The oversupply of game meat is a hot topic on shoots this season, and rightly so. Phil Moorsom looks at what efforts are being made to better utilise this healthy food source
There is no question that interest in shooting is increasing which is fantastic news for the future of fieldsports in the UK. Not only does this help those businesses involved in the industry, but it also strengthens our collective voice to combat those whose ultimate intent is to ban game shooting as a whole.
On almost every shoot we have visited this season, one of the hot topics has been the shift in demand for shot game and how it is processed. With the rising popularity of game shooting, new shoots have emerged and many of the existing ones are moving towards bigger bag days as the business becomes more competitive. The obvious result of this is that significantly more birds are now being shot and have to be responsibly processed. One major supermarket chain is rumoured to have over 50,000 pheasants from last season in its freezers.
Only a few years ago, game dealers were offering up to 50 pence for a brace of pheasants, whereas this year if a keeper is receiving anything at all for his shot birds he is one of the lucky ones. In the future, most agree that it will be the norm for shoots to pay game dealers to collect their shot birds and process them responsibly.
The commercial shoots putting on large days several times a week must shoulder a large part of the responsibility to tackle this issue. Rumours of holes being dug or incinerators being installed to dispose of shot game is manna from heaven for those lobbying to ban the sport as a whole. The most obvious and simple solution to this issue is for us to eat more game. Thankfully, many of the commercial shoots have now started to address the problem by preparing and selling their own game either as a whole dressed bird or in pre-packaged prepared sauces.
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Denne historien er fra January 2018-utgaven av Sporting Shooter.
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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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
