Cooking game that you have hunted, prepared and lovingly cooked is a passion many of us game shots have in common. The joy you get sharing your catch with friends and loved ones is unequalled, but deep down there is always a hint of trepidation, a nagging worry that one of your guests will be the unfortunate soul who bites on to that single wayward bit of shot, taking the edge off your spectacular dinner party. While guests laugh and chat and commend you on the wonderful food, you catch sight of your unfortunate guest putting hand to jaw to check all is well, while the single pellet sits hauntingly on the side of their plate.
The problem with shot has now moved into a different league, as with the forthcoming ban on lead shot, steel shot looks like lead’s most popular replacement.
Undetected
The problem with steel shot was emphasised to me when eating a game pie I had made for the shoot elevenses late last season. I fell foul of one of Eley’s finest No 3 steel shots, which had snuck through undetected in my otherwise delicious pie, made worse by the fact that it was one of my own pellets. My God was it painful.
Biting into lead shot is not pleasant but is forgettable — by its nature it is soft, while steel is not. And being of an age where one’s teeth are not as solid as they once were, I was lucky to avoid a very expensive visit to the dentist on this occasion, but I suffered with a dull pain for weeks after.
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
United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside
