One diabetic reader asks for advice after his shotgun and firearms certificate was revoked for not attending hospital appointments
Advice
Does handling ferrets regularly make them less likely to work?
One reader asks if a warning that regular handling will stop a ferret from working is correct
Sporting Answers: Locating a lost ferret
Q) I have just started ferreting with some new friends and we tend to spend long periods waiting for our ferrets to return. None of us has a ferret finder and we are all fairly inexperienced. Is one really necessary? M. GARBUTT By email
What is a five generation pedigree certificate?
We have purchased a springer spaniel that is Kennel Club registered but the five generation pedigree certificate is confusing because it contains a lot of abbreviations. Can you help us make sense of it?
Airline ammunition limits
Q)I will soon be flying to Eastern Europe with my shotgun, which is an old English 12-bore with 2.5in chambers. What is the maximum amount of ammunition I can take with me, or would I be wiser to try to obtain cartridges at my destination? J. MONROE By email…
Why are there dark rings down each barrel of my gun?
My gun has developed two or three dark looking rings down each barrel and no amount of oiling or cleaning will shift them. Is this the start of rust? If not, what's caused the colouring and how can I get rid of it?
Gundog breeds: Why buy a Weimaraner?
Weimaraner: These distinctive German dogs are often misunderstood but, in the right hands, the Weimaraner can be excellent gundogs.
When pigeon shooting, is it easy to fool them?
Pigeon shooting: My friend has given me some ridiculously long wire-stemmed cradles that allow him to present decoys just above the heads of standing corn.
Can I call roe deer at anytime of the year?
Deer stalking: My deer stalking friend tells me it’s possible to ‘call’ Roe deer. Is this only possible at certain times of the year or can they be called anytime?
Are clay shooting lessons any good for game shooting?
Clay shooting: Are clay shooting lessons good practice for the game shooting season, when driven quarry accelerates towards the gun, whereas clays thrown from a high tower run out of steam as they approach?
Do police need their own shotgun licence to take your guns?
Shotgun licence: If a police officer is required to take a firearm from you, surely they must be firearms qualified and hold a shotgun licence? Many police officers are not sure about firearms and wouldn’t know if a gun is loaded. Who is responsible? I thought we, as licence holders,…
Step by step: Bullets for deer stalking
Deer stalking: People often spend hours pondering over which rifle, grade of wood and scope they want to buy, but pay little attention to the bullets that they will shoot through it.
I have been invited wild boar shooting in Germany!
I have been invited wild boar shooting in Germany, and have been asked for my liability insurance. What exactly do I need to provide?
When pigeon shooting, how do you stop them getting fly blown?
Pigeon shooting: How do you stop pigeons getting fly blown? I’ve tried putting dead birds under wet sacks but flies still get to them. Any tips?
Do I have to respond to a police questionnaire?
I’ve recently had a police questionnaire from South Yorkshire police asking for my views on the standard of service they are providing.
Sporting Answers: LOUSE FLIES ON SWIFTS
Q) Several pairs of swifts breed under the eaves of our house every year. This year we rescued a young bird that was grounded, and then successfully launched it into the air. Before releasing it, we removed four large, flat flies from its plumage. Could these have been the cause…
How can I improve my clay shooting? What tips are best?
I took up clay shooting a little over two years ago and love it, even though I am only making slow progress and still in C Class.
Could I use my rifle sling for support when deer stalking?
When I was serving in the army I used the sling fitted to my rifle for support by wrapping it around the supporting arm. Could I use this method when deer stalking?
Small tortoiseshells
Q) After two summers when I hardly saw a single small tortoiseshell butterfly, they are suddenly back in good numbers. What caused their disappearance, and their welcome return? R. COLLINS Somerset
When deer stalking, I often find deer caught in fences!
Deer stalking: Is there any way of preventing deer getting caught by a back leg when trying to jump a wire fence?