To say that this has been an unusual year would be an understatement. With a second lockdown imposed on England, it looks as though ‘normality’ in the shooting world is but a dream. As I write, we do not know the details, but it is likely that pest control will be able to continue and ‘recreational’ shooting will be prohibited. As in the first lockdown, nobody can be certain how these measures will be enforced, and I feel that the public will be less inclined to slavishly follow the rules this time round. Try telling an estate owner, who may have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds releasing game on his land, that the shoots he organises are only ‘recreational’.
Good start
Anyway, back to what sort of year we have had. Things started very well for us on the rape, a crop that usually disappoints more often than it pleases. One of Paul’s farms shot particularly well, with a best bag of 174 and several days around the 100 mark. Crucially, the farmer is not a ‘banger’ man but left Paul to manage the situation as he saw fit. The result? More than 600 birds killed and negligible damage.
Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
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Denne historien er fra January 2021-utgaven av Sporting Gun.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Thermal spectrum
Paul Austin explores both ends of the thermal market with latest high-end release from Zeiss alongside a surprising entry-level offering from Xinfrared
Roe, rucks and new ground
Jon Snowdon and his team have much to keep them busy and a new tool to help them
Tales from a lifetime of foxing
Join Mike Powell as he explores the evolving world of fox shooting, drawing from a career that spans seven decades
Fox rot about Charlie
Patrick Hook responds to claims that fox numbers are dangerously on the wane
The sniff of success
Join Ryan Kay as he navigates the fascinating dynamic between a handler and their canine companion
Adventures of Nick & Ted
A new chapter in the histories of Sporting Gun and Sporting Shooter has Nick Ridley reflecting on the dogs he has trained over the years he has been associated with the magazines
The problem: Inflammation in the nervous system
Vet's advice
Gundogs Q&A
No problem goes unsolved as Sporting Gun puts your questions to the gundog experts
Stop-start!
Fran Ardley continues her training tips on disciplining your dog to the stop whistle and the exercises you need to do
Gundogs at the Game Fair
Organising the Game Fair's prestigious gundog competitions: behind-the-scenes with Francesca Prentice