I’ve just got back into pigeon shooting and am replacing all the pigeon kit I got rid of years ago.
Advice
Complete Ferret Foods
Q) Though I have always been an advocate of feeding flesh, fur and feather to my ferrets, I am well aware that the modern complete ferret foods are claimed to be a good substitute. What is your opinion? T. WARHAM By email
My gundog has false pregnancies after her season!
Gundog vet: My bitch always seems to have false pregnancies after her season. What’s that all about?
When pigeon shooting how close should the horseshoe be?
Pigeon shooting: I know how to set out a classic horseshoe pattern, but how far away from the hide should the closed end of the horseshoe be?
Where can I learn more about deer stalking and deer calling?
Deer stalking: I would like to learn more about calling deer. Can you recommend any book or training DVD to get me started?
When gundog training, do you teach them to lie down?
Do you teach your gundogs to lie down at all? Is this a necessary command in your opinion?
Should I have first aid support when shooting?
I run a small shooting syndicate and last season one of the Guns tripped into some barbed wire.
How do I avoid dropping pigeon into standing crops?
Pigeon shooting: How do you go about decoying patches of laid wheat and minimise dropping birds into the standing crop?
Why is gundog scent training easier on some days?
Gundog training: Why are some days better for scenting than others? On quite a few days last season the dogs on our shoot really struggled to find game.
Do ferrets need a drink of water while working?
Do you give ferrets a drink of water while they are working, or is it best to leave it until you get back home?
Which is the best gundog breed for trialling?
Best gundog breed: I need good advice to choose the best gundog breed.
Will having my gun fitted help my clay shooting?
I have been clay shooting for just over a year now (last season was my first in the field) and wondered if it’s now time to have my gun fitted?
Why are Roe deer so different in their habits ?
I am new to stalking and a bit mystified as to why Roe seem to be so different in their habits from other deer species. Is there some reason for it?
How are real flushes simulated when gundog training?
I have watched live pigeon being planted and flushed by gundogs at game fairs. Are the birds made dizzy to make them stay until flushed by the dogs, or are they released from cages?
MYSTERY EGG THIEF?
Q) While out walking I found several undamaged pheasant eggs removed from a nest. Two were lying in short grass and one was not far from a feeder. What animal or bird is removing these eggs and leaving them without so much as a crack? J. KINGSWELL Surrey
How do I deal with a barking deer?
Deer stalking: If I am stalking through woodland and think a deer might have seen me because it barks but doesn’t run away, what is the best way of dealing with it?
CANADA GEESE PROBLEM
Q) Each year we have a pair of Canada geese nesting on our pond and, much as I like to see them, they make such a mess. I am also concerned that they could create a problem for my grandchildren who occasionally wade and swim in the pond. I am…
Is my Lanber Sporter properly balanced?
How can I tell if my gun, a Lanber Sporter, is properly balanced? My shooting pal says it feels a little muzzle heavy to him.
I have trouble shooting incoming pigeons!
Is it just me or are pigeons that come straight and slowly toward me over the decoy pattern harder to kill than the rest? I seem to miss more than I kill cleanly.
Is pigeon shooting over muck heaps an option?
I've noticed lots of pigeon in my area are drawn to stinking muck heaps on really hot summer days?