Last month found me lost in a world of saltmarshes and flighting duck, and some wistful thinking about what the season ahead might bring. That is by no means uncommon during the long warm days of summer and any wildfowler worthy of the name will pine for the cold winds and shorter days of winter.
But, as ever, there is work to be done, plans to be made, and, with good fortune and forbearance, some of those plans will come to fruition over the months ahead. To some extent, you make your own luck, and two examples spring to mind.
Coastal curveballs
While carrying out some long overdue filing, my eyes fell on a letter from a farmer, dated October 2017! In it, he asked whether we were interested in some marshland and saltmarsh shooting rights he owned. Does the moon go around the earth?!
However, my mind fled back to that time, when telephone calls, emails, and even snail mail had all elicited no response. But, being a hoarder, the letter was dumped on the pile, and gradually that pile grew taller and the letter moved ever nearer to the bottom! The letter was re-read with a grimace, and a decision needed to be made whether to dump it or file it. I gazed at the faded number, picked up the phone and dialed. Much to my surprise, on the third ring, I was through!
In the ensuing discussion, which was all very cordial, it turned out the land was no longer available (scarcely a surprise after three and a half years), but my interest was noted. Being a persistent cuss, I followed up with a text later that day, saying that if the land should become available again this is the sort of figure I would be prepared to offer. The letter was filed and life moved on.
Esta historia es de la edición August 2020 de Sporting Shooter.
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Esta historia es de la edición August 2020 de Sporting Shooter.
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RSPB gives mixed message on shooting
Having recently attended the RSPB’s virtual AGM, Conor O’Gorman discusses the outcome of the charity’s year-long review of game bird shooting
Causeway for concern
Alan Jarrett’s renewed interest in reading takes him down memory lane to an offshore island duck flight that very nearly ended in disaster
Through a purple patch
The Garrows Estate is taking a conservation-focused approach to restoring the wildlife populations and biodiversity on the Scottish heather moorland.
When the wheels fall off
Losing form on a day’s shooting can be infuriating, especially if you’ve been shooting like a god up to that point. Simon O’Leary looks at some common causes and how to remedy them
Beaches, books & bad behaviour!
The annual Kay family vacation to Northumberland offers a chance to give the cockers a blast on the beach – although they don’t always shower themselves in glory, as Ryan Kay recalls...
Using the Stop whistle
Now you’ve instilled the basics, it’s time to up the ante with some more tricky distance work. Howard Kirby explains how to take the core Stop whistle command to the next level
The humble teal
They may be tiny, but as far as Rupert Butler is concerned, the appeal of this little duck is huge. He recalls some of his most memorable nights in pursuit of these aerial acrobats
Fab all-rounder
Mike is impressed with the Fabarm Elos B2 Field Notte, which offers great value for money, is suited to fieldwork or clays and is future-proofed for use with steel in all choke constrictions
CALL OF THE WILD
Dom Holtam reconnects with one of the purest forms of shotgun shooting as he walks-up woodcock over pointing dogs in the Scottish Highlands
A yen for the Fens
Tony Jackson recounts a memorable duck flight over an area of Fenland in Norfolk with his friend and author, the late Alan Savory
