In the early noughties, in Nottinghamshire, I presided over the one and only working ferret class I have ever judged. A gentleman there caught my attention. His infectious laughter filled the small and smoky room where the ferrets and owners assembled to be judged. Wearing his trademark bib and brace, tweed deerstalker, and sporting a beard before they were fashionable, Bob Merrin — or ‘Granda Bob’, as he is affectionately known — held court, wearing a smile that stretched from ear to ear.
Long before the age of social media, even before the internet had taken off, Bob was the fount of ferreting knowledge in his local area. As the internet grew, so did his reputation, technology allowing more people to learn his ways and benefit from his years of experience. Nowadays, we take for granted that we can share experiences from not just across the country but across the globe. But not too long ago, such a thing was unheard of.
Over the years since that first meeting, I have listened to all that Bob has to say. I have learned an incredible amount about traps and trapping and rabbiting in general. Without these characters of our fast diminishing sport, our knowledge takes a lot longer to gather. One gem that I picked up on years ago was that whoever you are, or whoever you think you are, you are only as good as the animals you work with. As we are raising our future mustelid grafters, it is worth keeping in mind that the whole purpose of breeding is to try to improve what you already have, rather than breeding for the sake of it.
This story is from the August 18, 2021 edition of Shooting Times & Country.
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 August 18, 2021 edition of Shooting Times & Country.
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