I say it should have been worked in the shooting field but a friend says it's fully trained when it retrieves dummies, responds to whistle commands and follows hand signals?
Advice
My scores are down since I got fat!
I have put a lot of weight on and it's noticeable that my Sporting scores have gone into gradual decline ever since. Why is this? I feel as fit as I ever did and visit the gym three times a week for weight training.
Can Muntjac cast and grow antlers anytime?
Is it true that Muntjac can cast and grow antlers at any time of the year?
How can I catch my first magpie to decoy with?
We have got three Larsen traps for magpies, but want to know how we can catch our first decoy bird. Have you got any tips?
What seat is good for a pigeon hide?
Can you recommend a suitable seat for using in a pigeon hide? I've just had an operation for haemorrhoids - caused, the doctor says - by sitting too often on damp ground!
Are .22s dangerous at a mile’s range?
It is said that a .22 rimfire bullet is dangerous at one mile. Surely this is a bit of an exaggeration for such a tiny cartridge?
Did mini-clays get through my shot pattern?
I've never shot mini-clays before and they were fun to shoot, but I ended up missing them all - and I haven't got a clue why. Could they have been getting through the pattern? My gun is choke improved cylinder and 1/4.
Can I domesticate a wild ferret?
I caught a feral ferret last Saturday and it's as wild as a hawk. Have I got any chance of domesticating it again? I've also been given a set of hemp purse nets but a lot of rabbits seem to be escaping from them - should they be bigger?
Can I kill birds cleanly at over 40 yards?
I am not very good at estimating ranges. Even though my pal laughs at me I always put a marker stick 40 yards from the hide to give me some idea of where the pigeons are. Can I kill birds cleanly farther out than this?
Why is my springer puppy failing to return?
My springer puppy is failing to return when being called while the long-lead is off. Can you give me some training advice?
Where should we place our release pen?
Our farmer has said we can use one of two woods on the histo build a release pen. This is good because we think the present pen is in the wrong position. What should we look for when deciding which of the two woods we choose?
My friend says deer management courses aren’t worth it?
My friend says deer management courses aren't worth it, and also is the season for shooting female deer being extended to include the month of March?
How do you tell stock doves from wood pigeons?
Is there an easy way to tell stock doves from wood pigeons in flight? Is it legal to shoot stock doves?
When do you feed your ferrets?
How often, and at what times of the day do you feed your ferrets? One of my ferrets occasionally refuses to come out of a burrow and sometimes it can be underground for hours!
Is one hopper for our pheasants enough?
We are trying to improve our feed stations in kale cover crops. At the moment we have strawed areas around a single hopper. Is this enough?
Are there any gun-dog books for novice trainers?
I'm picking up my first labrador puppy in a couple of weeks. Can you recommend any book that takes a complete novice like me through the basics of training?
How do I catch crows?
Can you advise me on best practice for operating both Larsen traps and multi-catch crow cages. What I should do with them when not in use?
Is the extra expense of premium ammo necessary?
My .308 seems to work perfectly well on deer with my 'ordinary' bullets, so is the extra expense of 'premium' ammo necessary?
Can deer damaging crops be shot at any time?
Is it true marauding deer which damage crops can be shot at any time, whether they are in season or not?