It’s mid June and I am sitting in the garden with Shell, a glass of cider in hand, watching our new puppy playing and enjoying the last of the sun on Friday evening after work. The phone rings – it’s Nick, a very close friend of mine, asking me to come over and shoot some deer. “There are too many,” he says. I always have shot a few on his land over the years, but after he converted his barn and moved in, he enjoyed seeing them about so I stopped.
“They are hammering the hedges I am planting, even my yew hedge,” says Nick. “So can you take a few out?” I agreed, explaining to him that only roe bucks were in season so I’d have to return in the winter to take out some does. Nick agreed and asked if I’d take Bernie (who works for him) out as well. That’s perfect, I thought, as he is always on the ground and can let me know what’s about. I spoke to Bern and arranged to go over the following evening about 7.30 so we could have a chat and see what’s about.
This bit of ground is stunning – it’s about 60 acres along the edge of a big wood, with an oak belt and hedges leading off it. Normally it’s perfect for stalking, but at that time it was just tall grass everywhere waiting to be cut for hay; still it is what is and I was going to give it a go.
This story is from the September 2020 edition of Sporting Shooter.
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 September 2020 edition of Sporting Shooter.
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
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
