IT training sporting shooter UK TruePDF march 2019

GUN TEST
’

e

,

PIGEONS
E

EXPERT WAY

ANDY CROW’S TOP TIPS
FOR DECOYING OVER
WINTER RAPE

■ CONSERVATION
Manage your shoot
for wader success

■ FOX SHOOTING
Getting assistance
from a young helper
MARCH 2019

CLAY SHOOTING
How to hit those
tricky long crossers

£3.99

GUNDOGS

Getting your dog to
relinquish its ‘prize’

KEEPERING

Creating an Austrian
shoot the British way

CARTRIDGES

Our loads of choice
for the club shooter



First Words

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

EDITORIAL
Editor Rebecca Green
0118 974 2508
Editor-in-chief Dom Holtam
0118 974 2504
Staff Writer Emily Damment
0118 974 2521

Sub-editor Ben Palfreyman
Art Editor Trevor Ince

ADVERTISING
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Berkshire RG40 2EG
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0118 974 2503
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PUBLISHING
Executive Director (Magazines) Peter Timperley
Publishing Consultant Derek Barnes

So it seems my farewell First Words from last
issue were a little premature. You’ll have to put
up with my ramblings for another month! I
guess that lie down will have to wait a bit
longer, too...
The game shooting season is at its conclusion and
I hope that all of you enjoyed some quality time in the
field over the past few months. Of course, the end of

the game season is not the end of opportunities for
the true sporting shooter – far from it!
There are a few more weeks on the wildfowling
calendar for those that shoot below the tidemark.
Pigeons will continue to provide some amazing and
challenging shooting throughout the year. Andy Crow
has had some good days over the winter rape and
shares his expert advice on p14.
Lots of estates will offer some roost shooting at the
end of the game season too, and this can be great
fun and provide opportunity for those that might not

have permissions of their own. If not pigeons, then
corvids will likely be on the pest controller’s agenda
as they home in on the maize cover crops that will be
topped off any time now.
Away from live quarry, the clay shooting calendar
will start to busy up as the days lengthen and the
weather improves and Steve Rawsthorne is giving his
tips on how to tackle long crossing targets – a staple
of any decent competition but also an essential shot
to master in the hunting field. We have a selection of
clay busting cartridges on test as well to ensure that
your practice sessions needn’t break the bank.
Our gun test this month (p52) is a bit of a curve ball
– a triple-barrelled .410 from Akkar. It’s often hard to
remember that a big reason we all got into shooting is
that it is so much fun. This gun shoots well and is very
affordable, but more importantly, it had even
a grizzled old hand like Mike Yardley feeling

like a “kid in a toy shop”.

DOM HOLTAM
Editor-In-Chief

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Published monthly © Archant Specialist 2013.
Archant Specialist is part of Archant Ltd
First Words image: Mark Lord / Alamy
Cover image: Dom Holtam

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

3


GUN TEST
Big f

i h Akk ’

i l b

S OO

ll d

ll b e

S, O S OO

S

PIGEONS
THE

EXPERT WAY

ANDY CROW’S TOP TIPS
FOR DECOYING OVER
WINTER RAPE

■ CONSERVATION

78 CLASSIC GUNS: A good story can

Manage your shoot
for wader success

■ FOX SHOOTING
Getting assistance
from a young helper
MARCH 2019

CLAY SHOOTING

How to hit those
tricky long crossers

£3.99

GUNDOGS

Getting your dog to
relinquish its ‘prize’

KEEPERING

Creating an Austrian
shoot the British way

CARTRIDGES

Our loads of choice
for the club shooter

ON THE COVER
70
18
52
14
38
86
56
50

CONSERVATION
FOX SHOOTING
GUN TEST
WINTER RAPE
TECHNIQUE
GUNDOGS
SHOOT IN AUSTRIA
CARTRIDGES

COLUMNS
03
29
33
83

Contents

FIRST WORDS
BASC
COUNTRYSIDE ALLIANCE
SHOOTING IN WALES

80
98

MARKETPLACE
31 SHOP PROFILE: Shooting Sports UK
43 PRODUCTS: Book signings, product
46
50

52

68

manner of subjects
GWCT: Telling the stories of
conservation efforts around the UK
CROCKETT’S COUNTRY WAYS:
How to make a fishing spear
GUNSMITHING: Budgeting

4

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

36
40

launches and truck reviews
FIELD TEST: Decibullz custom
moulded ear defenders
CARTRIDGES: All-round fun for the
club shooter
GUN TEST: The Akkar Triple Crown
.410 goes on test

GAME SHOOTING
20 TECHNIQUE: How to tackle the
long crosser

34 ROUGH ROVERS: Syndicate
70

REGULARS
06 NEWS
23 LETTERS
26 ASK THE EXPERTS: Q&As on all

add a lot of value to a vintage gun...
NOTES FROM IRELAND: Flooded
stubbles and dry spells
FIND SHOOTING

members have an idea for a pop-up
game restaurant
CONSERVATION: One estate’s
efforts to save the curlew prove to
be a great success – but there’s
plenty more to be done!

PEST CONTROL
14 PIGEONS: With options for dining

18

out fast diminishing for the pigeons
at this time of year, Andy is out over
the oil rape fields
FOXING: The farmer’s four-year-old
daughter gets involved!

GAMEKEEPING

56 NGO COLUMN: An Austrian shoot
built on British principles

61 KEEPER’S COUNTRY: The ups and
downs of beating

65 STUDY CHOICES: Keeping morale
high with lots of practical fun

WILDFOWLING
75 MILD WEATHER: Wildfowlers up
and down the country will be
hoping for a cold snap in February

CLAY SHOOTING
38 CLAY TECHNIQUE: Seven signs
that could be telling you that your
shooting game isn’t moving forward
100 CLAY GROUNDS

COMPETITIONS
11
11
23
24
27
95

Win gun cleaning multi kit
Win game fair tickets
Win Seeland Weston Club waistcoat
Win a gunslip
Win Cogswell & Harrison gun oil
Win Chudleys dog food

GUNDOGS
86 GUNDOG TRAINING: How to train
90
95
97

the perfect surrender of the prize
GUNDOG FOCUS: Report from this
year’s Cocker Spaniel Championship
GUNDOG EXPERTS: Q&As
GUNDOG VET: Disease alphabet


Issue 185

MARCH 2019

SHOOTING
TECHNIQUE 20

34 ROUGH
ROVERS

O
g
g
– your essential guide!

GUN TEST 52

p

85
86
GUNDOG
TRAINING

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5


SHOOTING

NEWS

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

numbers are slightly above
average. In some western areas
such as parts of Ireland and Cornwall,
numbers are well above average and it is looking
like it will be a reasonably good woodcock
season,” explained Dr Hoodless.
The reasons behind the higher woodcock
numbers are not yet completely clear. It is possible
that conditions in spring on the main breeding
grounds in Russia and Scandinavia may have
resulted in better chick survival immediately after
hatching, when they are vulnerable to cold, wet

eding season was better than feared.”
T purpose of the GWCT’s research
programme is to better understand these annual
fluctuations in woodcock numbers and help
provide advice that will ensure a stable trend in
the long term.
Dr Hoodless continued: “Many shoots heeded
our advice to hold off shooting woodcock until
after 1 December to help protect our resident
breeders, but numbers this winter are now at a
level where shoots adopting a measured approach
should be able to take a few.”

NGO set to hold fundraising auction
supporting the NGO’s work, and in
supporting us you will have the reassurance
that you are helping to defend gamekeeping

and gamekeepers as well as promoting the very
best elements of our sport. We are always
hugely grateful to our supporters who donate
lots and would like to thank them in advance for
their generosity.”
Tim Weston, the NGO’s development officer
in the south said: “There is a huge amount of
competition out there for auction lots now, but
the NGO is an organisation that is close to
everyone’s heart, and so we get offered some of
the most amazing and spectacular shooting as
well as other exceptional opportunities. We are
keen to continue this tradition by urging
le to donate whatever lots they
To
ca
so that we make this our
donate lots to the
ost successful auction yet.”
NGO auction, please
The National
contact Tim Weston on 07590
Gamekeepers’ Organisation’s
885512 or tim.weston@
nationalgamekeepers.org.uk or
auction is open for bids until
John Clarke on 07824 099937
September 2019.
or john.clarke@national
gamekeepers.org.uk

PICTURE: NIGEL HOUSDEN

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO)
is set to run another auction in 2019, and is
currently inviting supporters to donate lots.
Of particular interest to many bidders are the
end-of-season keepers’ days. These always
attract high bids, but the NGO is also interested
in receiving lots for game shooting in all its
various forms, including stalking, fishing, duck
flighting or grouse shooting.
Liam Bell, chairman of the NGO said: “All the
proceeds from the auction go towards

6

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

A number of peers have raised concerns
about firearms licensing arrangements,
particularly around background medical
checks, during the first debate on the
government’s offensive weapons bill in the
House of Lords.
Speaking in the debate on 7 January, Lord
Shrewsbury noted: “There is no consistency of
practice between police forces, nor is there
any consistency of the fee charged to the
applicant by his or her GP for a medical

assessment.” His comments were supported
by Lord Caithness, who said problems around
background medical checks were leading to a
“dislike of legislation”.
Firearms users have been reporting
problems with the medical procedures for a
grant or renewal of a licence ever since the
Home Office guidance on this issue was
introduced in April 2016.
The offensive weapons bill contains
proposals to ban certain types of rapid firing
rifle, although the proposed ban on largecalibre rifles was removed from the bill after a
cross-party group of MPs raised concerns
about this in the House of Commons.
Countryside Alliance chief executive, Tim
Bonner, commented: “We fully support the
objective of this bill to improve public safety,
but the best way that can be achieved, in
relation to firearms, is to address the ongoing
problems around background medical checks.
“We urge the government to focus their time
and energy on this issue, rather than seeking
to further restrict lawful gun ownership.”

PICTURE: LEE BEEL

weather, and compensated for higher mortality
The woodcock season is set to be better than
during the dry weather later in the summer.
expected, according to an expert from the Game

Summer conditions were also variable across
& Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT).
Europe, with central Russia not
Andrew Hoodless, head of wetland
experiencing the high temperatures
research at GWCT, has had many
recorded in Scandinavia.
reports of large numbers of
Rigorous woodcock ringing
woodcock arriving in the latter
efforts by the GWCT and the
half of November, which came
Woodcock Network are providing
as a happy surprise after
valuable information on this
concerns of a poor breeding
Take
iconic species.
season resulting from the long
part in a bag
Andrew Hoodless added: “At our
dry summer, particularly
data
collecting
survey to
regular study site in Hampshire,
in Scandinavia.
help increase our woodcock
woodcock numbers are almost up to
“I’ve received word from

knowledge at www.
their usual midwinter peak and we are
shoots across the country
surveymonkey.co.uk/r/
catching a high proportion of first-year
during early December, all
gwctwoodcocksurvey
birds, most probably indicating that the
indicating that woodcock

PICTURE: CRAIG NASH

Concerns raised at
House of Lords over
Woodcock numbers higher than expected licensing procedure



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NEWS

NGO sponsors Gamekeeping
Hall at British Shooting Show
The British Shooting Show is
nearly upon us, and the
National Gamekeepers’
Organisation (NGO) is once
again co-sponsoring the
Gamekeeping Hall.
The NGO will be looking
forward to welcoming existing
members and visitors to its
stand, which will be styled to

recapture the cheery atmosphere of a beaters’ bothy, complete with a
working log burner. Visitors to the NGO stand will be able to:

■ Learn of the work carried out to protect and conserve the
British countryside

■ Discover the latest developments in the gamekeeping world
■ Get expert advice from NGO firearms adviser, Alan Barrell
■ Answer trophy measurement questions with the CIC evaluation board
■ Talk products and discounts available through NGO sponsors
Tim Weston, the NGO’s development officer, is delighted that they are
returning to this popular event. He said: “February is a perfect time for many
gamekeepers to start preparing for the season ahead, and the British
Shooting Show is an ideal opportunity to catch up with the latest products
and services.”
The Gamekeeping Hall will be brimming with exhibitors offering the latest
products and services, including game rearing systems, feeding equipment,
gundog training accessories, wildfowling aids, bespoke netting, animal
transit boxes, communication systems and specialist clothing.
The British Shooting Show is being held at the NEC in Birmingham
from 15–17 February 2019. Tickets are available at discounted prices by
visiting www.shootingshow.co.uk (accompanied visitors aged 15 and
under go free).

Man dies while converting oil
drums to pheasant feeders
A Cambridgeshire man died when the oil drum he was converting into a
pheasant feeder exploded. 58-year-old Christopher Chatfield from
Warboys, Cambridgeshire, was halfway through cutting six drums with a
plasma cutter when the third drum exploded, causing the lid to strike him

fatally on the head.
The drum was too damaged to be able to determine what exactly was
in it to cause the explosion, but the unopened drums, when inspected,
contained gasoline or petroleum.
CCTV shows a burst of flame as Mr Chatfield cut into the first drum,
which he managed to complete, followed by the second drum, after
which he turned to the third drum which exploded as soon as he
triggered the plasma cutter.
The oil drums had been sourced from a local MOT garage and were
going to be used to make pheasant feeders for the local shoot.
Mr Chatfield’s death, which occured in April 2017 but just recently
made the news, was ruled as an accident, and serves as a very sad
reminder to us all to take extra precautions when engaging in DIY activity.

What’s it all about?
For three days in February the world’s shooting industry
gather at the NEC, Birmingham for a festival of everything
that is shooting.
The British Shooting Show is the largest trade and retail
shooting show held in the UK. You will see the largest
gathering of exhibiting manufacturers, distributors and
retailers to date; giving show visitors the chance to view
and purchase the finest shotguns, optics, rifles, airguns,
clothing, footwear and a vast range of other shooting
related accessories.

Buy Your Tickets Online Now
Tickets are available at a discounted early rate online and also
available to buy on the day.

Visit our website or get in touch
Call: 01258 857700
Email:
PROUD SPONSORS OF
THE BRITISH SHOOTING SHOW

Stay up to date with us
Follow us on social media to stay up to date.
Simply search for “British Shooting Show”.

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

9



WIN
TICKETS!

NEWS

THE WEST OF ENGLAND GAME FAIR

The West of England Game Fair takes place on
16-17 March at the Bath & West Showground,
Somerset. This flagship event for the west country
creates a platform for countryside traditions and
issues to be promoted and supported.
Many high profile companies have been
confirmed, together with top experts in field

sports providing the demonstrations and advice
areas. There are lots of new activities, displays
and music this year, and the event promises to be
a fantastic countryside experience.
GUNDOGS
New for 2019, the Mullenscote Gundogs team,
lead by our own gundog guru Howard Kirby and
partner Linsey, will feature at this year’s event.
They will demonstrate how they use rewardbased training methods to teach young HPRs,
spaniels, retrievers and setters to become first
class gundogs.
BASC will have four gundog scurries with
twists to better simulate shooting scenarios

TICKET INFO
ADVANCE
Adult: 1 day, £12; 2 day, £22
Child (5-16): 1 day, £6; 2 day, £11
Family (2 adults, 3 children): 1 day, £37; 2
day, £72
Senior (65+): 1 day, £10; 2 day, £18
Under 5s go free!
AT THE GATE
Adult: £15
Child (5-16): £7
Family (2 adults, 3 children): £45
Students (with valid NUS card): £10
Under 5s go free!

and test dog and handler to the full. M&M

Gundogs will have a test for both spaniels and
retrievers on each day. This can be run as part of
a competition or a training exercise.
If you have terriers or lurchers, join the coursing
crew and take part in the racing and the shows.
There will also be a new family dog show this year
and an unmissable gundog parade!
SHOOTING
Bristol Clay Shooting will be providing a
competition shoot on both days with categories
for ladies, open and novice, while tuition and
advice from BASC will be offered on the shot gun
coaching line.
Have-a-go air rifles will be supplied by ATEO,
and there will also be a junior competition for
those aged 13 years and under.
A selection of guns and associated equipment
will be available to purchase at the show. Gun
companies include: Entwistle Guns; Rifleman
Firearms; Bullets & Guns and more.
COOKERY THEATRE
The Taste of Game Cookery Theatre will offer a
tantalising selection of demonstrations showing
how easy it is to cook with game and how to
prepare the meat. Stop by for inspiration for your
own game cooking!
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
As always, there will be a fabulous array of over
300 stands selling everything from guns and
country clothing, to home ware, gundog

equipment, fishing accessories and more, along
with live folk music to enjoy.
Have-a-go activities include archery, air rifles,
clay shooting, target sports, net making and more;
go back in time to see the fabulously restored

WIN TICKETS
For your chance to win one of two pairs of adult
tickets to the fair, just answer the following question:

Q

Which Sporting Shooter contributor will
be doing gundog demonstrations at the
West of England Game Fair?

A. Ryan Kay
B. Jackie Drakeford
C. Howard Kirby
SEND YOUR ANSWER TO THIS
MONTH’S QUESTION TO:
Win Tickets (WoE Game Fair), Sporting Shooter,
Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road,
Wokingham, RG40 2EG, or email your answer to

RULES: Closing date is 22 February 2019. 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, please state clearly if you DO wish for Archant
Ltd to contact you in this way by email †, SMS †, post † or phone †.
Unless you have chosen to receive other information from us, Archant
Community Media Limited will solely use the data you provide for the
purpose of running the competition, including contacting winners and the
distribution of any prize.

vintage tractors and engines – a real snapshot of
farming history. Visit the Smallholders Hall to
celebrate country living and see the livestock,
check out the hand-crafted products and
smallholder equipment. There is so much to see
and do for all the family.
Last but not least, the hunt parade will take
place on Sunday, with a new horn blowing
competition adding to the fun.

WIN MULTI GUN CLEANING KIT

WORTH

£25!
PICTURE: PETER TRIMMING / BIT.LY/1RYPA8O

Find the creature hiding in this issue to win. Everyone who finds him goes into a draw, but if you want to receive one of our badges, just send
envelope (22 x 11cm) with 83p of stamps. To enter the Creature Finder competition, send us the page number, your name, telephone number and address
by email to: By post to: Gloria Golden Pheasant, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2 6 E th
t d R d W ki h RG40
2EG. CLOSING DATE: 1 March. Unless you have chosen to receive other information from us, Archant Communit
you provide for the purpose of running the competition, including contacting winners and the distribution of any i .

CAN YOU FIND: GLORIA GOLDEN PHEASANT?
Kindly supplied by UK Shootwarehouse, market leader in pigeon decoying equipment and accessories, the Multi Gun Cleaning
Kit contains all the tools you could possibly need to keep your shotguns and rifles in tip top condition, neatly presented in a UK
Shootwarehouse-branded wooden box so you won’t lose any of them!
The high-quality kit contains the brushes, mops and patches you’ll need to clean many of the most commonly found
calibres/gauges, including 10-, 12-, 20-, 28-bore and .410 brushes/mops, .17, .30, .270 and .280 calibre brushes, two cleaning
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CONGRATULATIONS:
Dean Powles who found Kevin
King Penguin on p31 of the
January issue. See p98 for more
successful creature finders.

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

11




PIGEONS

WITH ANDY CROW

Cold comfort farm
As food options diminish, the pigeons target Andy Crow’s oil seed rape crop… but he’s ready

and waiting for them

B

PICTURES: DOM HOLTAM

y the time the new year rolls around, the
multitude of dining options the wood pigeon
enjoys are starting to run thin. The hedgerows are
largely berry free and the bounty of acorns and
beech mast is all but gone. Time for the birds to
switch, as so many of us do post-Christmas, to
the salad option.
In this case, that means winter rape. Oil seed
rape is one of the UK’s staple crops with
somewhere around 600,000 hectares being
grown last year – around 1.5 million acres! The
reason for OSR’s enduring success is pretty
simple. Each tiny black seed contains 45% oil,
and the remaining 55% is a high protein animal
feed. High yielding and durable, it’s also an
absolute favourite for columba palumbus. From
germination to post-harvest stubbles, the rape

Andy’s going all out to get to the
pigeons before they get to the crop

14

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

plant will provide nourishment for many months
and that means OSR protection duty is one of the
pigeon shooter’s perennial tasks.
Andy and a couple of long-time shooting
buddies are set for a day on a Kentish farm about
10 minutes from Andy’s main base.
“This particular farm is one of the most
productive for me in the winter as it has a lot of
oak trees and we normally have a lot of decent
outings over the acorns,” Andy says.
“The acorns tend to concentrate
the birds and, of course, when
they run out of acorns, they
are looking for the next
best thing and here, this
year, they are starting to
hit the rape plants hard.

“They tend to target the emerging hearts of the
rape plants which completely changes the way
they grow, stunting vertical growth and ultimately
massively reducing yield. Once they have a bare
patch, they will focus on that area throughout the
rest of the year and it is very difficult for the crop
to recover.
“As always, I don’t like to make a small bag if I
think we can make a big one so I have left these
until the weather has come right. I
wanted it overcast and breezy to

keep the birds on the move
and muffle the sounds of
our shooting. I am also
making use of three
Guns on the ground to
keep the birds moving.”


PIGEONS
The boys are a bit late getting set up and Andy
thinks it’ll all be over by lunchtime, so the pressure
is on to start well. He selects a spot along a
hedgerow where there is a bit of a dip. “This is a
popular flightline. The low spot seems to draw
them in and there are oaks on one side and black
alder on the other. The wind is from behind a bit
so hopefully we can draw them in to land in front.”
Andy constructs an extra large hide so he can
share the shooting with cousin Gary. The other
Gun, Justin, is sited on a further field. Andy sets
out a pair of whirlies, one on each side of the
pattern and pretty close in. He then sets out two
lumps of decoys with a gap in the middle.
“Normally, the first couple of times you get at
the birds on the winter rape, they really decoy
well. Once they have been shot at a bit, they wise
up fast and the first few shots will clear them off.
Bearing that in mind, we will definitely not be
shooting at big groups of birds so we don’t
educate them unnecessarily.”

As soon as the lads settle in to the hide and get
the rotaries turning, the pigeons begin to decoy.
The guys are selective, ignoring lumps of more
than 10 birds but making a dent in smaller groups,
combining as well as ever to maximise efficiency.
When the birds decoy well, the chaps always
leave the closest bird until last, trimming out the
farthest first, knowing that the pigeon that is
under 35 yards. But it does help to have a punchy
settling into the pattern will take a few moments to
cartridge that can cleanly kill the longer flighting
get airborne and accelerate out of range. Mind
birds, or if you need to take a second shot at a
you, the breeze soon helps them build speed and
bird heading out of range. Even through a Quarter
those that are flighting past react rapidly,
choke, these Gamebore Clear Pigeon 32g No.6s
dipping a wing and challenging the Guns
will give really solid kills at 45-50 yards,
to react and adjust.
which is plenty.”
“I’ll use a more open choke on a
TOP TIP
Andy and Gary are kept busy with
day like this where we can take a
a strong flightline and plenty of
good proportion of the birds at
Don’t shoot at big groups
of birds. The ones you miss
won’t return later and will be

educated to avoid decoys
and whirlies.

These Gamebore Clear Pigeon loads
gave solid kills at 50 yards

‘When the birds decoy well, the chaps
always leave the closest bird until last, trimming
out the farthest first’
decoying birds. Justin is getting a bit of shooting
at the other hide and keeping the birds moving
well. Andy periodically tidies up the shot birds to
keep the pattern close to the hide. “When the
birds are decoying, you want to take advantage of
that and make sure that you bring them right in.
That’s where you can then take a second or
even a third chance and hopefully keep your kill
ratios higher.”
Andy gets a whirly on either
side of the pattern

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

15


PIGEONS
The action is steady for a good two to three
hours and then, at about 1pm, the flightline
switches off. “It can happen like that – and that’s

why good reconnaissance will make sure you are
not only in the right place but also at the right
time. If we’d been here a bit earlier, we might have
nabbed another 30-50 birds between us, but if
we’d been a couple of hours later, it would have
been almost a blank.”
A quick count up reveals a bag of 170 birds – a
decent few hours’ sport and more importantly, a
dent in the population of pigeons hammering this
particular rape crop. But the birds will be back.
Andy hopes to have a few decent days on the
rape on various parcels of land that he farms, but
the next big opportunity is likely to come on the
maize stubbles, especially on a favourite farm
where they have masses of maize cover crops.
“The gamekeeper reckons there are thousands
of birds there already and as soon as stuff gets
mowed off, there will be some massive bags to be
had. Hopefully, we can get the timings right and
make a decent day or two!” ■

‘The breeze helps them
build speed and those
that are flighting past
react rapidly, dipping a
wing and challenging the
Guns to react and adjust’

Andy selects a spot by the hedgerow
where there is a slight dip in the field

TOP TIP
Do your homework!
Knowing when the birds are
flighting as well as where
they are will maximise
your chances.

The lads made an impressive
dent in the pigeon population

16

www.sportingshooter.co.uk



FOXING

WITH DEAN HARRISON

Deano’s little helper
Dean Harrison is called out to the farm to despatch another red-haired raider and receives
some crucial intel from a junior foxer in training

I

PICTURES: SHELL HARRISON

Charlie had heard a fox calling. It was a cold and

know quite a few of my foxing stories revolve
miserable evening and after two hours it started to
around the same places, but there are always
rain. I tried a bit of calling, then packed up. We put
those hot spots where you will shoot most of your
out some bait, but nothing took it so I left it and
foxes, and it’s no different for me.
told them to let me know if they heard
It’s just down to food supply and habitat and
it again.
the more you hunt your permissions, the more you
I was sat at my desk on the following Friday
will get to know these places, even though they
morning, about 8.15am, and I received a text from
may be better at certain times of the year. This
Charlie saying there was a big fox chasing the
might be down to when there are plenty of game
pheasants at the bottom of her garden. He had
birds, or young lambs being born in these areas
shown his face again. I replied that I would be
attracting your local foxes in for an easy meal.
over the following night.
The farrowing pigs are also a permanent target
It was around 2.00pm and I needed to take
on the farm I look after. It’s not the most enjoyable
Saxon for a walk, so I grabbed my .243 rifle that is
evening sat looking over the farrowing field with
set up with a Photon digital night vision scope. It’s
its unique piggy smell filling your nostrils, but
always good to try your rifle before you go out if

those foxes take priority every time one turns up.
you have time: two shots key-holed in the bull so I
But for the fox I was after this time, I was back
knew I was ready to go.
on the balcony of the farmer’s house, overlooking
I turned up with about one hour left before dark.
a lovely meadow and with a good chance of a
“You want a cuppa?”
fresh cup of coffee! Just to remind you: it’s just
“Of course! So he is a big one then?”
perfect for foxes, being right next to
It turned out that it was actually
thick cover, a meadow full of small
With the shooting
Eliza that spotted him, Joe and
rodents and plenty of pheasants.
season finishing, now is the
Charlie’s four-year-old daughter.
I had sat there a couple of
best time to get on top of your
She is so keen on the farm and
weeks before as Joe and
adult foxes. Places that may have
been off limits for fear of disturbing
Deano takes a pew
in his favourite spot
the birds will be available and
up on the balcony
you’ll reap the rewards in the
springtime!

18

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

comes out on the shoot days; it’s so nice to see
the young ones out taking an interest.
“Mummy, there is a fox chasing the pheasants,
so you better call Dean to shoot it,” she had
instructed her mum.
As soon as I sat down, she was straight over:
“Are you going to shoot that nasty fox? He will get
my chickens.”
I got myself set up on the balcony and was
soon joined by Charlie the farmer’s wife. “You
have just missed the munties,” she told me. “They
came out and went straight back in.”
It was a very cold evening, with very little wind,
and all went quiet as the last few pheasants were
going up to roost. “You’ll need a hat and gloves
on,” I said to Charlie – but she’s always so afraid
of missing the fox coming out that she battles on.
It was dark by now and I got a tap on my arm,
and there was Eliza looking out the window
behind us, smiling her head off! I said: “You wait
until she is older; she will be out with us!”
We carried on panning the meadow with the
spotter, but with nothing to look at only the
pheasants roosting in the trees. Charlie was
whispering to me about an upcoming event, but

FOXING
because of all my shooting over the years, I could
hardly hear her. Then, suddenly, I spotted a
shape coming out of the bushes.
“This looks promising,” I whispered and I
handed the spotter over to Charlie and turned on
my scope and IR.
“Yes, it’s a fox,” Charlie said as I panned along
the edge of the wood looking for it. I could not
seem to see it through the scope. So I nabbed the
thermal spotter again and, once I found it, I lined
up my rifle towards it, then looked down the
scope. This time I could see it straightaway, right
down the bottom of the meadow.
It was a nice still night and I had a good rest.
The fox was hunting and sniffing the ground,
offering me a nice broadside shot. As soon as he
stopped, I took the shot, which sounded
especially loud as it does on a still night. I saw the
fox drop and Charlie confirmed the fox was down.
We went inside to be greeted by Eliza. “Did you
get the fox, Dean? Can I come out and find it with
you?” She put on her coat and wellies and using
her torch we made our way across the meadow.
Looking back towards the house, I got the line
of the shot, knowing it was left of a particular
telegraph pole. With the thermal spotter I could
see the heat where the fox had fallen. She was so

pleased to find it and we had to take the fox up for
her dad to look at.
It was a nice dog fox and it was the first one of
2019. Now that most of the big shoot days are
over, I will be looking to get on top of the adult
foxes that have moved in. ■

Eliza was keen to see the fox that
had been after her chickens

‘It was a nice still night and
I had a good rest. The fox was hunting
and sniffing the ground’

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

19


SHOOTING
TECHNIQUE

WITH STEVE RAWSTHORNE

The long crosser
A staple of the sporting field, long crossing targets are tricky ones that make or break many a
competition scorecard. Steve Rawsthorne shares his advice on how to tackle them

PICTURES: DOM HOLTAM

Long crossers really sort the wheat from the chaff!

20

M

see from the aerial view that it is at almost its
any of us will be starting to prepare for the
closest point, but it will require a good amount of
2019 competition season. Long crossing
lead as it is travelling square on to your front. You
targets, one of my favourites, can really make a
can also see from the ground view that it is at a
difference to how you are placed. A 40+ yard bird
fairly flat trajectory, so should, assuming you
sorts out the wheat from the chaff – and not
can see it early enough, be the optimum
just on clays either. Game and pigeon
point at which to shoot it.
shooters also need to be able to get
Foot positioning
Shooting the clay at point B, it is
on well with this type of target.
is often overlooked,
dropping, so you will need to factor
The further and more technical
especially when game
that into your lead picture.
the target, the more proper
shooting, but it is a key

Because the angle is narrowing, it
preparation pays off. Small errors
component of successful
should in theory need less lead; it
in gun mount are magnified over
shooting!
is no longer what rifle shooters call
distance and if your footwork is not
‘full value’. However, because it is
right, you will run out of movement
further away it may still need
before you can complete the shot. When
considerable lead.
shooting clays, it is vital you take advantage of
Let’s say we have looked at the clay and
the time waiting on a stand to really look hard at
decided we can shoot it at A. As a right-handed
the clay: where do you see it, where will you shoot
shooter, we will position our feet at one o’clock
it, how will you set up? All this should be sorted in
and three o’clock with the 12 o’clock position at
your mind before you go into the cage and call for
point A. If you set your feet up at the point at
a bird.
which you see the clay, by the time you shoot it,
Look at the diagrams opposite. The target is
you will run out of ‘swing’ – one of my least
crossing left to right around 40 yards away from
favourite words, especially when accompanied by
the shooter. If you shoot it at position A, you can

Do your preparation before stepping into the cage

www.sportingshooter.co.uk


HIGH BIRDS

Trap

AERIAL VIEW
Trap

B

A

Tree

Gun
A

B

Tree

GROUND VIEW
the word ‘through’! For a right-handed shooter,
the bird crossing to the right will always be more
difficult as you are turning away from the body

and pushing the gun away from the face, which is
why foot position is so important. Failure to set up
properly will also lead you to ‘roll off’ the line of
the bird. For left-handers the right-to-left target
presents the same difficulties.
Next, we need to address our hold position –
where we will hold the muzzles of the gun when
we call for the target. I suggest a point about a
third to halfway between where you first see the
target clearly and where you intend to kill it. The
muzzles should be at a height such that the clay
will cross just above them – another reason to pay
attention when you are waiting. If they are too low,
you will be crossing the line of the clay with a
rising gun and will only be able to shoot it at one
point. If too high, you will lose sight of the clay
behind them, get behind the bird and then have to
chase after it.
Having established all of the above, when we
call for the bird, we hold at our chosen point, look

‘Small errors in
gun mount are magnified
over distance and if
your footwork is not
right, you will run out
of movement’

Gun

A
View at muzzle
shooting at A

back to where we will see it and commence the
mount only once we have seen it. Resist the
temptation to call “pull” and start mounting the
gun immediately. You will have to stop the gun,
find the clay and get going again – not good!
When you see the clay, push forward with the
front hand, moving with or in front of the target
depending on your chosen method, maintained
lead or Method, eyes focused on the leading edge
of the target, the rear hand following the front so
that the comb comes into the cheek, the shoulder
pushes forward to meet the gun butt and then you
obtain the correct lead picture, how far in front
you need to be, fire and follow through.
We need to follow through on every shot to
some extent, but for a long crosser, this needs to
be much more than most shooters realise. Make it
a part of your practice routine to deliberately build
in an extra-long follow through. That way, when
you are focused on the shot in competition, it will
happen subconsciously.
Follow through means keeping your head firmly
on the stock of the gun after you have pulled the
trigger, staying focused on the remnants of the
target for at least a couple or three metres. If you
don’t, you will be able to see easily from the

View at muzzle
shooting at B

B

position of your raised head, looking over the
stationary barrels, the target sailing on untouched.
To shoot at point B, we will need to hold our
muzzles further along the flight line and a little
lower. As the clay will be dropping more, working
out the lead to give it is also tougher. I like to
stand well behind the cage and use my left index
finger to move with a few clays, pull in front and
get the lead picture that way.
Game and pigeon shooters do not know
where exactly their birds will appear from, but if
you are flighting, you should have a reasonably
consistent line in front of you. Address your feet
and body position to that, bearing in mind if you
face a little too far to the right, it makes that side
easier and turning to the left, into the body, is a
more natural movement.
Once on the peg, game shooters can
fairly quickly establish where the birds are most
likely to come from and set up accordingly. Be
prepared to reorientate yourself as the drive
progresses. When the wind is wrong and those
curling pheasants are flying along and above the
treetops out in front of you, not driven over the

Guns, if you know what to do, you can have a
great time! ■

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

21



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WRITE TO Letters, Sporting Shooter, Evolution House, 2-6 Easthampstead Road,
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READERS’

LETTERS

The Seeland Weston Club Classic Waistcoat is a great all-round waistcoat for the sporting shooter. It features large
cartridge pockets, reinforced shoulder patches and a back game pocket, making it ideal for both clay and game shooting.
Available in sizes S-5XL in classic pine green. See www.seeland.com for details

In an era when our sport is under attack from many quarters, I think it
behoves us to be ahead of the curve when it comes to best practice,
conservation etc, especially if we expect to shoot sustainably.
I am shoot captain of two small shoots in my local area, walked-up for
the most part, our principal quarry being woodcock, supplemented by a
small number of pheasant.
All our woodcock are migratory, so, in line with GWCT guidelines, we do
not start shooting until December, when it is not uncommon for us to see in
excess of 100 birds in a day. Even so, we have an average bag limit of two
birds per Gun.
Each woodcock area is visited two, or at most, three times during the
season (we have in the region of 6,500 acres, not all woodcock country),
and the ground, blackthorn and woodland, is worked in such a way as to
leave birds walked-over, not intensively beaten.
We do not evening flight. I believe that this is quite critical for the
conservation of the species, as flighting means that not a single bird is left
untargeted from any given cover. Personally, I do not believe that
commercial shooting of this migratory species contributes anything to
conservation of either the species or its habitat as, in likelihood, and in a
similar way to flighting, it leaves no stone unturned.
I think that a voluntary code would be a good idea, with at least:
1. A bag limit
2. A ban on evening flighting
I have no doubt that there will be those who vociferously oppose these
suggestions, but I firmly believe that if our sport is to survive, we must not

PICTURE: LAURIE CAMPBELL

Setting an example

only do the right things from a conservation point of view, but also be seen
to be doing so.
Incidentally, for us the woodcock arrived very early this season. We were
seeing them on our first shoot day, 3 November, although we left them
alone. A couple of them were distinctly russet in colour, which I have never
seen before!
Robin Jones, via email

Getting creative
I have been inspired to make things by Johnny Crockett’s recent articles. I had some
carbon steel, and an oak branch from a tree in my garden that had been grown from
an acorn by my son for the handle. A little filing, grinding, drilling, hardening and
gluing and I have a perfectly functional knife suitable for various outdoor activities. I
gave this to my son for Christmas and he’s over the moon with it.

A
CA
TAB
A
N

S

A

AM

AW
WAT CO OU PA
AVAI AB

AR

S

S

Martin Tiney, via email

www.sportingshooter.co.uk

3


LETTERS

Generational differences
For the past two years, I have been a half-Gun member of a syndicate
shoot that enjoys some relaxed 100 bird days. The birds are not testing,
but we’re not all Lord Ripon either, and the syndicate Guns are very
considerate to their neighbours on the adjoining pegs. All of the members
are senior to myself in years and most of them have reached the stage in
life where they are financially comfortable.
This season, the shoot captain has encouraged the syndicate to make
it the custom to adjourn to a public house for lunch. Although the meal
and surroundings were pleasant, I only attended the first shoot of the
season as, for security reasons, I don’t like to leave my dog unattended in
a car. Instead, I now take along a few sarnies and join the beaters and
picking-up team in the lodge or farmyard for a natter (where I can also
keep an eye on my dog).
Unfortunately, I’ve been made aware that some of my fellow Guns

consider me to be unsociable because I don’t join them at lunchtime.
Apart from the safety of my dog, I have other considerations. My thinking
is that the cost of a pub lunch and a round of drinks is frankly beyond my
limited budget and the financial saving over my six shoot days will allow
me to buy a place on a small boundary day with our keeper in January. As
for being unsociable, I think spending some time with the shoot staff is a
positive way to spend my lunch break, unlike some of the senior members
of our syndicate who barely mutter a word to the beaters.
It may be easy for the more mature Guns to criticise the younger
generation, but perhaps they should realise that at my stage of life my
priorities (and disposable income) are somewhat different to theirs.
S. Thompson, Norwich

WIN

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WORTH £60

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allowing you to carry your gun safely and protect it from scratches and
bumps. The body of the slip is made from durable tan canvas, with the
lovely dark leather adjustable strap and carry handles creating a nice
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and lined with cool tartan, this
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QQUESUTIIZON

Q

MOSH DANCER MONK is an
anagram of which oft-seen
wading bird with a bright
orange set of pins?

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MONTH’S QUESTION TO:
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JANUARY ISSUE WINNER
Congratulations to THOMAS MURPHY from SCOTLAND.
The answer was PLAINS GAME.

Doing her
homework
Our 14-week-old cocker loves
reading the monthly Sporting Shooter
with her Dad. She really does sit
there like she’s reading it! Her name
is Belle and her dad, Kelvin, is hoping
that her concentration will one day
benefit her out in the field.
Leah Morgan,
via Facebook

24

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