Charlie turned out to be Charlotte: better still; this was an excellent time of year to get a vixen. Territories are established but cubs have not yet arrived. It augured well for the day which was to be an informal father and-son walk-round. COVID-19 had put paid — like so many things — to the usual end-of-season beaters’ day chaos. We were going small-scale.
William joined me at 7am with his 20-bore. He was wearing every piece of warm kit he owned. The rifle was replaced with a shotgun and we added an ultra-enthusiastic labrador to the team, setting out into an area of ‘rewilding’ — some might say neglect — near the railway line. Within a few minutes, William was shooting into the brambles and Scout emerged with a fat buck rabbit. I surprised myself with a very high crow that wheeled overhead 50 yards out. It turned away from us, exposing its vulnerable underside, and folded like a fist to the top barrel. It wouldn’t be troubling the yellow wagtails or corn buntings this spring. Three species in the bag before breakfast. Spirits were high.
Denne historien er fra February 10, 2021-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra February 10, 2021-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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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