will now take place over the weekend of 8 and 9 May next year. The show had been rearranged to take place on 28/29 August and the organiser said that it was with “great regret” that this would not now happen. BASC has also advised its members that Game Fair 2020 will not take place this year because of coronavirus restrictions. The event was due to take place at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, in September, having been postponed from the summer. It will now take place between 23-25 July next year. Pigeons still on Irish menu Pigeon shooting in Ireland will go ahead this summer after the Irish government withdrew a proposal not to approve the derogations that…

In these dark times there was a glimmer of light when the guidance for the COVID-19 lockdown was eased and the management on one of my permissions was relaxed to resume deer control. The guidelines stipulated only one additional person could accompany me, there was to be no sharing of vehicles and we must adhere to hygiene guidance. This was not going to cause us too many difficulties as we mostly work alone while stalking. When I say alone, my partner Dean and I had pleasure of having two young dogs with us. We had been training them for tracking and this would give them their first experience of the real thing, provided we were successful, which is never guaranteed with the elusive roebuck. First light So off Lotte I…

DISTRIBUTION: Widespread in boreal forests, taiga, upland, polar and mountainous regions from northern Europe across to eastern Siberia and China. Isolated populations in the Alps, Baltic states, northeastern Poland and Hokkaido, Japan. Introduced elsewhere, including Iceland and Svalbard. UK DISTRIBUTION: Native to the Highlands of Scotland but introduced to lowland areas and several islands and as far south as the Peak District. A genetically separated subspecies is found in Ireland. IUCN RED LIST STATUS: Least Concern, stable. OTHER NAMES: Blue hare, tundra hare, snow hare, Alpine hare, Irish hare. FOOD: Entirely herbivorous, feeding on heather, grasses, rushes and sedges depending on availability. HABITAT: Mainly associated with heather moorlands in the UK. Also found at lower elevations in Ireland. BREEDING: From late January onwards until September. BIRTHING: Females may produce three…

I was thinking of getting a saluki to use for rabbiting. Do you have any advice? Ed says: While salukis are good at running a hare down, I feel their style of pursuit doesn’t offer much for rabbit hunting. Rabbits seldom offer a chase of more than 50 yards in daylight before they get to the cover of another hole. A saluki’s style is to stick behind their quarry over a distance as they have plenty of stamina. This is fine if you hunt hares or gazelles but it does not offer much for rabbiting. They don’t have a huge amount a concentration compared with, for example, a collie-lurcher hybrid, which is what I have used as rabbit dog for more than 20 years. A whippet is a good bet…

Occasionally when I’m on the saltmarsh for evening flight I see a few pheasants flying over. Am I allowed to shoot them? David says: If you own the marsh it is up to you what you shoot. If the shooting is leased then the lease will say what may or may not be done. Remember also that the law in relation to game shooting is different to that for wildfowl. Pheasants may not be shot at night although you can shoot duck; pheasants may not be shot on Sunday or Christmas Day although in many, but not all, parts of Great Britain you may shoot duck.…

Over the years rabbits have made a right mess of my garden. I have tried numerous ways of controlling them but I’m not at home much, so their numbers soon return. I have seen a rabbit repellent scent for sale. Is this an effective alternative? Ed says: The best bet would be to engage me! The only way to stop rabbits in a garden properly would be install rabbit-proof fencing around the perimeter and ensure all the gates are also proofed correctly. At this point a dog can be used to locate each rabbit inside the area and removed with ferrets and nets. If any are missed they can be shot or trapped. This is a good formula for most garden jobs. Short of fencing, the rabbits will keep returning,…

What chokes do you prefer to use when decoying crows? Tom says: Back in the old days I used to have full choke in my gun throughout the spring and summer months and half choke throughout the season for shooting steel. I found that the full choke was great for shooting birds at range and perfectly fine for close crows as they aren’t for the table. I typically shoot using Kicks Chokes half all year and occasionally tighten it to full if the situation requires it. Overall a standard factory half will cover most situations in the field, be it crowing, wildfowling, game shooting. Half typically patterns well with most cartridges and a perfect all-rounder. If I were using a multi-choke over-and-under I would maybe use half and three-quarters to…