Deano is called in to help the owner of a smallholding where the animals are providing the local foxes with an easy supper
Like most shooters, I care about the countryside and the wildlife that’s in it, which is why this month’s tale begins at my local country store where I was buying some bird seed for the songbirds in my garden. Our house backs on to fields and we’re lucky to get a varied collection of birds coming in, which I feed all year round.
So there I was, buying bird seed and trying to ignore the temptation of the tool aisle, when Mark, a chap I know from the pub and walking the dog, came up to me. “I’ve been meaning to get hold of you for ages,” he said. “I’ve got a smallholding not far from you and I’m having a bit of bother with the foxes – I wondered if you could help me out?”
I’m always happy to lend a hand to people (especially where foxes are concerned) and explore new bits of ground, so I arranged to go over and take a look for him.
A few evenings later, he showed me around the ground. It’s not that big, about three acres in total, but very attractive to the local foxes – there are chickens, ducks, lambs and pigs, and goats that are just about to have their kids. So I could understand why he was getting visited so often! The ducks and chickens are in pens now but they used to be free range. They also used to keep a few rabbits, but that was a lesson learned the hard way as the foxes got the lot.
この記事は Sporting Shooter の September 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Sporting Shooter の September 2017 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
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
