Simon spends the first day of the season enjoying a different type of driven shooting
Would you like to appear on our site? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our readers. Find out moreMy tactics were to stand on the outside of the field looking into the standing crop rather than standing by the crop and shooting back towards the margins. Concentrating intensely on the edge of the cut, I saw those brown flashes that have the ability to unnerve even the safest of shooters. A hare passed by as my raised gun saluted its escape, and as I watched it meander off, I wondered whether we would see a fox departing the rest of the crop, as they love standing rape. No sooner had this thought entered my mind than I saw a beautiful dark red fox looking right at me. I barked out, “Fox!” in Steve and Ryan’s direction, but my dulcet tones were drowned out by the whizzes and whirrs of the heavy machinery working the field. It was soon way out of range, and as only a few Guns were present to cover such a huge area, this wily customer was able to make good its escape across the stubble.
Though the rabbits were not out in great numbers, the farmer likes to see a few Guns present, reassuring him that those that have made it through the summer have an armed welcoming party at harvest time. I have yet to meet a farmer who doesn’t raise a smile when presented with a game carrier full of rabbits going into the back of a truck rather than back into his fields.
The five-year phase-out of lead shot has failed, but the Government’s response to the HSE report is overdue and the transition is complex
Following a high-profile BASC campaign, debanking of shooting businesses is declining, but do stay vigilant, urges Conor O’Gorman.
Get the latest news delivered direct to your door
Discover the ultimate companion for field sports enthusiasts with Shooting Times & Country Magazine, the UK’s leading weekly publication that has been at the forefront of shooting culture since 1882. Subscribers gain access to expert tips, comprehensive gear reviews, seasonal advice, and a vibrant community of like-minded shooters.
With weekly issues featuring in-depth articles on gundog training, exclusive member offers, and £2 million public liability insurance, a Shooting Times & Country subscription is more than a magazine – it’s your essential guide to the rich traditions and thrilling world of field sports. Don’t just read about the countryside; immerse yourself in its most authoritative and engaging publication.