Sporting Shooter November 2015

WIN THIS GUN!

WORTH! £ 959

BY SHOOTERS, FOR SHOOTERS

GET YOUR GAME ON! SHOOT BETTER THAN EVER WITH OUR HIGH BIRD MASTERCLASS

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PLUS

Safety first: Our essential guide to gun handling

Beater’s manifesto:

Wildfowling:

10 rules for the season ahead

Why early season ‘fowling can be tough

Pigeon shooting:

Gundog training:

Andy Crow on being a good host

How to make sure your dog is steady to shot

The perfect roast: Chef Tim Maddams shares his secrets

690 BLACK: Testing the coolest Beretta yet!

NOVEMBER 2015

£3.70

GUNSMITH: The tools of the www.sportingshooter.co.uk craftsman’s trade

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First Words

Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2EG

EDITORIAL Editor Dom Holtam 0118 974 2504 [email protected] Content Editor Rebecca Green 0118 974 2508 [email protected] Sub-editor Laura Paton 0118 974 2506 [email protected] Art Editor Trevor Ince

ADVERTISING Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2EG Commercial Manager Dan Chart 0118 974 2503 [email protected] Advertising Sales Manager Sharon Blick 0118 974 2533 [email protected] Sales Executive Ryan Coupland 0118 974 2525 [email protected] Office Manager Sharon Wells 0118 974 2524 [email protected]

Blimey, is it that time of the year already? I can’t believe it’s pheasant time again and to all of you getting out in the field this month, good luck and stay safe. For first-timers, it can be pretty daunting ensuring that you get everything right, but the safety issue is the most important of all. Neglecting gun safety is at best a quick way to get an early finish or be certain of never receiving another invite. At worst, the consequences are catastrophic, so getting used to best practice from the word go is essential. James Marchington offers some invaluable safety advice for whatever shooting you do on p18. If you are a dab hand on the pheasants, you might want to check out Don Brunt’s feature on high birds with Dick Jones. The ultimate challenge for many game shots – the ability to kill tall birds cleanly – is a great skill, and Dick is an ideal guide. For those of us who find ourselves at the other end

of the drive in the beating line, I am sure that John Fenny’s Beater’s Manifesto contains some words of wisdom for the season ahead – and as an extra treat, it has been wonderfully illustrated by Ted Andrews. It is a pleasure to welcome Tim Maddams to the editorial crew. You probably already know Tim from his River Cottage adventures and he will be bringing his enthusiasm for hunting, gathering and, of course, cooking in this and plenty of future issues. Lastly, may I draw your attention to the rather grainy photo below. My mum found this picture of my great grandfather while trawling through some old family albums. It was taken in the garden of the cottage his family lived in down in Cornwall back in the mid 1930s. Shooting for the rural working classes in those days was about putting meat on the table above all else, and the old boy looks happy enough with the fruits of his hunting trip. Mind you, there doesn’t look to be much meat on the second rabbit...

PUBLISHING Managing Director (Specialist) Peter Timperley Publishing Consultant Derek Barnes

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DOM HOLTAM Editor

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Published monthly © Archant Specialist 2013. Archant Specialist is part of Archant Ltd First Words image: Dom Holtam Cover image: Matt Limb OBE

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WIN THIS GUN!

WORTH! £959

BY SHOOTERS, FOR SHOOTERS

GET YOUR GAME ON! SHOOT BETTER THAN EVER WITH OUR HIGH BIRD MASTERCLASS

+

PLUS

Safety first: Our essential guide to gun handling

Beater’s manifesto:

Wildfowling:

10 rules for the season ahead

Why early season ‘fowling can be tough

Pigeon shooting:

Gundog training: How to make sure your dog is steady to shot

Andy Crow on being a good host

The perfect roast: NOVEMBER 2015

Chef Tim Maddams shares his secrets

690 BLACK: Testing the coolest Beretta yet!

GUNSMITH: The tools of the www.sportingshooter.co.uk craftsman’s trade

ON THE COVER 12 18 22 44 50 54 60 71 83 92

GET YOUR GAME ON SAFETY FIRST BEATER’S MANIFESTO 690 BLACK THE PERFECT ROAST PIGEON SHOOTING WIN THIS GUN GUNSMITH WILDFOWLING GUNDOG TRAINING

COLUMNS 03 49 62 66 76 81 87

FIRST WORDS KEEPERING WITH THE NGO BASC UPDATE SHOOTING IN WALES HIGHLAND DIARY COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE COMMENT NOTES FROM IRELAND

REGULARS 06 NEWS 26 LETTERS 18 ESSENTIAL SKILLS: Gun safety

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£3.70

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Contents 30 ASK THE EXPERTS: A selection of

questions and problems for our shooting gurus to ponder 50 ONE FOR THE POT: Tim Maddams keeps it simple with his essential roasting rules 53 CLASSIC GUNS: Diggory is back from Africa, and shares the essential bits of kit he took with him 54 PIGEONS: Hosting the best pigeon shooting day, Andy Crow-style 79 CROCKETT’S COUNTRY: Jonny’s guide to fruitful foraging 106 FIND SHOOTING

RIFLE SHOOTER

22 A BEATER’S MANIFESTO: The top

10 rules every beater should know

64 TECHNIQUE: Tackling partridges 68 CONSERVATION: Marvellous 71

GAMEKEEPING 74 KEEPER’S COUNTRY: Adam recalls the beaters that made an impression

WILDFOWLING 83 Alan explains why, believe it or not, September isn’t his favourite time of year

59 RIFLE PRODUCTS: Chiappa Firearms’ Little Squirrel camp rifle and the Bushnell Trophy XLT spotting scope

MARKETPLACE 38 PRODUCT NEWS: New shooting,

44 46

gundog and game cooking reads, beautiful British-made gun cabinets, Longthorne’s doubletrigger option, and more GUN TEST: Mike can’t help but be impressed by the Beretta’s new 690 CARTRIDGES: Vic’s partridge picks

GAME SHOOTING 12 HIGH-BIRD MASTERCLASS: Dispelling the myths of high-bird shooting

moorlands and the benefits of grouse shooting GUNSMITHING: Why traditional tools are the best

CLAY SHOOTING 34 CLAY NEWS 108 CLAY GROUNDS near you

COMPETITIONS 11 26 28 60 100

Win Win Win Win Win

binos Seeland Crieff Treggings decoys an ATA shotgun Chudleys dog food

GUNDOGS 92 GUNDOG TRAINING: Steadiness 96 GUNDOG FOCUS: Ryan welcomes a new puppy to FarlaVale Gundogs

100 GUNDOG EXPERTS 102 GUNDOG VET: Spinal problems

Issue 145

NOVEMBER 2015

GUN SAFETY 18

Owning and working – your essential guide!

p

KEEPER’S COUNTRY 74

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ONE FOR THE POT 50

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SHOOTING

NEWS

For the very latest news visit www.sportingshooter.co.uk

Furore over gun licensing report Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) has been generating negative headlines in the mainstream press by warning that Britain could face more gun massacres unless the current ‘chaotic’ licensing system is overhauled. In its report, Targeting the Risk – An inspection of the efficiency and effectiveness of firearms licensing in police forces in England and Wales, HMIC highlighted a litany of failures and inconsistencies in the way prospective and existing gun owners are vetted. The report claimed that a bus driver faced more rigorous medical checks than someone who wanted a gun, and called on all applicants to be subjected to a mandatory medical examination as part of their application – and said doctors should be under a duty to record gun ownership and,

‘It is worrying that the report does not appear to understand the principles of modern risk management that underpin policing’

PICTURES: DOM HOLTAM

Statistics show that legally-held guns represent a miniscule risk to the public

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critically, alert the police to any relevant deterioration in health. It went on to say that its recommendations for reform had not been followed and that only four of the 11 forces inspected had effective monitoring. This kind of reckless scaremongering just serves to frighten the wider public into believing that legal gun ownership is a threat to their safety. The facts are these: there are over 730,000 ‘ticket’ holders (either Firearms Certificate or Shotgun Certificate) in the UK at present, and almost 2 million legally-held guns. Gun ownership has increased by around 70 per cent since 1998 and yet the numbers of gun-related deaths in the UK remain tiny. There were 29 deaths involving shooting in the year to March 2014 of which just three involved legally-held guns. Peter Glenser, a member of BASC Council and a barrister specialising in firearms law said: “The report is a curate’s egg – good in parts. It reports that improvements are needed to deal with inconsistencies, lack of common training, inefficiency and in effectiveness that were identified in some licensing teams in England and Wales. Unfortunately, it never identifies lack of service to the certificate holders who pay for the service as a problem.” Gary Ashton, Director of Firearms Operations at BASC said: “What is disappointing is that the

Gun ownership has increased by around 70 per cent since 1998

report singularly fails to recognise the comprehensive nature of the work that has been under way with the Home Office for the past two and a half years to make the existing system of medical checks more dynamic. It is worrying that the report does not appear to understand the principles of modern risk management that underpin policing. This is a significant weakness within the report. “BASC recently published a white paper recommending that the duration of certificates should be extended from five to ten years. At a stroke this would relieve the pressure on police forces, allow them to focus staff on essential real time monitoring and deliver a proper service to licence holders. Unfortunately, this solution was not understood by the HMIC review.” ■

NEWS

England victorious in Team Home International ithout doubt, the most prestigious summer event in the gundog calendar is the Home International that takes place every year at the CLA Game Fair, writes Sharon Harding. Now in its 38th year, the Home International is a working test between England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. For the first time in 15 years, the spaniels and retrievers had two seperate captains and who better to lead, train and advise the teams for England than the two men at the top of the trialling trees: Ian Openshaw and Dave Latham. In this challenging competition held in the International Arena over two days, the teams compete for the coveted top place by working five of their country’s top spaniels and retrievers. Each handler is expected to complete a series of tests aimed to show how the best dogs in the country handle challenging situations that are likely to happen in the shooting field. Over the two days there were some nail-biting moments but ultimately England were victorious,

W

with the retrievers winning again for the ninth year in a row on a total score of 1,001 points. John Halstead and Brocklebank Navigator of Chatsworth won overall as the Best Retriever. Not since 2005 have the spaniel team won this event and it’s an amazing start for Ian in his first year as Captain, scoring a fantastic 488 points to pip Ireland on their last run, Brian Wade’s dog FTCH Shalloakwest Phantom taking the best hunting spaniel award. With Ireland second, Wales third and Scotland fourth, this was a fantastic start for the new captains and hopefully the start of a bright future for the England teams, who no doubt will be looking to retain their title next year.

The England teams were: Spaniels Ian Openshaw Captain & Res Simon Dixon FTCH Chinagook Roberto

Brian Wade Digariad Eirwen Of Delflush Stewart Seward Surefly Papgeno Paul Matthews FTCH Chinagook Generous Brian Wade FTCH Shalloakwest Phantom Retrievers Dave Latham Captain Int FTCH Baileys Aquazannis of Fendawood Richard King FTCH Saxaphone Brown Ale of Lincswold Lee Hartis Lowforge Glenaveigh of Leacaz John Halstead Brocklebank Navigator of Chatsworth Andy Latham FTCH Rimrock Hurricane Brendan Kelly (Res) Broadbog Billy

PICTURE: SHARON HARDING, HI BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY

The England team took the 2015 title

WIN NEW HAWKE BINOCULARS

Find the creature hiding in this issue and you could win a terrific pair of binoculars. Everyone who finds him goes into the draw for a pair of 8x21 binoculars, but if you want to receive one of our badges, send us a self-addressed envelope with 58p of stamps. Send us the page number, your name, telephone number and address by email to: [email protected] By post to: Lucinda Lapwing, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 2EG CLOSING DATE: 1 November

CAN YOU FIND: LUCINDA LAPWING? CONGRATULATIONS TO: PICTURE: DAVID MASON

Designed to travel, these lightweight Hawke 8x21 Compact Rubber Armoured Folding Binoculars feature a non-slip rubber finish, fully coated optics, neck cord, carry pouch and a 10-year warranty. The zip-up carry case has a belt loop and wrist strap for ease of carrying. Being rubber armoured, they are able to withstand the bumps and scrapes of everyday life. They can focus as close as 2.7m and have a field of view of 126m at 1,000m, yet are small enough to fit in your pocket and weigh just 176g. Perfect for enjoying wildlife you might otherwise miss.

Louise Treble who found Gloria Goat on p60 of the September issue. See p107 for a list of other successful creature finders.

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MASTERCLASS // WITH DICK JONES

HIGH PHEASANT MASTERCLASS Dick Jones, something of a legend among the high pheasant shoots of Mid and North Wales, unveils some of the myths surrounding high-bird shooting

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uccess on high birds can be broken down into three components which must be done correctly and in sequence to result in the perfect shot, which is what is required for these birds. On lesser birds, you can get away with one or two flawed components and still make a successful shot, but as birds get higher and crossing shots get further out, then man and equipment are tested to their limits. Firstly, let’s look at technique. We owe it to our quarry to always be

PICTURES: DON BRUNT

Dick (left) has built up an enviable reputation as a high-bird expert

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adequately prepared with honed technique and the right gun and cartridge combination for the job at hand. Shooting these birds should be taken very seriously, always aiming to make clean kills – you are not there to provide exercise for a picker-up’s dog stood half a mile behind you.

Footwork As in all forms of shooting, footwork is essential. Planting one’s lead foot and swiping (swinging

fast) at the bird will almost guarantee a miss. A pheasant seldom flies in a straight line, but looking carefully at where they are flushing from and where they are heading to, in relation to the line of the Guns, will give the shooter a general idea of the curl and side-slip of the quarry. When this sideways momentum is also married to a bird that is dropping, either due to the topography or being forced down by a strong breeze, you will see some real beauties and reading the line itself is a

WITH DICK JONES

// MASTERCLASS

‘Being able to mount accurately onto the target each and every time will go a long way to successful shooting’

Good performance requires total focus and concentration

real challenge. However, by staring hard and studying the head of the approaching bird, all the information we need to make a successful shot is there for us to process. Speed of the bird will allow you to calculate the lead, and the direction will allow you to calculate the line. By constant adjustment of the feet we should be able to place ourselves in position to take the shot when the timing is correct. Good timing together with a smooth, steady, unhurried swing and an exaggerated follow-through will ensure a shot which, if successful, can be repeated again without having to ‘swipe’ and the inconsistency which that technique can bring.

Gun fit Gun fit is extremely important. Being able to mount time after time, getting our head onto the stock in the same place every time without the need to adjust is an essential part of the process. A good gun fitter will ensure your gun is pointing exactly where you are looking, thus taking more inconsistencies out of the equation. Ignore gun fit at your peril! Short of acquiring a bespoke gun, the best alternative is to ensure your stock fits you perfectly in the most important dimensions of drop, length of pull, comb, and cast. Having it measured and made to fit will enhance your shooting pleasure and performance immeasurably. That said, the gun fitter’s careful measurements and the stocker’s painstaking work will be wasted unless you, the shooter, have a correct, consistent and accurate gun mount. Many sportsmen take their mount for granted, but having seen shooters of all abilities performing on sporting clays and game, a good accurate mount into the shoulder pocket every time is not as common as one might think. I’ve seen many sportsmen smiling, saying, ‘These big shells kick,’ showing off bruises from their biceps across their shoulders to their collarbone, which makes it quite clear that their mount is far from consistent. These inadequacies produce a differing stock position and, consequently, a different muzzle position, which results in a different sight picture for every shot. A perfect gun mount is, again, the result of much practice with the muzzles coming to the target, the comb coming firmly to the cheek and the shoulder locking in behind the sole of the

Ensuring that your stock fits you perfectly and that you are able to mount the gun consistently will put you on the road to success.

stock simultaneously. Being able to mount accurately onto the target each and every time will go a long way to successful shooting. On less challenging birds in the 25 to 35-yard range, a gun mount that is 2ft low, high or behind may still result in a wounded or possibly a killed bird. The same inadequacies on a bird at the ranges we are talking about will result in clear misses, as every flaw is magnified greatly as range increases out past 40 yards.

Gun choice Choosing a gun is largely a personal preference, but make sure it is fit for purpose and suited to the heavy ammo and special requirements needed. Gone are the days of the 6½lb game gun as the cartridges required for the highest birds will make

the gun extremely uncomfortable to shoot and difficult to control. Gun manufacturers have realised this and long-barrelled, heavier guns similar in weight and balance to sporters are now being used to great success in the field. Shooting these high birds consistently involves a smooth, steady swing with a pronounced follow-through, head firmly on the stock should a second barrel be needed. Short-barrelled, fast-handling guns are not suited to this style and have largely made way for their long-barrelled counterparts.

Loads of choice Touching on cartridges, the choice is huge with brands form Britain and the Continent being more than capable for the job. We now use, as a matter

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MASTERCLASS // WITH DICK JONES

Thirty-six grams of no.4 is a good place to start

combination; it is your responsibility to recognise these archangels, and shooting at them with the excuse: ‘I had to have a go, you never know’ is neither acceptable or ethical.

but you should pattern your chosen shell and chosen choke to see how they perform before taking them out into the field.

While I freely admit that shooting high birds with what I have heard described as ‘cannons and goose cartridges’ is not everybody’s cup of tea Regarding chokes, with the invention of Teague’s and I respect this point of view, however, if the thin wall multichokes there is no excuse to not individual wants to be consistently successful on have the right choke/cartridge combination in your these magnificent high birds of Mid and North gun. The early season partridge day demands a Wales where I spend much of the shooting totally different combination to a January day at a season, you do need to be suitably equipped. As shoot such as Brigands. I have always been the saying goes, don’t take a knife to a gunfight... taught that choke is your friend, and a very useful In conclusion, the main points to consider are ally for the high-bird shooter. An early season day good technique, good gun fit and suitable on a lowland shoot when the expected range of equipment and ordnance. However, there is the bird is in the 25-35 yard category will be well another key ingredient that I have not mentioned served by 30 or 32g of 5 or 6 shot through a ¼ until now and that is concentration. When loading and ½ combination. for accomplished game shot, Gerwyn Jones on As the season progresses and the birds the infamous Tommies drive, the highest of the strengthen, you will need to up your game spectacular drives at Brigands, I saw him down somewhat. By late November/December, five enormously tall pheasants for seven shots, especially if you are expecting tall pheasants, your then he started missing. When I asked him what constriction should be increased; remember that the problem was, he replied, “I can only bigger pellets means less pellets per cartridge, so concentrate like that for limited periods.” an increase in choke would prove beneficial to You have to realise that you can only maintain a viable pattern. I will happily use ¾ to concentrate at your highest level for short periods, Super Full with big pellets on January birds. You so accept that you will miss if your concentration will have to sacrifice the width of your pattern in lapses. Shooting these birds is not easy, nothing favour of a longer shot string and rely on good worth doing ever is. technique and accurate gun mount to maintain I hope this article is some help to those of you the correct line. wanting a taste of high-bird shooting, I would wish There is a risk – if using some of the very fast you the best of luck with what is a most shells through a lot of choke – of the rewarding and absorbing branch of pattern blowing. I am not saying fast Known field sports, but then again luck has shells are a bad thing and have seen as one of the very little to do with it. ■ them used to devastating effect, highest pheasants shoots in the UK, Brigands lies in the valleys of the Cambrian Mountians. www.bettwshall.com

Choke

of course, cartridges that would a few years ago have been kept solely for use on the foreshore, 36g of no.4 shot being a popular and formidable combination with the argument for 38 or 40g of no.3 shot for some of the really high drives. I know that even heavier loads with larger pellets are used very successfully, but you must decide whether you can handle the punishment that these big hitters dish out, especially when you may be shooting in excess of 200 shells in a day. At all times know your own and your equipment’s limitations. On high-bird shoots, there will be a percentage of birds that are out of the range of even the most potent gun/cartridge Tackling birds like these on one of the signature drives at Brigands requires a specific set of skills

‘As the season progresses and the birds strengthen, you will need to up your game somewhat’

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WITH DICK JONES

// MASTERCLASS

ABOUT DICK JONES Dick Jones has been shooting since about the age of eight. In his own words: “As soon as I was big enough to hold a 12-bore, I was out chasing rabbits and pigeons.” Having worked his way through eye dominance issues some 20 years ago, he found that his interest in coaching had been piqued. Jonathan Williams at Mid Wales Shooting Centre suggested that he get qualified and work for him. He successfully completed the APSI Course and was invited to become a full member of the Association shortly afterwards. Having quickly gained an impressive reputation for getting results with clients on the peg at some of the best shoots in the country, he is now in high demand, doing excess of 40 days per season. He is available for coaching on clays at Mid Wales and on the peg. Contact him on 07931 716817.

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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GUN SAFETY // WITH JAMES MARCHINGTON

ESSENTIAL SKILLS

GUN SAFETY

You might think you know how to be a safe shot, but it’s surprising how often people get it wrong. Read James’s guide to ensure you aren’t inadvertently putting yourself or others in danger this season ven the rawest novice knows that safety is the top priority when shooting, and every shooter can trot out the basic rules and would claim he or she is a ‘safe shot’. And yet every year there’s a handful of accidents with guns, plus a good few more near misses which could have resulted in tragedy. I’ve seen it happen myself – though very rarely I’m pleased to say, and close calls rather than an actual accident. There was the chap who rode in the Land Rover with his gun propped against his chest, got out at the other end and turned a funny shade of green when he opened the gun to find two cartridges in the breech. Many years ago I was horrified to watch an older lad struggling with an air rifle that appeared to have something stuck in the barrel – it would cock and fire, but nothing came out of the muzzle. In his frustration he peered down the barrel from

PICTURES: DOM HOLTAM

E

At a clay shoot, you should only load and close your gun when you are in position on the stand

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a moment’s lapse of attention, coupled with a bit the muzzle end without opening the gun or even of bad luck. de-cocking it first. How hard can it be, for instance, to put a cup If you watch videos on YouTube, or even on on a kitchen counter? And yet who hasn’t Facebook, you’ll have seen people doing the most managed to break one at some time? Perhaps incredibly stupid things with guns. The one that you were tired, ill, or were distracted by someone sticks in my mind is the redneck who peers down just as you put the cup down. Your brain says the barrel of his shotgun. The gun goes off and ‘Okay, hand, you take over now, you know what blows his cap clean off his head, leaving a huge to do,’ your attention moves elsewhere and before hole in the peak. A close call, indeed, that must you know it the cup is on the floor. A broken cup have left his ears ringing! is annoying but soon replaced – but a single slip It would be tempting to laugh at such stupidity with a gun could mean a lifetime’s regret. if the potential consequences weren’t so serious. Of course, you or I would never be so foolish – but beware of At a clay shoot The safety helps to complacency. Accidents don’t Clay grounds have strict safety prevent the accidental just happen to stupid people. rules to make quite sure that discharge of a firearm They can happen to the most every event is as safe as conscientious – all it takes is possible. You will be required

WITH JAMES MARCHINGTON

// GUN SAFETY

Contrast Most shoots insist that guns TX areCaption kept inside their2 sleeves until you are on your peg

Muzzles should be pointing in a safe direction while you load and close gun

‘Swinging your gun through the line is a cardinal sin. Don’t follow the bird across the line of guns, even at a high angle’

Before the drive starts, use the time to memorise your safety angles

you can’t rely on there always being an experienced member of staff watching over you. If there’s a problem with the traps or layout, or some sort of hazard appears in front of you, then take the safe course of action. Stay calm, keep the muzzles pointing in a safe direction, break the gun open and remove the cartridges. Now, with the gun safe, you can afford to relax a bit and turn around to talk to the other shooters, or ask the ref what to do next. The only time you should delay opening the gun is if you suffer a misfire – that is, you pull the trigger and the gun fails to fire. It’s possible, though unlikely, that the cartridge could still go off after a delay of a few seconds, and you don’t want that to happen while you have the gun half open. Again, keep calm and keep your wits about you. Don’t turn around and let the barrels point in an unsafe direction; keep them pointing downrange and count slowly and deliberately to 30. By then it should be safe to open the gun and remove the offending cartridge, which you can examine to see if the problem lies with your gun or the cartridge.

PICTURES: REBECCA GREEN

to keep your gun unloaded and in its sleeve at all times except when you are about to step onto the stand to shoot. Protocol dictates that you slip the gun halfway out of the sleeve, then break it before removing it fully from the sleeve. This ensures you don’t end up waving a closed (and potentially loaded) gun around the place. Once unsleeved, your muzzles must be kept pointing in a safe direction at all times. You load and close the gun only when you are in position and ready to call for the target. As soon as you have finished shooting that stand, you break the gun, make sure it is empty, then pop it back in the sleeve. That simple and effective procedure makes an accident almost impossible. Things could still go wrong, however, if something unexpected happens while you are shooting. There could be a trap malfunction, someone could wander into the danger zone, or your gun could misfire, for instance. In an ideal world, the referee or safety officer will be sufficiently on the ball to step in and stop you making a potentially dangerous error – but

A driven shoot Broadly, the same safety rules apply at a driven shoot. You have your peg – the equivalent of the clay shooting stand – and there’s no need to take your gun from its sleeve until you are on the peg. At the end of the drive, check the barrels are clear and put the gun back in its sleeve. Some of the more old-fashioned shoots are more relaxed about shooters standing around with unsleeved guns broken on their arms, but I feel more comfortable knowing my gun is safely in its sleeve – and more comfortable still if everyone else’s is too. Thankfully, it’s a long time since I encountered one of the old-school game shots who would stomp around between drives with a closed gun on his arm, pointing at everyone’s legs, dogs and goodness knows what else. If challenged, he would declare: “Of course it’s empty,” and 99 per cent of the time it was, but it made me feel most uneasy.

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GUN SAFETY // WITH JAMES MARCHINGTON

Once on your peg, you need to decide where you can safely shoot. An arc of 45 degrees in front of you is usually about right, but take account of any footpaths or houses, and the position of stops and beaters. As the beaters approach, you may need to revise your angles, only taking shots well overhead to avoid shooting too low over the beaters. In the lull before the drive starts, take a good look behind you as well, and memorise your safety angles. Sometimes you will be able to take shots safely behind; other times there may be pickers-up and others making it impossible. Always remember, of course, that swinging your gun through the line is a cardinal sin. By all means take a shot in front, then raise your barrels to turn and take another shot behind if it’s safe to do so. Just don’t follow the bird across the line of guns, even at a high angle, or at the very least you’ll get a stiff talking to from the shoot captain.

Rough shooting It’s harder to apply simple catch-all safety rules to rough shooting, when you might be in a pigeon hide, on the foreshore, walking through cover or waiting for rabbits to bolt in front of ferrets. Each situation has its own difficulties and pitfalls, which are compounded when you add dogs, other shooters and assorted hangers-on into the mix. Here you must be constantly aware of your safety angles, which are always changing as you and the others move around the landscape. Rather than think in terms of ‘danger zones’ where you mustn’t shoot, it can be easier to map out ‘safe zones’ where it will be safe to shoot if the quarry appears.

Muzzle awareness is particularly important when you’re rough shooting in a group. You may well need to walk with the gun closed and loaded, and it’s easy to let the muzzles wander so they point at another person or a dog. Don’t trust the gun’s mechanism, treat it as though it could go off at any moment and make sure that, if it did, the shot would go harmlessly into the ground or sky. Your hold should allow you to control the direction of the muzzles even if you stumble and fall – something that’s all too easy on rough ground. That’s another good reason to keep your finger off the trigger until you bring the gun up to shoot. If you stumble, your muscles will tense involuntarily, and you could pull the trigger without meaning to. You will have roads, fences and natural obstacles to cross while rough shooting. Always play safe and unload the gun before tackling them. I will often close the empty gun to jump a stream or cross a plank, as the gun is stronger when shut and less likely to be damaged if you fall. That’s okay, especially if you’re on your own, so long as you have ensured the gun is empty first and still apply the usual rules of muzzle safety.

gun and lock it away as soon as possible; don’t leave it lying around where someone might be tempted to pick it up and have a playful swing. Keeping guns out of reach of others – especially children – is a legal requirement of course, but that pales into insignificance compared to the possibility of an accident. For the same reason, lock ammo away separately from the gun, and make sure your gun cabinet keys aren’t accessible to other family members – the back of your sock drawer is not good enough! Shooting should be fun, and we shouldn’t let worries about safety spoil our enjoyment. But, at the same time, you must never let familiarity breed contempt. Simply learning a safety mantra parrot-fashion will not make you a safe shot. In theory, you simply cannot have an accident if you treat your gun with respect, are always aware In the home where it’s pointing, and never fire unless you are quite It shouldn’t be necessary to say so, but of course sure the background is safe. It sounds easy, but it’s your gun should always be empty when you put it also easy to get distracted. Watch out for distractions down, lay it in a vehicle, or hand it to someone and recognise them as a potential danger. else. Get in the habit of always opening a And if you ever find yourself smugly gun and checking when you pick it up, Want saying, “I’m a safe shot,” it’s definitely put it down, or pass it to someone. to know how if time for a refresher! ■ When you get home, clean your you are shooting safely? BASC runs a simple 20-minute assessment called the Safe Shot Award. For more information, call 01244 573018.

PICTURES: DOM HOLTAM

You must be aware of your safety angles at all times when shooting from a hide

Keep your finger off the trigger when walking over rough ground

20

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N A M

IFES

/TO

/

WITH JOHN FENNY // ILLUSTRATED BY TED ANDREWS

A BEATER’S MANIFESTO

John Fenny has thoroughly enjoyed his beating for a great many years with shoots over Northants, Bucks and Beds. Here, he passes on some of the tips he has learned from personal experience

A beater’s essential kit includes a priest, beating stick, torch and whistle

A knife is a trusty friend in the field

Plasters are useful for taping over laces that may be a hindrance

A pair of secateurs will come in handy in thick cover 22

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WITH JOHN FENNY // ILLUSTRATED BY TED ANDREWS

// MANIFESTO

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LETTERS WORTH £69.99!

Handy tip to keep your gun safe in the hide

SNAP SHOTS

Having read Eric Prior’s article about pigeon decoying [September issue] I felt compelled to write in. He mentions having a gun stand in your hide, but suggests that if you don’t have the soldering (I think he means welding) equipment to make it, to pop down to your local blacksmith. My tip is this: if you don’t have a local blacksmith I suggest you look at angling sites for sand spike rod rests. I used to do beach casting a few years ago and now my rod rest is used, as Eric suggests, to keep my gun handy and safe in my hide. Tom Robertson

26

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Something to get off your chest? Shoot us a line by post or email WRITE TO Letters, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House , 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2EG EMAIL [email protected]

LETTER OF THE MONTH

To win your own Crieff Waterproof Treggings, simply send your letter to us at the above address. The Seeland Crieff Waterproof Treggings are a tough, practical, durable accessory for beating, picking up or a wet day on the peg. Olive green Seetex 2-layer lined treggings with adjustable canvas belt and slit pocket entry. Adjustable leg hem with Velcro and gusset. Available in sizes S/M, L/XL, XXL/3XL www.seelanduk.co.uk

WIN

There’s always one… I started clay shooting a year There’s no substitute for proper lessons or so ago and was greeted on my first club shoot by a friendly guy dressed top to toe in Browning uniform and personalised Skeet vest. Assuming he was an instructor I was grateful to have him take me around and give me advice. Except that his advice was just appalling and left me totally confused. It turned out that the guy was a regular club member in C Class and although well-meaning, wasn’t able to give me the right kind of advice. Being British meant that I am incapable of being rude to people so it took a long time to disengage myself from this ‘mentor’. I have since had some proper lessons with a qualified instructor and have made real progress. While it is lovely that people are friendly and keen to help newcomers, the wrong kind of advice is worse than no advice at all in some instances and there is no substitute for proper instruction. I managed to win my class the other weekend – including beating my old ‘instructor’. I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw him turn up in an entirely new uniform – Beretta this time. Shame he didn’t spend some of that money on some lessons… Karl Bronney, via email

AN ENLARGED VERSION OF THIS DRAWING – SIGNED, NUMBERED, PRINTED ON WATERCOLOUR PAPER AND SUITABLE FOR FRAMING – IS AVAILABLE. JUST CALL TED ON 01908 371404 OR SEE WWW.TEDART.CO.UK

READERS’

WIN

LETTERS

FOLD UP DECOYS WORTH £52

Bounce or swivel? Having shot pigeons for a number of years, I have seen a lot of accessories on the market, some of them good, others a waste of money. But one of the worst things on the market (in my opinion) are pigeon bouncers that last a couple of months and then just swivel when the dead bird is on it. This is due to a plastic washer that becomes brittle and doesn’t hold the inner rod. Surely in this day and age somebody can come up with a better design? Rab Hood, Banffshire

The Fold Up Decoy (FUD) range is effective, functional and practical. The FUDs boast a variety of features that have quickly proven popular since their launch last year. They are 3D and life size, with a movable head to recreate multiple postures. They are compact and lightweight, yet strong and long lasting and can be deployed in water using the detachable anchor or staked in the ground. Choose either teal or wood pigeon packs, depending on your needs. PICTURE: DOM HOLTAM

Sometimes homemade does the job

Pigeon problem solved Are you having a problem getting your pigeon back to the game dealer flyblow-free after a long day’s shooting this summer? I was, but I solved the problem using a commercial carp fisheries keepnet (8ft to 10ft long). Twist the neck of the keepnet to stop the flies getting to the birds and allow for easy access every time a bird is shot and put in the keepnet. The keepnet also

allows the birds to cool down. Any commercial match angler or commercial fishery owner who uses their own nets will probably give you one of their old ones, because, due to the big match weights caught on these fisheries, the nets have to be replaced every couple of seasons. Any holes or tears can simply be stitched up before use. K Flinders, South Yorkshire

QQUESUTIIZON

Q

SEND YOUR ANSWER TO THIS MONTH’S QUESTION TO: Win Decoys (November), Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, RG40 2EG, or email your answer to [email protected] SEPTEMBER ISSUE WINNER Congratulations to Stephen Harrison from Codford in Wiltshire. The answer was IMPROVED CYLINDER. RULES: Closing date is 1 November. Answer will be published in the December issue. Normal Sporting Shooter rules apply. For full terms and conditions, send an sae marked t&c to the postal address above. Archant Ltd, publisher of Sporting Shooter, would like to keep you up to date with any special offers or new products or services which might be of interest. When entering by email please state clearly if you DO NOT wish for Archant Ltd to contact you in this way by email, SMS, post or phone. We occasionally pass your details on to carefully selected companies who wish to contact you with information about their products/services. When entering by email please state clearly if you DO NOT wish to be contacted in this way by email, SMS, post or phone.

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POACH STATION is an anagram of which key figure on a shoot day?

Win decoys November Free to enter: fill in this form (or use a plain piece of paper) and send it to the address above, to arrive by the closing date of 1 November

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ASK THE

DOM HOLTAM STALKER AND EDITOR Dom Holtam is an experienced stalker and deer warden

DON BRUNT CLAY SHOOTING Don is a keen clay shooter and follows the country’s top shots on the circuit

ANDY CROW PIGEONS Crowman has forgotten more about pigeons than most of us will ever know

DIGGORY HADOKE CLASSIC GUNS Diggory Hadoke is an authority on old guns and buying at auction

JONNY CROCKETT COUNTRYSIDE Jonny Crockett teaches survival courses and other backwoods skills

WILL EDWARDS SHOOTING Will Edwards is an APSI-qualified shooting coach

TIM BONNER SPORTING ISSUES Tim is Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance

SPARSHOLT COLLEGE GAMEKEEPING An expert team of lecturers run Sparsholt College’s full and part-time gamekeeping courses

Is there a question you want resolved? SEND YOUR QUESTIONS TO: Ask the Experts Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2EG OR EMAIL: [email protected]

30

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Pointlessly shelling out

Q

Why is it that most clay grounds won't allow the use of game shooting cartridges? I don’t understand, surely there’s very little difference between 6 shot and 7½?

A

DON BRUNT replies: You are right, there isn’t a big difference between a 6 and a 7½, however there are plenty of people out there who shoot game with 4s or even bigger. Heavy pellets such as those can inflict damage to both property and people at considerably greater ranges than smaller shot. The other point to consider is that game shells are often considerably noisier because of the fact that they usually have more than 28g of lead aboard. If a ground is trying to keep the local population from complaining about sound pollution then this is the last thing that they want. Using game shells is a fairly pointless exercise anyway; there is less shot in each cartridge because of the larger shot size, so you have less of a pattern to play with. Also, generally speaking, they are far more expensive to buy than clay loads so using them is false economy, especially if you happen to be the shooter who

Roadkill rules

PICTURE: DON BRUNT

with:

tossed several boxes of 36g Alphamax BBs downrange at a Wiltshire range a few years ago, which at close to £400 per 1,000 is a big chunk of money to spend on breaking a few clays. In the long run, it’s just not worth it. And don’t be surprised when, if you are found using game loads at a ground, you get asked to leave. Planning permission is far easier to lose than it is to gain these days.

Keep a record of where and when subjects were acquired

Q

I have recently acquired a display cabinet and as a keen naturalist, I quite fancy building a collection of bird skulls, but I have a few questions regarding the law on this and would appreciate your help regarding this matter. Am I right to presume that if a bird was legally shot for pest control or sport, e.g. woodpigeon, crow, pheasant, etc, I would legally be allowed to condition its skull for display and study purposes? What I’m more interested in is if I was to find, for example, a buzzard or other protected species of bird dead on the road, would I be allowed to take it to preserve its skull for display and study purposes? I presume there would need to be some form of formal recognition in obtaining this skull and staying on the right side of the law.

A

TIM BONNER replies: Unless you plan to sell them on you don't need a licence to condition the skull of a bird shot under the General Licence or that of a protected bird that has met its death on the roads. However, you must be in a position to prove that the skulls you own are from birds that have died in a lawful manner, so keep detailed notes of where and when you acquire your subjects. A photograph of the roadkill bird in situ and a dated note of where and when the bird was found and its injuries is also recommended. If you decide you wish to sell any of the items in your collection, you will need to apply to the Animal and Plant Health Authority (APHA) .

PICTURE: JACK SCRIVENER

EXPERTS

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

For the very latest news visit www.sportingshooter.co.uk

EXPERTS

Permission to shoot?

Q

Despite all my best efforts, including meet-and-greet with landowners, factories, greenkeepers, joining clubs and ranges, etc., I am failing to find permissions to shoot on with my sub 12FE HW100KS and night sight add-on. I am now trying to pursue the avenue of helping out any of the number of Red Squirrel preservation groups out there. The issue is a big concern of mine so I am very keen to volunteer my services for the worthwhile cause and gain some permissions or days' sport, too. Not to mention a tasty squirrel curry or two. Am I barking up the wrong fruitless tree?

PICTURE: JACK SCRIVENER

A

JAMES MARCHINGTON replies: Finding permission is always tricky, and as you say there are no easy or guaranteed methods. In my experience they tend to come through personal contacts, not necessarily connected with shooting – you might get to know someone through work or sport who turns out to have a relative with a pest problem, for example. Sometimes a bit of scouting can work – spot an obvious rabbit or pigeon problem, and simply knock on the door. It takes time, though, and can be very frustrating. I don’t know about the clubs in your area, but it’s probably worth joining one or two as a way of keeping your eye in, as well as making contacts. As for pigeons in the garden, you need to be careful that you’re sticking to the terms of the General Licence. It’s a slightly grey area, but if you can genuinely claim that you’re protecting a ‘crop’ and not simply shooting for sport or for the pot, then I’d be amazed if anyone bothered to prosecute, and if they did it would be unlikely to succeed. (Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer and you should make your own checks – read the General Licence, and perhaps get advice from BASC’s legal department, etc.) There was a Chinese chef prosecuted recently for shooting birds in his garden, but then he did shoot some protected species and put the films on YouTube! You do need to be super careful about safety, etc. I try to make sure I’m shooting at quite a steep downward angle, so I can be sure the pellet will bury itself in the ground and not go beyond the garden boundary. I also do what I can to avoid neighbours being aware I’m shooting – sticking to times when they’re out or busy, using a moderator, and only shooting the squirrels, etc. in parts of the garden that aren’t overlooked. Even though I believe I’m 100% legal, I can do without complaints and hassle! Good luck!

A glut of antler

Q A

DOM HOLTAM replies: I am currently hoarding fallow antlers in order to build a chandelier for my man cave… and even the most boring uplighters can be ‘pimped’ with an antler garnish. Common uses for spare antler are walking stick tops, knife handles and dog whistles. On the Continent they use them for furniture, chess boards, you name it! Be imaginative – and make sure you send us a picture of your efforts.

Antler is used for both practical items and for decoration

PICTURE: JAKE EASTHAM

I have managed to get quite a good collection of antlers over the years (though no trophy heads, unfortunately) and don’t really want to chuck them out. Any tips on what to do with them?

EXPERTS

For the very latest news visit www.sportingshooter.co.uk

Q A

Is it possible to properly repair a gun with a cracked stock? I have a nice old Wilkes boxlock that has a crack right through the hand and I can’t afford to re-stock it.

DIGGORY HADOKE replies: Re-stocking mid-quality boxlocks is rarely cost effective, as the stocking is likely to cost more than the gun is worth. Depending on the break, a repair can be done, usually involving the cutting out of the section of the hand under the guard strap, leaving the sides as thin veneer, then fitting in a new piece of wood and screwing and glueing it tight before re-finishing and replacing the furniture. It is not perfect but this kind of repair, if done well, does allow an extended life to a gun that would otherwise be scrap. The bad news is, the cost of such a repair is likely to be around £700, so still not a cheap option.

Misfire protocol

Q A

What should I do if I have a misfire when on a busy game drive?

PICTURE: NICK RIDLEY

WILL EDWARDS replies: So you have taken your shot and nothing has happened, no 'bang', and maybe just a click from the firing pin. What do we do next? Most people’s natural reaction would be to open the gun to reload immediately... wrong. Whilst it's frustrating when you can see a cracking bird heading straight for your peg, you must keep your barrels up and finger off the trigger for 30 seconds – the reason being that you could have a 'slow burn' or 'hang fire,' where the cartridge may still detonate. If you did happen to bring the barrels down to the horizontal and it went off, you may possibly have beaters in close proximity in front of you. We suggest a 30-second wait, because the general rule is that if the cartridge hasn’t detonated by then, it won’t. I’d suggest putting the cartridge in question to one side for safe disposal (some would suggest carefully removing the shot, by cutting the cartridge in half). Frankly, I’d pass it to your shoot host or clay ground owner and ask them kindly if they wouldn’t mind doing this for you. If this happens again within a few shots, the chances are it’s a mechanical failure of your gun and not the cartridge. To minimise the chance of problems with your cartridges, don’t forget to store them off the ground, in a dry and secure area.

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PICTURE: WWW.WWWOODWORKDS.NET

Taking stock

Pigeon feat

Q A

I watch a lot of your YouTube videos and wonder about how you manage to pull off some of those shots when your feet are pointing the wrong way! I’m not sure I’d be able to hit anything shooting like that…

ANDY CROW replies: One of the real skills of shooting pigeons is to be able to react quickly and take shots that you often don’t have the time to set up for. To be fair, and though it might not always look like it, I do try to move my feet to get into the best position possible – one of the reasons I shoot from standing rather than sitting. But by the time Dom, his camera bag and his lunchbox are in the hide, there often isn’t enough room! Pigeons will jink and turn on the wind, so you often find yourself in the wrong position. It is just something you get used to over time. Try to get faced the right way and stay as balanced as you can, but don’t worry about being in the perfect stance or you will most likely miss the opportunity altogether.

CLAY NEWS

WITH DON BRUNT

Experience wins the day at British Open A stellar performance from Steve Brightwell

PICTURES: DON BRUNT

eld at Garlands Shooting Ground by Steve Lovatt of the Clay Shooting Company, this year’s Sporting Open saw the event celebrate its 90th year. The course was a tricky one though perhaps not quite as awkward as last year’s which had proved too much for some. With targets out from 20 to 50 yards and beyond, Steve put on a great variety of presentations that made good use of the topography at Garlands. A new feature was that all shooters started on stand 1 rather than spreading squads across the entire course; with squads going out regularly just a few minutes apart, the shoot flowed far better than previously. Another change was the re-introduction of Finals Day, which had been absent for nearly a decade, and meant that the top five scorers from each class (AAA, AA, A, B and C) and the top three from each category (Seniors, Ladies, Juniors, Vets and Colts) on each of the four days of competition would be invited back to fight it out on Sunday. In addition, there would be a six-man Super Final to decide the overall champion who would claim the Daily Telegraph trophy and a Zoli Z-Gun for their efforts. Young Aaron Harvey posted an impressive 68 on Finals Day to earn a Super Final place, his score only matched by Veteran Steve Brightwell. Chris Broomfield and Mark Winser were close behind on 67, while the final two places went to Kevin Jobling and John Lee who had posted 66s. Brightwell’s decades of experience paid off in the final and he shot 21 ex 25 to take the win over John Lee. Aaron had a tough start but came back

H

well to take third after a shoot-off with Mark Winser, taking the place 7 to 6. Cheryl Hall took Ladies having shot 58 ex 75, three targets clear of runner-up Kate Brown. Amy Easeman’s 54 was enough to give her third place

England dominate Home International Olympic Skeet he National Clay Shooting Centre at Bisley was the venue for this year’s tournament, and Chris Pratt, who has been climbing his way up the rankings steadily over the last few years, shot extremely well to take the win – his 25, 24, 24, 25 seeing him finish on 98. As was expected, England dominated the Team standings and won in every individual category except Super Vets, where they had to make do with the Silver.

T

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as well as Colts runner-up, Lady Colts champion, and the Parent & Child trophy along with her dad, Phil. Aaron Harvey bagged the Junior win ahead of Josh Bridges who also won AA Class, while George Townsend proved to be victorious in Colts.

Chris Pratt took High Gun at the International

THE MARKETPLACE Your one-stop shop for shooting gear

elcome to the Marketplace. In here you will find everything you need to know about the kit you need to go shooting with – from product tests and reviews to in-depth features. We’ve reinstated the reader ads too, so you can see what secondhand kit is for sale, and advertise your own – all for free. Whatever you want to know about or buy, we’ve got it covered.

W

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INSIDE THE MARKETPLACE THIS MONTH...

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Tried and Tested – Will Edwards tests the Magnasonic range from Lyalvale Express, plus a 2-in-1 travel bag from John Field, electronic earmuffs, a new tipple that is the perfect accompaniment to a shoot day lunch, and more

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Gun test – Mike is full of praise for the new Beretta 690 1 Sport Cartridges – Vic tests a selection of top-quality cartridges up to the challenge of the nimble partridge

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PRODUCT NEWS

Is there something you want tested? SEND SUGGESTIONS TO: Product News, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2EG OR email [email protected]

Our pick of the latest kit, the best value buys and the brightest new ideas

Two-in-one travel bag Thanks to John Field’s unique 2-in-1 Mac travel bag, it is now possible to streamline the luggage needed for a weekend shooting trip. Made from a Cordura/cotton mix, the 75-litre waterproof bag is divided into two sections – one is a discreet hard case for shotguns, and the other is a soft bag for clothes. Both bags feature an integrated three-dial combination lock and are fully detachable from one another. And to save heavy lifting, the gun case has wheels. Fully lined in protective foam, it can store up to two disassembled shotguns. The softer bag features internal pockets and it can be divided using velcro detachable walls. Designer Maureen Seynaeve explained: “As a shooter myself, I know how much kit there is to pack for a weekend away – so it made sense to simplify the luggage I needed and make it multi-functional. Once packed, the Mac travel bag even leaves you with a hand free for the unruly gundog!” RRP: £395 For more information, visit www.johnfield.eu

Longthorne’s double trigger option Shooting for sport Longthorne Gunmakers of Lancashire have recently launched a double trigger option for their range of Premier English Sidelocks, the first two of which were retro fitted to the Earl of Leicester’s pair of Hesketh Deluxe guns. Managing Director James Longthorne Stewart commented that the design of the Longthorne sidelocks enables the fitting of a single or double trigger within the action with minor modification, enabling the client to change at a later date if required. For more information, go to www.longthorneguns.com, email [email protected] or call 01772 811215.

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Covering all aspects of sporting shooting in all its guises, this book is a must-have for newcomers to the sport and is fully illustrated with 80 colour photographs. In the book, Tony Jackson, a former editor of Sporting Times, covers guns and equipment, the quarry, terrain and the different types of shooting and methods involved. RRP: £16.99 www.crowood.com

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STEALTH GHOST NETS Ultimate dense coverage in 3 camo colours Available from 3m–6m from £17.99

FLOCKED FULL BODIED PIGEON 6 for £20 - 12 for £35

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SWIVEL CAMO STOOL folds for easy storage. Available in two sizes, extending up to 44cm or 66cm in height. Starting £15

TELESCOPIC PIGEON MAGNET including 12v 7ah battery £59.99

CREE LAMP 125mm including rechargeable lithium ion battery - £69.99

PRO FLAP DECOY Flapping decoy for magnets and bouncers £39.99 a pair

TURBO FLAPPER Including standard timer £79.99 with 12v battery £84.99

MAGNUM DECOYS Larger than life for ultimate visibility when decoying, still on our unique rocker pegs for the gentle pecking movement with no springs. Decoying just got bigger and better

PIGEON PLASTIC SHELLS 1 – £4.99, 6 – £29.99 10 – £48.99, 12 – £51.99

FLOCKED SHELLS 1 – £5.99, 6 – £35.99 10 – £51.99, 12 – £61.99

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FULL BODIED CROW 1 – £4.99, 6 – £28 12 – £50

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For the very latest news visit www.sportingshooter.co.uk PRODUCT NEWS

On your shoot comprehensive and practical guide to creating and maintaining a shoot, On your shoot is written in a friendly and informative style and covers everything from stock selection and habitat management to predator control and rearing and releasing game, as well as advice on running a shoot day. RRP: £20 www.quillerpublishing.com

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Complete training for the working spaniel hether you’re a beginner or a seasoned trainer, Graham Gibson’s guide is essential reading for anyone training spaniels for the shooting field. With advice and step-by-step information, Complete training for the working spaniel provides instruction on training from puppyhood through to working the dog. Graham looks at a whole host of topics, including choosing a spaniel, introduction to game and competitions and gundog trials. RRP: £19.95 www.crowood.com

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Protect your hearing without breaking the bank t’s very important to wear ear protection and even more so for youngsters who are gaining their stripes in the shooting field. I was aware that young Fred here needs more protection for his hearing than the simple ‘pop in’ ear protectors, and, as he’s still a growing lad, he’s unable to have any of the moulded-type ear protection fitted. I was informed by the very helpful people from Doyle Sports, that for kids the area behind the ear also needs protecting, which means that the earmuff-type are the only sensible option. I find what’s equally important, also from a safety point of view, is the requirement for Fred to be able to hear what I’m saying whilst we’re out shooting. As a result, I’ve been on the lookout for some electronic earmuffs that don’t cost the earth, and I stumbled across these from GDK Outdoors. There are four microphones to amplify surrounding sounds, which in turn pick up normal talking, and even whispering, very easily. Yet when a sound over 82 decibels is detected, the microphones instantly cut off. We’ve tried them on several outings now, and because they’re not particularly bulky either, Fred finds them very comfy, too. The microphones are controllable Each earmuff on each side, and this was useful when has an on/off walking across the stubble fields because the switch to control the noise generated from our boots brushing microphone. through the wheat stubble actually transfers as quite a racket if the microphones are turned up to the top level. Knowing how casual a 10-year-old can occasionally be with expensive equipment, I feel the £35 price tag sits very happily with me, should they be accidentally dropped several times onto a hard surface, or become submerged in the flight pond! RRP: £34.99 www.gdkoutdoors.co.uk

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TESTED BY:

FRED KAY

QUALITY. CRAFTSMANSHIP. PERFORMANCE WINDSOR GAME Available in 12g, 20g & 28g. 28” or 30” M/C barrels, 3” Chamber, Steel Shot Proof, Single Selective Trigger, Ejector, Auto Safe, Right & Left Hand.

S R P £1,145.00

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This Best Quality 12 bore is a modern gun epitomising the finest traditional building techniques of skilled London craftsmen and is the first gun made exclusively by Cogswell & Harrison this century. Other bespoke side by side shotguns in 12g & 20g are also available.

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CERTUS RIFLE Available in Calibres .223REM, .243WIN, & .308WIN, built on a Remington 700 Style action, comes complete with weaver bases & 1/2” UNF MT barrel.

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WINDSOR SPORTER Available in 12g 30” M/C barrels, 3” Chamber, Steel Shot Proof, Single Selective Trigger, Ejector Right & left Hand.

S R P £1,295.00

Available from the following stockists: Alcatraz Gun Company Ltd | Browns Lock Stock & Barrel | Carl Russell & Co Ltd | Central Scotland Shooting School C.F. Beattie | Charles R Sykes | Chris Potter Country Sports | Closeburn Sporting Services | Country Field Sports Emmett and Stone Country Sports | Essex Guns | F.A. Anderson | Gilsan Sports | Hadfield Guns Hollow Farm Shooting Grounds | Keens Tackle & Guns | Kexby Country Sports | Lavin Guns | Low Mill Ranges Maryland Country Sports | Morgans of Oswestry | Oxford Gun Company | Range & Country Sports Sloan International | Solware Ltd | Stutley Gun | T & JJ McAvoy Guns | The Bridge Guns & Tackle Ltd The Countryman of Derby | The Country Sports Shop Ltd | The Portsmouth Gun Centre Ltd | Wiltshire Rod & Gun Visit: www.cogswellandharrison.com

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GUN TEST

5 2 3 , £2

RRP

WITH MIKE YARDLEY

Confidence booster Easy on the eye, a joy to shoot and great value, the new 690 1 gives the ever-popular Silver Pigeon a serious run for its money his month’s test gun is a black-actioned Beretta 690 1 Sport. It has 30" barrels, a non-adjustable single trigger, and a conventional stock (there is an adjustable comb version, too). The RRP is a comparatively reasonable £2,325. First impressions of the gun are that it looks much like the black-action version of the old 682, save for the orange action detailing and the orange liner on the recoil pad. The gun is smart but fairly plain, with no engraving on the action, though the elegant double fences are stippled. The wood has reasonable (actually, quite good) figure and the stock shapes were comfortably fulsome. Mount the gun – which weighs in around (an

PICTURES: MIKE YARDLEY

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ideal) 8lbs – and it feels steady with good purchase and shapes on all the gripping surfaces. You would have to pick to find fault; the only thing I would say is not everyone will like the orange lining and lettering on the action, but it does make the model distinct and contrasts well with the black. I was first introduced to the 690 at the launch of the 690 III (the first in the 690 family to be released) in Tuscany last year – a grand and most enjoyable event. Although that slightly lighter, game scene engraved model is intended mainly for the field, I found it a very useful clay gun, even in 28" form, and won the launch competition put on by Beretta. Nursing a hangover, I missed one bird in the

FITASC-style shoot and one in the shoot-off. I was impressed! And, the British team even beat the Germans, after someone had opined to me at dinner the night before that they did not think much of zee Mr Stanbury’s shooting style. The 690 in its various forms is, in essence, a 692 without some of the bells and whistles. When you look at it carefully, you also note similarities with the SV10 (Perennia and Prevail chassis). The barrels have the same asymmetric shoulders and similar monoblocs (there are some mechanical differences, however). I do not advise it, but 690 barrels do appear to fit SV10 actions. They are, thus, clearly part of the same design family. The aesthetics of the 690/692 are, however, superior in my opinion with the double action fences and pleasing traditional panels to the action walls. It looks less radical. The barrels of the test gun are what Beretta call ‘Steelium’ and bored at a comparatively large 18.6mm (the old Beretta standard was 18.3 or 4). You might, simplifying, describe this as a modest back-bore (the 692 has a longer internal taper and is referred in the increasingly complex nomenclature as ‘Steelium Plus’, and the premium DT11 has a full taper and is referred to as ‘Steelium

Pro’). If I was specifying a set of barrels for clay shooting, my preference would be for a 18.6 or 18.7mm bore diameter because I have found that to be the ideal for use with plas-wads. The barrels are, of course, monobloc. Beretta developed the system 100+ years ago and no one makes better, more durable barrels. They are hard chromed internally, 3" chambered and fleur-de-lys proved for steel shot (in-house at Beretta’s own branch of the Italian Proof House). The bores are well finished and the external finish is particularly practical – matt black, as used to be seen on some 682 competition models. The sighting rib (joined to the barrels in a new way with full contact all the way along its base) is of excellent pattern – flat, tapering from 10mm at the breech to 8mm at the muzzles. There is a translucent red rod front sight in the usual skeletonised cradle. Joining ribs are ventilated. The fit and finish of the new-style ejector work (see Technical section) is neat. And, the ejectors may be switched off if you don’t want cases thrown around. The action design is familiar – arguably up there with Brescia’s best. There is no full-width hinge pin, instead stud pins are mounted in the action walls near the knuckle

BERETTA 690 1 SPORT UP CLOSE (but they are retained in a slightly different way to the old Silver Pigeon – see below). There are the usual Beretta rotary bolts engaging with circular bites to either side of the chamber mouth. Machining is A1 and the engineering fundamentally sound. The action profile – as in other Beretta over-and-unders – is shallow. Top lever (which has a rubberised thumb piece like a 692) and safety-cum-selector functioned well and trigger pulls were okay. The plain finish will appeal to many. The wood on the test gun was not exhibition grade, but had some pleasant figure. Wood-to-metal fit was really good, and stock dimensions were sensible. Length of pull was 14¾. Drop was 13/8 and 23/16". There was a bit of righthanded cast. The well-shaped grip was not too tightly radiused and had a subtle right-hand palm swell. The fore-end was of beavertail design – always my preference in a competition gun. The ‘rubber’ recoil pad was not too sticky and cosmetically accentuated with a thin orange spacer. I found the gun very comfortable to mount with its good grip and comb profile (which, notably, was not too thick).

Technical The 690 has enlarged, asymmetric barrel shoulders when compared to a classic Silver Pigeon/600/50 series gun. The inertia-operated single trigger mechanism is, however, virtually identical to the Silver Pigeon, save for cosmetics. The hinging studs are the same as those on the 692. The area of bearing surface is the same as a 600 series gun, but the studs (Beretta call them disks) are fitted from the inside of the action and capped on the outside. A small allen screw retains them – a different system to the Silver Pigeon guns. The ejector system is the same as 692 with an ‘eco switch’ to turn them on or off in the fore-end. The extractors run in and out of the monobloc on a dovetail now and are subject to less torque than previously. ■

SHOOTING IMPRESSIONS I really enjoyed shooting this 690. It is a well-sorted design – controllable, soft to shoot, and forgiving. The balance was fairly neutral, as it should be in a clay gun. The only potential negative was that I did not find it especially pointable. That said, though, I misread a couple of targets and still broke them. This gun maintains the Beretta standard and sets the standard others still seek to equal. It represents excellent value for money. Personally, although the Silver Pigeon (a few hundred pounds cheaper) is still a great gun, I would say that the 690 is even better and definitely worth the modest extra cost. I would like to try a 32" version and a fixed choke 30" model. I may even buy one after that. It’s a gun that inspires confidence – and I can’t really give it a better compliment.

WE LIKE ■

The orange detailing may be a deal-breaker for some, but it does set this model apart

The single trigger mechanism is almost identical to that of the Silver Pigeon

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The well thought through design ■ The comfortable shooting qualities ■ Beretta integrity of manufacture

WE DISLIKE ■

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The orange detailing

The grip is not too tightly radiused

TECH SPECS ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Make: Beretta Model: 690 1 Sport Bore: 12 Chamber: 3" fleurs-de-lys steel shot friendly proof Rib: tapered 10-8mm Chokes: Optima HP (five supplied) Weight: 8lbs approx. RRP: £2,325 (adjustable stock – £2,650, fixed choke Trap model – £2,075, Trap model with adjustable stock – £2,400)

Instead of a full-width hinge pin, stud pins are mounted in the action walls

www.sportingshooter.co.uk www.sportingshooter.co.uk 45 45

CARTRIDGES

WITH VIC HARKER

Cartridges for partridges Whether you’re after reds or greys, here are Vic’s suggestions to help maximise your chances on partridge this season like partridges and they abound this time of year, even in my garden. They eat the wild bird food that drops from the wire feeders my wife hangs on branches and bushes at strategic places. In pairs – male and female – they strut about, their attractive striped plumage and red legs making them easy to spot. Frenchmen, of course – I have never seen a grey on our place. Much as I like to look at partridges, the hunter-gatherer in me also likes to eat them. A favourite recipe of mine (courtesy of Rick Stein) includes a mixture of black olives, bacon, shallots,

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Partridges provide a rewarding day in the field and a tasty feast to boot

rosemary and the bird’s giblets chopped, all of which are then roasted with Dubbonet or port. First, however, you have to shoot your partridge (not in your garden, of course) and here is a selection of excellent cartridges from some redoubtable British manufacturers. So good shooting, and bon appétit.

enjoy eating our partridges, which means it requires a judicious peppering of pellets from a lightly choked gun. Super Game will do just that with either plastic or fibre wads. Available in fibre and plastic wad 28, 30 and 32g 5, 6 and 7, £239-£260 per 1,000.

2. GAMEBORE PURE GOLD F2 1. GAMEBORE SUPER GAME A superior cartridge for every English gamebird and the 28 and 30g loads are particularly effective on partridge without an overkill factor. We want to

An outstanding cartridge for partridges in 28 and 30g loads, they provide excellent downrange performance with optimum ballistics. Fast and with excellent pattern distribution, as a stint at the pattern plate confirmed. A combination of second generation Baschieri & Pellagri powder and a muzzle velocity of 1450fps in a 2½" case provides a high performance game load with a choice of fibre and plastic wad, which provides a cartridge specification for partridge shooting that has few equals. Available in fibre and plastic wad 28, 30 and 32g 4, 5 and 6, £260-£291 per 1,000.

3. HULL IMPERIAL GAME A top-quality cartridge which continues to maintain its maker’s illustrious reputation among game shooters. Voted cartridge of the year when

EJ CHURCHILL HELLFIRE GAME CARTRIDGE Gunmakers EJ Churchill announce a range of cartridges under their Hellfire brand. Developed with and manufactured by Gamebore, Generation II Hellfire Game features copper-coated shot which reduces friction as the shot travels down the gun barrel, providing consistent patterns and clean kills. Available in 28g-34g, prices range from £351-£462 per 1,000.

PICTURES: VIC HARKER

Vic will be reviewing the Hellfire cartridges in a forthcoming issue.

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it was first launched in 2012, with modest recoil but with ballistics that, accurately utilised, are guaranteed to fill the bag. A special favourite of those who own lighter English game guns with a range of shot loads from 26 to 30g, Imperial Game provides options for the partridge shooter throughout the season and in any conditions. Available in fibre wad 26, 28 and 30g 5, 6 and 7, £267-£279 per 1,000.

4. HULL DRIVEN GROUSE While featured in last month’s issue, Hull Driven Grouse has characteristics equally suitable for partridge shooting and, most particularly, for late-season birds. In 28 or 30g cunningly loaded with size 5.5 and 6.5 shot sizes for a quarry of similar size and weight, a Driven Grouse cartridge for driven partridges might well prove to be a judicious choice. Available in fibre wad 28 and 30g 5.5, 6.5, £315-£344 per 1,000.

5. LYALVALE EXPRESS SUPREME GAME From another manufacturer with an enviable reputation for high performance cartridges for every purpose, in the game field Supreme Game lives up to its name. As for partridge shooting, 28 and 30g loads are all you need in any circumstances. A company whose technical expertise helped to win two Olympic medals for GB, their know-how gained in clay target shooting loads of the highest quality is seamlessly transferred into their game cartridges. The Supreme Game loads are a perfect example, combining optimum ballistic performance with moderate recoil. Available in fibre and plastic wad 28, 30, 32 and 34g 4, 5, 6, 6.5 and 7, £261-£324 per 1,000.

6. LYALVALE EXPRESS PAPER CASE GAME A traditional game load with the benefits of state-of-the-art components incorporated into all the company’s product line. The paper case is varnish-dipped in time-honoured fashion, but inside a combination of Vectan propellant and a fully biodegradable wad with card obdurater ensure the antimony-hardened shot load exits your gun’s barrels in perfect shape for consistent and well-distributed patterns. Available in fibre wad 28 and 30g 5, 5.5, 6 and 7, £310- £322 per 1,000.

7. ELEY GRAND PRIX The great British all-rounder, Eley Grand Prix is as much a part of the UK shooting scene as tweed breeks and spaniels. That it remains so is not mere tradition. Constantly revised and updated by a company that as an integrated manufacturer develops and produces all its own components, Grand Prix cartridges do not remain the same, they improve due to the efforts of their manufacturer to make them the best of British. Available in fibre wad 30g 5,6 and 7, £283 per 1,000.

‘Hull Driven Grouse has characteristics equally suitable for partridge shooting and, most particularly, for late-season birds’ 8. ELEY IMPAX Over the decades Eley Impax must have provided more than its share of the bag on thousands of partridge days. Perfectly suited to the kind of English guns so often still to be seen on such occasions. Impax is as much a part of the English sporting scene as straw boaters at Henley or top hats at Ascot. Gentle on the shoulder, but through suitably bored guns Impax delivers deadly well-distributed patterns with an understated efficiency typical of its origins. Available in fibre wad 28g 6 and 7, £255 per 1,000. ■

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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105 Dudley Road, Brierley Hill, West Midlands DY5 1HD, England. Tel: 01384 573410. Fax: 01384 486467

POA

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THIS IS JUST A SMALL SELECTION OF OUR SHOTGUNS IN STOCK. VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE FULL GUN LIST. FACTORY VISITS ARRANGED FOR ■ Beretta ■ Krieghoff ■ Perazzi

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Counter coils supplied and fitted ■ Kickeez pads supplied and fitted ■ Cast work and oil finishes

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Tim is Development Officer for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO)

Time for a change?

WITH TIM WESTON

KEEPERING

Whether full or part-time, keepers shouldn’t be afraid of mixing things up this season, says Tim he shooting season is now in full swing; be it grouse, partridge, pheasant or wildfowl, there will be shoot parties out almost every day of the week. Some will be on the moors looking for a grouse, either walked up or driven. Others will be wildfowling on the wash or foreshore waiting for that skein of geese or a flight of wigeon to whistle overhead, while some will be on a formal driven shoot with all the excitement that that brings. However, many of us will be shooting on small, low ground syndicate shoots of varying scales of long standing. Syndicate shooting is one of the mainstays of the British game shooting scene and it takes many different forms, from the large scale syndicate that employs full-time keepers to the smaller DIY version where all the Guns muck in to

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People are less likely to rejoin a syndicate if the drives are the same every season

produce shooting throughout the winter. I always find it strange that on a DIY shoot the people who feed the pheasant or partridge, do the vermin and predator control, work on the conservation habitat and generally do good for the countryside do not call themselves gamekeepers, but refer to themselves as Guns or working Guns. You are actually part-time gamekeepers or amateur gamekeepers and shouldn’t be afraid to call yourselves so. My day job is working for the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation who are the representative body for gamekeepers, ghillies (river keepers) and stalkers in England and Wales, and we have two membership categories: Keeper and Supporter. Both cost £40 and both have exactly the same member’s benefits, such as insurance. However, we do not split the keepers apart from professional and part-time or amateur. Why should the NGO do so? Well, the national committee don’t think that they should, so the NGO count all keepers as one and you should do so, too. Although you might not do the job on a daily basis and might not have the time that a full-time keeper has, you are still doing some very similar tasks; shoot days, for example, are something that full-time and other keepers all have in common. But it is here that you will often find a difference. A recent survey of large and small shoots found that the most common reason Guns do not return

to shoot at a large shoot is more to do with the hospitality or the food, and the reason for Guns not rejoining a syndicate is because it is often the same old drives in the same order. This is so easy to rectify that I do get quite maddened when syndicates are unwilling to try something a little different. A good keeper will adjust the drive according to the conditions they are presented with on the day and also on the conditions that the countryside has given them. These change from year to year and month to month. Crops and trees grow and are cut, rivers and ponds get bigger and smaller with rainfall, wild fruits and berries change the feeding habits of game… all of these factors need to be considered. That is why it is frustrating for some when you hear an all too often sung out phrase: ‘That won’t work, we always do it this way.’ Now some full-time keepers are guilty of this as well, but most want to experiment and try out new ideas. If we didn’t try new things and take a chance now and again we wouldn’t even have game cover, for example – it took a forwardthinking keeper to try that and now look at our countryside. It is covered in it. So this season if you run a syndicate shoot, please take a chance and try something new. It could be to reverse a drive, change the order that you shoot certain drives or even create a new one altogether – now that would be exciting, wouldn’t it? ■

PICTURES: REBECCA GREEN

Keepers are invaluable assets whether professional or amateur

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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ONE FOR THE POT

Roast it right Roasting a whole gamebird and getting it right is not as simple as it may seem. Tim Maddams, of River Cottage fame, is on a quest for perfection unting and shooting, along with a little fishing and foraging, are driving passions for me. I love to go out into the countryside and take a few birds or bunnies for the pot. I enjoy it tremendously and, for me, though the act of hunting in itself is rewarding, it’s a larger picture. There is something timeless and quite humbling about being out in the elements, expending time and energy in the pursuit of food. It is this, the final destination of my quarry, that completes the circle for me – the excitement and anticipation of a foray into the wilds for a pigeon or two, the planning, the failed attempts, the missed shots and the clean ones all combine to make the final act of eating all the more worthwhile and satisfying. I am a greedy man, but I care deeply about where my food comes from, in all its forms, and how this relates to and affects our environment. Cooking game is a speciality subject. It requires consideration, skill, decisions to be made and often a little forward planning before it gets to its best. I have more than a little experience in this field, and hope to share with you my thoughts and opinions on the whole subject of wild food, not only game, but plants, fungi, fruits and fish in the hopes of increasing your pleasure in the harvest you bring in. There are plenty of people out there who are very good game cooks, they crop up in unusual places and even the most unlikely of experts can provide the occasional killer tip on handling and cooking game, so keep your eyes and ears open and don’t dismiss out of hand the skills and techniques of others, often there is something to be learned that you can apply yourself to improve what you cook.

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Birds are back on the menu September is a brilliant month for any keen cook with an eye on the seasonal calendar and particularly so for one a little more than keen on the game front. With snipe and grouse in season from 12 August, we can now add partridge to the quarry list and menu, but, tasty as partridge are,

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particularly the greys, it’s the ducks that get me a little hot under the collar with culinary anticipation. Now, I love a pigeon – some of the finest meat on the planet – and I am as keen as it gets on the harvest rabbits, but there is something that really, really ticks the boxes with the duck clan and whilst mallard and wigeon are tasty, it’s teal that really make the stomach rumble.

plate. Add a dash of water to the roasting pan and just simmer to release the caramelised and concentrated flavours on the bottom of the pan. Add any juices flowing from the birds to the pan, and season. Pour this back over the teal and serve with a tart fruit jelly – hawthorn is excellent or, indeed, crab apple – good wine and company that will appreciate that they are eating one of nature’s finest treats.

‘Just because you start by roasting the bird does not mean that you have to have a roast lunch with all the trimmings’

Bigger birds

Tips for teal

I tend to take a different course with the larger ducks as the season continues, but a wigeon or mallard, pintail or gadwall will also roast very well if they are young birds at the beginning of the season (though you will need to adjust the timings upwards to account for the increased mass). As they get bigger, and tougher, then we will need to change tactics, apply a little butchery know-how and maybe even a judicious touch of salt and smoke to make things go with a swing, but more on that another time.

I like to roast teal whole, as I do with almost all gamebirds if they are of prime condition and I have the time. Age is of great importance when it comes to deciding how to cook something, but I have never eaten a tough teal, young or old, cock or duck. The secret to roasting is to start in a hot, ovenproof pan with the birds seasoned, at room temperature and a little pork or duck fat spread over them. Cook them in the pan on the stove top first to seal them and get the flavour going. I like to start them on their backs, and leave them there for around three to five minutes. There is a lot of skin and fat on the backs but, most importantly, the bone is very close to the skin and will give off its flavour very happily to the flesh of the bird if cooked hot, and fast. Once the back of the bird is golden, I repeat this process on both sides, but only for a minute or two before giving it just a minute breast-side down. Then, and only then, do I return it to its back, breasts up and pop it in a very hot (230°C) oven for just four to five minutes. Remove form the oven and rest on a warm

It may seem a little non chef-like to open my new column here at Sporting Shooter with a simple guide to roasting birds. A bit too dull and boring, but learning how to roast a bird well and get the result you want is a skill that needs perfecting, as to ignore a whole roast bird as an option on occasion would be foolhardy. I use the same technique, scaled up or down, for everything from snipe to pheasant, and even the odd goose. I will often roast more birds than I need to use the meat cold, either sliced or torn, tossed into salads or thrown into curries; just because you start by roasting the bird does not mean that you have to have a roast lunch with all the trimmings, but it will provide you with a handy supply of tasty and ready-to-go game meat in the fridge. Enjoy the opening of the duck season. An evening flight in the autumn is a special thing indeed and a brace, or even a single duck, is a treat in the kitchen like few others. February will be here before you know it... ■

ONE FOR THE POT About Tim Maddams

PICTURE: BRENDAN BUESNEL / BUESNEL PHOTOGRAPHY

Tim is a chef, food writer and cookery teacher who lives in Devon. He’s been into food from an early age and spent much of his childhood on the family farm in Wiltshire, gleaning a close understanding of farming and fostering a love of the great British countryside, wild food and quality produce which would form the cornerstone of his culinary ethos. Over the course of his career, Tim has worked under such culinary luminaries as Fergus Henderson, Alistair Little, Marco Pierre White and Mark Hix, as well as leading the VIP catering team for the Ferrari F1 team in Europe. A nagging feeling of unease with the corporate world made Tim yearn for a return to his country roots, so Tim returned to the South West and started work at River Cottage where he cooked as head chef for over four years and has recently written their Game handbook.

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CLASSIC GUNS

Diggory has written a number of books on classic guns. To find out more, go to: www.vintageguns. co.uk/company/ diggory-hadoke

WITH DIGGORY HADOKE

21 days in July

While the rest of us shot pigeons over stubble, Diggory was hunting in Africa. Here, he explains his guns of choice, along with a few other bare necessities... hile readers are taking a coffee break from pigeon shooting over laid wheat, or roe buck stalking, spare a thought for your correspondent, for he is in far off lands trying not to get trodden on or eaten by something big and unpleasant. The destination is Tanzania and our hunting party is in search of some big beasties: leopard, buffalo and hippo are on the menu. My job includes shooting impala for leopard bait and other critters for camp meat, for we will be camping in the bush, far from civilisation. It may also involve dealing with the odd male baboon or hyena if any prove too inquisitive, and there may even be the opportunity to bag a few francolin or guinea fowl for sport and for the pot. Being faced with a multiple-species hunt, one has to consider the necessary kit. Weight and space restrictions apply and local conditions dictate choice. The challenge here was to select a battery of guns and an essential pile of clothing and equipment to make three weeks in-country comfortable and safe.

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The battery

PICTURE: DIGGORY HADOKE

For the big, hard-charging monsters, we need a true stopping rifle. Just have a look on YouTube if you want to see what a hippo or a buffalo looks like moving at full speed and homing in on your midriff. Fortunately, the leader of our party is in a

position to choose his rifles without cost being the major consideration. That being the case, he ordered a new Westley Richards boxlock double rifle in .577 nitro express. Delivered from the Birmingham factory about six months ahead of the trip, Michael was able to practise a little before leaving home. The .577 is the biggest ‘sensible’ dangerous game calibre. The rounds are 3.70" long and the bullets weigh 750 grains. Larger rifles are made but their weight and expense make them arguably redundant when compared to the power of this round. Many think the .577 is overkill: a .470 or .500 being more than enough to stop anything when shot in a vital area. However, the .577 is the classic stopping rifle of the nitro era. While the .577 is ideal for putting an end to a charging buffalo or hippo at short range, for the softer skinned and more agile cats, a more reactive tool is called for and for this the weapon of choice is the most effective all-round cartridge yet made: the .375. This came in the shape of a Cogswell & Harrison sidelock double rifle, built pre-WW1 for a minor Russian royal. Beautifully engraved with the cats we intend to hunt with it, this rifle is a veteran of several previous visits to Africa and is a known quantity. Three hundred-grain blue-noses are selected for lion and leopard and for shooting medium plains game, such as kudu. However, if necessary, it can be loaded with solids and used

The 1930s drilling by Rach packs a useful 8x57, which Diggory uses to bag impala for the pot

to punch a neat hole in smaller game without doing too much damage to the meat. The birds require a shotgun and for these we packed a 1930s vintage Rach drilling with 20-bore shotgun barrels above a rifle barrel in 8x57, which is a hard-hitting round favoured by German foresters. Medium plains game and the smaller critters would find it more than a match. I used it in 2007 to shoot impala, lechwe and warthogs, as well as birds. The battery also enables more than one hunter to be afield at a time. Effectively we had two dangerous game rifles and two medium game rifles and a shotgun, depending how we deployed them.

Clothing Africa is cold at night. Layers are important. One light jumper, a fleece, a bush jacket, leather gloves, and a hat with a brim are all essentials, then three of each of the following: underwear, socks, shirt, T-shirt, handkerchief. The rule is that you are wearing one set of clothes, you have one set clean and dry, and one set in the wash.

Equipment Since my job included being the official photojournalist, I needed a camera. Helpfully, I left mine in Norway a month before the trip. So, I bought a new Canon SX700HS. It is a compact camera but has great low-light capability and a useful 30x zoom. My attitude for these assignments is that a camera you can have with you at all times is more use than a better camera that is cumbersome and less likely to be ready at short notice, when something happens. You need two knives on safari. A hunting knife of the type most stalkers here would recognise. I made my own out of an old gunstock and a Brusletto blade, which sharpens like a razor and holds a good edge. It is neither too big, too weak, nor too flashy and expensive. A pocket knife is useful for fiddly jobs. Anything will do. I generally take Opinels, as they have a great edge, are strong and reliable and cost nothing. So, as you are coming to the end of the page, I’m in the bush and all the equipment mentioned above is getting dirty. The new Westley is getting a few battle scars. The vintage Coggie is likely awaiting the approach of something in the half light: something with a throaty growl and big teeth. If we are eating, it is because I’m bagging a few antelope with the old Rach to keep the makeshift larder full. Next month I’ll report back on the performance of these three very different, but equally classic, firearms. If I don’t, well, maybe I should have got a bigger rifle! ■

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53

PIGEONS

WITH ANDY CROW

Giving the best to your guest Andy has been playing host in recent weeks. Here is his advice on putting on the best possible day’s shooting Andy prefers using heavier autos for pigeon shooting

‘Judging range and speed and learning to read the birds is all a challenge, even for experienced shooters’

PICTURES: DOM HOLTAM / ANDY CROW

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osting pigeon shooting is very different to hosting a driven day on the pheasants. Instead of almost guaranteed sport, a defined bag limit and controlled shooting, you get none of the above! “I love having guests to come and shoot – it is a great way for me to be able to say thank you to the people who have helped me in my shooting career or to those who I owe a favour or two. But it is also very stressful. “People watch my films or read the magazine and they think I shoot 200-odd every time I go out. They don’t hear about – or don’t remember – the bags of 15 or 20, or a really hard-fought 50 in tricky conditions when I’ve shot as well as I possibly can. They seem to think that I can flick a switch and provide world-class sport, and I wish I could… but it’s just not that simple unfortunately!” That’s not to say it doesn’t ever work – Andy hosted clay champ, George Digweed a couple of years ago and the big man shot just under 600 crows in a day. On camera. “It is obviously nice when everything goes to plan but that is very rare. You learn to be adaptable. “I try to make sure that I have got the birds first and foremost, and if it doesn’t look good in the run up, I’ll advise people not to come. Pigeons can be fickle – one day there are 1,000 using a field, the next day they are gone. “You also have to factor in the experience level and shooting ability. With some people you know you can put them under flight lines and that even if they don’t get much decoying, they will still get some shots. “For the less experienced shooter, with no gear, I might have to build the hide, put out the decoys and guide them through it. I will try to site

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PIGEONS their hide so that they will get shots at closer ranges, and so that the birds approach more visibly. So many people are surprised by how switched on you have to be all day just to see the birds. If you sit on your seat staring at the decoys, you’ll not have a great day!” That is perhaps the biggest thing for the uninitiated to understand. On a pheasant drive, you know where the birds are coming from and, pretty much, when they are coming. In the pigeon hide, you have to be switched on from the start, scanning the horizon in every direction. Many don’t have the concentration, or the stamina, to keep on the ball all day. But when you do get everything together and the day runs well, it is a buzz for Andy as well as his guests. “I had Mark Winser to shoot recently and even though he is a world champion on the clays, he took a while to get in the groove. Judging range and speed and learning to read the birds is all a challenge, even for experienced shooters, but he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and him and Dave Woollard picked up about 400 birds between them, which isn’t bad!” “I just love it when people have a good day on the pigeons. That might be a little 30-bag, but still their best ever, or it could be a big three-figure day like that. In my experience, they go away as converts to the sport, and for me to be able to share that and get another person – whether a competitive clay shooter or a total novice – to realise how special woodpigeons can be is brilliant.”

Even clay shooting champs love a crack at the pigeons

For Andy, success with pigeons should never be measured by numbers. “That is a problem with Facebook and such like – everybody sees all these big bags and wants to do the same. But sometimes you can have a great day with just a few dozen really challenging shots. That is what I remember most – pulling off a great shot rather than just blatting everything on the deeks. Any day in the hide has to be better than a day at work!” With the stubble mainly ploughed and the next rotation of crops in the ground, Andy’s attention will be turning to birds targeting what looks like another bumper acorn glut. And trying out his

recently restored flight ponds. “I’ve also been using a new gun for the past month or so – a Beretta A400 Sporter with a 32" barrel. I don’t like lightweight autos and have got used to my brace of A391 Teknys autos over the past few years. This is the competition model of the A400 and it has a heavier stock and, in this case, the longest possible barrel. I’ve been experimenting with the adjuster shims and have really started to get in the groove with it. I’ll do a proper review as part of my feature in the next issue, but in the meantime I’ll be giving the Jack Pyke lads a pasting at the Midland Game Fair clay shoot!” ■

Young hot shot Brody Woollard spent the day with Andy recently

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55

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KIT BAG // Our pick of the latest kit, the best value buys and the brightest new ideas //

THE BRITISH DEER SOCIETY APPOINTS NEW TRAINING MANAGER The British Deer Society (BDS) has appointed Glyn Ingram as its new Training Manager. Announcing the appointment, BDS Chairman Michael Thick said: “We are delighted to welcome Glyn to the team. He joins us from a background of wide ranging deer management roles encompassing wild, park and farm deer and is very much looking forward to the challenge of his new post and sharing his experiences.” Glyn added: “The BDS has a well-earned reputation for excellence in deer management training. I hope to be able to continue the outstanding work of my predecessor Dave Goffin and to widen the scope and delivery of courses BDS has to offer.” After 13 years as Training Manager, Dave has now moved into a new role – Technical Manager. Dave’s new email address is [email protected] Glyn has had a lifelong interest in deer and natural history and will already be familiar to many BDS members of the East Anglia and South East branches. He currently lives in North Norfolk with his partner, Hayley and their two German shorthaired pointers. He can be contacted on 07920 452448 or [email protected] For more information, visit www.bds.org.uk

Is there something you want tested? SEND SUGGESTIONS TO: Product News, Rifle Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2EG OR email: [email protected]

THE IDEAL ‘CAMP RIFLE’? Lightweight, foldable and comfortable to carry, the Little Squirrel single-barrel, single-shot rifle from Chiappa Firearms of Italy is the perfect camp and survival rifle for hedgerow, pest and small-game shooters. Distributed by Edgar Brothers, the robustly built rifle has an all-metal construction with a simple break action making it extremely tough in the field. The Little Squirrel features a carbon steel barrel, an external hammer and a wire stock with 12-round cartridge holder. It also incorporates a fixed front sight, a rear sight that is adjustable for height and windage and a threaded muzzle, meaning moderators and optics can be fitted if required. Weighing under 3lbs, the Little Squirrel is available in .22 LR in an 18.5" barrel length, which also features a quad rail picatinny and

comes with a nylon carry bag, and in 9mm Flobert with a 24" smoothbore barrel, which can be used for pest control inside barns and farm buildings thanks to the low-powered 9mm Flobert cartridge. The rifle can also be accessorised with a hammer extension and a pistol grip with integrated cleaning kit. This lightweight, well-balanced and compact .22 LR is the perfect ‘camp rifle’ and its ambidextrous controls make it suitable for both left and right-handers. Simple to use and striking in looks, the Little Squirrel rifle has everything a hedgerow shooter could possibly want at a great price and is perfect for dispatching pests, such as squirrels, and small game, such as rabbits. MSRP: £181.50 in .22 LR; £193.05 in 9mm Flobert. www.shootingsports.edgarbrothers.com

BUSHNELL TROPHY XLT 20-60X 65MM Built to withstand the toughest conditions found in the field, the Bushnell Trophy XLT 20-60x 65mm spotting scope is not only extremely rugged but also offers high-quality optics, a wealth of innovative features and incredible range at a value for money price. The waterproof and fogproof spotting scope is built with a tough, long-lasting rubber armouring and incorporates porro prism technology, BaK-4 prism glass and multicoated lenses, giving exceptional clarity and light transmission. The spotting scope features 20-60x magnification, a 65mm objective lens and a close focusing limit of 10 metres. At only 340mm in length and weighing just 1.2kg, the spotting scope is also compact and lightweight enough for any hunting application and comes with a quick-detach lens cover, a compact soft-side carrying case, a compact tripod and a premium quality hard-sided case to provide added protection during transportation. RRP: £348.15 (A 15-45x 50mm version is also available, RRP: £299) For more information, visit www. shootingsports.edgarbrothers.com or call 01625 613177.

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COMPETITION // WITH WILDHUNTER.EU

WIN AN ATA SHOTGUN WORTH £959! With the game season upon us, what better time to get yourself a new gun in our brilliant free competition!

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hose charitable people at Wildhunter have decided to offer an ATA SP Steel over-andunder as a prize in our latest gun giveaway competiton. Here is a bit more about their latest over-and-under... “The ATA over-and-under series (SP) guns are enriched with a high-quality walnut wood for the stock and fore-ends, making them extremely

attractive. Our first choice of wood is a matt oil grade 2 walnut finish. This displays the richness of the grain and allows for easy maintenance and re-conditioning. ATA SP series guns are supplied in an elegant leather case. The barrels are built and finished to the highest standards, with a very durable high-gloss steel finish and chrome lined.

“The ATA SP Steel action is made from the highest quality steel. The lock-up between the barrel and action is second to none with a proven and tested design. With extended forcing cones in the barrels, it allows for reduced felt recoil and an improved pattern. This gun is perfect for any high or low volume shooting.” For more information, visit www.wildhunter.eu

For your chance to win, simply answer this question: On what date does the pheasant shooting season end in England? A: Name: Address:

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Archant Ltd, Sporting Shooter, and carefully selected companies would like to keep you up to date with any special offers or new products or services that might be of interest. Please tick if you DO NOT wish to be contacted in this way by email †, by text †, by phone †, by post †

SEND YOUR ANSWER TO: ATA SP Steel Comp: Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2EG or email your answer to [email protected] RULES: Closing date is 11 December 2015. Normal Sporting Shooter rules apply. For full terms and conditions, send an sae marked t&c to the postal address above. Archant Ltd, publisher of Sporting Shooter, would like to keep you up to date with any special offers or new products or services which might be of interest. We occasionally pass your details on to carefully selected companies who wish to contact you with information about their products/services. When entering by email please state clearly if you DO NOT wish to be contacted in this way by email, SMS, post or phone.

// COMPETITION

PICTURE: HAKAN AYDOGAN

WITH WILDHUNTER.EU

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61

SHOOTING VOICE

WITH BASC’S CONOR O’GORMAN

Did Eason’s cave in to antis? Irish newsagent chain, Eason’s has recently been targeted by animal rights extremists on the sale and display of shooting magazines. Conor O’Gorman explains more hree years ago, WHSmith dropped age restrictions on the sale of shooting magazines in its stores across the UK after a successful campaign from the shooting community. Shooting magazines are in the firing line again, this time at Eason’s which has stores in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. In July, animal rights extremists in Ireland started a campaign calling for Eason’s to move “graphic hunting publications” out of the reach of children. A victory was claimed when an email was alleged to have been received by the Irish Council Against Blood Sports from an Eason’s employee stating, “We are currently in the process of moving such titles from our bottom shelves to shelving at a height out of reach for children. We will also set up a prompt at our cash registers that ask anyone purchasing such titles whether they are over 18 (as per anyone purchasing cigarettes).” Given the potential impact on shooting interests in Northern Ireland BASC has been in contact with Eason’s and as things stand (as of 18 August 2015) nothing has changed in the stores themselves and no decision taken. The Republic of Ireland based The National

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Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC) is also on the case. We are working constructively with Eason’s as we have done with WHSmith, Moto, Tesco and Asda. I am confident that common sense will prevail, whether that is achieved by negotiation behind the scenes or a coordinated campaign as was required with WHSmith. Based on information thus far, Eason’s has not caved into the antis, but things can change so for the latest update check out the Northern Ireland section of our website or the BASC NI Facebook page. Last year, following our intervention, Moto removed age restrictions on the sale of shooting magazines in its WHSmith franchise stores; and in 2013, WHSmith and Tesco confirmed that they did not have a top-shelf policy for shooting magazines based on content. In 2012, WHSmith dropped age restrictions on the sale of shooting magazines in its stores following a successful campaign and petition. Shooting sports are open to people of all ages. They occur across the country with the supervision of parents and guardians, in schools, shooting clubs, the Cadet corps and the Scout movement. Shooting is an Olympic sport and

athletes start to train at a young age. There should be no restrictions on the sale of shooting magazines. If you encounter any problem buying a shooting magazine in any newsagent, supermarket or shop, please let BASC know immediately – call us on 01244 573000 or email me at [email protected] By working together we can ensure that any misunderstandings are overcome on the sale of shooting magazines to young people, or on the display of such magazines. In addition to working with retailers on shooting magazines, we have also worked with companies such as Vodafone, Virgin Mobile and Talktalk, unblocking shooting websites on their networks. In the long term, it’s important that shooting remains a normal part of life and that we do not allow ourselves to be marginalised. Achieving this costs time and money. If you live in the UK and you are not a BASC member, please consider joining. It’s a great time to be a member, not only for the insurance and great deals on products and services, but in supporting the work we are doing for all shooters. ■

PICTURE: DOM HOLTAM

Participation in shooting sports is open to all, so why should there be restrictions on reading about them?

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SHOOTING TECHNIQUE

WITH JOHN HEAGREN // SHOOTING MANAGER AT BISLEY

In the pursuit of partridge With the season now upon us, John Heagren talks about partridges and the best way to tackle this small but extremely sporting bird raditionally partridges were shot over hedgerows but now they are more commonly driven from game covers or across valleys, like pheasants. They can fly like little missiles and they take on the wind really well, making for excellent sport.

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Back in Lord Rank’s day, in the 1960s, he used to put on big partridge days, driving them over hedges that were typically around 12ft high. However, to improve the presentation, he let his hedges grow on his estate up to around 20ft in height and he was one of the forerunners of modern partridge shooting. Of course in the 1920s, 30s and 40s it was the English (grey) not the French, or red leg, partridges that were most common; modern agricultural practices in the 50s and 60s reduced those numbers dramatically, though there is still a wild population, albeit a small one. Some shoots have worked hard to bring them back in numbers, but it requires a huge amount of habitat management and vermin control, and sadly it seems unlikely that they will ever be seen in such quantities again.

English or French? Many shoots will ask Guns to leave English

partridges in peace, and it can be difficult to spot the difference. Generally speaking, English fly faster, weave a bit more and, although they still move in coveys, they are just a bit sharper and quicker when on the wing. Whereas a French partridge might come over a hedgerow and go in a straight line, an English will jink around at speed, a covey going in all directions as they explode over a hedge, making for really fantastic shooting. But it comes at a price as only a handful of estates offer the occasional day. There are now a lot of pheasant shoots that introduce a few partridges into their drives to add a little more excitement, and the variation to a day that they can provide make it very worthwhile. There are some shoots that put on some excellent high birds that turn a partridge into a really extreme quarry that demands respect and requires considerable skill to bring to earth.

Classic partridge However, when it comes to more traditional shooting over hedgerows, to be successful demands a similar technique to grouse shooting, taking quick snap shots out in front. Time is of the essence, so don’t try locking on and swinging through; instead, look to shoot a gap and then, if you have killed the first one, swing through onto the second bird. Obviously don’t take the shot too quickly or you may end up bagging a beater, although the beaters should be well back on a partridge drive. As with grouse, it’s the flankers and flaggers that will be within range, so always try to be aware of their positions and if in doubt, then don’t risk a low bird. Partridge will often follow a hedgerow and if they do so, which takes them across your front, then don’t be scared to shoot them as crossers out in front, though always have safety at the forefront of your mind.

The vast majority of partridges today are French

PICTURES: DON BRUNT

Choke

Little choke is needed on birds at 25-30 yards or less

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When shooting a lot of partridge, you don’t need a lot of choke – ¼ and ¼ is plenty as they might not be that far out and you want them to be edible. As far as cartridges are concerned then an ounce (28g) of 6 or 7 is plenty on everything out to 40 yards, which should cover most eventualities on a traditional day. Decide what it is you want to shoot; on an early day there will be plenty to choose from, so don’t feel you have to shoot at everything otherwise you might fill your bag on the first drive. Likewise, if you prefer the longer stuff then don’t be afraid to reach out on either side of your peg, though make sure that you aren’t

TECHNIQUE

THE VENUE

Once on the peg, check your surroundings and note the safe areas

Bisley has been the nation’s ‘Home of Shooting’ since the 1800s and Bisley Shooting Ground has long been an integral part of the shotgun shooting community. Set amidst 3,000 acres of stunning heathland and woodland, its two shooting locations, Long Siberia and Cottesloe Heath, offer a perfect environment in which to shoot. With targets that both educate, entertain and challenge shooters of all abilities, BSG offers tuition, guided practise, automated ‘Pay and Play’ and hosts popular competitions throughout the year. For more information, visit www. bisleyshooting.co.uk or call 01483 797017.

‘A good way to practise is to sharpen up on some low driven targets; it’s instinctive shooting but you need to keep those instincts fresh’ picking off a single heading straight towards your neighbour.

Safe shooting When you are on the peg, look at your surroundings, work out what is and isn’t a safe area and think about where you might have to move your feet; if you don’t, then you will run the risk of rolling off line. Always start to move your feet first and then swing the gun; doing so increases your chance of success many times over. I’m a great one for trying to pick off wounded birds, but be careful that when trying to finish one off it doesn’t take your muzzles under the horizon and into a dangerous area. Check where your pickers-up are placed; traditionally on partridge shoots they are close to or in the Gun line itself, but if not then hopefully they will be far enough behind to be out of gunshot.

High or low? Higher partridges need a similar technique to pheasants. They don’t need a lot of swing or lead in all honesty, as you tend to swing the gun quicker as they look quite rapid. Swing through, get to the beak and pull the trigger and that’s usually enough. On lower birds, it’s easy to

overcook it and miss in front, so don’t think that their perceived speed means it needs a big gap. A lot of it depends on whether you are shooting low or high birds. In the traditional heyday of partridge shooting, it wasn’t unusual to shoot two in front and then shoot two going away, once again like grouse, but this has gone out of fashion somewhat. This may be because the numbers of partridges on let days are higher now due to commercial rearing of red legs. However, for those shoots where partridges are fairly infrequently found, it’s still a useful skill to have. Alternatively, if it’s too low in front and it’s safe behind, then turn on it. From a technique perspective, it’s a fairly easy shot; swing to the bird, let the gun do the work and pull the trigger as the two connect. However, you won’t have the luxury that you might find in a grouse butt where a pair of sticks ensure your swing is safe through the line, so you need to be disciplined as to the path your muzzles will take.

Feet first When turning you really must make sure your feet have done the required work to allow you to get the shot off without you getting all crossed up and losing balance. Try to think ahead and envisage where the birds are going to be when they go behind and act accordingly. Considering you are shooting at a relatively low quarry, make sure you wear suitable eye

protection at all times otherwise a stray pellet could end your shooting career for good. Some of the drives may be into the sun, so make sure those glasses have dark lenses or a spare set of lenses to cope with the glare otherwise you will be playing catch-up trying to chase after birds that come screaming out of the sun. A good way to practise before the season starts is to pop to a shooting ground and sharpen up on some low driven targets; it’s instinctive shooting but always remember you need to keep those instincts fresh. On most partridge and pheasant shoots the trend now is towards fibre wads, so if you have any doubt in your mind as to what is and isn’t allowed always get in touch with your host, or alternatively buy only fibre and you’ll always be correctly equipped. The performance of fibres today is almost identical to plastic up to 40 yards and beyond. It’s only when you take on the more extreme birds that plastic will give you any real noticeable advantage. When going to your peg, remember to keep quiet; car doors should be shut quietly, you should walk swiftly to your peg and save the chit-chat for after the horn has been blown, and if you have a whiny dog it’s best to leave it at home. Also, remember to ignore pigeons (however tempting they may be), as most shoots will prefer you not to shoot at them until the drive is properly under way, as it can push the partridges out the side of the drive and spoil your day before it’s even begun. ■

THE COACH John Heagren is well known in both the clay and game shooting community as a coach who gets results, with more than 25 years of experience as a full-time coach and a shooting career going back to his eighth birthday. Having returned to competitive shooting, in the last four years he has topped the FITASC rankings, represented England in international competition and last year won the prestigious Stratstone Super 7 Challenge. He is also a respected shot in the game field and spends much of the winter coaching on the peg.

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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CONSERVATION // WITH JAMES MARCHINGTON

GLORIOUS GROUSE MOORS

With grouse shooting under fire from the antis, it’s important to keep an eye on the bigger picture, says James Marchington

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ntis have taken to attacking driven grouse shooting on environmental grounds, claiming that managing a moor for grouse causes untold damage. Some of the accusations sound pretty far-fetched, and you have to wonder at the motivation of people who seem very hung up on the idea that grouse shooting is a ‘rich man’s sport’. But what is the truth of the matter: is grouse shooting good or bad for the environment? Let’s take a step back for a moment. We are lucky to have thousands of acres of fabulous moorland habitat. It’s a rare asset – 75% of the

world’s heather moorland is found in the UK, where it is sometimes described as Britain’s rainforest. It’s a rich and diverse habitat, with its own unique ecosystem of plants, insects, small mammals and birds. People tend to talk of moorland as if it’s all one thing, but anyone who has spent any time in the uplands will know that there are many different types. In the course of a day’s walking, you might cross slabs of solid rock, deep, rich peat with a thick covering of heather, areas of deer grass and soft rush, and dangerously soggy ground that appears to be nothing more than a layer of sphagnum moss floating on an underground lake that could swallow you up at any moment. These different habitats are the result of underlying soil and rock, the topography, the water table, not to mention generations of

management by man, perhaps for grazing cattle and sheep, for forestry, or in some cases for grouse shooting. Each has its own distinctive type of vegetation, and as a result supports a different variety of wildlife. We need to remember that grouse shooting is just one of the land uses found in the uplands. Clearly it would be a bad idea to run every last square inch of the uplands as driven grouse moor, even if that were possible – just as we wouldn’t want to carpet 100% of the uplands with spruce forests, or the lowlands with wheat, or tarmac. Still, there’s no denying that grouse moors influence the management of a significant proportion of the uplands, more so in some areas than others. So is that a good thing or a bad thing? That, of course, depends on your point of view. It would seem a thoroughly good thing if you’re a

PICTURES: JAMES MARCHINGTON

Heather moorlands would be lost if not for the management of grouse keepers

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www.sportingshooter.co.uk

WITH JAMES MARCHINGTON

gamekeeper, a grouse shooter, or a hotelier who depends on the grouse shooting trade for your livelihood. If, on the other hand, you subscribe to the ‘leave nature alone’ camp and are a huge fan of stoats, buzzards and foxes, well you’d probably be outraged that grouse shooting continues at all – especially since it’s all done to produce birds for rich people to kill for sport. The one thing that can’t be denied, of course, is that managing a moor for grouse produces a different result to what you’d get if it was being run for livestock grazing, or as a nature reserve, or a ‘rewilding’ project. Any type of management has consequences, and that includes hands-off lack of management. If heather moorland wasn’t managed for grouse, it would soon revert to scrub and forest, and be lost. Running a grouse moor involves strict predator control of stoats, crows, foxes and the like. It also requires vegetation management to produce a mosaic of heather at different stages of growth, so the grouse have young heather to eat as well as cover for shelter, nesting and protection from winged predators. The established method of vegetation management is to burn the heather in small strips on a rotation, although a similar result can sometimes be achieved by mowing. A grouse keeper will also put out grit for the birds, sometimes with medication to protect them from strongyle worm. All of this means that a well-run grouse moor is a particular type of habitat, which like any habitat is good for some wildlife and less good for others. Research has shown, for instance, that waders such as curlew and lapwing do particularly well on grouse moors. You’ll also find a rich variety of other plants among the heather, a host of small mammals such as voles, not forgetting the masses of insects without which grouse chicks couldn’t survive to adulthood. So long as grouse moors don’t dominate the landscape entirely, that can only be a good thing – they are another type of habitat, part of a rich tapestry that includes all sorts of upland ecosystems. Where the antis might have a point is if the way we manage grouse moors has a wide-ranging detrimental effect, harming the wider environment. For instance, it’s claimed that heather burning might damage the underlying peat, leading to erosion, tainting of water supplies, the release of carbon stored in the peat and, conceivably,

‘The important thing to remember is that grouse shooting does a lot of good for the environment, which more than counteracts any negative effects’

Find out more about the benefits of grouse shooting at the Moorland Association’s Gift of Grouse website: www. giftofgrouse.com

// CONSERVATION

The uplands comprise many types of habitat Heather burning ensures that grouse always have young heather to eat

contribution to global warming. Now I’m deeply suspicious of the global warming argument myself. Carbon has been going around a cycle for millions of years, same as water. Scientific research showed long ago that more CO2 cannot increase the greenhouse effect and sure enough there has been no measurable global warming for 19 years. Yet our taxes and energy bills are funding a billion-dollar climate change industry. Am I being too cynical? Perhaps. Even so, there’s no harm in knowing what the unintended consequences of grouse moor management might be. So I welcome Leeds University’s EMBER study which aims to shed light on these effects. And I’m sure grouse moor managers will be happy to consider changing their management practices – so long as that change is driven by an honest desire to benefit the environment, not just a thinly disguised attack on rich people having too much fun. The other big bone of contention is birds of prey, specifically hen harriers. Things have come a long way since the Edwardian and Victorian era, when keepers were encouraged to kill birds of prey along with other ‘vermin’. Nowadays, all birds of prey are 100% protected. It’s an extreme position that some old-school landowners and keepers find hard to swallow. Many shooters would agree that the law has become a bit of an ass when it comes to protecting some species and not others. Why, for instance, should badgers get such a high level of legal protection when foxes have virtually none?

Likewise, there is no sensible conservation reason to protect buzzards as we do. But it cuts to the heart of the argument between the greenies and us shooters. We want to manage nature; they want nature left to run riot regardless of the consequences. We know we’re right, but they’re equally convinced theirs is the correct path. The raptor issue provides the focus where all our disagreements reach boiling point. Be that as it may, the law is the law, and breaking it makes you a criminal. There seems to be little doubt, however, that some people associated with grouse shooting do illegally kill birds of prey. By doing so they drag all of shooting into disrepute, and I wish I had the power to stop it, but of course they don’t advertise what they’re doing and if they don’t respect the law they certainly won’t listen to my opinion or yours. The important thing to remember is that grouse shooting does a lot of good for the environment, which more than counteracts any negative effects. Add that to the sport’s other benefits – such as providing employment and boosting the rural economy – and it’s clear that grouse shooting is a powerful force for good in the uplands. In the face of bigoted attacks on the sport, it will take strength of character to keep an open mind about how we can improve our record still further, and do what we can to stamp out any illegal activity. But that should be the aim of every shooter and shoot owner – and in the long run, it makes our sport stronger. ■

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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GUNSMITHING

Tools of the trade What’s better than a well-stocked toolbox? One that is used to make guns, of course! James Longthorne takes us through the tools that he’s been using since he was a boy aving been trained as a toolmaker I must say that modern gunmaking isn’t just about using CNC machines, although these are a necessary commodity when it comes to modern production. When it comes to finishing or prototyping new ideas, by far the quickest way to visualise your ideas is to turn to trusted methods and hand tools – this can be far more useful than 3D printing.

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Best-quality tools ensure the best results

It is much quicker to heat-bend and file a piece of metal (like a piece of metal for a trigger guard, for example) to a rough shape rather than draw it and then programme a CNC to make one. The human eye is very quick to adapt to the shapes we see. When producing a part by hand, we can design, adapt, redesign and readapt as a continuous process, always being able to view

the final product as it exists in real time and space – we can revert to 3D printing once this is done, if necessary. When designing by hand, we are not limited by any constraints and can ‘design on the fly’. To do this we have to have a very good knowledge of the tools available and how to use them.

The ultimate tool test As an apprentice toolmaker, a common test, and one considered to be the ultimate test, was to produce a 1" steel cube (25.4mm), and then cut a 1"sq hole exactly in the middle of a steel plate that is ½" (12.7mm) thick x 2"sq (50.8mm). The cube must then fit in every direction through the square hole with no more than 1thou (.025mm) clearance in any direction on any surface. As an apprentice, at the time I had no idea why this was so important. It is important because when it comes to jointing of an action or fitting of the sidelocks to the action, it can’t be done manually unless you have these skills. The only power we were allowed to use was a pillar drill to drill a hole in the plate in the middle of the square; the rest of it had to be achieved using a hammer, different chisels, files, emery paper and polishing stones. It was basically an exercise

Apprentice toolmakers acquire their skills manually rather than relying on power tools

PICTURES: LONGTHORNE GUNMAKERS

‘When producing a part by hand, we can design, adapt, redesign and readapt as a continuous process’

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KEEPER’S COUNTRY

WITH ADAM SMITH

Beaters – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly Adam Smith recalls one or two beaters he has known through good times and bad, some with abilities to match... ’d better warn you from the outset that some of the characters about to be revealed are, put politely, fairly basic human beings. Hearts of gold, stalwarts in adversity, etc. – all that and more, of course – but not all of them entirely eligible for invites back for Sunday tea. Setting the scene and admitting that it’s been said before, driven game shooting could not exist as an organised sport without a good team of beaters. Thanks to beaters, birds are persuaded to move forward through covers and woodlands by the tap-tapping of sticks wielded by a well-drilled team, united – most of the time – in their zeal to ensure quality shooting for the Guns. Ages, wits and abilities can vary enormously, yet all share a natural enthusiasm for the sport and the part they play in its success – even though in some cases you’d be hard-pressed to see how or why. Take Dick Whatley, for example. Old, grizzled,

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PICTURE: NICK RIDLEY

Beaters and pickers-up are the backbone of a shoot

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Visit the forum on the National Organisation of Beaters and Pickers Up website to find opportunities to take part on a local shoot: www.nobs.org.uk/ index

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shabbily dressed and about as lively a conversationalist as your average monitor lizard, Dick was so steeped in country lore he could out-think the wiliest of pheasants. This ability made him an excellent stop, since with uncanny certainty he’d know just where to stand to prevent birds running out of a drive. Many stops will simply stand in one place while birds thumb their beaks and sneak past unseen on the other side of a bush, while other more diligent types will patrol up and down like sentries, though with no actual success, either. Dick could stand perfectly still but was able to bottle birds in such numbers that he’d ensure success for almost any drive. I don’t know how he did it, but somehow he could. Which is all very well, but not actually part of this particular tale. This aspect of D. Whatley Esq. centres on his knife. Not a very grand knife, as knives go, but simply a small, folding twin-bladed penknife. One

plastic pearl scale was missing and the smaller of the two blades was a broken stump, yet Dick was extraordinarily fond of his knife, which played a major part in so many lifestyle choices. It would, for example, peel and slice the eye-wateringly large onion which he habitually ate much like an apple for his lunch – or dinner as he would have called it – along with thickly sliced bread and old-fashioned crumbly Cheddar cheese. Dick had amazing reflexes for his age, and on this particular day, beating along the feed ride of a major release pen, he whacked a large bitch rat with his stick. Pausing briefly to pocket the still-twitching carcass, Dick caught my eye and muttered, “Looks like she’m carryin’. Thought I’d take a look at the finish, like.” True to his word, at the end of the drive he dropped to one knee, flopped the dead rat from his pocket and, using the renowned knife, proceeded to slit her heavily pregnant body open.

KEEPER’S COUNTRY

PICTURE: MARK HARVEY

Personally, I’d never taken Dick to be much of an Attenborough when it came to examining wildlife, but he certainly seemed fascinated by what he saw. “Quite a few kit there, inn’um?” he said, as much to himself as the others, before kicking the body out of sight under a bush while folding and pocketing his knife. The next drive passed uneventfully and then it was time for lunch. You’ve guessed what’s coming, haven’t you? Yes, our Dickie used his knife, the same trusty blade, unwiped and unwashed, to peel his onion, cut his cheese and slice an apple, all with a wistful air, as though perhaps pondering the wonders of nature. Jeb, if anything, was an even more basic being – although to be honest his star turn was before my time. I only knew him as another elderly beater, but apparently, so Stan Button assured me, as a younger man Jeb had gained a reputation in the local farmyards at threshing time. These days, combines do it all – hence the name, although it’s actually combine harvester – but a few decades back the whole process was rather more complicated. The sheaves of

The ability to successfully outhink a pheasant comes after years of experience

The threshing machine is the nemesis of the nesting harvest mouse

‘Our Jeb would take his rats with a lightning grab of a giant hand, bite them behind the ears, drop the lifeless body at his feet’ harvested corn (variously described as shooks, traves, stooks or shocks, depending on your county or region) were stacked in ricks – large rectangular piles of sheaves – sheeted up with giant tarpaulins to make them weatherproof and the grain allowed to harden off – and provide a source of food for huge numbers of rats and mice. Then the threshing machines arrived, coupled up by belts first to traction engines and later to tractors, and men standing on the opened ricks pitchforked the sheaves into the threshers. It was noisy, dusty work with two major by-products.

PICTURES: COLIN VARNDELL (LEFT) / PAUL HOBSON (RIGHT)

Rats are frequent visitors to shoots, attracted by the pheasant feed

Harvest mice were slaughtered in their thousands, killed by the threshing sieves, their mangled bodies piling up below the machine, but most quicker witted rats jumped ship before the threshers could catch them. This provided much sport for farmhands of all ages who surrounded the ricks, armed with sticks and terriers, to vie with one another to kill the most. Jeb excelled at the sport, but with a technique all of his own. Our Jeb would take his rats with a lightning grab of a giant hand, bite them – yes, bite them – behind the ears, drop the lifeless body at his feet and get ready for the next customer. He was so quick and precise in both hold and bite that he apparently never got bitten – and, of course, never suffered from Weil’s disease, bubonic plague, scabies, leprosy, rickets or any of the myriad diseases associated with our farmyard favourite. At least, when I knew him, his reactions had slowed with age so, sadly, I was never able to fully appreciate his skill. Having covered the Bad and the Ugly, it’s time to finish on a brighter note in the shape of the Good – in this case Ted, a dear little man who was the living likeness of a bishop. Silver haired with smooth rosy cheeks, always neat and tidy in dress and manner, only Ted’s well-worn but scrupulously clean Barbour jacket and matching leggings gave away the fact that he was not a man of the cloth – well, that and a voice like a foghorn together with a vocabulary to put any Billingsgate porter to shame. One of life’s truly extraordinary sights was Ted in full flow, his bright baby blue eyes shining and not a silver hair out of place, giving forth on the abilities of other beaters, the weather, pheasant behaviour and various related activities, all in language so very much down to earth you could have scraped mud off every syllable. What a little gem – a true treasure. ■

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CROCKETT’S COUNTRY

WITH JONNY CROCKETT

Preparing to forage

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Make sure you stay safe, legal and don’t damage the countryside while harvesting its bounty

■ Take your foraged food from a variety of places and only pick a small percentage of what is in each location. This gives the plants and mushrooms a chance to regenerate for next year. ■ When you get the chance, pick and plant. This means that you can encourage regeneration. ■ Don’t pick too early or out of season. ■ Be aware of the Protected Species List and which plants are on it. ■ If the weather is going to make life difficult for wildlife, then go without. Let them eat first!

Legal Use the 1968 Theft Act as a guide. A person may collect the four ‘Fs’ – Fruit, Flowers, Foliage and Fungi – as long as they are growing wild and for personal use only. This right applies everywhere, even on private land (you would still be trespassing if in England or Wales, but not Scotland) unless there are bylaws that prohibit or restrict picking, the land is domesticated or

A useful mnemonic is ‘I’ve Made Many A Tasty Soup’ – IMMATS. ■ I – Identification: You must make 100% certain that you’ve got the identification of the plant or fungus correct. An error could make you ill or be fatal. ■ M – Minors: Remember that young people may not like or be able to stomach the same as an adult. Also, a small person or young person may not be able to eat quite as much as a large person or adult, so remember that quantity is important. ■ M – Medication: Some plants contain chemicals which are ingredients in medication or might counteract the effects of medication. For example, if you are already taking aspirin tablets, then extra salicylates from chewing willow bark may cause a reaction. This is something to be avoided. ■ A – Allergies: Some plants can cause allergic reactions. For example, having a nut allergy might mean that you need to avoid hazelnuts, beech nuts, etc. ■ T – Tolerance: Different people will have a different tolerance to various plants. I can’t eat too many nettles – it’s just my tolerance. However, I have seen people wolf them down with no side

If you follow all of the above then you’ll not go wrong. The main thing is to enjoy and create the best meals of your lives. Bon appétit. ■ Wait until the fruit is ripe before picking

Only pick a small percentage of what is available

PICTURE: JAKE EASTHAM

Foraged fruits can be enjoyed throughout the year when used in preserves, wines and spirits

Safe foraging

effects whatsoever. You’ll find this out through experience though. ■ S – Safe sourcing: How many times have you seen people picking elderflowers or blackberries from a roadside. This is not a good idea. All the exhaust fumes from passing cars, dust blown up from anything that passes and general turbidity from road use will make the foraged food potentially dangerous. This may be more of a long-term issue as carcinogenic chemicals are often absorbed into the fruit of roadside plants. The bottom line here is if you are standing on tarmac, then don’t pick!

PICTURE: ROCK COTTAGE YEAR

Conservation

cultivated. You must ask permission of the landowner if you are doing anything which is commercial (even on the smallest of scales).

PICTURE: ROCK COTTAGE YEAR

or me, autumn is one of the highlights of the year. There are so many treats ready to forage that you can’t help but salivate at the very thought of what is to come. Before you start to dream about blackberry and apple pies, mushroom risotto, sloe gin, damson wine and many more delights, you should be aware of some of the guidelines for foraging.

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CAMPAIGNING FOR THE COUNTRYSIDE

Tim Bonner is Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance

WITH TIM BONNER

Stepping up to the plate

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Web: countryside-alliance.org.uk/join Telephone: 0207 840 9300

Despite the backlash they may receive from antis, more and more supermarkets are stocking wild game meat, helping to normalise game and its consumption e shoot not just for the outstanding sport and the important pest control, but for the fantastic food that we harvest. Unfortunately, and unlike countries in North America and Scandinavia, the wild game that reaches our tables is too often thought of as secondary or somehow less important. We can all play a role in changing that. The success of Sweden’s game comes from the public perception that it is the best possible meat available. Swedish polling reveals that a whopping 87% (and increasing) of the population accept hunting. With a positive rating like that you will never see negative press attached to Sweden’s favourite son, footballer Zlatan Ibrahimovic, when he goes hunting. Imagine the field day the British media would have if David Beckham was seen with gun in hand? The Swedish Association for Hunting and Wildlife Management acknowledge that producing top-quality meat will ensure they can carry on enjoying hunting. The fear of stumbling across an issue that could drop the approval rating means they keep their food processing techniques and game hygiene incredibly high and continually push for new levels to be set. Many lessons could be learnt from their forward-looking system. Similar to the Swedes, the Americans will not allow any meat into the public food chain uninspected, ruling out exemptions that we regularly use in this country. Again, this is to ensure

PICTURE: REBECCA GREEN

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Buying and consuming our home-grown game meat will ensure that it remains in this country

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wild game is seen as a meat above the rest, and helping the acceptance of hunting overall. Looking at the UK’s system, there is certainly room for improvement. Although game is well publicised as a healthy and free-range alternative to traditional lamb, chicken, pork and beef, we manage to export a near majority of our game. As well as pheasants and partridges which are heavily enjoyed by our European neighbours, they also take far more enjoyment from our very own wild venison than we do. Quite unbelievably, year-on-year we are importing more New Zealand-farmed venison over our wild venison, even with certain deer species increasing in population and distribution annually. Our snobbery towards old grouse is unbelievable, and our loss is Norway’s gain, hence the continued importance of the Countryside Alliance’s Game to Eat initiative. Since the beginning of the Game to Eat initiative over a decade ago, wild game has begun to become ‘normalised’ among the public, and with the supermarkets plunging into the game market, huge strides are being made. One such example is Iceland supermarkets that have been stocking oven-ready grouse for the first time ever this year. They may not be selling a lot, but in terms of publicity for this fantastic bird, it has done wonders. Seeing grouse in Iceland will not only allow the everyday shopper to get their hands on this wonderful meat, but it will also allow

Iceland is stocking oven-ready grouse for the first time this year

grouse to become a natural sight among the public. With the ‘king of game’ in the supermarkets, it will not take long for the rest to follow suit. Marks and Spencer are not selling grouse this year because the one estate they were going to source their grouse from has had a disastrous breeding season and does not have the shootable surplus. They will, however, be pushing forward with over 12 wild game products, featuring some highly impressive game ready meals. The supermarkets’ keenness to work with game and promote it as a healthy and delicious product is down to the fact that the wild game on the shelves is the highest quality meat that consumers can get their hands on, and for a good price. There is no way of knowing the life story of the stocked chicken, and the frozen beef lasagne might indeed contain traces of horse meat or worse, but a consumer will always know that an oven-ready pheasant will be top quality, wild, tasty and, importantly, 100% pheasant. In the face of the inevitable backlash from those with an anti-shooting agenda, we fully support all supermarkets in the stocking of game just as much as the local butcher and farm shop. Getting high-quality wild game into shops – any and all shops – will keep British game in Britain. The more that is kept in this country means the more people are cooking it, and the more they do that the more normal it becomes. Game shouldn’t be a treat or an experiment for a change, it should be an everyday occurrence, and we are working to make that a reality. The work that the Game to Eat initiative has done is fantastic, but we need every shooter and shooter’s family to get involved in cooking their game, shouting about it and showing the strength of feeling that exists for shooting whenever and wherever possible. ■

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WILDFOWLING

Alan Jarrett is chairman of the Kent Wildfowling & Conservation Association and author of several books on wildfowling

WITH ALAN JARRETT

September again Alan offers up some words of wisdom to those venturing out to the foreshore in the early season, when the heat is on... or not, as the case may be uriously, perhaps, September has mostly been my least favourite month of the wildfowling season. It is invariably too warm, the days are too long, and here in the south-east of England the main influx of migrant duck has yet to get under way. The near mania which seems to grip us all with the coming of the first of September opening day soon dissipates for me. In contrast to the early part of my wildfowling career, my September trips are often to be counted on one hand. The arrival of the migrant birds is eagerly awaited! Thinking back, though, there are lessons to be learnt, and for the less experienced there are a few things to bear in mind.

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First of all, don’t be fooled by the burning sun of a late August or early September day. September nights can be cold and wet with dew, so that even the balmiest of days may hold unpleasant surprises. Long ago, one warm September day, I tramped off along the shore, planning an evening tide flight. It was very hot back at the car and the jacket was left behind as an unnecessary encumbrance. No duck came near or by as the day faded away, and as night fell the tide was reaching its height, leaving me marooned for the next three hours. There was nothing to worry about with the tide, but as day gave way to night the scanty T-shirt was no protection against the cold. I spent

a miserably cold period waiting for the tide to drop, and vowed never to be as foolish again. Early season heat can bring other problems, not least of which is a thirsty dog. When travelling by boat it is easy enough to take plenty of water along, but not quite so easy when walking. It is well worth the effort though, and should help to discourage the dog drinking too much sea water! The bane of our lives during the early part of the season is the presence of mosquitoes and other biting insects. Mosquitoes seem to love me (the feeling is not mutual!) and I find it essential to be well layered with repellent. In some places, they can be the very devil. The Hoo Peninsula in Kent, for example, was

PICTURE: REBECCA GREEN

‘In contrast to the early part of my career, my September trips are often to be counted on one hand. The arrival of the migrant birds is eagerly awaited!’

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WILDFOWLING For Alan, the wide open seascapes where samphire grows encapsulates the magic of the shore

Duck, such as teal and pintail, feed on the seeds of the marsh samphire

notorious in former times for its ague (acute fever – which was no doubt a form of malaria), and the insects are no more hospitable today. There are various brands capable of keeping the pests at bay. However, as they have even drilled through my cap on occasion, I now use tropical strength repellent, which mostly does the trick. There can be problems with the shot birds themselves, especially if the trip is a lengthy one. Dead birds attract flies and worse, and trying to keep shot birds fresh can be difficult. Once home, plucking them ready for the table can be a real pain at times, with many birds covered in tiny quills under their feathers. Earlier I mentioned those long September days. If there is any distance to travel – whether by vehicle or on foot – morning flight can mean a

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arsh

w il

PICTURES: A RECIPE FOR GLUTTONY

T‘ esh ltm a alight with colour – sea lavender on the high tops and sea aster in profusion around the lower reaches’

largely sleepless night; similarly, the evening flight can often mean returning home close to midnight. For all that, a trip to the shore at any time of the year can be a magical experience, and there have been some unforgettable experiences to recall. Often the bag has been light, but it is never a waste of time. Part of the magic of the shore is the appearance of the saltmarsh during the early season. The saltmarsh will be alight with colour – sea lavender on the high tops, sea aster in profusion around the lower reaches, whilst the lower flats and creeks may be resplendent in the bright green of that most succulent of saltmarsh plants, samphire. It is possible to recall one September day when I roamed the edge of the saltmarsh waiting for the tide to flood the creeks. Everywhere there was the smell of the sea and its environs; the samphire was thick, and that was enough for me to muse whether the teal and pintail would come to this place a few weeks hence when the seed began to drop. Ahead lay the mud, and by skirting the edge of the greenery it was possible to have an unimpeded view of the whole estuary. After all these years it is still a sight to marvel at. Ahead lay a tiny beach, no more than 20 yards across, where the tide had thrown broken shell into a cleft in the saltmarsh. The shells crunched under my feet and there, on the far

side, lay an old clay pipe with the inevitable broken stem. It was like a window into the past as it rested in my palm, and a glance towards the sea caused me to wonder what tales it could tell before its broken form had been cast aside by some sea dog. September is a time for fat mallard and geese, for dodging biting insects, for planning for the season ahead. But mostly it is the beginning of a seasonal lifestyle that we wildfowlers choose and hold so dear. ■

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N L IO ER IA CTSHOOT EC SERTING SP OGH IN SPO T NDY MON GUEVER

with Howard Kirby Your one-stop-shop for shooting gear

Gundog Trainer

The essential guide to owning and working a gundog

INSIDE THIS MONTH...

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Going steady

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Summer days

Steadiness to live game is critical in the field. Follow Howard’s essential training tips to prevent your dog from running in

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102

Ryan looks back on a busy summer filled with blissfully empty beaches, new additions and successful training days

Gundog Q&A

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All of your health, behaviour and other gundog-related questions answered by our resident team of experts

Gundog vet – The spine

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The tenth part in our 12-month series looking at each part of a dog’s body, from nose to tail. This month, Vicky looks at an area that commonly causes problems for gundogs – the spine and the hind legs

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HOWARD’S TIP OF THE MONTH:

Look, no hands!

Clip a carabiner to your game bag and then attach your dog leads to it. It’s so easy to lose a lead when you’re busy with the dogs. With the lead attached to you, it’s then possible to have your dog on the lead whilst you operate ‘hands free’.

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GUNDOG TRAINING

with Howard Kirby

Howard Kirby runs Lains Shooting School and Mullenscote Gundogs in Hampshire

The waiting game Ensuring your dog is steady to shot game is essential in the field. Howard explains how to instill steadiness from the start, or correct any problems that may have crept in y now most of us gundog folk will have spent at least one day in the shooting field and enjoyed the pleasure of working our dogs. Only now will you be able to tell whether or not all those months of patient and diligent training have really

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‘We need to assess a young puppy’s natural enthusiasm before we try to insist that he sits and waits before being sent’

gone to plan. Gundog training will always be ongoing. In the early stages of training we are working towards being able to shoot over the dog either from a pigeon hide, rough shooting or wildfowling; or work him in the beating line, on a peg or as a picker-up. In whatever form you choose to work with your dog, it will only be when you involve live game and shooting that your dog will really show his true colours. When everything goes to plan the levels of excitement and enthusiasm generated by your canine shooting companion can leave you feeling ecstatic. Equally these very same levels of excitement and enthusiasm can at best leave you feeling a little hot under the collar, and at worst leave you feeling like you will never be able to return to that shoot ever again. Don’t worry too much – no dog handler is complete until they have completed a

walk of shame or two to retrieve a wayward dog. The shame is only short-lived; you will only be the talk of the county for a few weeks and the mental scars will heal in time. (Unless your dog decides to round up the sheep on a Hampshire downland in front of the Guns, the Beaters, the Game Cart, Uncle Tom Cobley and all. I’ve never recovered and still find it hard to like spinones.) Running in can be a real problem with gundogs of all ages and avoiding it is something that is an essential part of training at all stages. Ensuring that your dog is thoroughly trained to be steady should, in my opinion, be one of the elements of training that is an absolute must. We need to assess a young puppy’s natural enthusiasm to retrieve before we try to insist that he sits and waits before being sent. With a really high-drive youngster we can have him sitting,

PICTURE: NICK RIDLEY

Don’t send young, inexperienced dogs for runners

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GUNDOG FOCUS

with Ryan Kay

Tails of summer

Ryan Kay is a keen trialler and trainer with a passion for working HPRs and spaniels. He beats and picks up on various moors in North Yorkshire and enjoys rough shooting with his dogs.

With the season now under way, Ryan Kay reflects on an interesting and busy summer, and also welcomes a new addition to FarlaVale Gundogs s far as gundog training goes, it’s been a good summer. The cooler conditions in Yorkshire have meant that I’ve managed to be more productive during the day, rather than allocating the bulk of training to either the beginning or the end of the daylight hours. And because we haven’t had a prolonged period of hot weather, there hasn’t been a lull in training, either. Charlie has been kept relatively busy at stud and most owners of the bitches brought in for covering have been happy to proceed straight away; however, one owner in particular really made me

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work for the stud fee. He was keen to see my dog work, and then work some more. Retrieving tests were asked for and the intensity of the ground, with more scent, was increased. After a thorough drilling, the chap was eventually happy for the mating to take place. I built a respect for the guy and approved of what he asked of us; there was nothing I wouldn’t have asked myself had it been my bitch in season. After all, you can study the genetics and breeding as much as you like, but the best tool we have to help make breeding decisions is our eyes. The chap was an ex-trialling man.

The usual family trip to the beaches of Northumberland hails a well-earned break for the dogs – and the handlers! I’ve been going to Beadnell near Seahouses for over 25 years, almost every year without fail, and it’s one of the few places I can let dogs run without worrying that they’re hunting for themselves. Although the sand dunes can be tempting for young dogs with the lure of rabbits and lizards, the dogs appear to know that it’s ‘relaxing time’ and smelly seaweed is the main interest. Each year we walk from Beadnell along the coast to the Ship Inn pub at Low Newton, for a spot of lunch. The pub, with its own micro-brewery, serves lovely ale and accompanied by a large stottie ploughman’s lunch is a well-earned reward at the halfway mark. However, a word of warning; don’t forget to take cash as the remote inn doesn’t take plastic or cheque and it’s a long walk back on an empty stomach… just ask our content editor!

The silver torpedo

Northumberland beaches are quiet and distraction free

PICTURES: RYAN KAY

The beach at Low Newton

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A couple of years back our return walk along the beach was ill-timed due to the tide, and as we reached Beadnell Estuary ready to cross, the water was well on its way in. Crossing would mean a 50-yard wade through the rising sea. Although there’s a bridge about 500 yards up stream, the streak of self-sabotage that seems to run through my family meant there was no question of heading for the bridge, and as I put my daughter on my shoulders, it occurred to me

Training talk and updates from the gundog world

New pup, Skye joined FarlaVale Gundogs in September

that our old Weimaraner hates swimming! Her usual attempts resemble that of a panicking giraffe, and any accidental fall-ins in the past have mimicked a champagne cork leaving the bottle. With wife, two children and two dogs safely across, I returned for child number three, still playing with the slightly worried looking Weimaraner on the other side. Interested to see what the old dog would do, I picked up number three and started to wade in. A third of the way across with water near to my chest and number three on my shoulders, we were suddenly overtaken at speed, by the fastest swimming HPR in the country! The old girl had had us fooled all these years and saved her swimming for when she really needed it! Albeit slightly induced by a little separation anxiety.

Not quite a foolproof plan On our way home from Northumberland, we stopped at Weldon Gun Room in Longframlington. “We won’t be in here long, just a quick look around, that’s all,” were my departing words to Mrs Kay as my son, Fred, and I stepped out of the car. An hour later, Fred was in the back room being measured up for a new Yildiz .410, and after a few practice shots out the back, we were on our way with our latest acquisition. “You’re not telling me that little purchase wasn’t planned!” came the response as we got back in the car. “Honestly, my love, not at all, just stumbled across the right gun for Fred.” “Really? Always bring your shotgun licence away with you, do you?!” Rumbled!

First Open trial At the beginning of August, I took Charlie to his first Open Cocker trial, held at Westerdale in North Yorkshire. Naturally, being at the start of August, it was a rabbit trial, and as we neared the ground the hillside lifted with the movement of rabbits. Unfortunately, the only rabbits Charlie saw were the ones being retrieved by other dogs. Soon after I cast him off, we stumbled into a patch of heather and he soon produced the only flushed grouse of the day! Still a ‘cheeper’, it was a little slow to move off and that meant Charlie was a little slow to sit, by about a foot – and that was us out! Writing this, I know I’ll be making someone smile… someone who gave me the advice to practise flushing on dizzied pigeons. When

training, I prefer to flush wild birds only, strong birds from mid season on, keeping the ‘punch’ so to speak, in the dog, but this does have its disadvantages and this was clearly highlighted at the trial. Dizzied pigeons often get away slower and a dog that’s used to this slower take-off can be trained to be a little more tentative during a flush, resulting in less forward movement, or extension on flush. It was a good trial though, and Eddie Scott made his dog Chyknell Golden Eagle up into a Field Trial Champion – a nice achievement for this dog, having come runner-up in the championship in January. I remember the dog winning its first novice trial of the season last July at Stean, so it’s been a short journey to FTCH success in just over a year!

A new pup The arrival of September heralded that it was time to pick up another cocker pup as a result of one

of Charlie’s matings; the choice for this new addition links to my earlier comments regarding choosing by observing. The dam is a dog I’ve had the pleasure of watching for the last two years. She’s actually used as a peg dog by a friend of mine on a local shoot but she was trained by the well-known Edward Martin of Sealpin Gundogs. Her behaviour has been impeccable and I’ve seen this little dog pick birds when others had given up, and watched her take a line on a runner and not let up until found. Her sire is FTW Fernmoss Freddie but her mother’s side, albeit working stock, doesn’t particularly stand out in red, yet she shows a level-headedness in what can be intense situations for other dogs. She maintains a connection with her handler and, when asked, hunts at speed when there’s a bird to be found. But perhaps one of the most important factors she brings to the table is her conformation. The front end belongs to the back and her shoulders are Fred gets a lesson at the CLA with a Yildiz .410

‘An hour later, Fred was being measured up for a new Yildiz .410, and after a few practice shots, we were on our way with our latest acquisition’ www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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GUNDOG FOCUS Pip the cocker takes to the water at the training day

‘I always encourage the owner to become a handler, to think a little differently and to question the reason why a particular method is carried out as it is’ proportionate and strong. Not only does this mean that it is less likely that there will be any health problems, but her good looks prompt the well-known saying: ‘Life’s too short to hunt with an ugly dog’. The pup we’ve named Skye, and I’ll be reporting on her training progress throughout the season.

Water training I held a couple of training days during the summer, one being a water training day at Allerthorpe Lakes, near Pocklington. I’m not a fan of group training sessions, unless I can get a small group together of a very similar standard, but on this occasion I had a guest trainer to help – Stevie Allerton. Stevie offers a wealth of experience, has a very natural way with gundogs and specialises in HPRs. She managed the young dogs and novice

group, leaving me with the dogs that were a bit further on in their training. I already knew most of the people in my group as they’d either come for regular training or we’d met on previous training days. These are all dedicated handlers and it was really encouraging to see just how far they’d progressed with their dogs; the water day was really bringing out the best in both dog and handler. I put their success primarily down to hard work, but also down to their ability to pick out, and play around with, training methods that best suit their dogs. I always try to encourage the owner to become a handler, to think a little differently and to

always question the reason why a particular method is carried out as it is, and what it is trying to achieve. If you can attend different training days held by different professionals, or have lessons with several different trainers, then you will have a greater knowledge to play around with. And provided you have the ability to sieve through this knowledge, and apply what is relevant to your dog, then you’ll have the potential to achieve much more. A busy summer over, and now I’m looking forward to the main shooting season. Good hunting, everyone. ■ Lynda Carr with Sweep the sprocker

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GUNDOG EXPERTS

GOT A GUNDOG PROBLEM?

The place for all your health, behaviour, diet, breeding and training queries

SEND QUESTIONS TO Ask the Experts, Sporting Shooter, 3 The Courtyard, Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2AZ OR EMAIL [email protected]

QUESTION OF THE MONTH

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Send us your gundog problems and the best one will win a £50 Chudleys dog food voucher. Chudleys makes a wide range of complete working food for dogs. Simply post or email your question to the address above. For more information, go to www.chudleys.com

Not the chickens!

Q A

On one of the drives we will be picking up on this season there is an estate cottage where the lady keeps free-range chickens. How will my dog know he’s allowed to hunt and retrieve game but not chickens? Last year, my mate’s Labrador caught a chicken and the lady that owns them was not at all happy. Any tips gratefully received.

Room to grow?

Q A

The dog rescue has a lurcher pup I like but he’s only 14" high. They say he is four to six months old, but I’m not so sure. How big will he grow?

JACKIE DRAKEFORD replies: There are big developmental differences between four and six months, so look at his teeth. At six months he should have a full set of adult teeth, but they may not be fully through, especially the canines. Look at his feet, which should be disproportionately large, as should the wrists, hocks and stifle joints, and his tail should look too long, unless he is a bull type. If his feet and joints seem to fit him, then he is older than they think. If you decide to have him, make sure they do not castrate him as this will ruin his growth pattern.

Love me, love my bad breath

Q

My three-year-old gundog has bad breath. I think it might be his teeth as he does have a bit of plaque on them, but it doesn’t seem enough to cause such a bad smell. My other dogs, who all eat the same food, are older and do not have smelly breath. Am I missing something?

A PICTURE: NICK RIDLEY

VICKY PAYNE replies: Dogs all differ and some will have sweeter breath than others; clients often complain of their dog’s bad breath but I can’t smell anything untoward! Using an enzymatic toothpaste every day will reduce bacteria levels in the mouth and may help keep the breath more neutral. Not all bad breath smells are dental in origin. Dogs with deep lip folds can get yeast or bacterial infections; dogs with beards can smell due to the constant wetting of the hair; dogs that lick their rear to empty the anal glands will have a metallic, fishy breath smell afterwards; and poor digestion can cause foul-smelling burps.

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PICTURE: REBECCA GREEN

PICTURE: REBECCA GREEN / HOWARD KIRBY

HOWARD KIRBY replies: Hunting your picking-up team around domestic dwellings can be really tricky. Communication is key here; somebody from your shoot needs to arrange a meeting with the owner of the dwelling and try to negotiate some sensible arrangements. If the owners are given plenty of notice about shoot dates and a polite telephone call the day before shooting then it might be possible to ensure that domestic fowl are kept shut in on shoot days. Maybe a working party – e.g. some help with putting up some fencing in strategic places – might be the right thing to do? That said, dogs are quite capable of differentiating between different species of birds. With your dog on a lead you should walk amongst poultry – if he shows any interest in the chickens at all give him a check with the lead and a firm, “No”. Provided your timing is right the dog will very quickly learn that he is to leave well alone. Progress from this to walking amongst them without the lead. If this training is done thoroughly then the dog will learn to leave them alone. To add additional value to the training, if you could walk him in association around the particular areas that he might encounter poultry when picking-up, then this will certainly help. It’s important to remember with that on shoot day the dog’s ‘blood will be up’, so the leaving-thechickens-alone lessons will need to have been done extremely well if you are to avoid the wrath of the Rare Breed Chicken Lady.

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GUNDOG VET

Got a dog health problem?

with Vicky Payne

Send questions to Gundog Vet, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berkshire, RG40 2EG email [email protected] or submit questions on our website: www.sportingshooter.co.uk/ask-the-experts

Vicky is a keen shooter and qualified vet

NEW SERIES!

GUNDOG HEALTH: NOSE TO TAIL

Spinal traps

Vicky runs first aid courses for groups. Email vicky@holisticvetsussex. co.uk for further details.

This month we’re looking at the spine and the back legs – common causes of problems for working gundogs he spine can be split into four different areas: neck, thoracic, lumbar, and pelvic. Congenital problems are rare in gundog breeds, but young dogs of larger breeds with coordination problems should be checked for a neck problem known as wobblers. The most common spinal problem seen in gundogs is osteoarthritis, resulting from general wear and tear. This most commonly causes new bone formation where the thoracic spine meets the lumbar spine, and where the lumbar spine meets the pelvis. This is because in both cases the spine changes in flexibility at this point,

T

PICTURE: REBECCA GREEN

Hind leg problems are common in gundog breeds

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creating weakness. X-rays often show spinal arthritis, but dogs are usually comfortable except during flare-ups, or if the new bone presses on nerves. A combination of medication and supplements with exercise and acupuncture can really help. Occasionally, a dog will be unable to walk due to a spinal problem. Other than trauma (such as being run over or a bad fall), the most common causes are disc problems and fibrocartilagenous embolism (FCE). Your vet will get a good idea about the problem and the prognosis after examining your dog, but a definitive diagnosis would require an

MRI scan. Although FCE can completely paralyse a dog, many recover with supportive treatment. Disc problems sometimes improve with rest, but more severe cases may need surgery and working potential would be limited. Hind leg problems are unfortunately common in gundog breeds. Most people are aware of hip dysplasia (HD), and hip scoring before breeding is normal in the larger gundog breeds. Hip dysplasia is also seen in smaller breeds such as spaniels, though it is less common for it to show up in very lame six-month-old dogs, and more likely to show in an unusual gait, and early arthritis. It is recommended only to breed from dogs with hip scores below the average for the breed, but this only reduces the risk. Hip scoring can’t eliminate problems due to the complex genetic and environmental factors involved. For some breeds the Kennel Club now publishes Estimated Breeding Values which give more information on whether a dog is likely to produce pups with good or bad hips. Dogs with mild to moderate HD can work if given joint supplements and correct exercise. Severe cases may require surgery or a pet home. Good breeding has reduced hip problems, but stifle (knee) problems appear to be on the increase. Larger breeds, especially Labradors, are at risk of cranial cruciate ligament rupture leading to an unstable joint. In dogs the rupture is normally caused by a slow degeneration of the ligament, and both sides usually ‘go’ within 18 months of each other. The cause is again complex but involves poor conformation, genetics, and environmental factors. A range of surgical options are available, and smaller dogs may improve with rest. Historically, luxating patella (slipping kneecap) was a problem seen mostly in toy breeds and terriers, but it is now more frequently diagnosed in larger dogs including cockers and Labradors. Affected dogs often hop for a few strides during exercise and the vet can move the kneecap out of its groove. Mild cases can respond to physiotherapy, but other cases will develop painful arthritis without surgery. Although back and hind leg problems have complicated causes, good breeding and careful control of weight and exercise, especially in growing dogs, can reduce the risk, as does ensuring your dog is fit enough for the amount and type of work it is being asked to do. ■

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FIND SHOOTING

Use this page to find agents offering sport around the UK and overseas

Wildfowling clubs across the country offer day permits to BASC members. For a copy of the latest BASC Members’ Wildfowling Permit Scheme Booklet, send an SAE to Wildfowling Management, BASC, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0HL or email your name and address to [email protected] YORKSHIRE & N.E. CARTER’S COUNTRYWEAR North Yorkshire Tel: 01439 770688 www.carterscountrywear.co.uk Pheasant and grouse shooting

NORTH WEST SOUTH SOLWAY WILDFOWLERS www.solwaywildfowlers.co.uk MC Slater, Lancs. Tel: 07779 934563 Pinkfoot geese, pigeons, driven duck & evening duck flights TUFTON ARMS HOTEL Appleby-in Westmorland, Cumbria. Tel: 01768 351593 www.fishing-shooting.co.uk

MIDLANDS THE BARTON ON HUMBER Gundog Club Tel: 01724 734700 www.bohgc.co.uk [email protected] ROBERT GIBSON-BEVAN Lincs Tel: 01673 858387 KEADBY WILDFOWLING & CONSERVATION SOCIETY www.kwacs.org.uk LEICESTER WILDFOWLERS Contact: www.leicswa.org [email protected] PESTWISE Contact Richard Tel: 01664 850287 or 07764 485726 www.pestwise.co.uk DELTA DEER SERVICES Tel: 01536 761978 or 07850 380923 www. deltadeerservices.co.uk WEST RIDING WILDFOWLERS Contact Graham Teale, Tel: 07711 555295 [email protected]

ANGLIA SPORTING Guided pigeon shooting, deer stalking; rough and driven shooting; wild duck flights. Tel: 01728 605892 www. angliasporting.co.uk BASC NORFOLK Andrea Green, 01244 573047, [email protected] BLACKWATER WILDFOWLERS Essex. 01245 283210 www. blackwaterwildfowlers.org.uk FENLAND WILDFOWLERS www.fenlandwa.org.uk GEDNEY DROVE END Wildfowlers Cambridgeshire. Tel: 01945 420359 NBC BIRD AND PEST Tel: 0800 169 9646 www. nbcbirdandpest.co.uk KING’S LYNN & WEST NORFOLK WILDFOWLERS www.klwa.co.uk LEIGH-ON-SEA WILDFOWLERS www.loswa.co.uk NORTH SUFFOLK W’FOWLING CLUB Tel: 07810 122404 www. northsuffolkwildfowlers.co.uk NORWICH & DISTRICT WILDFOWLERS www.norwich-wildfowlers. co.uk PETE’S AIRGUN FARM nr Chelmsford, Essex. Contact: Peter Mallett, Tel: 07973 509198 www.airgunfarm.co.uk RIFLECRAFT LIMITED Tel: 01379 853745 www.riflecraft.co.uk SPALDING WILDFOWLERS www.spaldingwildfowlers.co.uk

LONDON & S.E.

EAST ALDE & ORE WILDFOWLERS www.aldeandorewildfowlers.com ALKBOROUGH WILDFOWLERS

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www.alkboroughwildfowlers.co.uk

WILLIAM & PHILIP BEASLEY Tel: 01869 277534 for Philip, Tel: 07831 572247 for William,

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

Winter Series for TSC There’s plenty of up-and-coming action for young clay shooters this winter with the TSC Winter Series. The 50-bird Sporting costs £20 per person to enter, with over £6,000 worth of prizes up for grabs. The events are open to all individuals in education aged 21 and under, with prizes awarded for first to third places in Senior, Prep and Ladies classes. The overall Senior and Prep High Gun wins a Browning Auto Trap; the overall Ladies High Gun wins a shotgun. The Winter Series takes place at the Oxford Gun Company on 10 and 24 October and 7 and 21 November. For more information visit www. theschoolschallenge.co.uk or call 01844 238308.

CREATURE FINDERS WE FOUND GLORIA GOAT IN THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE JJA Loveridge, Cambs • Mr Gerald Hopkins, Northants • CT Diver, Cambridge • Michael Dower, South Wales • Brian Ross, Newton Stewart • Abigail Harness, Lincs • Mrs J Lacey, Northampton • John Avery, Castle Donington • Mary and Stuart Huggard, Staffs • Nadine Weeks, Norwich • Jim Morgan, Caithness • Alan Nash, Dumfries • Richard Barroll, Torfaen • Fiona Mather, Northumberland • Roger Brown, Norfolk • Mrs JH Brown, Norfolk • Evie Randall, Cambridge • Stuart Ellis, Somerset • Allan Chesterton, Hereford • David Hargreaves, Lancs • Mike Lloyd, Hengoed • Kevin Monckton, Hampshire • Colin Ashley, Staffs • Mr L Davies, Lancs • Peter Johnston, Angus • Martin Smith, Somerset • Stephen Harrison, Wiltshire • AG Steer, Somerset • Andrew Spink, Blackpool • Loraine Knight, North Devon • Alex Hetmanski, Leeds • Phil Hunnisett, Wiltshire • Craig Drinkwater, Warwick • Janice Owens, North Yorkshire • Stephen Hill, Cheltenham • Michael Owens, North Yorkshire • Chris Daley, Newcastle upon Tyne • Malcolm Bowskill, Kent • Tom Hollingsworth, Somerset • Charles O Connor, Co. Dublin • Naomi Meaden, East Sussex • Benjamin Gonthier, Penarth • Phill Pace, Shropshire • Tom Jones, Carmarthen • John

PICTURE: DON BRUNT

WILDFOWLING PERMITS

TO CLAIM A BADGE, SEND AN ADDRESSED ENVELOPE WITH 58P OF STAMPS WHEN YOU ENTER THIS MONTH’S COMPETITION. SEE PAGE 11 FOR DETAILS. Gavin, Caithness • Nigel McNeil-Smith, Freshwater • Paul Berry, Staffs • Wendy Berry, Staffs • Mark Bostock, Doncaster • Gavin Campbell, Warwickshire • Edward Butters, Cheshire • Greger Jackson, Cleveland • Frank Holman, Suffolk • Jim Brown, Lincs • Norman Robertson, Galashiels • Eddie Finney, Staffs • Bobby Samuel, Staffs • Andrew Stott, Derbyshire • Frances Jary, Norfolk • Mrs Gaynor Wells, Flintshire • Mary Leigh, Somerset • Bob Masters, Birmingham • John Welstead, Isle of Wight • Michael Sackett, Ramsgate • Malcolm Goodman, Oxfordshire • Robert Philip, Bonnyrigg • Gerald Titterington, North Yorks • Donald Mackey, Co. Tyrone • Will Austin, Reading • Steve Cordes, Essex • Isabel Priddle, Devon • Nita Strachan, Herts • Mr K Beale, Somerset • Chris Penny, Wiltshire • Mark Biggins, Cumbria • Calum Wilson, Ross-shire • Pat Chambers, Lincoln • Mick Leeson, Ellistown • Ivor Pillar, Co. Down • Jim Tuckett, Somerset • Stephen Mann, Liverpool • Chris Price, Rugby • Philip Kent, Spalding • Alfie McVelia, Essex • Adrian Price, Hereford • Sharon Davies, Warwickshire • Steve Wayman, Norfolk • Gwyndaf Meredith, Wiltshire • Simon Williams, Worcestershire • Robert Michael Dunbar, Doncaster • Peter Dorman, Wigan • Stephen Williams, Chepstow • John Chalmers, Greenwich • Stuart Ellis, Somerset • Alan Goodwin, Suffolk

AGENTS: Send any updates to Find Shooting, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berks RG40 2EG

Tel: 07831 195736. Pigeon shooting, also deer stalking.

Cornwall Tel: 01752 787824 devonportgunclub@ gmail.com

MARK BOULTON HORNDEAN Deer stalking in south; Boar shooting in Europe and Sussex. Tel: 02392 595925/07854 985006 [email protected]

DEVON WILDFOWLING & CA Tel: 01395 268837 [email protected]

STALKING & PHEASANT CANVEY WILDFOWLING & CA Tel: Mr Webster on 01268 752665 CHICHESTER HARBOUR WA www.chwa.org.uk GEORGE DIGWEED SPORTING AGENCY www.georgedigweed .com Duck & pheasants. EMSWORTH & DISTRICT WILDFOWLERS www.wildfowling.com FROBURY FARM SPORTING CLUB nr Newbury, Berks. Contact Paul Oldring, Tel: 01635 297122 www.frobury.co.uk HOLBOROUGH SHOOT SOUTH (KENT) Driven pheasant shoot. 01622 891940, 07774 839319, 07876 542579 [email protected] KENT DEER SERVICES Contact Andrew Tel: 07754 272214 or 01892 680327 www.kentdeerservices.co.uk KENT WILDFOWLING & CA Tel: 07836 771715 www.kentwildfowlers.co.uk LANGSTONE & DISTRICT WWCA Langstone Harbour, SE Hants. www.ladwaca.com SHAVESGREEN SHOOTING 07706 395979. www.shavesgreen.com [email protected] DRIVEN & WALKED-UP DAYS Trevor Robinson Tel: 01273 600683 or 077499 35864 Pigeon. WEST SUSSEX SPORTING Tel: 01293 851808. www.westsussexgunco.com Pheasant & partridge.

SOUTH WEST ARUNDELL ARMS DEVON Tel: 01566 784666 www. arundellarms.com CORNWALL WILDFOWLERS ASSOC. Tel: 01872 864021. Mike Holmes. Weekly shoots COTSWOLD SHOOTING COMPANY Tel: 01285 657527 www.go-country.co.uk DEVONPORT GUN CLUB Rough shooting in Devon and

DORSET WILDFOWLERS www.dorsetwildfowlers.org.uk Gloucestershire GLOUCESTERSHIRE WILDFOWLERS www.gloucestershire wildfowlers.co.uk IAN COLEY SPORTING Tel: 01242 870391 www.iancoley.co.uk MELCOMBE PARTNERS Chris Kirby Tel: (01643) 831439 SPORTING AGENT Tel: 07724 689295 www.sportingagent.com PRESCOTT SHOOTING SCHOOL Tel: 01242 673542 www. prescottshooting.com [email protected] TAW & TORRIDGE WILDFOWLING CLUB Barnstaple www.ttwc.org.uk THE WARRENER Box 36, Tavistock, Devon. Tel: 01822 832990 EDWARD WATSON SHOOTING SERVICES Tel: 01884 254056 or 07767 338801 www.shootingservices.co.uk WESTWARD SPORTING GUN CLUB Devon. Contact: Don Williams Tel: 01752 564478 Rough, game, etc. TAMAR VALLEY ASS. for Shooting & Conservation Devon & Cornwall, Rough & Wildfowling Tel: 01752 703676 [email protected]

WALES ANGLESEY SHOOTING & Fishing Tel: 01407 740652 www.presaddfed.co.uk [email protected] CASTELL GORFOD SYNDICATE M4 Carmarthen Contact Richard Llewelyn Tel: 01437 891433 DRIVEN HIGH BIRD DAYS Dyfi & District WA www.dyfiwildfowlers.org.uk NANNAU SELECT SPORT N Wales. Contact Andrew, Tel: 01341 423427 or Jenny, Tel: 01341 423708 Driven let days, high bird shoot

SCOTLAND ALLADALE ESTATES Andy Harding Tel: 01863 755338 www.alladale.com AVOCHIE ESTATE HUNTLY Aberdeenshire. Tel: 01466 711282 www.avochie-fishings.com

AVON & AIRLIE SPORTING PADDY Fetherston-Godley Tel: 01575 560292 www. avonandairliesporting.com BASC Isle of Arran Contact Andrea Green Tel: 01244 573047 andrea. [email protected] Stalking for BASC members. CAPREOLUS GAME Scottish Borders Tel: 01864 502317 or 07725 943190 www.capreolus.net CASE SPORT Driven Pheasant and Partridge Shooting Contact: Andrew Case Dumfries & Galloway www.casesport.com Tel: (01644) 430469 or 07747 691447 BORDER FIELDSPORTS For quality estate stalking, high pheasants and walked up days. Game and sea fishing when available. Contact Steve Nuttall on 07860461017 or visit www. borderfieldsports.co.uk BROWWELL SPORTING Steven Burton 01387 870351 www.browwellsporting.co.uk Duck, goose, pheasant, partridge nr Solway Firth WINSTON CHURCHILL STALKING Tel: 01369 705319 www. winstonchurchillvenison.com CKD GALBRAITH Tel: 01738 451600 www. sportinglets.co.uk DALNAGLAR CASTLE ESTATE Perthshire Tel: 01250 882232 www.dalnaglar-castle.co.uk DES COCHRANE Fife and Perthshire BASC registered goose guide www.GoShootingUk.com Tel: 07725054046 COUNTRYSPORTS STALKING Contact Michael Roberts, Tel 01786 447400 www. countrysports.co.uk COWANS LAW Ayrshire Contact Jay Steel, Tel: 01560 700666 www.cowanslaw.com COWANS SPORTING Dumfries & Galloway Contact Craig Denman, Tel: 07775 760651 or 01387 760284 www.cowanssporting.co.uk DUNMHOR SPORTING Highlands. Contact Graham, Tel: 07778 874026 or 01540 661809 DV SPORTING Scottish Borders. 07866 901019 www.dvsporting.co.uk ESTATE MANAGEMENT Tayside, Contact John Tytler Thomson, Tel: 01356 625436 www.sporting-scotland.co.uk FPD SAVILLS

Contact: Roddy Willis, Tel: 01356 628600 [email protected] THE GEARACH ISLE OF ISLAY Contact Mark Piper, Tel: 01496 850120 or 07786 906472 www.thegearach.co.uk GREYLAG COUNTRY SPORTS Aberdeenshire. Contact John Lewis, Tel: 01799 476421 or 07793 025859 BASC regd goose/woodcock guide HERON FIELDSPORTS Contact Colin Chisholm, Tel: 01369 705888 or 07836 511792 Woodland stalking. MAL KEMPSON WILDFOWLING Fife & Tayside Tel: 01592 721140 www.wildfowling.co.uk LOCHNELL ROUGH SHOOTING Argyllshire Tel: 01631 720413 www.lochnell.co.uk LAGGAN ESTATE Islay. Tel: 01496 810235 www.lagganestate.com EILEAN IARMAIN ESTATE Isle of Skye. Contact Michael Mackenzie, Tel: 01471 833266 www.eilean-iarmain.co.uk MORTLACH SPORTING Aberdeenshire. Tel: 01466 720225 www.mortlachsporting.co.uk NORTH UIST ESTATE Tel: 01876 500329 Geese, stags & snipe PIGEONALLDAYLONG Contact Geoff Robson, Tel: 01592 621539 or 07747 050302 www.pigeonalldaylong.co.uk RJH Sports Isle of Lewis Contact Russell Hird, Tel: 01851 820610 or 07751 839579 www.rjhsports.co.uk GEOFF ROBSON Fife/Tayside wild-fowling guide. Tel: 01592 621539 SAFARI IN SCOTLAND Contact Andrew Richardson Tel: 07866 395975 www. safariinscotland.com [email protected] SCOTSPORT Tel: 01339 889290 www.scotsportuk.com SHOOTFISHINSCOTLAND Contact Paul, Tel: 07974 240738 www.shootfishinscotland.com SOLWAY SPORTING BREAKS Tel: 01461 700333 www. solwaysportingbreaks.co.uk SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE HIGHLANDS Tel: 07843 493230 www.sportingadventures.co.uk STRAHANNA STALKING Dumfries & Galloway Tel: 01644 460660 DAVID VIRTUE Berwickshire. Tel: 01578 740672 or 07866

901019 www.dvsporting.co.uk WILDFOWLING IN ABERDEENSHIRE Contact Sandy Strachan, Tel: 01779 838427 Registered goose guide. www. ansersportingservices.co.uk

NORTHERN IRELAND LOUGH FOYLE WA www.wildfowlers.com STRANGFORD LOUGH Wildfowling Club day permits to BASC members. Contact BASC HQ, Tel: 01244 573000

UK & WORLDWIDE AFRICAN SKY HUNTERS Contact A Williams, Tel: 01443 206333 Falconry safaris in Zimbabwe. Also big game hunts & bird shooting. ARGENTINA WINGS www.argentinawings.com Dove & duck shooting in Argentina ARTEMIS HUNTING Contact Tomo Svetic, Tel: 07795 084055 www. artemis-hunting.com Driven boar, bear, mouflon, deer & bird shooting in Croatia. BEAR CREEK SHOOTING PRESERVE Contact Lord Roy Thornton www.bearcreekhunts.com lordroy @aol.com Georgia, USA. Deer, turkey, hog, quail, vermin and rough shooting. CHASSE DE LA BANCALIE Contact: Jean-Luc, Tel: +33 563 55 65 00 or Gary 07860 904211 Driven wild boar in S France. CHASSE DE LA LOIRE Massif du Graffard France. Contact Michelle Hackworthy, Tel: 0033 2 41 82 32 45 www.chasseloire.com Wild boar in Loire Valley DELTA HUNTING Contact: Miola Giacomo, Tel: 0040 212 424372, Mob: 07979 360619, [email protected] stalking, woodcock, wildfowling, boar & pigeons in Romania. DOMAIN DE LA VALLEE DE L’ORTOLO Tel: 0033 495 7169 24. Open country boar battue in Corsica DV SPORTING www.dvsporting.co.uk Driven wild boar and stalking in Poland. African plains game and bird shooting. GBW SAFARIS Contact Tony Williams Tel: 01483 205090 or 07900 670660 www.gbwsafaris.net UK driven birds, driven wild boar in Europe & African big game. GI COUNTRY SPORTS UK Tel: 01507 327522 or 07980 071192 pigeonwilson @ btinternet.com Dove & geese in

Argentina. Driven wild boar & pheasant in CZ. GREAT NORTH COMPANY Contact Mike Rainback, Tel: 01305 853737 www.greatnorthsafaris. com Impala, warthog, blue wildebeest + more HAWKEYE SPORTING AGENCY Mike Manley, Tel: 01962 733378 www.hawkeye-sporting. co.uk UK & worldwide game, wildfowling, rough & vermin HIGHMOOR Contact Simon Dickens, Tel: (+46) 707792744 Walked-up grouse in Sweden & moose hunting LASAROTTA Tel: 01344 457052 or 07723 039395 www.lasarotta.co.uk Wild boar in northern Serbia. Pheasant, fox, rabbit, duck, mouflon. NATIONAL PIGEON & PEST CONTROL Contact John Shooter, Tel: 08707 572246 or 07702 012700 Pigeon shooting, rooks, crows, rabbits. ROXTONS Pheasant & partridge shooting in the UK. Spanish partridge shooting. Dove shooting in Argentina & bird shooting in Africa Tel: 01488 683222 www.roxtons.com RIGBY SAFARIS LONDON Tel: 020 7622 1131 Wild boar/ big game worldwide SERIOUS SHOOTING LTD Contact: Robert Cuthbert, Tel: 01747 851128 www.seriousshooting.co.uk Shooting at some of Britain’s top sporting estates. SLAV SPORTING Contact Edward Donald, Tel: 01628 851292 www.slavsporting.com Driven boar in Cz, chamois stalking in Slovenia. SPORTING UK Tel: 01536 202779 www.sportinguk.co.uk Sport in the UK & overseas UK CUSTOM SHOP LTD Contact Andrew Banner, Tel: 01527 832549 or 07885 944469 www. wildcatrifles. co.uk for deer stalking England & Scotland NDUNA HUNTING SAFARIS Contact David at Kingstone Deer Management Services. Tel: +44 (0)7866-571180 info@kingstonedeer. com, www.kingstonedeer.com Plains game hunting in the Eastern cape of South Africa. Dangerous game on request. Four star lodge, pool, bar, restaurant. Game viewing, photographic safaris available

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

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CLAY GROUNDS Find your local ground for practise, competition or instruction LONDON & S.E. BEDFORDSHIRE SPORTING TARGETS nr Riseley. 10 shooting ranges, three high towers, tuition, gun shop. Tel: (01234) 708893 www. sportingtargets.co.uk BERKSHIRE FOUR COUNTIES CTC nr Newbury. Sporting, DTL, Fitasc, tuition. Tel: (01635) 201657 www. fourcountiesctc.co.uk ROYAL BERKSHIRE SHOOTING SCHOOL Pangbourne Tel: (07000) 410410 www.rbss.co.uk BUCKINGHAMSHIRE EJ CHURCHILL SHOOTING GRND (West Wycombe SS), High Wycombe. Sporting, high tower, Skeet, DTL, tuition, gunshop. (01494) 883227 www. ejchurchill.com www.wwsg.org.uk HORNET SHOOTING GROUND nr Long Crendon. Sporting, Fitasc. Tel: (01494) 883715 www.adventure001.com/hornet OXFORD GUN CO GUN CLUB nr Oakley. Sporting, Skeet, have-ago days, tuition, corporate. (01844) 238308 VALLEY VIEW INTERNATIONAL Shooting Ground nr Amersham. Sporting, Skeet, tuition, corporate. Tel: 07860 575055 HAMPSHIRE CAVENDISH SPORTING nr Bentley Tuition. Tel: (01420) 588275 Durley Hall Farm Clay Shoot Fareham. (01489) 860292. FAREHAM CLAY TARGET CLUB Skeet, Sporting, ABT, tuition. (01329) 315185 www.farehamctc.org.uk FROBURY FARM SPORTING CLUB nr Newbury. Sporting, Skeet, tuition, gun shop. (01635) 297122 www. frobury.co.uk LAINS SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Andover. Skeet, practice, tuition. Tel: (01246) 889467 or 07768 632567 www.lainsshooting school.co.uk ROMSEY CLAY PIGEON CLUB Sporting. Tel: (023) 80694623 Spitfire Shoot Stockbridge. Open for practice Mon-Sat. One-to-one tuition, groups, corporate, stag/hen parties, in-field game instruction Tel: 01264 810312 Email: info@ spitfireshoot.co.uk www.spitfireshoot.co.uk TEST VALLEY CLAY PIGEON CLUB Cocksford Firs, Popham, Hants Sporting and Skeet. Every other Sunday. £35 a year membership. Tel: 01256 771055 THREE COUNTIES NR HOOK. Sporting. Tuition. Contact Paul Beecher on 07739 556790; www. beechershooting.co.uk WALLERS ASH GUN CLUB Alresford Drove, WinchesterTel: 07710872875 email:travellingclays@btinternet. com Practice, tuition, sporting, all abilities catered for www. wallersash.co.uk HERTFORDSHIRE BROOMHILLS SHOOTING GROUND Markyate. Tuition, gunshop. Tel: (01582) 842280 www.broomhills.co.uk CODICOTE BOTTOM CLAY TARGET CLUB Codicote Bottom Farm, Kimpton road, Codicote, Herts SG4 8SR. Sporting, DTL. Alternate Sundays 10-1. Tel: 07768 714774 or 01438 814749 www.codicote-bottom.org CUPID GREEN SKEET & ABT CLUB Hemel Hempstead, Skeet & ABT Every Weds & 1st & 3rd Sat of

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month. Felt/fibre wads only Tel: 01582 849382 LEA VALLEY SHOOTING ASSN nr Hertford. Tuition, practice, have a go days. Tel: 08707 605057. www. lvsa.org.uk NUTHAMPSTEAD SG Sporting DTL, OTr, tuition, shop. Tel: (01763) 848172 www.nuthampsteadshootingground.co.uk PARK STREET & DISTRICT GC Tel: (01923) 677 294 ISLE OF WIGHT ISLE OF WIGHT GUN CLUB near Godshill. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, ABT. Tel: (01983) 567330 KENT ABBEY SHOOTING DETLING SG Skeet, Sporting. Tel: 01580 860783 / 07710 463896 GREENFIELDS SHOOTING GROUND nr Canterbury. Practice, tuition, have-a-go days. Tel: (01227) 713222 www.greenfields shooting. co.uk DARTFORD CLAY SHOOTING CLUB Sporting, Skeet, OTr, Compact. Tel: (01322) 311001 www.dartfordcsc. co.uk HIGH BROOMS GUN CLUB Meet fortnightly. Sunday morning 60-bird shoot. Pembury and Lamberhurst grounds. Visitors welcome at cost of £12. Tel: 01892 539103; email: [email protected] INVICTA ZZ Off A21 btwn Tonbridge/ Tunbridge Wells. Helice (ZZ) only. Full Eng breakfast until cook goes to shoot. Reg shoots only. Tel: (01580) 892542 KENT GUN CLUB near Dartford. Trap, DTL, ADT, ZZ. Free tuition to beginners. Tel: (01883) 340248 KINGSFERRY GUN CLUB Kingsferry Bridge. Skeet, Sportrap. Non-lead shot only. Tel: (01795) 877037 MARTIN GORSE WOOD CPC nr Dover in Kent Tel: 01233 713341 web: www.martingorse.co.uk WEST KENT SHOOTING SCHOOL Paddock Wood. Sporting, Skeet and 100ft tower Tel: (01892) 834306 www.wkss.demon.co.uk LONDON A1 SHOOTING GROUND near Rowley Green. OTr, DTL, Sporting, tuition. (020) 8441 9986 www. a1sg.freeserve.co.uk WEST LONDON SHOOTING SCHOOL Northolt. 100 traps, 8 towers, tuition, restaurant, corporate. Tel: (020) 8845 1377 www.shootingschool.co.uk OXFORDSHIRE GREENFIELD ENTERTAINMENT Islip, nr Oxford. 50 Sporting, tuition. Tel: (01869) 325218 www. greenfieldentertainment.co.uk SURREY BISLEY GUN CLUB Near Brookwood.DTL. CPSA competitions held 1st & 3rd Saturday of month. Tel: (01737) 242332 www. bisleygunclub.org.uk BISLEY SHOOTING GROUND nr Brookwood, Woking. Sporting (inc towers) tuition & practice. Open 7 days. Booking essential. Tel: (01483) 797017 www.bisleyshooting.co.uk CATERHAM CLAYS off Caterham bypass. Sporting. Tel: (01883) 622656 GATWICK CLAY SHOOTING SCHOOL Skeet, SKD, DTL, Sporting Tel:

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

Churchill’s new coach J Churchill Group, the award-winning clay pigeon shooting ground, gunmakers, sporting agency and country outfitters, has announced that Pat Burridge, one of the country’s finest instructors, has joined the team at EJ Churchill, reinforcing their commitment to deliver the very best shooting tuition for game and clay sports. A keen game and clay shot for the past 40 years, Pat has held the position of senior instructor and chief gun fitter for more than 10 years at West London Shooting School where he has built an unrivalled reputation as one of the very best instructors you can find.

E

07769 701842. www.gatwickclayshootingschool.org.uk HORNE CLAY PIGEON CLUB Sporting shoots, tuition, corporate at Gatton Bottom, Markedge Lane, nr Reigate and Court Farm, Chaldon, nr Caterham on the Hill. Tel: (01342) 842986 or 07711 332097 www.clayandcountry.f2s.com NATIONAL CLAY SHOOTING CNTR Bisley. Four OTr layouts, Skeet, OS, ABT, Double Trap. T: 01483 797666 www.nsc-clays.co.uk THE STAR GUN CLUB CHESSINGTON Sporting. Tel: (020) 8898 3129 SUSSEX BLACKDOWN SHOOT Midhurst: 50 Sporting 4th Sunday of month. Fibre wads only. Also at School House Farm, Northchapel: 50 Sporting every 2nd and 5th Sunday. Tel: (01428) 707584 Mob: 07770 777679. NORTHALL CLAY PIGEON CLUB Sporting, Compact, ABT, D/T, Skeet, tuition, corporate. Tel: (01825) 791783 OAKESFIELD SPORTING GUN CLUB Compak, Sporting, tuition and corporate Rudgwick, West Sussex Tel: 01306 740537/ 01737 222998 SOUTHDOWN SPORTING GUN CLUB nr Worthing. Sporting, Skeet, Fitasc, Sportrap, DTL, ABT, tuition. Tel: (01903) 877555 www.southdownsgc.co.uk

EAST CAMBRIDGESHIRE COUNTRY PURSUITS Chittering/Stretham. Sporting, Sportrap. Tel: (01353) 669300 FENLAND GC Washbrooke Farm, Benwick Road, Doddington. Tel: 01354 655583 GRANSDEN AIRFIELD SG Tel: (01767) 627663 www. gransdenshootingground.co.uk HADDON LODGE SHOOTING Ground nr Peterborough. Sporting incl tower, tuition.Tel: (01733) 240119 www.haddon-lodge.co.uk HIGH HARTHAY SG Tel: 07956 293390, www.hhsg.co.uk MOVING TARGETS Gt Eversden 50 ESP practice 2nd & 4th Sundays. Contact: Tel. 07811815499 or www.mobileclayshooting.co.uk ESSEX BUSH HILL CLAY CLUB

nr Billericay. Sporting. Tel. (01277) 220974 CLACTON GUN CLUB Little Clacton. Esp, Skeet, DTL. Tel: (01255) 673146 COLCHESTER GARRISON Clay Pigeon Club Sporting. Tel: 01206 576 756 (Chairman), 01206 392 357 (Secretary) ESSEX SHOOTING GROUND nr Harlow. Tel: 01245 283534, www. essexshooting ground.com FENNES SHOOTING SCHOOL Braintree CM7 5PL Tel: 01376 324599 www.fennesclays.co.uk FOWES CLAY CLUB Belchamp Otten. 01787 312930 www.fowesclayclub.org.uk MAYLAND & DISTRICT GUN CLUB ESK, DTL, compact. (01268) 470 323 ORION GUN CLUB nr Brentwood Sporting, Skeet, DTL. 07000 486258 www.gunclub.co.uk PARKFORD SHOOTING CENTRE Skeet, Sporting, DTL. Tel: (01255) 820230 SOUTHEND GUN CLUB nr Rochford Tel: (01702) 219395 THREE ACRES SPORTING CLAYS Leaden Roding. Sporting, pool. Tel: 07768 742117 WALTHAM ABBEY SHOOTING GRND Sporting, tuition. Tel: 07768 742117 www.claypigeonshoot.co.uk SPELLBROOK CSC SPORTING Tuition. Tel: (01279) 419427 www. spellbrookclays.co.uk NORFOLK MID NORFOLK SHOOTING SCHOOL Taverham, nr Norwich. Tuition, corporate. (01603) 860436 www. midnorfolkshootingschool.com SUFFOLK BADWELL ASH GC nr Bury St Edmunds. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, ABT. Tel: 01359 259547 BARROW HEATH GUN CLUB nr New- market. Sporting. Tel: (01322) 405226 HIGH LODGE SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Saxmundham. Skeet, SkD, DTL, Sporting. Tel: (01986) 784347 www. highlodge.co.uk LAKENHEATH CLAY TARGET CLUB Between Mildenhall and Brandon. Skeet, DTL, Sportrap, gun room, tuition. Food. Tel: (01638) 533353 www.lctc.co.uk

NORTH WEST CHESHIRE SOUTH CHESHIRE CLAY CLUB

Commenting on the appointment, Rob Fenwick, Managing Director of EJ Churchill, said: “We are delighted that Pat has agreed to join our team. He brings with him a wealth of experience and this expansion of the team provides our clients with even more opportunity to learn from our group of excellent instructors. I look forward to working with Pat and welcome him to EJ Churchill.” Alasger Nr Crewe, 1/2 mile from junction 16 M6, Cheshire, North West ENGLISH SPORTING SHOOT tuition, refreshments, Tel: 07768570132 Catton Hall Shooting Ground nr Frodsham. Practice, tuition, corporate. (01928) 788295 CLOUDSIDE SHOOTING GROUND nr Congleton. Skeet, DTL, Compak, Sportrap, ABT, OT. Tel: 01260 226392. www.cloudside.co.uk MIDDLE FARM CLAY SHOOT Bredbury. Tel: 0161 4302492 North Wales Shooting School nr Chester. Sporting, Skeet, OS, Fitasc, tuition, practice. Tel: (01244) 812219 www. shootingschool.net CUMBRIA PENRITH & DISTRICT GUN CLUB DTL, Sporting, ABT. 01697 342062 KENDAL & DISTRICT TARGET CLUB Kendal, Cumbria. DTL esc b trap Tel Colin Phillips 01539 560298 ISLE OF MAN AYRE CLAY PIGEON CLUB Skeet, DTL, ABT, Double-Trap, UT, OT and Sporting. Tel: 01624 880744 www.bluepointshooting.co.uk LANCASHIRE A6 CLAY TARGET CENTRE Westhoughton, nr Bolton. ABT, DTL, Skeet, Sportrap, tuition, restaurant. Tel: 01942 843578 www.a6ctc.co.uk BLACKPOOL GUN CLUB nr Kirkham Preston. Sporting. Tel: 07730 409415 KELBROOK SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Foulridge. (01282) 861632 RUNNING HILL CLAY PIGEON CLUB Sporting clays, Saddleworth www. running-hill-cpc.co.uk WITHETS SHOOTING GROUND Nr. Carnforth Lancashire M6 J35 Sporting; ABT; DTL; Skeet; Practice; Tuition by appointment Tel 07967 194120 www.withetsclayshoot.co.uk MANCHESTER CLAY SHOOTING CLUB Sporting, Skeet, tuition, club house. Tel: 0161 653 4438 www. manchesterclayshooting.com

SOUTH WEST CORNWALL CART RIDGE SHOOTING CLUB 1⁄2m east of A38 btwn Landrake & Tideford. Sporting, tuition. Tel: 01752 851262 COUNTY GUN CLUB Tel: 01579 363301Imerys Gun Club 01726 823895 NORTH CORNWALL GUN CLUB nr North Petherwin. DTL, tuition. Tel:

(01566) 785550 TRAX AND TRAILS ACTIVITY CNTR Tamar Valley. Tuition. Tel: (01579) 384714 www.traxandtrails.co.uk Devon ASHCOMBE SHOOTING GROUND nr Dawlish. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, high tower, tuition. Tel: (01626) 866766 www.ashcombeadventure.co.uk AXMINSTER GUN CLUB DTL tuition. Tel: (01404) 881588 Bradford Shooting Ground, Skeet, Sporting, DTL, ABT. Tel: (01409) 281341 CULM VALE GUN CLUB nr Cullompton. Sporting. Tel: (01460) 234245 CWA SHOOTING GROUND Winnards Perch, Wadebridge, Cornwall. Skeet and Sporting clays, contact Mike Holmes 01872 864021 FOUR SEASONS GUN CLUB East Hill Strips, nr Ottery St Mary. Skeet, Sporting, Compact. Tel: (01395) 278862 NEWNHAM PARK SG nr Plymouth. Sporting, Skeet, ABT, DTL, Sportrap, tuition. Tel: (01752) 343456 www.newnham.co.uk NORTH DEVON SG nr Ilfracombe. Sporting, practice & tuition. Tel: 01271 863959 or 01271 850393 [email protected] SHALDEN SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Shillingford. Sporting. Tel: (01398) 331021 www.shaldenshootingschool.co.uk SOUTH WEST SHOOTING SCHOOL Lynton Cross. Sporting, Compact. Tel: 01271 862545 TAMAR SHOOTING GROUND Bradworthy. Tel (01409) 241839 www.waterland-days.co.uk DEVON NORTH DEVON FIELD SPORTS Southdown Adventure Centre Nr Barnstaple. DTL, Sporting, Sports Trap, Practice and tuition Tel: 01271 858791 www.devonfieldsports.co.uk DORSET PURBECK SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Poole. Sporting, Skeet, OS, Fitasc, Sportrap. Tel: (01929) 405101 www. shooting.uk.com SOUTHERN COUNTIES SHOOTING GROUND Sporting, Skeet, OS, Fitasc, Sportrap, DTL, ABT, tower. Tel: (01935) 83625 GLOUCESTERSHIRE CHATCOMBE ESTATE S SCHOOL

GROUND OWNERS: Send any updates to Clay Ground Guide, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road, Wokingham, Berks RG40 2EG

nr Cheltenham. Sporting, Fitasc, OT, gunshop. Tel: (01242) 870391 COTSWOLD CLAY PIGEON CLUB Fosse Way, nr Stow. Sporting, pool. Tel: (01451) 821431 GLOUCESTER CLAY SHOOTING CLUB on the A38 between Tewkesbury & Gloucester. Skeet, OS. Tel: (01452) 739472 or 07785 508238. IAN COLEY SHOOTING SCHOOL Nr. Cheltenham ESP & DTL Practice – Pay & Play. Tuition by Appt. Tel: 01242 870391 www.iancoley.co.uk LONGRIDGE SHOOTING GROUND Bromsberrow Heath, Ledbury Tel: (07971) 447138 MORK CLAY CLUB nr St Briavels. Sporting. Tel: (01594) 530102 PRESCOTT SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Cheltenham, Practice, Tuition, Corporate Simulated game days. High Tower, ESP Sportrap. Tel: (01242) 673542 or 07921 951477 www.prescottshooting.com STROUD & DISTRICT CLAY SHOOTING CLUB nr Bisley. Skeet, OS, DTL. Tel: (01453) 764443 WESTFIELD SHOOTING GROUND Sporting, tuition, groups, corporate & simulated game. Tel: 0870 6091751 www.the clayshootingcompany.com SOMERSET BROOK BANK SHOOTING GROUND nr Cheddar. Sporting, Skeet, UT, DTL, ABT, tutition & corporate. Tel: 01749 871055. www.brookbankshooting.co.uk IVYTHORN SPORTING nr Street. Compact Sporting under cover. Tuition & corporate. Tel: (01458) 447120 or 07970 151321 www.ivythornsporting.co.uk MENDIP SHOOTING GROUND nr Wells. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, ABT, clubhouse, gunshop. Tel: (01749) 673471 PODIMORE SHOOTING GROUND Ilchester. Sporting, Fitasc, Sportrap. Tel: (01935) 862510 www. podimore-shooting.co.uk SHIPHAM SPORTING CLAYS nr Clevedon. Sporting, tuition, practice. Tel: (01275) 877851 VALLEY SHOOTING GROUND [email protected] WOODSPRING CLAY SHOOT Wick St Lawrence, nr Weston super Mare. Sporting/ 50-bird practice/ private parties. Tel: 07503 766373 WILTSHIRE BARBURY SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Swindon. Tuition, corporate, Sporting, FITASC, Compact, Skeet. Tel: 07872 666154 www. barburyshoot.com BASSETT BREAKERS GUN CLUB Flaxlands Shooting Ground, nr Swindon. Sporting. Tel: (01793) 750801 CADLEY CLAY SHOOTING GROUND nr Marlborough. Sporting, practice, tutition, corporate.Tel: (01672) 512052 www.cadleyclays.co.uk URCHFONT CLAY PIGEON CLUB nr Devizes. DTL, Sporting. Tel: (01380) 721218 WOOD FARM CLAY SHOOTING CLUB nr Warminster. Skeet, DTL, Sporting. Tel: (01747)860471

MIDLANDS DERBYSHIRE BAKEWELL & WIRKSWORTH CPC nr Brassington. Sporting. Tel: (01629) 814395

DARLEY DALE CPSC nr Brassington. Sporting. Tel: (01629) 733161 DOVERIDGE CLAY SHOOTING CLUB nr Doveridge. Skeet, DTL, Sporting. Tel:(01889)565986 LOWES LANE SHOOTING GROUND nr Swadlincote. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, high tower, flush, tuition. Tel: (01332) 866800 OCKBROOK SPORTING CLAYS nr Derby. Tel: (01773) 714731 YEAVELEY ESTATE nr Ashbourne. Sporting, Tuition. Tel: (01335) 330247 HEREFORD & WORCESTER LONGRIDGE SHOOTING GROUND M50 (Jn 2) Tel: 07971 447138 SOUTH WORCESTER SG nr Upton-upon-Severn. DTL, Sporting, Practice, tuition. Tel: (01684) 310605 www.swsg.co.uk WORCESTERSHIRE GUN CLUB IIIey, W Midlands. ABT, Sporting. Tel: 07836 225580 www.w-g-c.co.uk WYRE FOREST GUNS nr Button Oak. Sporting. Tel: (01299) 403730 LEICESTERSHIRE BAGWORTH MINERS CPC nr Coalville. DTL, Sporting, ABT. (01530) 260816 GRANGE FARM SC nr Desford. Sporting, Skeet, OS, DTL, ABT. Tel: (01455) 822208 HOTON CLAY CLUB Sporting. Tel: 0116 230 2311 www. hoton-clay-club.co.uk KEGWORTH SHOOTING GROUND (YS) Sporting Tel: 07973 111 650 Long Lane, 1 1/2 miles due north of Kegworth Village, at its junction with Ratcliffe lane. Nearest Sat nav: one mile south of the ground DE74 2GA. KIBWORTH SHOOTING GROUND Off A6 Kibworth-Market Harborough Rd. Sporting Skeet, DTL, Tower, Fitasc, Sportrap, flush. Tuition. Tel: 01162 796001 [email protected] MARKET HARBOROUGH & DISTRICT SC Sporting, Skeet, OS, DTL. Tel: (01858) 463698 NORMANTON SHOOTING GROUND nr Thurlaston. Sporting, ABT, DT Tel: (01455) 888210 SPA VALE SHOOTING GROUND nr Lutterworth. Tel: 0116 247 8917 www.spa-vale.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRE ANCHOLME VALLEY CLAY TARGET CLUB Kirton Lindsey Airfield. ESK, SKD, DTL, ABT, Sporting. Tel: (01777) 818362 ancholme-valley-ctc.org.uk GRIMSTHORPE ESTATE SG nr Eden-ham. Sporting. Tel: (01778) 591128 HAVEN CLAY SHOOTING CLUB Haven Bank, New York, LN4 4XR. Enquiries to Graham Fordham 07854227175. 30-bird Sporting, DTL, family days, friendly club. Visit havencpc.webs.com for shooting dates. LINCS CLAY CLUB Church Lane, South Clifton, Nr Lincoln, Lincolnshire NG23 7AW, www.lincsclayclub.co.uk LINCOLNSHIRE SHOOTING GROUND Sutton Bridge. Sporting, Skeet, ABT, Sportrap, tower, tuition, restaurant, corporate.Tel: (01406) 359300/ (01945) 700622 www.shooting4you.co.uk PINEWOOD SHOOTING GROUND nr Gainsborough. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, OT, D/T, Compact. Tel: (01427) 628900. www. pinewood-sg.fsnet.co.uk

SINCLAIRS SHOOTING GROUND Whaplode Drove, nr Holbeach. Skeet, Sporting, Compact, ABT & DTL. Open Weds-Sun, all year. Tel: (01406) 540362. SPA VALE SHOOTING GROUND Coventry Road (Near to Magna Park) Lutterworth, Tel No. 0116 2478917 www.spa-vale.co.uk NOTTINGHAMSHIRE A614 SHOOTING GROUND Near Nottingham, tuition. Tel: (0115) 9656144 COCKETT FARM SHOOTING GRND nr Mansfield. Sporting, Skeet, STr, White Gold, tuition. Tel: (01623) 882244 www.cockettfarm.com NOTTINGHAM & DISTRICT GC DTL, Skeet, OS. Tel: (0115) 9273492 ORSTON SHOOTING GROUND Sporting, Skeet, Sportrap, DTL, ABT, D/Rise, Trench, practice, tuition, corporate and shop. Tel: (01949) 851181 or 07831 221110 www. orston.com OXTON SHOOTING SCHOOL Sporting, Skeet, Compact, Sportrap, ABT, DTL, Fitasc, tuition, shop. Tel: (01623) 882523 STILEHOLLOW SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Mansfield. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, ABT, tower, tuition. (01623) 823930 www.stilehollow.com NORTHAMPTON NORTHAMPTON SHOOTING GRND Skeet, DTL, ABT, tuition. (01604) 642252 northamptonshootingground.co.uk SHROPSHIRE BRIDGNORTH & DISTRICT GUN CLUB nr Wolverhampton. DTL. Tel: (01562) 883092 WEST MIDLANDS SG Sporting,Skeet, ABT, Compact, Fitasc, ABT, gun room. Tel: (01939) 200644 www.wmsg.co.uk STAFFORDSHIRE CROSS GUN CLUB nr Kinver. Sporting year-round, ABT in summer. Tel: (01384) 873017 or 07973 875449 GARLANDS SHOOTING GROUND Tamworth. Sporting, OT, DTL, Skeet. Tel: (01827) 383300 KINGSLEY MOOR SG nr Alton Towers. Sporting. Tel: (01782) 550371 LEEK & DGC Sporting. Tel: (01538) 386127 QUARNFORD SHOOTING GROUND nr Leek. Sporting. Tel: (01298) 22204 RANTON CLAY TARGET CLUB DTL, ABT, Sporting. (01782) 611775. RODBASTON GUN CLUB Sporting & tuition, Weds eves. www. shotgun.me.uk MILLRIDE COUNTRY SPORTS Sporting, Skeet. Off junction 1 of the M54. WV11 2AZ. 01902 725 165 www.millride-country-sports.co.uk OAKEDGE SHOOTING GROUND Sporting, Fitasc Sporting, High Skeet, DTL. (01889) 881391 WERGS GUN CLUB nr Essington. Sporting, Skeet. (01922) 476508 WARWICKSHIRE BARBY SPORTING CLUB nr Rugby. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, Compact. Tel: (01788) 891873 www.barbysporting.com EDGEHILL SHOOTING GROUND nr Banbury. Sporting, Skeet, OS, DTL, ABT, Compact. Tuition & corporate. (01295) 670100 HONESBERIE SHOOTING GROUND Sporting, tuition, corporate.Tel: (01327) 260302 www.honesberieshooting.co.uk

RUGBY & DISTRICT TRAP CLUB ABT. Tel: (01788) 573257 WEDGNOCK SHOOTING GROUND Sporting, Skeet, DTL, Sportrap. Tel: 01926 491948 www.adventuresport.co.uk

YORKSHIRE & N.E. CO DURHAM SPENNYMOOR & DISTRICT Clay Pigeon Club Sporting, Skeet, ABT, DTL. Tel: (0191) 3772412 www.keithbutterwick.com/ spennymoor EAST YORKSHIRE EAST YORKSHIRE GUN CLUB nr Beverley. Skeet, OS, SKd, DTL, ABT, UTR, Sporting. Tel: (01964) 551134 HUMBERSIDE SHOOTING GROUND nr Beverley. Skeet, DTL, ABT, Compact, White Gold. Tel: (01964) 544357. www.pthorn.co.uk/ shootingground MONCKTON SG N. Newbald, Tel: 01430 827229. www. moncktonshoot.co.uk NORTH WOLDS GUN CLUB Sporting, DTL, tuition. Tel: (01759) 368314 PARK LODGE SHOOTING SCHOOL East Yorkshire DTL, ESK, ESP, ADT. Practice and lessons available. Tel: 07919 694587 NORTH YORKSHIRE CONISTON SHOOTING GROUND nr Skipton. Tel: 07831 399860 KNARESBOROUGH & DISTRICT GC Sporting, Skeet, DTL, ABT. Tel: (01423) 561174. NORTH OF ENGLAND CTC nr Rufforth. Sporting, Skeet, OS, DTL, ABT. Tel: (01904) 738120. NORTH YORKSHIRE SHOOTING School nr Thirsk. 07966 387273 northyorkshireshootingschool.com THIMBLEBY SHOOTING GROUND nr Osmotherley. Sporting, Sportrap, tuition, corporate. Tel: (01642) 351725 Mob: 07776 223609 WARREN GILL SHOOTING GROUND nr Ripon Tel: (01765) 689232 www. warrengill.co.uk NORTHUMBERLAND BYWELL SHOOTING GROUND nr Felton. Skeet, DTL, ABT, tower, shop. Tel: (01670) 787827 www. bywellshootingground.com STEVE SMITH SG nr Dinnington. Sporting, DTL, Skeet, ABT. Tel: (01661) 822444. www. stevesmiths.co.uk SOUTH YORKSHIRE FOX HOUSE CLAY SPORTS Sporting, tuition, corporate. Tel: (0114) 2663822 or 07976 5211369 SYCAMORE SHOOTING GROUNDS Sporting, DTL, D/R, tuition, corporate. Tel:(0114) 272 4602 WEST YORKSHIRE BATLEY & DISTRICT GUN CLUB nr Morley. Sporting Tel: (01484)711874 EMLEY CLAYSHOOT Sporting every 2nd Sunday. Tuition available. Mob: 07917 632781 GREYSTONE WOOD SHOOTING GRND nr Otley. Sporting. Mob: 07960 352123 HOLMFIRTH SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Huddersfield. Skeet, DTL, ABT, Tel: (01484) 685464 YORKGATE GUNCLUB (Behind The Royalty Inn, Yorkgate, Otley Chevin, LS21 3DG). English Sporting and DTL. Sun morn all year, Tues eves summer, Sat afternoons winter. Tel Bob Agar: 01943 467558. Mobile: 07831 170697 yorkgategunclub.co.uk

N. IRELAND FOYMORE LODGE off the A4 in Co Armagh (signed from Portadown & M1 j12). Sporting, instruction, club house. www. foymorelodge.com

WALES CRYNANT SHOOTING GROUND Port Talbot, South Wales. Sporting, Skeet, OS, DTL, ABT, tuition, corporate. Tel: (01639) 881185 eurotrap.co.uk DOVEY VALLEY SHOOTING GRND Llanwrin, Machynlleth, Powys. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, sim game, practice, tuition, corporate. (01650) 511252. www.doveyvalley.co.uk GRIFFIN-LLOYD SHOOTING GRND Mid-Wales, Welsh Marches. Sporting, ABT, OT, tuition. Tel: (01547) 550634 Nwww.griffinlloyd. co.uk FAUXDEGLA SHOOTING GROUND North Wales. DTL, ABT, Skeet. Tel: 01978 790198 MID WALES SC nr Llanidloes. DTL, ABT. Tel: (01686) 430654 NORTH WALES SS SEALAND nr Chester. DTL, OT. Tel: (01244) 812219 SOUTH WALES 2000 nr Newbridge. Sporting, Skeet, OT, ABT, DTL, tuition, clubhouse.Tel: (01495) 201182 southwales2000.com TREETOPS SG nr Newport, 5 min from M4 j28. Sporting, tuition. (01633) 681197 WOODLAND PARK SHOOTING GRND Brecon. Sporting, tuition, corporate. Tel: 078111 89413 www.wpshoot.co.uk

SCOTLAND AUCHTERHOUSE COUNTRY SPORTS nr Dundee. Sporting, Fitasc, Skeet, DTL. Tel: (01382) 320476 www. treemac.co.uk ARRAN GUN CLUB ISLE OF ARRAN nr Altnaharra. Tel:(01549) 411245 BRAIDWOOD SG nr Selkirk. Tel: (01835) 870280 www.braidwoodsc.co.uk BURNTKETTLE SG AULDGARTH nr Dumfries. DTL, Skeet, Sporting. Tel: 01848 331131. BUTE CLAY TARGET CLUB Kingarth. Tel: (01700) 500274 Cairndow Clay Target Club Argyll. DTL. Tel:(01499) 600201 CARLISLE & DISTRICT GUN CLUB nr Wigton. Tel: (01697) 331452 CENTRAL SCOTLAND SHOOTING SCHOOL nr Falkirk. OSK, DTL, ABT. Tel: (01324) 851672 CLAY TARGET SHOOTING SCHOOL Houston, Renfrewshire. Sporting. Tel: (01505) 873547 www.claytargetshootingschool.co.uk CLUNY CLAYS Fife. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, Compact, flush, tuition, restaurant. Tel:(01592) 720374 www.clunyclays.com COWANS LAW MOSCOW Ayrshire. Sporting, DTL. Tel: (01560) 700666 cowanslaw.com CORTACHY GUN CLUB nr Egnomoss. DTL, practice. Tel: (01307) 860239 DALVENNAN COUNTRY SPORTS nr Kirkmichael. DTL, ABT, Sporting, Skeet, gun shop, tuition. (01292) 531134 DRUMMOND SHOOTING GROUND at Drummond Castle Estate. Tel: (01764) 681262 DUNOON & DISTRICT GUN CLUB

Tel: (01369) 704362 DUNS & DISTRICT GUN CLUB nr Cockburnspath, off the A1. Sporting usually last Sunday of month. Tel: (01361) 883500 FALKIRK & DISTRICT SPORTING CC Tel: (01236) 726159 FORREST ESTATE SHOOTING GRND St John’s Town of Dalry, Dumfries and Galloway. Sporting / Sportrap / Practice / Tuition / Corporate Tel: (01644) 430469 or 07747 691447 www.forrestestateexperiences.com GARNOCK VALLEY SPORTING GC Shoots every Sunday, mainly sporting birds to simulate game. Based Ayrshire.Tel: John Noble, 01560 482162 garnockvalleygunclub.webs.com GLENDARUEL GUN CLUB Tel: (01369) 820217 HARRIS GUN CLUB nr Urgha. Tel: 07919037588 HIGHLAND DEEPHAVEN CPC nr Evanton. Tel: (01349) 864315 Isle of Jura nr Craighouse. Tel: (01496) 820396 KINGSCLIFF SHOOTING LODGE Aberdeenshire. Sporting, Skeet, DTL, ABT, Fitasc. Tel: (01651) 806375 KIPPEN GUN CLUB nr Stirling. Tel: (01786) 465125 KIRKCUBRIGHT GUN CLUB nr Gibbhill. Tel: (01557) 330447 KNAPDALE GUN CLUB Achnamara. Tel: (01546) 606989 LINDERTIS WOODS SG 3 miles west of Kirriemuir on A926. Sporting, Fitasc, tuition. Tel: (01575) 572501 LOCH NESS GUN CLUB DTL, Skeet. Tel: (01320) 351295 Lorn Gun Club Tel:(01631) 564431 Millport Clay Pigeon Association. Tel: (01475) 530367 MONKLANDS & DISTRICT GC nr Carmichael. Tel: (01555) 840562 MORTON CLAY TARGETS Midcalder, nr Edinburgh. Tel: 01506 884500 www.mortonclaytargets.co.uk NORTH AYRSHIRE SHOOTING GRND nr Dalry. Sporting, DTL, Skeet, tuition. Tel: (01294) 833297 ORKNEY CLAY PIGEON CLUB St Ola. Tel: (01856) 874853 PITGRUDY SHOOTING GROUND Sutherland. Compact, sporting, skeet Tel: (01862) 810291 ROTHIEMURCHUS SG apx 3 miles East of Aviemore. Sporting, DTL, tuition. Tel: (01479) 811272 SCOTTISH CLAY SHOOTING CNTR nr Leuchars, Fife. Tel: (01592) 742835 SEALS COVE SHOOTING GROUND Earnsheugh Bay, Findon, Aberdeen. (01224) 781742. Shop: 01224 580179. SHANDON COUNTRY PURSUITS LTD nr Helensburgh. Sporting, tuition. Tel: (01436) 820838 SHETLAND CLAY PIGEON CLUB nr Lerwick. ABT, DTL, Skeet. Tel: (01950) 477381 Shootfish@ Bogbain Farm nr Inverness - 3 miles south on A9. Sporting. Tel: (01463) 772800 STRATHYRE GUN CLUB nr Comrie. DTL, tuition. Tel:(01764) 670013 SUNART & MOIDART CTC nr Salen. Tel: (01967) 431602 TARBERT GUN CLUB DTL, Dtl, Sporting, tuition. Tel: 01880) 820482 THORNHILL GUN CLUB Dumfriesshire. Sporting, DTL. Tel: (01556) 504124 WEST OF EDINBURGH SHOOTING CLUB Tel: 07749 503934 www.wesc. agurney.com

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