Sat at my office desk in late November, my phone pinged as a text arrived first thing in the morning. It was from Charlie, the farmer’s wife. “Big fox near our chickens, and one shot Dicky (she means Joe) has just shot at it and missed. I told him we will have to get you over”.
I knew Joe was shooting that day so I phoned him that evening. Now, Joe takes the greatest pleasure in ripping it out of me if I miss one, knowing I am already feeling terrible; this was my chance for revenge! His story started: “By the time I got the rifle out and bolt on, the fox was already back near the wood.”
“That’s about 50 yards then,” I said, and laughed, but I know that it’s more like 150 off his balcony to the wood. When I wait up there, I have all the time to get myself sorted, and have my rest set up, so if the fox comes I have all the meadow covered. But all Joe would have had was the railing to rest on, and that can make all the difference. The excuses started to roll out, but in all honesty, any shot without a good rest is a hard one if it is at a fox. I was beginning to wonder if he did hit it and if it had done a ‘death run’ back into cover. I checked but there was no sign of it.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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
