Shoot In Scotland 2019/2020

2019/20 edition

Digital Edition

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

2019/20

The game shooting, stalking and wildfowling guide for visitors to Scotland

In association with the

Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group

introduction

Welcome to Shoot in Scotland

The Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group invites you to experience a warm Scottish welcome on your next sporting trip

T

his magazine introduces Scotland as a world class sporting shooting and deerstalking destination to potential visitors. It provides comprehensive

information about the various sports available and lists a wide variety of sporting providers that can be contacted directly with enquiries. It also contains helpful travel tips for those coming from overseas.

We hope you find the magazine of great help and look forward to welcoming you to Scotland on your next sporting trip. Visit the website www. countrysportscotland.com for more information and sporting opportunities.

SCSTG

4

www.countrysportscotland.com

introduction

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

5

contents

contents

32 8 EDITOR’S FOREWORD

26 READ MORE…

47 BIG DAY, SMALL BUDGET

Peter Carr on why Scotland still beats

Subscriptions offers and bundles from the

How walked-up shooting can give you a high-

anywhere in the world as a sporting

makers of Shoot In Scotland

calibre shooting experience without breaking

destination

the bank

28 GET QUALIFIED 12 BREAKING BOUNDARIES

Why the DSC1 qualification is becoming a

52 A SHORE THING

Why more and more women are getting

must for every would-be deer stalker

A relative wildfowling newbie, Byron Pace

involved in Scottish field sports

finds himself captivated by the magic of the

32 HILL HEAVEN

foreshore

14 WHERE TO STAY

Stalking on the hill is no piece of cake – but

Hotels, lodges and B&Bs to suit any budget

here’s how to do it

16 TRAVEL TIPS

37 WILD THINGS

capture a week’s wildfowling on film. Let’s

The best ways to get to Scotland

Byron Pace returns to the snow-clad hill for

hope he packed his waterproof…

57 THE NORTHERN EXTREME Stuart Wilson is dispatched to Orkney to

another year of wilderness hind stalking

18 SHOOTING THE SCHULTZ Stuart Wilson gets to grips with a Schultz &

40 BUCK DEBUT

Larsen in 6.5x55

Chris Dalton guides Debra Carr after her first Scottish roebuck

21 FOUR OF THE BEST Four more rifles to suit your budget and

42 OPTICAL EXCELLENCE

stalking needs

A bumper collection of scopes and binos for hill stalking

22 SHOTGUN START Looking for your first gun for Scottish game?

44 PROMOTING GAMEKEEPING

We round up all the aspects you need to look

How gamekeepers are getting together to

for in a prospective buy

make a real difference to their community

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47

contents

Future PLC Units 1 & 2, Sugarbrook Court, Aston Road, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire B60 3EX

Editorial Editor-in-chief Peter Carr

peter.carr@futurenet.com

Deputy editor Colin Fallon

01225 687426 colin.fallon@futurenet.com

Art editor Steve Mumby Senior Art Editor Stephen Williams Contributors Richard Atkins, David Barrington Barnes, Tim Baynes, Tina Brough, Chris Dalton, Simon Everett, Dominic Griffith, Rory Kennedy, Will O'Meara, Byron Pace, Stuart Wilson Cover image Getty Images Stock photography Alamy, Getty Images, Shutterstock All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected Advertising Media packs are available on request Commercial Director Clare Dove Group Advertising Director Mark Wright mark.wright@futurenet.com Advertising Sales Manager Toni Cole

toni.cole@futurenet.com

01225 687368 International Shoot In Scotland is available for licensing. Contact the international department to discuss partnership opportunities.

International Licensing Director Matt Ellis matt.ellis@futurenet.com Subscriptions Email enquiries contact@myfavouritemagazines.co.uk UK orderline & enquiries 0344 848 2852 Overseas order line and enquiries +44 (0)344 848 2852 Online orders & enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Head of subscriptions Sharon Todd

63 60 FIELD WEAR

Circulation Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers

Clothing and footwear that’ll keep you dry and

90 PRESERVING GROUSE SHOOTING

comfortable wherever you are

How driven grouse shooting is changing with the times

63 THE NATIONAL SHOOTING CENTRE

92 LOADS OF QUALITY

Bisley? No, closer to home – Scotland’s NSC in

Cartridges to deal with any day on the

Jawcraig

moorland

67 WHICH CALIBRE IS BEST?

94 WHERE TO SHOOT

.308, .30-06, .270 – if you’re stalking reds, how

Plan your next shoot today with our list of

big should you go?

hunting estates and sporting providers

72 CAUTIONARY TALE

98 BACK PAGE

Chris Dalton receives a jarring reminder that

David Barrington Barnes reminds us what it’s

danger is never far away when on the hill

all about

74 CULL QUANDARIES Dominic Griffith shows us how deer managers plan their winter hind cull

76 STALKING ESSENTIALS Accessories to make life on the hill easier, from knives to gloves to slings

90

Production Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Advertising Production Manager Joanne Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Controller Nola Cokely Management Chief Content Officer Aaron Asadi Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham Managing Director of Hobbies Alastair Lewis Head of Art & Design Greg Whitaker Printed by William Gibbons Distributed by Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU www.marketforce.co.uk Tel: 0203 787 9060 Produced in partnership with the Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture.

The paper in this magazine was sourced and produced from sustainable managed forests, conforming to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards. The manufacturing paper mill holds full FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification and accreditation All contents © 2019 Future Publishing Limited or published under licence. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any way without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Future Publishing Limited (company number 2008885) is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All information contained in this publication is for information only and is, as far as we are aware, correct at the time of going to press. Future cannot accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in such information. You are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers directly with regard to the price of products/services referred to in this publication. Apps and websites mentioned in this publication are not under our control. We are not responsible for their contents or any other changes or updates to them.

This magazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

If you submit material to us, you warrant that you own the material and/ or have the necessary rights/permissions to supply the material and you automatically grant Future and its licensees a licence to publish your submission in whole or in part in any/all issues and/or editions of publications, in any format published worldwide and on associated websites, social media channels and associated products. Any material you submit is sent at your own risk and, although every care is taken, neither Future nor its employees, agents, subcontractors or licensees shall be liable for loss or damage. We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions.

80 STAY SAFE Even the most experienced shooter could do with a safety refresher from time to time, says Will O’Meara

85 THE FUTURE OF HUNTING What will shooting in Scotland look like in 10

Future plc is a public company quoted on the London Stock Exchange (symbol: FUTR) www.futureplc.com

Chief executive Zillah Byng-Thorne Non-executive chairman Richard Huntingford Chief financial officer Penny Ladkin-Brand Tel +44 (0)1225 442 244

years – or 100?

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

7

introduction

editor’s foreword Editor-in-chief Peter Carr toasts Scotland’s resilience throughout history and its unmatched array of sporting opportunities today

S

cotland! The very name conjures up rugged vistas, violent histories, stags, grouse, salmon

and whisky (not necessarily in that order).

The northernmost country of the United Kingdom’s main landmass and the one that resisted the warring Plantagenet King Edward’s dream of a united Britannia the longest. History is mostly written by the victor but Scotland’s heritage, like its people, has been hard to subdue – the country’s history is woven into the unique landscape we see today.

The truth of Scotland’s past has been recorded in chronicles and ballads (by both loser and victor), which still influence narratives in modern thinking. Indeed, interest in the nation’s heroes such as Wallace, Credit: Dgwildlife / Getty Images

Robert the Bruce, Black Douglas, and the intrigue in the union of the crowns has never been stronger, the legends oft invoked by nationalists and film producers.

The land may be forged in blood and toil, but thankfully the Highlands are as well known for their welcome today as their turbulent past. This sassenach, for one, has completed an annual sporting sojourn to the Glens every year for at least the last 30. As a well-travelled Nimrod I’ve been fortunate to have hunted,

mobile signal and internet is a boon to most

have everything from snipe on the moss,

shot, and fished on four continents covering

of us – me included – who are mostly enslaved

woodcock and blackcock on moorland

countries that would take a long time to count.

to connectivity in the modern working world.

margins to grouse over pointers (a particular

It is no secret that my favourite sporting

Scotland’s tourism is based around her varied

love), and snow grouse or ptarmigan on the

destination is Scotland. The country is one of

vistas, be it the grandeur of the Highland

rocky ridges and Munro summits.

Europe’s last wildernesses, and owing to the

granite cathedrals, the wave and wind-shaped

geographical nature of the glacier-carved glens,

sea cliffs, the lochs and lochans that sparkle

red deer, the iconic stag immortalised by

there isn’t that much noise pollution, or for

among the heather-and-moss carpets that clad

Landseer’s painting Monarch of the Glen. And

that matter major roads.

the ancient land, or her rivers and burns that

there is a unique Highland sporting endeavour:

have cut an existence through the landscape

pursuing the red stag on the hill with a tweed-

since the glaciers receded millennia ago.

clad stalker and ghillie in attendance. It’s

Indeed, the maze of B-roads that takes one to the myriad quaint, stark, foreboding, haunted (Scotland has them all) lodges, fortified

But it shouldn’t be forgotten that a big

The rifleman has roe, fallow and of course

a sporting pursuit unchanged since it was

houses and castles that serve as a sporting

part of that tourism is based on sporting

popularised by Queen Victoria’s German

base are little more than cart tracks forged by

endeavours that have their own unique

consort, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and

General Wade’s engineers in the aftermath of

history and traditions, all of which are kept

Gotha. I’ve stalked wild boar at the prince’s

Culloden, the last battle fought on British soil.

alive by like-minded Nimrods who want to

childhood home, Coburg Castle, and exciting as

This engagement on a cold, wet, sleet-driven

pursue their game in a wild, remote and

it was, I’m with the prince’s preference for stag

day back in April 1746 finally subdued the

rewarding landscape. The varieties of game

pursuit in Scotland’s glens. Go on, give it a go.

last Highland uprising and forced the French-

that Scotland offers has no equal in Europe.

You won’t be disappointed – I’m sure of that.

speaking pretender ‘Bonnie Prince Charlie’ to

Fishers have salmon, trout, grayling and char

dress in drag, catch a skiff to Skye and live out

to challenge them; wingshooters have some

the remainder of his days as an exile in France.

of the best driven pheasant and grouse

The difficulty in getting to these sporting

shooting available in the British Isles; the

lodges is part of the allure, and the lack of

wildfowling is world-class; rough shooters

Pete Carr, editor-in-chief Shoot IN SCOTLAND

9

introduction

Planning your trip? Start here

Find everything you need to plan your Scottish sporting holiday at www.countrysportscotland.com

search Search by sport or region through more than 200 Scottish sporting estates and providers, and book directly with them

AccoMmodation Find sport-friendly accommodation

SPORTING AGENTS Guidance on which agents offer which sports and where

Sporting Offers Browse through the shooting, fishing and stalking opportunities from our sporting providers for last-minute deals and new sporting opportunities

Country Sports Discover the wonderful range of sporting opportunities on offer in Scotland

OTHER INFORMATION Regularly updated section with all sorts of useful information about country sports in Scotland, including etiquette and guidance Find us on Facebook: search for “Scottish Country Sports Tourism�

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on travelling with firearms

INTRODUCTION

WIDENING APPEAL Rory Kennedy, SCSTG board member, reports on women’s increasing participation in the shooting sports

S

hooting typically changes at a glacial rate, built

Megan Rowland is a professional deer stalker from Strath

on long-held customs and rites of passage. Yet in

Brora in Sutherland and represents a new breed of professional

recent years our sport has seen a seismic change

deer stalkers who are eloquent in the language of ecosystem

in the role and participation levels of women. BASC

management. Interestingly, Megan grew up vegetarian and was

now has 11,000 female members, growing by 10 per cent in

working for a prominent conservation charity when she was

the last year alone.

introduced to deer stalking, the interplay of nature, ecosystem

Scotland has 3,000 female shotgun certificate holders with

management and food harvesting immediately resonating

women making up around 6.5 per cent of UK hunters. Without

with her ethical beliefs. Megan believes the elements of food

fanfare or agenda, more and more women have come into

sustainability and provenance are key attractions to field sports

shooting and hunting, and our lobbying and membership

and speaks to a younger generation of women.

bodies increasingly rely on women in senior roles to drive the political interests of our sport.

Within the Scottish shooting world, Cara Richardson is a

A writer, blogger and actively involved in professional land management advocacy, she is simultaneously quick to shy away from self-promotion. Like so many women who

leading figure. A member of BASC Council, Scottish Committee

have entered the professional hunting world, she prefers to

chair, co-founder of the Scottish Ladies Shooting Club and

speak by her abilities and actions, being accepted by being

a professional sporting agent, Cara’s philosophy is a million

competent regardless of gender expectations. It is apparent

miles from the ‘pink camo and Instagram’ world of the celebrity

that connection with nature is her passion. Much of her

huntress: “Do it well, do it quietly and do it because you love

job involves wider land management: peatland restoration,

it”. Five years ago, Cara and co-founder Lesley Fleming saw a

improving black grouse habitats and restoring our ancient

need for a group that would provide a welcoming and social

woodlands. She said, “Killing is only a small part of hunting,

environment for women to experience shooting. Five years

though it is a natural focus of the day.” Instead, Rowland talks

later, The Scottish Ladies Shooting Club is going strong, hosting

passionately and knowledgeably about her excitement at

regular clay shooting days, with a strong emphasis on fun and

watching deer in their natural environment, observing their

inclusivity. However, they have never forgotten their game

natural herd interactions, “The thing you don’t realise until you

shooting roots and the group also organise driven game days

spend time observing deer is how noisily they communicate

each year. Some members aren’t interested in game shooting,

within the herd”.

some are vegetarian, but each year a cohort will progress from clays to standing in the line on their first driven pheasant shoot.

Cara cut her teeth in the traditionally male-dominated

Our sport’s traditional demographic does play into the hands of those who politicise natural privilege and this sits poorly in national conversations about land use for sporting interests.

industry. Clumsy mansplaining and other unintended biases

The answer is diversity and more of it, not just on the matter of

will inevitably exist, but Cara has never experienced intentional

gender but wider social inclusion. Consequently, those women

discrimination and described the predominant male attitude as

who take up the sport carry with them an important role in

highly supportive and even “chivalrous”. Sometimes traditional

breaking down prejudices – prejudices that are squarely outwith

gender preconceptions can work to women shooters’

the ranks of the shooting line.

advantage. “You cannot fail,” opined Cara. “If you are having a bad day in the shooting line there is not the same pressure from male guns and they may show a level of support and sympathy that is rarely extended to their male buddies. If you shoot well, men might be caught by surprise, but the likely attitude is, ‘Hey, well done hen!’”

One of the last bastions of male domination would be gamekeeping, but there have always been trailblazers. Holkham, one of the UK’s most prominent shooting estates, caused a Portia Simpson became the first lady to qualify from a Scottish gamekeeping college in 2003, the media interest suggested little social progress in the last 150 years. Simpson went on to write a book of her experiences and was at the vanguard of an increasing number of female stalkers and keepers.

12

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Credit: Byron Pace

stir by appointing a female keeper in the mid 1800s. When

plan your stay

WHERE TO STAY Start planning your trip to Scotland by booking to stay in one of these excellent hunting-friendly hotels and lodges

T

he Scottish Country Sports Tourism Group (SCSTG)

was started in 2004 to promote Scotland as a country sports tourism holiday destination and help sustain its rural communities. There are more than four million people who enjoy country sports in the UK alone.

To recognise this, VisitScotland and the Country Sports Tourism Group have developed the Fieldsports Welcome Scheme for accommodation that makes a special effort to cater for the needs of field sports enthusiasts.

On the whole, Scotland is an exceedingly friendly country and shooting tourists are not just tolerated but heartily welcomed.

You’re guaranteed a warm reception at this list of shootingfriendly accommodation, newly curated from scratch this year.

Whether it’s five-star luxury or basic B&B you’re after, read on and find a place for you.

Glenapp Castle

ABERDEENSHIRE

Dalriada Luxury Lodges

ANGUS

The Wheatsheaf at Swinton

Aberlour Cottages

*****

House of Turin *****

****

2 Allt A Bhainne, Glenrinnes,

Dalriada Properties Ltd, Cowie,

Turin House, Forfar, Angus, DD8

Main Street, Swinton, Berwickshire,

Dufftown, Aberdeenshire, AB55

Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

2UF, info@houseofturin.com

TD11 3JJ

4DB (Property postcode is AB38

AB39 3RH

01307 830463

reception@wheatsheaf-swinton.

9NY)

kelly@dalriadalodges.com

www.houseofturin.com

ms_stella_taylor@yahoo.co.uk,

01569 769189

01340 821557 / 07400 222272,

www.dalriadalodges.com

www.aberlourcottages.dipago.de

co.uk, 01890 860257 www.wheatsheaf-swinton.co.uk

AYRSHIRE Dalry, Ayrshire, KA24 4ER

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

enquiries@blairestate.com, 01294

Friars Carse Country House

833100, www.blairestate.com

Hotel ***

Blair Estate *****

Auldgirth, Dumfries, Dumfries & Glenapp Castle *****

Galloway, DG2 0SA

Ballantrae, South Ayrshire, KA26

fcsalesandevents@pofr.co.uk

0NZ

01387 740388

info@glenappcastle.com, 01465

www.friarscarse.co.uk

831212, www.glenappcastle.com

INVERNESS-SHIRE

Dalrachney Lodge

14

www.countrysportscotland.com

BERWICKSHIRE

Alvie Holiday Cottages ***

The Lodge Carfraemill ****

Alvie Estate, Kincraig, Kingussie,

Lauder, Berwickshire, TD2 6RA

Inverness-shire, PH21 1NE

enquiries@carfraemill.co.uk, 01578

info@alvie-estate.co.uk, 01540

750750, www.carfraemill.co.uk

651255, www.alvie-estate.co.uk

plan your stay

Dalrachney Lodge *** Grantown Road, Carrbridge, Inverness-shire, PH23 3AT dalrachney@aol.com, 01479 841252, www.dalrachney.com Kingsmills Hotel **** Culcabock Road, Inverness, Inverness-shire, IV2 3LP, reservations@kingsmillshotel.com 01463 257141 www.kingsmillshotel.com Links House *****

Blair Estate

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel

Golf Road, Dornoch, IV25 3LN info@linkshousedornoch.com 01862 851826 www.linkshousedornoch.com Muckrach Country House Hotel *** Dulnain Bridge, Grantown-on-Spey, Inverness-shire, PH26 3LY info@muckrach.com, 01479 851227, www.muckrach.com

LANARKSHIRE Hearthstanes Estate *** Tweedsmuir, Biggar, Lanarkshire,

Ballathie House Hotel

ML12 6QN holidayrentals@hearthstanes.com

bev@cauldhameestate.co.uk

Mid Cambushinnie Farm

Borders, TD5 7HT

01899 225119

0772 108 2156

Cromlix, Dunblane, Perthshire,

info@crabtreeandcrabtree.

www.hearthstanes.com

www.cauldhameestate.co.uk

FK15 9JU

com, 01573 226711, www.

cambushinniecroft@gmail.

crabtreeandcrabtree.com

MORAYSHIRE

Dunalastair Hotel Suites

com, 07977 135071, www.

Culdearn House ****

1 The Square, Kinloch Rannoch,

cambushinniecroft.co.uk

Woodlands Terrace, Grantown-on-

Perthshire, PH16 5PW

Spey, Morayshire, PH26 3JU

bookings@dunalastairhotel.com

Royal Dunkeld Hotel ***

Borders, TD6 0RQ

enquiries@culdearn.com, 01479

01882 580444

Atholl Street, Dunkeld, Perthshire,

lee@dryburgh.co.uk, 01835

872106, www.culdearn.com

www.dunalastairhotel.com

PH8 0AR

822261, www.dryburgh.co.uk

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel **** St Boswells, Melrose, Scottish

reservations@royaldunkeld.co.uk

PERTHSHIRE

East Haugh House Hotel

01350 727322

The Tontine Hotel ***

Ballathie House Hotel ****

****

www.royaldunkeld.co.uk

High Street, Peebles, Scottish

Kinclaven, Stanley, Perthshire, PH1

Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5TE

4QN

info@easthaugh.co.uk, 01796

SCOTTISH BORDERS

kate.innes@tontinehotel.com,

verity@ballathiehousehotel.com,

473121, www.easthaugh.co.uk

Crabtree & Crabtree

01721 720892

1 Bridge Street, Kelso, Scottish

www.tontinehotel.com

01250 883268 www.ballathiehousehotel.com

Borders, EH45 8AJ

Errichel House ****/***** Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, Perthshire,

Barley Bree Restaurant &

PH15 2EL

Rooms ****

enquiries@errichel.co.uk

6 Willoughby Street, Muthill, Nr

01887 820850 / 07974 171699

Crieff, Perthshire, PH5 2AB

www.errichel.co.uk

info@barleybree.com, 01764 681451, www.barleybree.com

The Kenmore Hotel *** The Square, Kenmore, Aberfeldy,

Cauldhame Country House

Perthshire, PH15 2NU

& Cottages

alan.reid@kenmorehotel.com

Kippenrait, Sheriffmuir, Dunblane,

01887 830205

Perthshire, FK15 0LN

www.kenmorehotel.com

The Lodge Carfraemill

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

15

Travel Info

HOW TO GET HERE Whether coming from the south, Ireland or overseas, research your transport options and get to Scotland safely and quickly

S

cotland is well connected by major

Eurowings

roads, train links, airports and

www.eurowings.com; 0330 365 1918

ferry ports.

Norwegian

Many domestic and international airlines

www.norwegian.com; 0330 828 0854

allow passengers to store firearms and ammunition

Qatar Airways

in the hold – though international visitors travelling

www.qatarairways.com

via connecting flights should ensure your firearms

United Airlines

are permitted by each airline.

www.united.com; 08458 444777

If you want to arrive on your first day refreshed and bright-eyed, you can travel overnight on

Vueling www.vueling.com; 020 3514 3971

National Rail www.nationalrail.co.uk; 08457 484950

ScotRail’s Caledonian Sleeper train, which runs between London Euston and Scotland. There are

- Inform the booking agent that you are going to

Caledonian Sleeper

also regular services to Scotland from many major

be carrying ‘sporting firearms and ammunition.’

www.sleeper.scot; 0330 0600500

stations in England and Wales.

- You may accrue additional charges for the

Virgin Trains

carriage of sporting firearms and ammunition.

www.virgintrains.co.uk; 08450 008000

For more information about travelling to Scotland with a firearm or shotgun, turn to page 96.

- Try to obtain written confirmation by email, letter or fax that you have pre-booked the

By Car

firearm in question.

The two main driving routes to Scotland from the

- Contact the airline at least 72 hours before flying

south are via the east of England on the A1, or via

to confirm carriage of your firearms and check

the west using the M6, A74(M) and M74.

restrictions, charges and requirements.

- Passengers are restricted to 5kg ammunition per

Coach travel

person.

Scottish Citylink (servicing more than 200 towns

- Airlines will often require proof that your firearms

and cities in Scotland)

are licensed, either when booking or checking in.

www.citylink.co.uk; 08712 663333

Make sure you have the necessary documentation.

Postbus

Air travel

- Ensure your firearms are in a purpose-built and

(Northern and Scottish mail delivery service that

Major airlines serving Scotland

securely locked gun case, separated from your

accepts fee-paying passengers)

ammunition and main luggage.

www.postbus.royalmail.com; 08457 740740

UK

National Express (servicing the UK)

British Airways

Rail travel

www.nationalexpress.com; 08717 818178

www.britishairways.com; 08444 930787

Approximate travel times:

Eurolines (servicing the rest of Europe)

Eastern Airways

London-Edinburgh: 4hr 30min

www.eurolines.co.uk; 08717 818178

www.easternairways.com; 01652 680600

London-Glasgow: 5hr

easyJet

Regular services throughout the day from main

Ferry travel

www.easyjet.com; 08431 045000

English cities. Overnight sleepers also available.

Many cruise lines offer travel to Scotland

Flybe

LNER

throughout the year, with journey times from

www.flybe.com; 08717 002000

www.lner.co.uk; 03457 225333

Ireland starting from one hour.

Logan Airways www.loganair.co.uk; 01418 487594 Ryanair www.ryanair.com; 0871 246 0000

International Air Canada rouge www.flyrouge.com; 001 888 247 2262

Local firearms licensing departments Aberdeen 01224 306270 | firearmslicensingaberdeen@scotland.pnn.police.uk Stirling 01259 727668 | firearmslicensingstirling@scotland.pnn.police.uk Dundee 01382 596858 | firearmslicensingdundee@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Air France

Edinburgh 01313 113297 | firearmslicensingedinburgh@scotland.pnn.police.uk

www.airfrance.co.uk; 08716 633777

Glasgow 101 | firearmslicensingglasgow@scotland.pnn.police.uk

Brussels Airlines

Inverness 01463 720484 | firearmslicensinginverness@scotland.pnn.police.uk

www.brusselsairlines.com; 09056 095609 Emirates www.emirates.com; 08448 002777

16

www.countrysportscotland.com

Glenrothes 01592 418424 | firearmslicensingglenrothes@scotland.pnn.police.uk Dumfries 08456 005701| firearmslicensingdumfries@scotland.pnn.police.uk

review Schultz and Larsen Victory

Flawless Victory

Stuart Wilson reviews a hill-ready rifle with 150 years of history behind it.

It’s the Schultz & Larsen Victory in 6.5x55

I

have admired Schultz & Larsen rifles for many years now, sold a few and handled them in various

shops, but I had never fired one, neither stalking nor on target. The overall finish is always very good, aesthetically they tick my box, so when I needed a review rifle supplied quickly, it was the ideal opportunity to have a quick conversation with a gun shop near me about collecting a Schultz & Larsen Victory in 6.5x55 Swedish. It came ready scoped, zeroed, complete with moderator and slip and the preferred ammunition. I planned to put a couple of rounds on to paper to check the zero, then sneak a few sessions in search of a buck that dared show himself.

My first job was to do the usual research.

Scanning through the most recent brochure to get myself up to speed, with the rifle propped beside my desk, I could also get my own measurements rather than take anything for granted. After a good read through and several shoulderings I was soon getting more familiar and confident. This model

18

www.countrysportscotland.com

The ‘slide & lock’ mounts have summer and winter settings, to allow for thicker clothing needing a shorter eye relief

review Schultz and Larsen Victory

The forend chequering is crisp and precise

I can appreciate that the classic lines would be

is 14x1mm and is threaded for the UK market

compromised. The wood is nicely figured, with an

specifically, you can have the barrel unthreaded,

oil finish that has the satin sheen to it that only

and other options like fluting, either straight or

comes from use in the field. Yes, this is a pretty

spiralled. The switch barrel design of the Schultz &

rifle but it is put to good use in all conditions, from

Larsen Victory also means calibre changes can be

hind culling in Scotland to roe stalking in Yorkshire.

performed pretty quickly, with magnum calibres

Nonetheless it gets looked after.

needing the larger faced bolt installing to match

The butt stock features a straight combed

any magnum barrel. Pop the stock off and loosen

cheekpiece, which positions your eye naturally

the bottom bolts that keep the barrel located

for scoped shooting, with high mounts for the

and the barrel can be drawn out. As the bolt’s

8x56 making it just a smidgen high for my liking.

three lugs lock into the barrel it is sometimes a

I may be splitting hairs here as I only really

handy feature being able to drop the barrel out

noticed this as I mounted the rifle as I write,

for cleaning of the lug abutments. The rifle is no

not in any field situation. The butt pad is a good

heavier due to the switch barrel design, and you

quality ventilated Wegu pad. This brown pad

can quite happily use the rifle with one barrel; it

can be substituted with one of brick-red colour

is, however, nice to have the option of switching a

is the Victory with Grade 2 upgraded woodwork,

with some of the higher grades of wood. The

barrel out, regardless of the reason.

in 6.5x55 Swedish, and the ammunition is RWS,

overall finish of the stock is fantastic – I dread to

the scope topping the rifle is a good old Schmidt

think of the dedicated, skilled hours it takes to

chrome moly steel, with the top of the Victory

& Bender 8x56 1” tubed German with the

achieve this finish.

machined to accept the Slide & Lock mounts,

bombproof A7 reticle, with the muzzle sporting

The action, like the barrel, is machined from

which allow the scope to be moved backwards

Barrel and action

then forwards for summer stalking in thinner

The barrel and action of the Schultz & Larsen

clothing or winter stalking in thicker jackets. True

FIRST IMPRESSION

are machined in-house, with all finishing work

to Schultz & Larsen style, the actions are also

Viewing the rifle for the first time, you can

to final polishing and any coating/bluing done

drilled and tapped to accept other bases such as

not mistake the quality of the woodwork. It’s

in house to their exacting standards. We have

weaver rails. Cycling the bolt shows the accuracy

a splendid piece of Grade 2 walnut, with a

Hans Schultz, the founder, to thank for the level

of all the machined surfaces that have then

semi pistol grip, crisp chequering fore and aft,

of craftsmanship, accuracy and strength that

been lovingly polished, leaving a slick bolt action.

rosewood forend tip and the same on the bottom

we still find in Schultz & Larsen rifles today. This

The bolt handle is swept back slightly, and has a

of the pistol grip. The dimensions are good: 14in

philosophy reaches further into the heart of the

small weight-saving hole bored into its end. The

(355mm) length of pull, a pleasing right-hand palm

design of the rifle which we will see as I highlight

one-piece three-lug design has a neat extractor

swell, which is chequered both sides, with the

some of the safety features. The barrels are all cut

that runs in a small slot machined into one of

wrist of the stock settling the hand nicely allowing

rifled from straight, stress-relieved chrome moly

the bolt lugs with the plunger firing cases out of

the trigger finger to ease the safety catch on/

steel, and great care is then taken as the blanks

the ejection port smartly. There is the usual slot

off when needed. The forend, also chequered, is

are bored and cut rifled before being internally

machined down the side of the bolt that runs

elegant while remaining deep enough to keep my

polished – I would love to see this process as

over the same bolt release lever, keeping the bolt

fingers off the barrel, with the final standard touch

it involves unique tin laps, individually honing

running straight and true. With the bolt closed in

of sling swivels front and rear.

every barrel, then a huge number of finishing

the action, three holes can be seen on the bolt

processes. The goal is uniformity of all dimensions

lining up into the ejection port, their function is

and the final polished finish. The muzzle thread

to safely port gases away from the shooter even

one of Schultz & Larsen’s own moderators.

This is certainly one rifle that I would not attach a bipod to. I am a fully fledged heathen, but even

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

19

review Schultz and Larsen Victory

weight, overall and how it affects the handling and carrying of a rifle. But I am biased towards moderators, and would normally go for a triedand-tested one-piece design.

Recently, and even more so after using Schultz & Larsen’s MC38 Ultradome, I would happily explore using a light alloy modular moderator. Strip, clean, change threads – all positives to add to an efficient moderator. The Swede has never been a savage calibre, but adding a moderator smoothed the Schultz & Larsen remarkably. Add that to the fact that contractors are cutting and harvesting the silage fields around the hunting box I am sat writing this review in, and I don’t think an opportune moderated shot would cause any great alarm.

The slightly swept-back bolt cycles smoothly, giving ample clearance for fast reloads

“ This is a pretty rifle but it is put to good use in all conditions, from hind culling in Scotland to roe stalking in Yorkshire ”

Conclusion I thoroughly enjoyed my brief encounter with the Schultz & Larsen Victory. It is definitely an ‘Ooh, what’s that?’ rifle when you show people, it handles well, and has no compromise machining and finishing. The standard model retails at around £2,000 – for a switch-barrel that represents excellent value when you consider the level of craftsmanship.

in the unlikely event of a case rupture or primer

The moderator

blow out.

Love them or hate them, moderators can

Specifications

Continuing with the safety theme, the

make a big difference. A well-made moderator,

three-position safety catch does the usual

installed and maintained correctly, will reduce

forward for fire, rear for safe, with the middle

noise, recoil, and sometimes muzzle flip. With

Barrel: 545mm

position being safe but with the bolt unlocked,

practice, you are more likely to see the strike

Length of pull: 355mm

in the fully rear safe position the rifle is safe,

with a moderated shot.

Personal preference and certain other

the bolt locked and the firing pin is also blocked, making for very safe rifle. This is not a

criteria sometimes lead shooters to avoid

substitute for muzzle awareness!

moderators. They are another link in the chain, something else to look after or potentially go

Magazine and trigger

wrong, and perhaps the main gripe is the added

Length: 1075mm (1195mm with mod)

Weight: 4150g scoped without mod Moderator: MC38 Ultradome 225mm Mod weight: 325g Contact: Alan Rhone 01978 660001 greatdanerifles.com

The bottom metal is like everything else on the Schultz & Larsen – if it looks like metal and should be metal then it is, and it’s beautifully machined, polished and blued. Two action screws are countersunk into the bottom metal, the magazine release button is also nicely recessed near the front action screw, and to the rear of the magazine opening is a small sprung detente. This pops the single stack magazine out. The magazine is, as you should now expect, solidly built and finished to the Schultz & Larsen standard – single stack which feeds perfectly and loads easily, and would take one in the chamber and three loaded into the magazine.

Moving on to the trigger, the standard unit is a single-stage affair, but this review rifle has a very fine two-stage upgrade. I am a big fan of twostage triggers, even in hunting rifles. It is crisp and breaks like glass. I am not overly fussy on triggers – I just really appreciate a top quality unit.

20

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The magazine is a simple straight stack, feeds faultlessly, and pops in and out of the rifle easily

Gear rifles

Rifle roundup Four more rifles to keep you on target when taking shots on the hill

Mauser M18 M12, Mauser's latest rifle

Ruger American Predator

Bergara B14 Hunting Match Rifle

is actually a callback to the

Featuring a moss green

Built on the B14 bolt action,

classic M98, embodying its

composite stock and

the latest releases from

total reliability without any

a blued barrel, this

Bergara have an integrated

unnecessary features that

version of the American

mini chassis for repeatable

would bump up the price.

Centrefire has all the

bedding and accuracy. The

It’s a workhorse rifle that is

features of the line. This

B14 Hunting Match Rifle

nevertheless an incredibly

includes the Marksman

(pictured) has a synthetic

effective package despite

Adjustable trigger and a

stock with an adjustable

its low price. With heaps

one-piece, three-lug bolt

cheek piece and spacers

of durability, stability and

with 70-degree throw. The

to customise length of pull.

reliability built in, Mauser

barrel is hammer-forged

This model is available in

calls it the ‘people’s rifle’,

and free floating. The rifle

6.5 Creedmoor with a 22

and it’s available in a

comes with a 4+1 rotary

inch standard barrel or .308

range of poular calibres:

magazine that fits flush to

Win. in either 20 or 24 inch

.308 and .30-06 to begin

the stock and is available

standard barrel. There’s

with, with .243, .270. 7mm

in .204, .22-250, .223,

also a Match Precision

Rem and .300 Win Mag

.243, .6.5 and .308. The

version in 6.5 Creedmoor

following on soon, so it

Predator has a one piece

with a 24-inch varmint

can be used for foxes, roe

aluminium rail fitted, so

barrel or .308 Win with a 20

or even larger deer on

it’s easy to attach a scope

inch varmint barrel. Both

the hill.

and get hunting.

models have threaded

Price: £766

Price: £680

barrels and five round AICS-

Blaser 01483 917412

Viking Arms

type magazines.

blaser-sporting.com

01423 780810

Price: £1,038

vikingarms.com

RUAG 01579 362319

Coming six years after the

ruag.co.uk

Tikka T3X Lite Synthetic Stainless The T3X Lite Synthetic Stainless is the latest development of Tikka’s

ejection port, metallic bolt shroud, improved rail attachment and

T3 model. The T3 has been a huge seller over the years, and it just

a steel recoil lug. It’s available in right and left-handed versions in

keeps on getting better thanks to constant innovations from the

calibres from .222 to .30-06.

manufacturer. This version features several improvements including

Price: £1,195

a new modular stock, improved grip, a new recoil pad, redesigned

GMK 01489 587500 gmk.co.uk

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

21

gear up shotgun selection

shotgun selection Investing in some game-shooting hardware? Richard Atkins navigates the perilous waters that surround buying a shotgun, from fit to weight to price

B

uying a shotgun can

first decision to be made is whether to buy a new,

to give a reasonable fit. Length of pull is easily

be daunting. Advice

budget-priced gun or a second-hand model from

adjusted, but if you have a longer or shorter

from well-meaning

one of the better known brands. It is possible to

neck than average, for example, some makes

friends can help,

buy what appears to be a remarkably good value

and models will suit you better. A good gun shop

but without understanding the factors that

gun – but will that gun help you progress, or might

can also help with this and it should be fairly

influence how a new gun will suit you, you are

it hold you back? Let us look into some factors

straightforward to select a gun, new or pre-owned,

liable to find yourself repeating the process

that can influence the performance potential of a

that naturally guides your eye to look along the

sooner rather than later.

shotgun, the importance of which might otherwise

top rib when comfortably mounted, with your

be overlooked or underestimated.

cheek on the comb.

Anyone who browses internet forums will know that newcomers frequently ask for advice about

Not everyone will want exactly the same feel

Having a comb raised or lowered is nothing

buying a gun for game – or indeed for clays or

and handling qualities from their gun, but with

to fear and neither is a minor adjustment to

anything else. The vast range of comments that

that said, there are some basic fundamentals

cast. Adjustable combs are common these days,

come back will often confuse as much as assist.

about what feels good in the hands and

even on guns costing under £1,000 new (the

The most common response is, “Get one that

enhances performance. If the key things

ATA SP o/u is one example). Adjustable comb

fits.” Sound advice, but not easily achieved unless

are lacking then this can hinder a shooter’s

stocks also allow easy adjustments of cast to

you have access to a good gun shop with a broad

progress. These key factors are fit, weight,

align the eye with the top rib. You cannot shoot

stock selection and knowledgeable staff. And fit is

trigger pulls and balance or handling.

to your full potential if a low comb is causing

not the only aspect that needs to be considered.

Gun fit can be assessed by visiting a clay range

your gun’s receiver to obscure its rib; neither

with a good coach, having a lesson and getting

will you be consistent if your gun’s alignment is

Budget considerations

some advice. The coach will be able to outline the

causing you to shoot to one side of your target

The amount you have available to spend will, of

basic dimensions that should suit and possibly

– a particular problem for shooting driven game

course, be important. Bearing this in mind, the

give some indication of what guns are more likely

that’s coming directly towards you. Similarly,

22

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GEAR UP shotgun selection

a low comb can cause a shooter to raise their head to get a better view of the bird, and this too leads to inconsistency.

Gun weight should be dictated by a combination of build, strength and what the gun will be used for. A heavier gun will help soak up recoil, but you have to trade that off with weight. If the gun will see extended field use, then something a little lighter might be better for days walking around the fields.

Trigger pulls An important consideration when selecting a shotgun, new or pre-owned, is how its trigger pulls feel. This can be easily missed when trying a gun in a shop, especially if there isn’t an opportunity to try some dry fire ‘shots’ in a back room or quiet area. If you can actually take a gun to a shooting ground then that’s ideal. A pair of snap caps and some practice mounting, swings and dry-firing will tell you more than just whether the gun fits.

Trigger pulls have several aspects to consider: release weight; length of pull to release;

Adjustable combs are becoming an increasingly common feature on off-the-shelf stocks

smoothness in releasing the shot; pre-travel (sometimes called ‘take-up’) and over-travel

Triggers that have overly long pre-travel or a

themselves to the finest trigger pulls. You only

(excessive movement after release). The most

‘gritty’ feel can be unhelpful too, as can too much

have to examine the inner workings of a premium

significant of these is release weight. If a gun

play before the trigger engages with the sear

grade gun to see its intricate design and high-

makes you think the safety catch might be on

lifters. Simply put, poor trigger pulls can spoil any

quality manufacture. This needs time and the skill

when it is not, then it will be extremely difficult

gun’s potential, and with it the potential of the

of true craftsman to assemble, fit and adjust. That

to shoot well with it, because it will be difficult to

shooter who uses it. Conversely, a decent pull

is what it takes to achieve the short, crisp, trigger

ensure it goes off at the moment your brain says

release will help your technique immensely.

pulls with sub-4lb release weights found on the

to pull the trigger. This could make you mistime

All these features depend on the design

majority of high-grade competition shotguns.

your shot release and miss your intended line.

and quality of the trigger mechanism (which

Trigger weights that fall between 4 and 5½lbs

dictates the way the sear and bent engagement

Handling

usually work out OK, especially if the release is

and release operates). The easiest systems

The handling qualities of any gun are difficult to

smooth and not too long.

to manufacture and assemble do not lend

adequately describe; it would require a small book

Extended choke tubes can affect the handling of your shotgun, so try before you buy where possible

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

23

gear up shotgun selection

‘muzzle heavy’. Since interchangeable chokes became almost universal, balance points have tended to move forward.

To complicate matters, simply balancing on the hinge point is not enough for a gun to handle really well. If balance is achieved by using a light receiver combined with heavy barrels and a stock weighted to counter them, then the gun can feel ‘dead’ in the hands. Such guns are difficult to point instinctively and can take more effort to get moving. On the other hand, if the gun has a heavy receiver and its barrels are carefully profiled to avoid undue weight, the weight then becomes centred closer to the receiver and is said to ‘fall between the hands’. The effect of this is to make the gun feel lighter than it actually is, especially when held with both hands.

Multi-chokes can move balance points further forward than is ideal. This is for two reasons: firstly the barrel tubes must be made thicker to accept A look at the workings of your gun’s action will often reveal where your money has been spent (or where savings have been made)

the recess and threads for the choke tubes. This can be achieved either by gradually increasing the outside barrels’ diameter from part way along their length, or by swaging out just the last few inches of barrel. Some makers, particularly in the

to do full justice to the topic, so the advice here is

to identify the features of a gun’s handling

budget sector of the market, have thicker walls

only a snapshot.

that complement their shooting style. Many

that taper for quite a distance – approaching half

things play a part in the handling qualities of

the barrels’ length. This adds more weight as you

feeling and feedback one gets when using a

a gun, but one of the most important is how it

get nearer to the muzzles. Most premium makers

shotgun. What feels wrong to one person might

balances. The hinge pins are frequently used

keep tapering to a minimum to avoid excess

be perfect for another. But although subjective

as the reference point to talk about balance;

forward weight.

preferences play a role, it is still true that using

shooters talk about their guns’ balance in terms

Secondly, the choke tubes themselves can

good quality equipment can make the experience

of how far in front of or behind the hinge point

be quite heavy too. Extended choke tubes may

easier, more satisfying and more enjoyable.

their centres of gravity are. A gun that balances

look smart, but the steel ones add considerable

A gun that handles well will improve

exactly on the hinge pins is said to have ‘neutral’

forward weight and can upset your gun’s balance

shooting performance. As a shooter gains

balance; as balance moves toward forward

and handling qualities. Some premium brands

more experience they become better able

(toward the muzzles) it becomes increasingly

offer titanium chokes, which are lighter than steel.

There are no absolute terms to define the

Even extended chokes will improve balance if The quality of your trigger mechanism will determine the feel and weight of your trigger pulls

they are made of titanium. Muller also produce ceramic extended choke tubes, which are also much lighter than steel.

Hopefully this article provides some modest insight into the factors that create a shotgun that brings out the best in its user. During a gun test, when a gun feels right and handles well, even targets I thought I had misjudged will break; with a less lively gun that lacks that intuitive feel, the reverse can happen.

Many years of testing guns regularly has revealed to me that the qualities that make for a better handling shotgun – one that can improve your performance and raise your confidence – are more likely to be found with a higher price tag.

That need not mean spending a small fortune; there are some really quality made older guns available pre-owned at attractive prices. Some research and trials will show that there are reasons why some guns cost more than others.

Discovering these for yourself can be very useful in the long run.

24

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DEER DSC1

Get qualified

The DSC1 isn’t just a piece of paper – it’s something every Scottish stalker, amateur or professional, should think about getting. Chris Dalton gives the inside view on how to pass it

S

ummer stalking is

been added to my list by my wife. These will be

makes for a productive trip if you can tick a few

upon me as I write this

in the high priority category and are coded ‘Must

boxes on the foray north.

article. It’s great stalking

do today’. Most of you will well know what I mean,

in warm weather,

and it’s best not to grumble and just get them

Why should I take it?

done, preferably yesterday.

My opinion on the DSC1 is that is is a very good

but boy, does it mean long days and short nights. I have said it many times but it’s worth

The more astute of my regular stalkers have

qualification and worth doing. A question I often

repeating: The life of a professional stalker at

long since sussed that at this time of year it’s more

get asked is, ‘But does it really benefit you?’ Yes it

this time of year invariably involves the alarm

pleasant to do the morning and maybe look at

most certainly does. If you are new to the world

going off just after you have set it, especially if

doing something else during the afternoon or

of stalking, the police will invariably require you

you’re guiding in the morning then overseeing

evening – skip the midnight return after a long

to take it to get a deer-legal firearm, so that’s

an evening vigil from a high seat.

session waiting for that big buck to appear in front

one benefit right from the off. Yes, there are

of the seat before you have to face the 2.30am

exceptions to this, and no it’s not a requirement

are treated to some great stalking, in wonderful

alarm call. That makes it a good time to get on

of the licensing regulations, but you may as

surroundings with hopefully a lovely roebuck in

with the Deer Stalking Certificate level one (DSC

well accept it for all sorts of reasons. It’s a good

fox-red coat hanging in the chiller. Then shower,

1), if you have not taken it. You can get a bit of

idea – just get on with it. Increasingly you will

relax and enjoy a legendary Garryloop breakfast,

stalking in, have time to chill/revise, and then do

find – and this is certainly true for commercial

then time for a nap and chill before venturing out

the assessment. I have done a fair bit of assessing

forestry ground – that you will need a minimum

again in the late evening. For me, yes I get the

for guys in this fashion over recent years during

of DSC1 to stalk unaccompanied on a deer lease

breakfast, but then I’m off to deal with the myriad

the summer months and it does work well. If folk

or sporting agreement. So if you don’t have DSC1

jobs I have, plus a few unexpected ones that have

are travelling quite a way, which they often are, it

and want an FAC for stalking, and land to stalk on

It’s great for the guests who stay with us – they

28

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DEER DSC1

elements you have achieved are signed off, and as long as you retake the module you failed within three years, that’s the DSC1 passed.

What is involved?

Essentially, there are five elements. Two are practical, if I can call them that: a range test, which simulates exactly what you do if you pay for stalking, or indeed what you will likely do if you have your own stalking ground. Stalking clients will be taken on to the range just to check the rifle is set up and zeroed correctly, and then make sure that the guest can shoot straight and is safe. If you travel for recreational stalking, you will invariably be taken to a target set up somewhere, again just to check that the rifle is OK before heading out on your first morning.

The test involves getting three shots within the standard four-inch group from 100 metres prone.

You can use a bipod, rest on a coat or roe sack – whatever you would have with you in the field. You can have three attempts at this, but you must get all three shots into the target area before you can move on to a different target, which is a silhouette of a deer. There is no defined scoring area on Chris demonstrates principles of safe firearms handling before a ‘stalk’ round the estate

this second test, or at least one you can see from the firing point. You now take six shots from

via the syndicate route, my advice is give the police

on the food safety aspects of handling and

three different firing positions – prone from 100

firearms enquiry officers what they want: good

processing deer. It’s also the stepping stone to the

metres, kneeling or sitting from 70 metres and

reason along with demonstrable training and a

Deer Stalking Certificate level two (DSC2).

then standing from 40 metres. Two shots from

recognised qualification.

I have taken many hundreds of folk through

It can seem daunting, especially when that thick

each stand – again this is really only simulating

training manual lands on the doormat, but over

the sort of shots you may be presented with while

the DSC1 over the years and I think we should

the years I have been involved with assessments,

stalking. You do not need a rifle and can take the

all take credit for the uptake of the qualification,

the pass rate has been high. Remember also that

assessment using the ‘estate rifle facility’, but you

which is done voluntarily on all but a very few

it’s a five-module exam, so should you fail one

need to organise this in advance and meet the

occasions. Having DSC1 does not make you

or more elements then it’s not a disaster. The

legal requirements for it.

a good stalker, but it does mean you have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in all aspects of stalking, from the law through deer ecology, recognition and the like. You will have demonstrated competence in the safe handling of firearms and completed a comprehensive safety evaluation, along with achieving compliance

The marksmanship test during its final standing phase at 40 metres

Sticks are permitted but you must place three shots in the target area

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

29

DEER DSC1

margin of error. The final element is a visual paper.

halfway house, which involves self-study as well

simulated stalk where you will be asked 10 safety-

The safety assessment is a walk around a

Here you will be shown 20 pictures of a random

as a revision session before the assessment.

related questions and have to explain what you

selection of the six UK species of deer and have to

would do in the circumstances or scenario given.

identify the species and sex. Again the pass mark

If you are stalking, or fancy taking up the sport, I

During this ‘stalk’, you will carry a rifle and there

is 80 per cent.

strongly recommend that you take it. It will stand

will always be at least one question asking you to

So really you have no excuse for not doing it.

you in very good stead.

do something with the rifle – this may be crossing

How do I get it?

an obstacle or perhaps handing the firearms to

So there you have it: The DSC1. There are

private stalking ground may well feel that you

the assessor. There will also be four deer targets

three ways to take the assessment. The first

don’t need to bother with DSC1. However, over

strategically placed around the route and you will

is a full-blown training course followed by the

recent years I have lost count of the number

have to state whether you would take the shot or

assessment. This usually takes three to four

of folk who have called me in a flat spin after

not, i.e. is it safe.

days and these are run by various providers –

they lost ground for whatever reason – most

BASC and BDS will be the main players. You can

commonly sale of ground or a bereavement

choice papers, one general paper of 50 questions

also do it all on your own: self-study and simply

– and all of sudden they have no stalking and

and a large game handling paper of 40 questions.

sit the assessment with an organisation/location

can’t get on to land or into a syndicate without

The pass mark is 80 per cent, so there is a decent

of your choice. I actually run an option of a

this qualification. You have been warned.

Back in the classroom, you sit two multiple

Those of you who are fortunate and have

“ Having DSC1 does not make you a good stalker, but it does mean you have demonstrated knowledge and understanding in all aspects of stalking, from the law through to deer ecology ” Chris and his latest crop of students inspect a shot target

30

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stalking red deer

Preparing for the Hill Are you heading to the Highlands for a rutting stag this autumn? Be warned, says Dominic Griffith – your lowland stalking skills will only take you so far

32

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stalking red deer

T

he lowland stalker

satisfaction from having battled the elements and

fleeces for back-up warmth. With gloves and hats

has a relatively easy

come through on top of things.

of similar performance, there is really no need to

life. Roe tend to be inactive in cold, wet

Today there is really little excuse for suffering

be uncomfortable for the majority of occasions.

such discomfort. Gore-Tex lined boots such as

That said, it wouldn’t be highland stalking if you

and windy weather and so stalking is best

Meindls mean that you start and finish your day

weren’t challenged a bit and whatever you are

left for better days. They can be approached

with warm dry feet. All the major manufacturers

wearing you will still get cold and miserable lying in

comfortably from the upright position and are

produce lightweight warm and waterproof stalking

a peat hag in the rain for an hour. And don’t forget

easy to handle post cull.

trousers like my old Deerhunter Deer-Tex, which

midge cream and a midge net – the Scottish

have kept me going for many years but have no

midge can ruin a day quicker than the rain!

and perfected, and yes, you have to adapt to

doubt now been replaced by something even

Nowadays it is quite usual to carry a small daysack

restricted sleep and very early starts, but generally

better. And again there is an enormous range of

with your piece (lunch), spare clothes, dragging

the art of roe stalking is one of a gentle approach

waterproof smocks and jackets with lightweight

rope and other essentials or emergency items.

Yes, the standing shot needs to be practised

made under relatively benign conditions. Fallow offer their own challenges – they are just too big to handle comfortably alone, groups can be easier to approach in atrocious weather conditions, and they can frustrate the stalker through constantly changing behaviour. Nothing of this, however,

“ Stalking starts after a leisurely breakfast but thereafter relaxation is replaced by many hours marching relentlessly up perpendicular mountains ”

prepares you for the rigours of a day in the Highlands for red.

Although red deer come down from the hill at night to feed, the tradition on many estates is to set out in pursuit well after they have made their

Once you reach the top of the hill, the exertion will seem but a distant memory

way back up the tops. So stalking starts after a leisurely breakfast but thereafter relaxation is replaced by many hours marching relentlessly up perpendicular mountains, or patiently enduring the rain and midges whilst lying face down in a bog waiting either for a particular stag or hind to get up or for a stubborn bank of mist to clear.

An ill-prepared guest may find this a punishing experience, so how should you best prepare for what in the round is simply one of Scotland’s finest experiences?

Preparing for the mountains is made easier today by the wealth of excellent kit that is available. But the choice is almost too big and the prices so high that it’s not easy to experiment and find the right compromise between comfort, durability, water resistance and warmth. Setting off from the south on a mild late September/early October day, you might find it difficult to adapt to the temperature drop that can be experienced at 2000ft or just how debilitating a 40mph wind with biting showers can be on a mountain side.

When I worked as a pony boy in the early 1980s

Credit: Justin Tallis / Staff / Getty Images

we would go to the hill in dubbined leather boots, which would remain water resistant for perhaps an hour or two, tweed breeks whose turnovers would trap the worst of the water and keep it away from your skin, and on our backs would be a waxed Barbour jacket with a spare woollen jersey underneath it wrapped around the waist. The idea, as so it remains today, is to avoid getting too hot and sweaty going uphill but to have something spare to put on when you get to the top, all covered by a waterproof outer. Of course the jacket wasn’t really waterproof, the boots leaked like sieves and you simply got used to ending your day soaked and chilled, but with a warm glow of

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

33

stalking red deer

Stay fit and prepared, follow the stalker’s instructions, and you stand a good chance of success

But above all, a day without binoculars is a wasted

“ Mountain men find it just as uncomfortable going uphill as you do, but they have learnt that it is easier to ascend if you don’t stop ”

day and each member of the stalking party will get so much more from the experience if they have their own pair.

All this kit won’t help if you don’t prepare yourself as well. Before you visit try to get hill-fit by walking locally and stretching those calves, hamstrings and Achilles tendons. Mountain men

at the action and poke your head over the skyline

moment that you first spot your selected quarry

find it just as uncomfortable going uphill as you

can be irresistible but terminal. The rule is to try

in the morning, a good approach will keep it out of

do, but they have learnt that it is easier to ascend

to keep lower than the guide at all times and,

your view for most of the stalk.

if you don’t stop. So they will put their heads down

quite frequently, the first time you see the chosen

and plod away on flat feet until they reach the

quarry may be when the stalker passes you the

distances and then settle yourself quickly for

summit. A good guide will keep his pace down but

rifle and crawls you up to the firing point. There

the shot and be prepared with a dragging rope

as the season progresses there is an inevitable

can then be a few frantic moments as you locate

to help if necessary with extraction. Dragging a

increase in speed as they strive to get the climb

the indicated beast which has by now probably

20-stone stag even a short distance through rank

behind them. Just be aware that frequent stops

seen something and may be alert. The shot

heather, dying bracken and rocky burns can make

make the climb more difficult, so try to get a

however should be reasonably straightforward

that earlier ascent seem like a pushover.

plodding rhythm going and keep up with the

being from the prone position and supported,

guide. Once the top is reached, the day becomes

either with bipod or rucksack.

so much easier and you will soon forget the rigours of the ascent.

Red deer have an acute sense of smell and extraordinary eyesight. The desire to get a look

34

A day on the hill involves incredible scenery,

For the final approach, expect to crawl for long

Finally, never leave anyone back at the lodge because after a busy day doing nothing they will inevitably decide to have a prolonged and leisurely

pure air, a wealth of wildlife, and a great walk. A

bath at about 5pm and thereby deprive the

successful stalk requires patience, fieldcraft skills

returning tired and soaked stalking party of the

and a steady nerve at the firing point. From the

limited supply of precious hot water….

www.countrysportscotland.com

hinds wilderness

Walk on the Wild Side Detailing a different kind of hunt, Byron Pace reports from his wilderness red hind stalks in the 2017 season

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

37

hinds wilderness

A

utumn 2018 was

mean that come February, I am well set for the

warm. Very warm. I

following six months.

remember taking a trip to the south of

As the mornings cool, and the pre-dawn frosts become more regular, I begin to think about

Ireland – the stag season had just closed, yet

our organised wilderness hunts. It may seem

few trees had really turned and t-shirts were

a strange time of year be camping out, but it is

still the attire of choice.

the ideal combination of affordability, challenge

Thankfully, while I was away, some decent rain

and variety of hunting.

came to the Angus Glens and much of the country

Last year saw two parties join us on two

I call home. This brings with it the classic time of

separate hunts – one in November and one in

the year for field sports. The rivers are up, and

January. We have been lucky in that every group

the salmon can finally make their last push to

of people who has come on our hunts have

begin spawning. And the red rut brings travelling

bonded and made for an unforgettable all-round

hunters in their droves.

experience. It’s not always like that, as I know from

But that’s not what captures my attention.

other trips and hunts I have been on. Sometimes

Instead, I’m looking forward to the hind season

one person can shift the mood in camp, positively

and roe does. The red rut is always awesome, and

or negatively. But that doesn’t happen here.

this year I sampled the Irish sika rut as well, but

Maybe it’s the type of hunters who want to come

when it comes to hunting, the pursuit of hinds

on a wilderness hunt, in a location with no mobile

really gives me pleasure. Yes, the weather tends

signal, wi-fi, shower or heating. A place where we

to suck; yes, the days are short; and yes, it’s cold,

cook food over a fire, sleep in a communal tent,

but I love it. It is hunting in its purest form. There

and use an outside toilet consisting of little more

can be no question or accusations of ‘trophy

than a box with a two-foot hole dug below it.

hunting’, and there is no denying that this time of

It takes a certain person to seek this out,

year forms one of the most important time frames

and know that we are responsible for all our

for effective, sustainable management. As most

own actions. We make it clear to everyone that

people know, it is the management of the female

although we are there to help each other, we

component of any population which drives the

all must be prepared to graft and consider the

dynamics in terms of overall numbers.

consequences of pulling the trigger. We remove

It brings me great satisfaction to know I have

the convenience of mechanised vehicles as much

helped play a small part in the management

as possible, requiring all game to be transported

strategy of wherever I am lucky enough to

manually to base camp. When your animal drops,

experience is limited, hunters must be prepared

be hunting. Of course, it also comes with the

there needs to be a plan to get it out. That could

to participate and learn.

great benefit of filling my freezer, with the bird

mean a drag. It could be a pack out in pieces, but

hunting season firmly thrust upon us as well.

there is no stalker to look to for the hump home.

of the season, with Scotland in the grip of one of

Venison sourced on my own permission, wildfowl

No one is going to get their hands dirty for you

the bitterly coldest winters in many, many years.

successfully shot, and game birds taken home will

when it comes to the gralloch. At the very least, if

One consequence of this was that our camp

Unusually, the snow remained in place for most

location had to change owing to the barrier of deep snow filling the only track in. These things happen, and we adapted to the cards that we were dealt, instead moving to the opposite side of the estate where the track out lay higher, more exposed to the wind, and mostly clear of snow.

On the November trip, I had the pleasure of my dad joining to lend a hand, with my brother still firmly out of action following an injury sustained in a gun line (and mentioned in last year’s Shoot In Scotland). We wouldn’t know it at that point, but he would be laid up for a further six months after falling and smashing his knee open on a shoot. It took a surgery in June of this year to finally get it on the mend.

A solid group of friends had come together as a team of four, spending three days facing every type of weather Scotland could throw at them.

From gale force winds dumping waves of snow, to whisper-quiet mornings under the harsh sun, we had it all. It wasn’t an easy few days, but everyone managed at least one animal each, with some The conditions don't stop the hunt from continuing – everyone adapts

38

www.countrysportscotland.com

tallying a beast a day.

hinds wilderness

This is as real as hunting gets

Unfortunately one of the crew damaged a muscle on day two, having to sit out the last day of hunting. As it turned out, the hunter had done some quite serious damage, knocking him out of the game for many months, with surgery needed

“ There is no stalker to look to for the hump home.

No one is going to get their hands dirty for you when it comes to the gralloch ”

to aid recovery. Sometimes these things happen, and usually, as in this case, it’s not when doing the hard graft. It’s doing something that feels silly, like landing a bit awkwardly after jumping off a peat hag, or grabbing a backpack at a funny angle.

The January trip brought even more snow and colder conditions, but the hunting was equally as memorable and enjoyable as the hunt two months before. Indeed, on numbers alone it was more successful, albeit with one hunter fewer than the max of four. It was just one of those trips where very little went wrong, and we totalled nine hinds for three hunters over the three days – all of which were extracted by hand.

One of the aspects I enjoy the most about these hunts is the detachment from the outside world. It simply isn’t possible to communicate with anyone else apart from those hunters in your party. No one sits staring at a phone screen.

People make conversation. They tell stories. Joke and laugh. It is how it should be.

For information on Wilderness Hunts, visit www. thepacebrothers.com

Every hunter was responsible for the animals they took – right through to the drag out

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

39

grouse walked up

Roe debut

Credit: Paul A Carpenter/Shutterstock

During what’s usually a quiet period for roe, Chris Dalton breaks the silence by embarking on a guided stalk with the editor’s wife, Debs

E

arly September for

I had organised the schedule so we covered

mood because he paid – a truly uncommon

me is a strange one in

a DSC 1 revision session on the Friday, the

occurrence for a fellow Yorkshireman. All we

terms of accompanied

assessment on the Saturday and left the stalking

needed to do now was get Debs her first Scottish

stalking. We are

outing to Sunday morning. As it happened, that

roebuck. We met early the following morning, just

waiting for the red rut – every day from mid-

also suited the weather forecast for the weekend.

as a hint of daylight started to lighten the sky. My

month is booked, usually years in advance –

Debs passed all five elements of the DSC 1

plan was to stalk close to the house. Debs was

and we still have little roe activity after the rut,

assessment with a near-perfect score and proved

using my rifle from the shooting test – she shot

though they may start to show again about

competent on the range.

with a Tikka T3 Lite in .243, fitted with a titanium

now. The lack of opportunities is compounded

The first part of the weekend successfully

Lawrence Precision moderator and Swarovski

by high vegetation – maybe not in the stubble

negotiated, we enjoyed a celebratory meal in a

scope. So there would be no worries about her

fields and on the arable ground, but most of

local hostelry. Pete must have been in a good

hitting the deer – I just needed to find one. We

my ground still has bracken five feet high on the margins along with rosebay willowherb.

Try finding a roebuck in that lot.

So I usually plan a couple of DSC 1 training courses for this time. This coincided perfectly for Jason Doyle, who was on his way down from hill stalking in central Scotland with Shoot In Scotland’s editor, Pete Carr. Jason had booked in to take his DSC 1 and have a stalk on the roe as Garryloop sits on the route south to the Irish ferry terminal at Cairnryan. Additionally, Pete’s wife, Debs, who had been with them on the hill and had been talking about taking her DSC 1 for some time, decided to come down and take the assessment too. Debs had recently started to get into stalking – she had been out with Pete and, rather impressively, shot her first buck earlier in the year with him in Yorkshire. I said she might as well come out with me and learn how to stalk properly.

And Pete agreed – believe that if you will…

40

Debs completes the range test before heading out to try for a buck

www.countrysportscotland.com

At the crucial moment, Debs stayed composed

roe ayrshire

A DSC1 and a first Scottish buck – not bad for a weekend!

were after a cull buck – this one was on me, so we were not shooting a trophy. Remember what I said about Yorkshiremen?

I glassed the top margins of one of the fields on my ground not long after we had left the house, and could clearly see four roe browsing on the wood boundary. It was too dark to make out what they were, but by the law of averages there ought to a buck with them. My concern was that they looked to be feeding in – roe often do that and browse back in to cover at daylight, and it would take time to work up the wood margin to get into a possible shooting position. I suppose we had around 800 yards to cover to get to them.

However, they were reasonably settled, so plan made, we worked into the wood and worked slowly to them, Oscar leading the way as normal.

His nose was working – the wind was good and he could smell the deer.

It took us 30 minutes to get to a spot where we could leave the cover of the wood and sneak up behind some high ground from where I could have a look and see what, if anything, was still there. I did exactly this only to see three white backsides drifting in the wood. They were not spooked or aware of us – they were simply going to bed, having no doubt fed most of the night on and off under a big moon. There was a doe still in the field, perfectly positioned at no more than 80 yards from us. It could all have worked like clockwork if she was the other sex. Typical!

I have learnt many times not to immediately rush into plan B – at this stage it’s much better to wait a while and just take stock. The deer can reappear from cover, and there may well be other roe you have missed as your attention was fully focused on the deer you were stalking. So we waited for another 20 minutes, allowing our doe

“ There would be no worries about her hitting the deer – I just needed to find one ”

to move off after the others. Nothing else doing so we moved off, slowly working up the fence line to

don’t present a shot. Fair play to Debs – at my

drift across the wood corner and headed towards

whisper, “Just stay on him, track him and if he

a gorse and broom covered glen a few fields away.

turns then take the shot,” she remained totally

We had gone 100 yards when Oscar suddenly

focused. I could see the muzzle was steady as the

got interested again. Almost simultaneously I

buck advanced. He came forward at a slow and

caught movement in front of us in some birch

steady pace and then for whatever reason made

trees across a reed-covered field drain. I could

the grave error of turning right at 140 yards to

see by the way the deer was moving that this was

sniff at a large dock leaf. I gave the ok and the rifle

a young buck taking his chance to have a steady

cracked; he dropped to the shot with no more

mooch about as the other roe in the field had

than a brief twitch and that was it.

gone. We lost sight of him in the rushes but I was

Debs had remained calm throughout the

sure he would work clear and hopefully move

whole process. Considering we actually stalked

down toward our position. I got Debs set on the

for perhaps three field lengths, it was a cracking

quad sticks and we waited patiently.

morning. At no time were any deer, or other

Sure enough, out he came, turned right and

wildlife for that matter, aware of us. We had been

started to work down the edge of the drain

out for under two hours, seen six roe deer in total,

straight towards us. This can be problematic for

and selected one beast to cull for sound deer

two reasons: it’s difficult for the person on the

management. Now then Debs… DSC2?

rifle to stay calm when a deer is walking head on towards you, and often they come right in and

For stalking opportunities Chris can be contacted on 07710 871190 or ayrstalk.co.uk

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

41

kit OPTICS

A MASS OF GLASS

Binoculars and scopes that can capably deal with long-range acquisition and precise shots on the hill

Minox BL-HD 8x44 You’ll find deer out at all times of day and you need a binocular to match. That’s where these ultra-compact, ultra-versatile HD binos from Minox come in. The unusual 44mm objective allows ample light for dawn, dusk and flat light conditions. The glass was developed by Minox specifically for this range and gives a sharp, highcontrast image with excellent colour rendition.

Leupold VX-6HD

The BL-HDs use a poly-carbonate chassis, have an

Taking shots at the very start or end of the day? This is the scope for you. The Max Light Management

‘open bridge’ design, and are therefore light and

System built into Leupold’s latest scope means optimal performance in the first and last 15 minutes of

easy to carry for long periods without fatigue.

shootable light. Elsewhere, there’s tonnes of technology packed into this unit, including electronic reticle

Price: £470

level, CDS-ZL2 Zero Lock elevation dial, and removable throw lever. All VX-6HD scopes also come with a

Blaser Sporting 01494 481004

free custom ballistic dial.

ian@minoxgb.com

Price: £1,768 Viking Arms 01423 780810 vikingshoot.com

Hawke Endurance WA Newly released in 2018, the WA is Hawke’s wideangle addition to the Endurance line. It boasts a super-wide 24-degree field of view for easy target acquisition, coupled with four-inch eye relief.

Zeiss Victory V8

Built into a 30mm chassis, all models feature a

The Victory V8 has maximum zoom and reticle adjustment ranges, providing both versatility and

heavy-duty erector system, maximising internal

precision. Light transmission of 92 per cent, FL lenses, SCHOTT HT glass and an extremely wide-angle

stability. A glass-etched illuminated ballistic reticle

field of view give outstanding image quality. Its short, compact shape makes for perfect handling and

is available in either LR Dot configuration or a

is pleasingly ergonomic. The new ASV LongRange bullet drop compensator has significant adjustment

similarly new LRC that provides the user with aim

potential to ensure maximum range shooting. So, for hill stalks, you can’t do much better.

points to match centrefire ballistics.

Price: £1,900-£2,600

Price: £459.99

Zeiss 01223 401525 zeiss.co.uk/sportsoptics

Hawke 01349 387762 hawkeoptics.com

42

www.countrysportscotland.com

kit OPTICS

Nightforce SHV 3-12x56 By simplifying the characteristics seen in the NXS range and removing the illuminated reticle,

Leica Noctivid

Nightforce have created a top-end scope

With compact dimensions as well as a stylish design (now available in hunter-friendly green), these binos

that retails for a mid-range price. This optic

are extremely versatile – they can be lugged up the hill or used for more stationary nature observation.

retains the quality of a full scale Nightforce

The optics and internal mechanics are top-notch, as you’d expect from Leica, while the exterior is robust

scope – the same precise tolerances, fine

and resilient. Two magnifications are available – 8x and 10x – with a 42mm objective lens.

materials and reliable workmanship, but in a

Price: 8x42 £2,250, 10x42 £2,350

simplified package designed to keep the price

Leica 020 7629 1351 uk.leica-camera.com/Sport-Optics

within grasp. Constructed for superior low light performance, the new SHV features a 56mm objective, fast focus eyepiece, 30mm tube and capped adjustments.

Price: £677.99 Sportsman Gun Centre 01392 354854 sportsmanguncentre.co.uk

Swarovski DS Swarovski’s revolutionary ‘smart scope’ was launched in 2017 and is finally available for UKbased hunters to get their hands on. A head-up display projects real-time data before you take the

ATN X-Sight 4K Pro

shot, and there’s even an automatic aiming point,

Do something different – go digital. The ATN X-Sight is a state-of-the-art day and night scope, and the

calculating the necessary adjustments based on

new 4K Pro model has been almost totally revamped from its predecessors. The appearance is the first

range, angle and atmospheric factors. You can

thing you’ll notice – it’s been slimmed down to more closely resemble traditional glass. And the eye relief

pair the scope with Swarovski’s smartphone app

is now far closer to what you’d get on a daytime optic, at a very manageable 90mm. Gyroscope and

to load up your ballistic data, too. If you want to

accelerometer, rangefinder, ballistic calculator and video out all make this a super-advanced day-night

conquer the hill and leave nothing to chance, this

scope. Don’t forget to obey local laws and only shoot deer within legal daytime hours.

is the scope you need.

3-14X RRP: £849.00 5-20X RRP: £949

Price: £3,230

ATN 01432 809960 atneu.com

Swarovski 01737 856812 swarovskoptik.co.uk

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

43

gamekeeping on the ground

FIGHTING FOR THE FUTURE

Tina Brough charts the efforts gamekeepers are making to counter the negative press about their jobs – in creating regional groups that showcase directly to the public what a gamekeeper’s work really entails

Keepers participate in all sorts of conservation activity – such as merlin ringing

M

Keepers are heavily involved with local businesses and charities

oorland managed by

the public that moorland managed for grouse

gamekeepers contributes

benefits a multitude of flora and fauna and is a

a morning to go shooting, I decided if I couldn’t

massively to the national

force for the good,” says Paul Wilson, headkeeper

beat him I’d have to join him. I absolutely love

economy, ensures that the

at Bransdale estate.

beating and the whole camaraderie that goes

moors stay diverse with wildlife and also

“After 45 years of waving my husband off on

Promoting the benefits of managed moorland

with it. Why didn’t I do it sooner? If only I’d known

keeps thousands of people in employment.

is one of the primary aims of the groups, however,

how much fun I would have,” says Tina Whitwell,

Mistruths and misguided information

they are also looking to dispel the misinformation

a new lady beater on the fell. Moorland groups

brandished about by the mainstream media

being publicised as they look to secure the future

are involving everyone who wants to be involved,

is the reason that the gamekeepers are

of their livelihoods and the only way of life that

and if they can get people out on the fells and

now fighting back, and this is evident by

they’ve ever known. Gamekeepers have been

enjoying it then they are being successful,

the growing presence of online regional

left wondering since the hunting ban was put in

whether this in a shoot day role or just out

moorland groups.

place, would they be next and so they are trying

walking with friends.

There are 11 separate moorland groups in

to spread the truth and combat the bad publicity

The groups are engaging and working well

operation, which in the main have been set

before it gets to the point of a ban. Topical issues

with local businesses, too – they have been

up over the past year and they can easily be

are being addressed, including rotational heather

involved in video interviews for media campaigns

found by doing a quick search on Facebook. The

burning to try and eliminate wildfires, trapping to

and donations of goods and services for charity

groups are at varying stages of development,

protect all ground nesting birds, bird ringing to

auctions that have been running. Businesses

with some already also having their own

monitor species – no subjects are off-limits, the

acknowledge the positives of the shooting estates

websites and twitter accounts.

content is there.

and how they benefit the local economy and

The moorland groups that are in operation

The groups are trying to reach an audience

tourism, which is why they are more than happy

range from the Peak District right up to the

of people who possibly have little or no idea of

Highlands of Scotland. They were created by

what grouse shooting entails and so are trying to

gamekeepers and are run by them or their

explain the real, invaluable jobs that gamekeepers

definitely the way forward for the groups and

families to promote the realities and benefits

do. The intention is to try to dispel the notion that

they are now fully embracing it to their advantage.

of their work. The public really seem to interact

the grouse shooting fraternity are rich, greedy

After all, why just engage with a couple of walkers,

with the groups and this is surely in part down to

people, who only care about red grouse and by

or a room full of people, when you can reach a

the fact the content comes straight from those

showing what gamekeepers actually do and how

massive audience of thousands online?

directly working or involved with the moors.

they work with the public then hopefully some of

“The moorland groups help to try and educate

these thoughts can be quashed.

44

www.countrysportscotland.com

to work alongside the groups.

The internet, and social media specifically, is

Jimmy Brough, headkeeper at Rosedale and Westerdale estate says “The positive feedback

gamekeeping on the ground

The Facebook groups are an easy and quick way for keepers to share snaps of their dayto-day lives and conservation work, like these nesting boxes

One group of keepers chart their progress in making 20 nesting boxes to try and increase the chances of survival for barn owls

“ They were created by gamekeepers and are run by them or their families to promote the real-life happenings of their work ”

voice, while highlighting the natural, cultural and economic benefits of these world class habitats, that are protected by the shooting community.”

The moorland groups have a growing presence, and are already reaching beyond people from the shooting family out to the general public.

on our Facebook page that has been generated

are passed onto the public to read and enjoy. In

They are running well, growing in stature day by

from the keepers interaction with walkers and

this modern age of smart-phones it is much easier

day, so carry on spreading the word, get behind

the distribution of business cards on the moors

to gather and distribute material than previously,

them and increase their audience. They’re on

is immensely positive and testament to all of

and this is what the gamekeepers are doing. There

Facebook, while some have websites and Twitter

their hard work.” The gamekeepers distributing

is now no need for a camera and then having to

accounts: look them up and check them out, the

the cards are not only speaking personally to the

wait ’til you get home to do something with the

gamekeepers are pleased that they have now got

walkers on the fell but the comments, thoughts

photos. There are no factitious stories – just real

somewhere to display their life and work on the

and words are then shared through the group to

happenings of the working gamekeeper doing his

moors and are immensely proud that they can

reach a much larger audience.

job, sharing his everyday experiences and giving

share it.

The ever-increasing amount of followers of the groups are there for all to see, and the comments

regular updates on what they’re working on.

There is no doubt that without gamekeepers

and photographs coming in from a wide range

the moors would just not be sustainable and the

of people including walkers, wildlife enthusiasts,

wildlife and moorland would suffer immensely.

photographers and even town people who are

Moors form part of the community and a healthy

just curious, shows the groups are really gathering

moor that walkers, keepers and birdwatchers

support and gaining followers.

alike can all enjoy is the aim. If this is achieved

The Facebook posts are brimming with an

then the potential to attract more tourists to the

abundance of photos of keepers, dogs, red listed

area is a real possibility, which will in turn help

bird sightings, chicks, trapping, charity donations,

the local economy.

picturesque scenery, heather burning, ticks and

The NGO, Countryside Alliance and BASC are

Lyme disease and these are all accompanied by

large shooting organisations now backing these

an appropriate, informative read. The posts have

groups. Gareth Dockerty, BASC regional officer

primarily come from the keepers themselves

for North East, has been quoted as saying, “BASC

who send their pictures and stories across to the

are committed to supporting the amazing work

group coordinator, and then within minutes they

of groups like NYMMO, giving the grouse moors a

There’s a personal touch to the groups too – gamekeeper Michael proposed to his girlfriend in the back of the beaters’ truck and she said “Yes”

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

45

GAME walked up

WALKING THE WALK Scotland’s premier shotgun sport doesn’t have to be bank-breaking, as the Shooting Show team discovered on a day’s walked-up grouse followed by a duck flight in Glen Etive

T

he Shooting Show filming team’s

numbers driven shoot. But if you work hard, you

shot stags across the river. No stags today, but it

brief is to capture the very

can take a couple off the ground using a walked-

would be carrying us instead! “The good news is, if

best of shooting sport in the

up formation over retrievers. And even if you get

the boards fall through, there’s a deep pool in the

UK. Right, so that means the

nothing, well, this is wild country and just being

river below to break your fall,” said the director,

here is reward enough.

Pete – always the voice of optimism.

‘premier league’ stuff every week, right?

Driven grouse on the moors, 14-point stags,

But first, we had to get there. Mark had clearly

One by one we pulled ourselves across, praying

being flown in by helicopter, four-course

taken the ‘no-holds-barred Highland experience’

the box would hold our weight, thankful to get to

meal afterwards…

part of the brief to heart, and dropped us off

the other side. And a few hairy moments aside, we

some way short of the moor, a river crossing

made it – of course, we had faith all along…

Well, not quite. Because the idea is to make The Shooting Show a programme for everyone, and

between us and the destination. There was no

though the super-expensive sport is surely highly

bridge, either – just an old box, operated on a

hand. Mark lined us out along a burn, which we

enjoyable (not that we’d really know, but we can

rope-and-pulley system, used for transporting

would follow until we reached the hill, returning

take a good guess), it’s possible to have a day’s sport as memorable as any of that for a fraction of the budget. If you’re prepared to put in a few

Now we could turn our attention to the job in

Boxed in? The makeshift transport system got things off to a shaky start

yards, that is.

Our mission to capture a packed day of varied, challenging and rewarding – yet financially reasonable – day’s shooting brought us to Glen Etive, a left turn off the A82 shortly after you pass the ‘Welcome to the Highlands’ sign. A 30-minute trek down a single-track road later, we arrived at Dalness Estate, a location that has provided the base for many a Shooting Show episode over the years – a true sportsman’s paradise. Estate stalker Mark Shone had a two-parter in store for us, starting with walked-up grouse and ending with an evening’s duck flight.

On Dalness, the heather is sparse and the grouse few and far between. It’s no place for a big-

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

47

GAME walked up

James – the luckiest gun from earlier. Could we possibly see a repeat performance?

It didn’t take long before the challenges facing us became obvious. First, the midges – though it was late September, there hadn’t been a frost yet in this part of Scotland, and especially around water at this time of day, they were noticeably active. Judicious use of face masks stopped us being eaten alive.

The second problem was that the ducks, though audible, didn’t seem to want to come into the pond. Clearly something was making them wary. A few under-the-breath curses were uttered at the cameraman, who had switched to IR mode James swings through as a pair of grouse flush in front

owing to the failing light – was the infrared scaring them off? Stuart was canny, though, and kept the IR light concealed until the crucial seconds.

A solitary brace gave the dogs some work on the moor

Finally, a chance presented itself and Pete was the one who got it, bringing down a mallard drake with a straightforward shot overhead. Still the birds kept appearing overhead – more and more, in groups of five then ten – but they just didn’t want to land. They stacked up as if in a holding pattern, and the guns kept their powder dry for fear of scaring off the lot, but it was to no avail.

Still, a small reward is not to be sniffed at. The Highlands do not give away their bounties easily, and if you want to guarantee a close-up duck, go to the park and throw some bread in the pond.

This is real sport, overseen by a true maestro in Mark Shone, all enjoyable and all without needing a second mortgage. And caught on camera, too.

“ Walked-up days aren’t known for producing big bags, but the experience is second to none ” in a big loop before we once again braved the

Part two

river crossing on the way home. As we left the

The grouse shoot may have been finished, but

river behind, we gained a little altitude and were

there was still something in store for us that

rewarded with sweeping views across the glen

day. After an early meal, we headed out again to

and over to the main road. No grouse to be

try our luck at the ducks, shooting over a pond

seen, though. Walked-up days aren’t known for

not 10 minutes’ walk from the lodge. Mark got

producing big bags, but the experience is second

the guns into position just as night began to fall.

to none.

Cameraman Stuart holed up in the hide with

The first pair flushed past James Folkard and his waiting barrels. Shouldering his Browning gun, he missed with the first barrel but, at the second time of asking, connected with a successful shot. The dogs sprang into action for the retrieve, and then it was back to working the ground, watching our step and keeping an eye on the clumps of heather.

One more would fill the bag as a solitary brace was our day’s reward. A tough day – but an enjoyable one, and this was never a numbers game. “We all appreciated the sport,” said Mark.

“We’re getting well into September and at this time of year the birds get a bit jumpier – they get up quite a way off in front. At least we got something!”

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What more could you ask for?

See the team in action on the 2 November 2015 episode of The Shooting Show. You can watch it at: www.theshootingshow.tv Shaun Carr protected against the dreaded midges in his hide

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s far as shooting optics go, we’ve always thought day and night exist in two separate camps. Over here, your traditional riflescopes for daytime… and over there, your techylooking night vision units. And never shall they meet. Right? Not any more.

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you get a lot more than just a picture.

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Shoot IN SCOTLAND

51

Wildfowling New experience

First steps on the foreshore Byron Pace had tried more or less every form of shooting – except wildfowling.

Last year, finally, that changed

A

part from a

skills were continually honed in my pursuit of

spattering of time

wild browns.

away with work and travel, for the

That is what adolescent years are for – in

However, there were two gaping omissions to my schooling in country pursuits at home.

The first was fox hunting, which I did eventually

my view, anyway. Much of my age group were

address but is not something I have much to

best part of the last 25 years, I have called

beginning to party, drink and chase girls. All I

do with aside from days with the hounds on

the Angus Glens home. This has afforded me

wanted to do was go fishing and hunt.

local estates. The second was wildfowling, and

a plethora of opportunities when it comes to

I was fortunate to have a fairly rounded

knowing what I know now, I have no idea what

countryside pursuits. Think of any country

experience, rising through the ranks from

sport, and it was on the doorstep. Most of

shooting and hunting with airguns to shotguns,

There is no excuse or real reason for why I

my early years were spent traipsing the

rimfire and finally fullbore. I started beating on

didn’t take up wildfowling earlier. I lived a stone’s

riverbanks on the North Esk system, winkling

pheasant and grouse days before moving on

throw from some of the best goose shooting

out the odd trout before falling for the

to loading for clients and then running my own

in the country, with easy and affordable access

addiction of chasing Atlantic salmon. To me,

small shoot, including rearing and releasing

to the foreshore only minutes from the family

the method didn’t matter as long as it was

birds from eggs to poults. I would soon venture

home. If I had to think about it, I’d say it’s just

legal. My only wish was to pit my wits against

further afield, with my desire to hunt taking me to

something I was never introduced to. I didn’t

these beautiful silver angels of the sea. I

distant corners of the globe; from capercaillie to

know anyone who shot the foreshore, and it

would become adept at trotting worms in the

Himalayan tahr, buffalo to ptarmigan, a thirst for

wasn’t something my dad had done beyond

low waters of summer, while my fly fishing

adventure never stopped.

the odd day accompanying a friend. I had read

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took me so long.

Wildfowling New experience

the articles and seen the pictures, but it hadn’t grabbed me the way other forms of hunting became an obsession. I was well accustomed to

Setting up by torchlight is part and parcel of the experience. It’s a different world to driven grouse!

days on the geese over decoys, being fortunate to spend time with some of Scotland’s best guides, but a world of tide times, wind direction and salt marshes was an alien environment.

Yet this season, as an almost throwaway comment, my hunting and fishing buddy Edan suggested we buy a resident foreshore ticket and give it a crack. Given the limit of just 50 tickets for the year, I wasn’t all that hopeful of obtaining one, but at less than £30 for the season, I couldn’t see a reason not to apply and see what we made of the experience.

Much to our surprise, we bagged two permits, and after a detailed look at the map, rules and regulations, we were free to venture out and try our luck.

We are true novices in this field, and it feels so good to be at that end of the learning curve.

So many questions to ask and so much to learn.

The wins are so sweet, and the failures, of which there are many, still leave me buzzing with new knowledge gleaned from observing the flight.

As I write this, the last few weeks of my first season on the foreshore are counting down, and every day I eagerly seek an updated weather

“ There are few things that get me out of bed before 4am with a smile on my face, but the chance of a good morning on the foreshore certainly delivers that ”

forecast to plan our next trip to the coastline. It

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

53

Wildfowling New experience

Early starts, forward planning. safety and fieldcraft are prerequisites to success – but even then you might still blank

has surely become an addiction I am happy to

come together, with Edan having claimed a goose

understand how certain features provide cover in

embrace. There are few things that get me out

by himself some days before.

varying winds, and importantly tide height. This is

of bed before 4am with a smile on my face, but

The lack of birds in the bag didn’t seem to

the chance of a good morning on the foreshore

matter. Sure, we had both missed the odd shot

wind direction. Plan set, bag packed, gun ready

certainly delivers that.

that should have been good, but the magic of

and coffee waiting to go for the morning, the

watching the day crawl in from night was all the

alarm can’t go off too soon.

Given my amateur status as far as shooting on the foreshore goes, I’m not going to impart a

reward we needed.

tonne of wisdom on technique or tactics here.

We have learnt the hard way just how

the second thing we consider after locking down

I don’t think I have enjoyed such a sustained buzz for hunting for many years. It feels like being

Instead, I hope it’s possible to pass on a fraction

important the wind is to get birds over your

a kid again, desperate for the next opportunity

of the appreciation I have now for this most

head, so planning begins by looking at the long-

to go lamping or shooting rabbits on the farm.

wonderful, spectacular environment in which we

range forecast as to potential options. There will

It really encapsulates what hunting is for me.

are lucky enough to hunt. It’s affordable shooting

always be a preferred direction depending on the

Pursuing wild game in a tough conditions where

for everyone, all around the country. This is our

location you hunt, but for us any wind is enough

boosting your chances of success requires far

public land hunting.

reason to head out. More than anything I just

more than just good shooting.

I could tell you that we soon found success

want to be out with a chance.

and recount tales of how our carefully laid plans

Then comes the planning as to where we

The foreshore is such a rich environment that rarely a moment passes without something

delivered a regular, fruitful bag, but that would

should situate ourselves. In the initial outings it

walking, flying or crawling within view. You are

be a bit more than stretching the truth. For me, it

was as a good as a guess, barring a little recon

bound to see a species that can’t be identified

wasn’t until the sixth outing that things started to

in the days before. Soon, however, you begin to

at some point, and it certainly made me brush

The rewards in terms of bags are small – but in terms of experiences they are huge

up on my bird identification, both of the species we can hunt and of those we can’t. This can be a daunting aspect for the would-be foreshore hunter, fearful of shooting the wrong species, but it is a skill you can easily build on. Start with what you know. If you can only confidently I.D. pinkfoots and mallards, that is all you shoot at until you can add another species to the list of positive targets. A pair of binos can help in this endeavour, and even now we find ourselves checking up on small waders and birds that we are curious to correctly attribute.

As if hunting on the foreshore needed any more reasons to make it worthy of consideration, the spoils of a successful day take some beating when it comes to culinary delights. For me, a brace of teal roasted in the oven with an array of vegetables cooked in their fat is about as good as it gets. So don’t wait as long as I did. Find out where your local foreshore access is, and get out this season. You won’t regret it.

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WILDFOWLING orkney

HIGH FLYERS IN HIGH WINDS Stuart Wilson braves wind, rain and waist-deep water to capture a week’s Orkney wildfowling on camera

W

ildfowling

recce. Most geese on the islands at the moment

few trees, just a few post-and-wire fences with

in the very

were effectively resident fowl, coupled with the

intermittent climbing weeds providing some

north of the

distinct lack of wind, so we were likely to be

natural cover. The lack of wind allows the geese

British Isles

presented with clued-up geese that would fly

to circle and scrutinise areas they may have fed

doesn’t come much better than a week-long

high, and circle any potential feeding area before

on the previous day, anything that looks out of

session in the Orkneys. A long drive followed

committing to land. But we were here and you are

place will, at best, lead to a tentative approach. At

by a reasonably smooth ferry crossing

very unlikely to shoot any geese from the comfort

worst it will see the pink foot’s shrill alarm call fade

saw our team of six guns settled into our

of an armchair – more is the pity!

into the distance, as if to say, ‘You must be joking,

accommodation – but I wasn’t one of the six.

We toured the main island and saw plenty of

My role in the week’s proceedings would be

geese and a few seals, some stunning crystal blue

to capture the events on film. I had heard

clear sea, with barely a ripple – it painted a very

First morning

stories of the weather Orkney may throw at

misleading picture of a typical Orkney day. It’s a

Arriving under the cover of darkness, the lay-

us, and really wasn’t relishing the thought

beautiful location that is surely a photographer’s

down blinds were dressed into the straw rows,

of destroying my cameras in extreme wet or

dream, with the ability to throw some serious

all but invisible, laid on a gentle slope facing the

cold. This kind of weather always presents a

weather conditions at you. Bring on the wind!

direction of approach for any geese that may

challenge: firstly making sure you gear doesn’t

After an hour or so driving round and glassing

show, with Ray tucked a little further up the slope

fail temporarily or even permanently but also

a few likely spots, we settled a distance away

behind the guns to call and co-ordinate the guns

because recording clean video footage and

from field of barley that had been combined

for best effect.

audio would be more difficult than normal.

late, leaving some spilt grain on the field, and

We were based on the main island for the

more importantly rows of fresh straw, which

honking in the distance. As the light started to lift,

week, near Kirkwall. Our guide, Magnus, and

would allow our party to get bedded into some

we waited for the first silhouettes to appear. The

Ray Waters picked us up at first light on Sunday

lay-down hunting blinds. The cover we are used

wind still wasn’t blowing as much as we would

morning so we could join him on a pre-shoot

to further south is all but absent on Orkney: very

like, and as the sun broke the horizon in front of

guys – really?’

The wait is exciting. You can hear geese

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

57

WILDFOWLING orkney

us, the sea had barely a ripple, but the first small skein of geese were heading our way – very high but coming all the same, honking and calling as they flew our way.

Ray, in the darkness, had set a dozen or so decoys no more than 10 yards below the guns, and he started calling to imitate a group of feeding geese. Realistic decoys and good calling would hopefully encourage some geese to come and feed in this field again. Skein after skein came over and circled, all far too high. Sitting tight in our blinds, six armed with shotguns, one armed with two cameras, our patience eventually paid off.

A group of 30-40 geese, a mix of pinkfoots and greylags, circled and got lower each time until Ray gave the shout, “Go on then!”

A barrage of well-placed shots saw four birds fall from the sky. This gave a much-needed lift to the morning. Two more geese were taken before Ray called time on this first session. Not a huge bag, but success in difficult conditions, and a hearty breakfast always follows the morning flight.

Blinds and decoys gathered up and quad trailered from the field, along with the six bagged geese, Ray said his goodbye, letting us know he’d had a call about a promising area on one of the farms they look after. Hope is, after all, what drives most hunters to venture out.

Evening flight Hilltop ponds were the target for our evening sessions, with duck and geese showing in smaller numbers but more frequently. The guiding team did a superb job of putting the guns into the best places. A significant amount of work goes into wildfowl guiding: scouting locations, feeding some

“ After a heavy night of rain the water was gently lapping an inch or so below the very top of his quite tall wellies ”

spots to concentrate the birds into preferred ponds, and maintaining good relationships with the local farmers.

With the guns split into two teams, three guns with each guide, this evening the wind had picked up a little. More wind means lower birds that commit to coming in better, and disguise the sound of shotguns banging away, meaning less disturbance for any ducks or geese that may be on their way to our chosen pond. The first to show as the light started to fade were a small group of mallard. Two were dropped, and as one gun went to retrieve one of the fallen birds, Ray shouted “Get down!” as a skein of three geese folded straight into the pond. I had followed the gun to film the retrieve, so found myself hiding in the heather as the geese came into range. One more goose found its way into our bag.

All three guns and Ray were now sheltered up against the post and wire fence, with the sea visible through the hills and the pond 30 yards in front. The fading light saw teal and wigeon appear from nowhere, with another four bagged with some solid shooting of silhouettes against the last

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“The water’s just a foot deep…” or maybe a tad higher!

WILDFOWLING orkney

Jason Doyle takes aim as Stuart keeps his camera concealed and at the ready

shots dropping a goose straight into the ditch

a brace, at which point the remaining geese

water, which, by its flow, delivered the goose to

wheeled right, gaining altitude as fast as they

the gun.

could. At the point when the geese were over the

With our first goose stashed on the bank,

head of the gun I was filming, he shot and the

covered with grass to hide it from the scrutinising

goose fell, stone dead in the air, plummeting to

pinkfoots above us, that kept gliding over with

the ground from over 70 yards. Fortunately we

their heads to one side peeping down at the

were 20 yards from its impact on the heather. Of

damp shapes in the ditch, but the cover was

all the shotgun shots I have witnessed, filmed or

good and more smaller groups were starting to

otherwise, some just stick with you – this is one of

show. Ray’s diligent calling managed to get several

those, something I will remember for a long time.

skeins over the guns, the slight wind meant the

As the evening went on, more geese came in

birds were high, but five 12-bores and 10-bore,

and from each skein some geese were bagged,

saw a respectable bag of seven geese under the

and as the light faded, mallard, wigeon and teal

conditions. Home for breakfast and the daily

blazed into the pond, with the guns bagging

chore of drying everything from clothing and

several before Ray called time on the last evening.

shotguns to gunslips and wellies.

When darkness descends in Orkney with little moon and a good covering of cloud, it is black and

Epic evening

wild. But it is energising being here – the shooting

The final evening flight, with the four guns, will

is excellent, and even better if there is a stronger

stick in my mind, with a pond and marshy boggy

wind. When the ‘visiting’ geese arrive, the guns will

area behind us, we faced out over the brow of

stop shooting before the geese stop coming.

a heather covered hill. Tucked into the heather

A hearty thank you from me to the guides, and

ourselves, the first geese showed pretty quickly –

especially to the guns for making it possible for

around a dozen. They just kept coming in, quite

me to join them and film in a truly wild and special

low. They met the left-hand guns first, who took

place to visit.

light in the sky. We were on last knockings just as the faint honking of approaching geese could be heard coming from the seaward side, coming low and straight. Another two were added to the bag, which finished the session in style.

The ditch

The shoot was also a valuable training session for Ray’s dog

Two of our morning sessions saw the guns lined out in a drainage ditch. Ray had scouted the night before and assured us the water depth was around a foot. The first gun climbed the fence and slipped gently down the grassy bank into the ‘footdeep’ water, quickly finding out that after a heavy night of rain the water was gently lapping an inch or so below the very top of his quite tall wellies.

The realisation soon hit the back-side guns, with somewhat shorter wellies, that a damp morning was on the cards. Ray was setting the decoys in the stubble field we had just walked down, and was unaware of the rising damp. The draw of goose shooting had helped all the guns splash into their watery positions, wellies full for the most part, and even the taller wellies would soon be filled as leaning and crouching to hide from overhead geese was necessary.

A huge number of geese lifted off and just kept flying, but soon some smaller skeins were having a good look at our decoys, with the first volley of

Bag numbers aren’t huge but every one is hard won

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

59

kit clothing

Wear it out!

Tough, technical clothing and footwear to withstand the most gruelling hill stalks

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to Blaser’s Rambrane technology, this jacket is

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work just as well in a hide while pigeon shooting

collar with detachable hood, two-way YKK zip,

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Hawker Shell clothing has a noiseless waterproof

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Ridgeline Camlite Winter footwear and summer footwear can often be completely opposed, with high-ankled, grippy boots a must for bad weather, and even trainers being just about acceptable in the summer. But is there such a thing as all-year-round footwear? Check out the Camlite Boots from Ridgeline, with a more athletic sole, which will help you to approach quarry with more silence and precision. Bad foot placement can mean noise – and that can mean runaway quarry – so being able to feel what’s beneath your feet is a big plus when hunting. Plus, they offer protection from the elements, and concealment.

Price: £120 Highland Outdoors 0845 099 0252 highlandoutdoors.co.uk

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kit clothing

Finnlight Smock Part of Beretta’s new clothing collection, the Finnlight smock is made with deer stalking in mind.

A slightly longer length, one-piece garment, it offers increased waterproof protection – perfect for dealing with the British weather. The integral hood is held in place by an internal rim, ensuring clear vision at all times, even as you move your head around. Meanwhile, specially designed articulated shoulders provide improved movement

palearctic 365 jacket

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from damp and creeping cold, it’s also got a waffle fleece backing on the inside, which keeps your away from the body.

Aigle Parcours 2 Outlast

Price: £270.43

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offers regulation of the temperature of

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temperature regulated by directing excess heat

Outlast materials absorb body heat and releases it when you need it most. The boot is ideal for stationary hunting in cool weather. With tri-density rubber soles, the boots offer great comfort and adjustable tabs and gussets ensure these wellies fit snugly to your leg. £199.99 Aigle aigle.com/uk 020 7660 1576

Game Keeper jacket Designed to be highly functional, the Game Keeper jacket by ShooterKing is constructed from 100 per cent Cordura Nylon and has a Shoottex membrane, making it totally windproof and

Grampian Hooded Smock

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include two oversized front cargo

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all of which keeps the design simple

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waist and cuffs, and YKK double

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Shoot IN SCOTLAND

61

CLAYS NATIONAL SHOOTING CENTRE

NSC SCOTLAND In the middle of Scotland lies a shooting ground that offers just about everything you can think of. We visit Scotland’s National Shooting Centre

E

ngland has Bisley; Scotland has

you’d be surprised to find that approaching

the National Shooting Centre

the ground is more like driving into the hills of

in Jawcraig, not far from Falkirk

Perthshire. With views over the Campsie Fells

in Scotland’s central belt. But

and Highlands in the distance, the shooting

while Bisley has a focus on long-range

school sits in 1500 acres of farmland and is

rifle shooting, Scotland’s NSC is very much

surrounded by heather.

focused on clays, offering eight different

Set amid this backdrop, the facilities are

disciplines, pro tuition, group sessions,

state of the art. The ground underwent a

workshops and more.

major refurbishment in 2016, including new

Accessible to a huge proportion of Scotland’s

If you’re looking for the best tuition, the National Shooting Centre has you covered

traps, electronics and pathways. Now, the list

population – it’s just under an hour from

of disciplines offered is extensive. Olympic

Edinburgh and 40 minutes from Glasgow – the

Trap, Olympic Skeet, ABT, DTL, National Skeet,

National Shooting Centre has been in operation

Sportrap, Sporting and Fitasc – Stewart and

since 1992 (hence its abbreviated name

his team can put on just about anything.

NSC92) since it opened as part of an open

The ground has 10 combined Skeet and DTL

cast coal restoration project. It’s been a family

Layouts, and three combined OSK and OTR

business ever since, staying in the possession

layouts. There are also more than 20 Sporting

of the McCaig family, led by managing director,

stands including a high tower and a Sportrap

something different, allowing family or work

Andrew McCaig. Also a key figure is Stewart

layout. That adds up to a staggering 130 traps

groups to shoot all at once and maybe give

Cumming, the general manager, who shoots

being used across the ground.

some newcomers their first taste of shooting.

Fitasc for Scotland. He came eighth at the Fitasc

Tuition is a big feature of the ground’s

The clubhouse has also been refurbished

European Championships in 2018, and shot

offering, with lessons provided for all levels

and includes a shop stocked with shooting

Double Trap at two successive Commonwealth

from beginners to professional shooters via

accessories, guns and cartridges, with Hull,

Games in Manchester and Melbourne.

the coaching team lead by Stewart Cumming.

Beretta, Browning and other major brands

Individual lessons from Stewart start from

represented. And there’s also a café providing

£65 per lesson. A ‘group shots’ area provides

the usual essentials and hot food on weekends.

So what is the ground like today? Given that it’s so close to both Edinburgh and Glasgow,

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

63

CLAYS NATIONAL SHOOTING CENTRE

Whatever discipline you’re in the mood to shoot, you can probably find it at the NSC

NSC92 is worth a visit any time, but make sure you come back for the competitions. The ground has hosted a number of notable events over the past three years, including the DTL Home International, British Championships and European Championships, OTR Home International, OSK Home International and a variety of Scottish Championships – plus local events including Sportrap Summer Series, Sporting Winter Series and the ALPA Grand Prix.

Comprehensive, scenic and surprisingly accessible, Scotland’s National Shooting Centre shouldn’t just be for Scottish shooters – it’s a must-visit wherever you are from. A visit here is just as essential as any trip to the hill or the foreshore while on a Scottish shooting foray.

contact details National Shooting Centre, Scotland Wester Jawcraig Falkirk FK1 3AL 01324 851 672 www.nsc92.com Open: Tuesday to Sunday 10am until 5pm.

Late night on a Thursday until 8pm from April until October.

64

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While England’s National Shooting Centre is dominated by rifle shooting, Scotland’s NSC is a clay-buster’s paradise

kit calibre

Calibre choices There is a dizzying array of calibres available for the deer stalker to choose from – so Will O’Meara suggests making your selection based on your preferred hunting style

L

et’s take a look at

When objectively looking at calibre choice I like

calibres, specifically

to initially look at two factors; terminal ballistic

for hunting the deer

performance, and “shootability” (in basic terms,

you’ll find in Scotland,

as felt recoil goes up, shootability goes down).

such as sika, fallow and red.

The first thing to realise is we all have an

The first step is to match your calibre to your hunting style and know your limits

With the availability and accuracy of modern rangefinders I think there is less importance

emotional investment in the calibre we own: we

attached to how flat the trajectory of a bullet

made a decision to buy that calibre, it is what we

is. For hunting calibres I believe that terminal

use and we want it to be great. We must put aside

performance is more important than the

sayings such as “it’s not the calibre – it’s where you

projectile’s ability to cheat the wind. I invest more

put the bullet”, because such sayings fail to take

time in practicing my wind calls and knowing my

into consideration what happens when things go

limits when it comes to wind.

wrong. I don’t intend this to be a lecture on the

To start, then, let’s compare some basic

“best” calibre, because each calibre has its place

data; The point of the comparison overleaf is

and what suits my needs may not suit yours. What

to illustrate the small difference between these

I would like to explore is the merits of some larger

calibres and bullets when it comes to windage.

chamberings and their suitability for hunting.

The tables also show that there is a significant

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

67

kit calibre

Comparison of .270 Win factory offerings Projectile

Wind Drift in 5MPH full value wind

Distance where energy drops below 1,300ft-lbs

110 V- Max

6.75 inches @ 400 Yards

350 Yards

130 SST SuperP

5.28 inches @ 400 Yards

525 Yards

150 SST

6.00 inches @ 400 Yards

450 Yards

Comparison of .30-06 factory offerings Projectile

Wind Drift in 5MPH full value wind

Distance where energy drops below 1,300ft-lbs

150 Ballistic Tip

6.45 inches @ 400 Yards

475 Yards

165 SST SuperP

6.08 inches @ 400 Yards

550 Yards

180 Arrowhead

5.94 inches @ 400 Yards

550 Yards

Comparison of 7mm Rem Mag factory offerings Projectile

Wind Drift in 5MPH full value wind

Distance where energy drops below 1,300ft-lbs

150 Arrowhead

5.28 inches @ 400 Yards

575 Yards

175 Fusion

5.46 inches @ 400 Yards

600 Yards

162 SST SuperP

4.65 inches @ 400 Yards

725 Yards

difference in delivered energy, which is an

that expands well and has good penetration

wind is not an issue, and it is an effective means

important aspect of terminal ballistics.

will be able to effectively dispatch the largest of

of dispatching an animal, but again it should

stags. Some will say that a small calibre can be

be reserved for situations that demand it and

performance is how the bullet performs when it

used effectively on deer if you are head or neck

facilitate good accuracy. Always be aware that

strikes its target, and this is a combination of the

shooting – this is true to a point, but I have seen it

frontal headshots at close range can go wrong in a

calibre, the projectile, and the make-up of the

go wrong as well, especially with neck shots. The

hurry, even with .30 cal bullets. What can happen

animal you are shooting and where you shoot

head is often a larger target than the neck when

quite easily is a shot that strikes the lower jaw,

Let’s explore terminal ballistics. Terminal

it. A bullet that is very good for “ringing steel” on Credit: Jason Doyle

the range may not be the most effective hunting calibre. The same bullet will have a different effect on the same animal at the same range, depending on where you place the shot. Factors such as striking bone and the position of the animal will have an effect on the size of the wound channel and how that performs in terms of killing the animal. There are three main ways that a bullet effectively kills game: the first is what we often refer to as a “shot to the vitals”. This is considered best practice and the objective is to cause enough damage so as to stop the functioning of the heart or lungs. The more damage we can inflict on the heart or lungs, then the quicker they will fail to work. The second is a spinal shot; the target here is quite small as it will only be effective if the spinal cord itself is damaged, and for that reason accuracy is a primary requirement, as is a trained dog in order to follow up since these shots often merely paralyse the deer. A projectile

68

A bullet’s performance on the range and on live quarry can differ significantly, and what is best for one may not be best for the other

www.countrysportscotland.com

kit calibre

Credit: Jason Doyle

The more ‘volatile’ projectiles can work well on deer in the hunting conditions found in the UK and Ireland

“ For hunting calibres I believe that terminal performance is more important than the projectile’s ability to cheat the wind ”

shoot and very effective on deer, especially in woodland stalking scenarios. What I am looking for is that calibre that strikes the perfect balance between shootability and terminal performance, and for that reason I now favour calibres from .270 up.

I have been fortunate enough to witness

detonates and fails to penetrate the neck – for

have seen a rise in popularity in the 6.5 calibres

a very large number of animal reactions to

this reason it is always important to know how

recently, which seems to be driven by their mild

different calibres. I think the comparison of three

low your bullet will strike at ranges from 20 yards

recoil, high BCs and inherent accuracy. From a

in particular might be useful; the .270 Win, the

to 100 yards. What all of this tells us is that shot

hunting perspective there are some who hold the

.30-06, and the .300WSM. The .270 Win, in my

placement is paramount, but when things go

experienced opinion that these long, thin bullets

opinion, is the starting point for mountain hunting.

wrong the larger calibres with a bullet matched to

perform like a spear – this is good for when they

It maintains over 1,300ft-lbs of energy out to

the animal will be more forgiving. In an ideal world

are in flight (external ballistics) but results in poor

nearly 400 yards with a 130 grain bullet, and out

you want a bullet that transmits good energy,

performance on animals (small hole in, small

to 450 yards with a 150 grain bullet. At ranges

creates a large wound channel and a large exit

hole out). Of course, suitable bullet construction

beyond this it is likely that you will not get an exit

wound while still being easy to shoot in hunting

will help performance, as will shot placement. In

wound on deer-sized game. Have a look at the

situations. In my experience, how easy a rifle is to

general terms, however, these 6.5 calibres lack the

tables (to the left) for comparison of the energy

shoot has as much to do with the rifle design and

sectional density of the 7mm and .30 calibres, and

retention of the .270 Win, .30-06 Springfield, and

set up as it has to do with the calibre.

thus they pack less punch.

the 7mm Rem Mag.

In the modern era of our need for speed and

There is of course always going to be a place for

The .300 Win Mag and WSM also have their

super aerodynamic ballistic coefficients (BC)

the smaller “big game” calibres, and your hunting

fans. What I have experienced is that the likes of

we hear little talk of sectional density. Sectional

scenarios and recoil tolerance will dictate this

the .300 Magnums have incredible knockdown

density, in layman’s terms, is a number that

to a large degree. I think that it is fairly common

power, the effect on the animal is very visually

reflects the weight and diameter of a bullet. We

knowledge that the .243s and 6.5s are lovely to

noticeable, and in turn there is more forgiveness

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

69

kit calibre

for poorly placed shots (within reason). I shot a

In a recent article in Sporting Rifle magazine I

I need to be able to, firstly, have a range of

.300 Win Mag for some time in a cumbersome

discussed aids to reducing recoil and concluded

ammunition available that will allow me to

rifle of 20lbs. It was capable of phenomenal

that a muzzle brake is most efficient, but also the

find a bullet that performs well in my rifle and

accuracy, but I found that it “took a lot of shooting”

loudest and unsociable for your guide or hunting

is suitable for hunting; and secondly, I need

– in other words, its performance was very

buddy. I think that, if the circumstances allow,

to be able to get a sufficient quantity of that

dependent on how I set up for the shot. I also

a muzzle brake can really allow you to tip the

ammunition to facilitate practice and hunting.

found that it was very prone to torque on the

scale in favour of some of the larger calibres, an

I would really like to try the 7mm WSM since

shot, in that it would twist and often cause you to

example being a .338 Lapua Magnum that was

its theoretical performance is impressive.

lose sight of your strike – it no longer lives with me!

fitted with a very effective muzzle brake, weighed

Unfortunately, the limited range of ammunition

What I like about the 30-06 is that it has similar

20lbs and was an absolute dream to shoot. From

and its scarcity off the shelf means it’s a non-

recoil to a .270 Win, but is noticeably more

a hunting perspective it would be quite limited

starter for me. From my own perspective I

effective, even more than the data on paper

in the circumstances where you could use it and

am still looking for that calibre that will deliver

might suggest. This, I believe, is down to sectional

hauling it around would get old fairly quickly! But

maximum terminal performance, be smooth

density. I recently had an opportunity to test two

personally speaking it did demonstrate that it is

recoiling, and not exceed 11lb on the scales

Sako 85 hunting rifles, one in .270, the other in

possible to tame the largest of calibres.

(including the scope and moderator). The search

.30-06, both weighing under 10.5lb scoped and silenced and both fitted with Hausken moderators

The calibre debate for me is often limited to the theoretical due to ammunition availability.

for the ultimate calibre continues – when I find it I’ll let you know!

– the difference in recoil was not noticeable, but the effect on animals was! On the other hand, if you were to compare a .300 Win Mag and a .30-06, on paper the Win Mag would come out on top, but in practical terms I would favour the “Aught Six” any day, predominantly based on its

“ In an ideal world you want a bullet that transmits good energy, creates a large wound channel and a large exit wound ”

shootability.

: The importance of a trained dog can’t be overstated – especially when taking shots at a smaller target

70

www.countrysportscotland.com

grouse walked up

A lucky escape Things can quickly go wrong when you head out on the hill – as a close encounter with an ATV taught Chris Dalton during an August stalk last year

T

he peak of the

cameraman who is also a stalker – it makes life

even when you take what you think are all the

roe rut for me in

much easier when the guy behind the lens also

necessary precautions, things do occasionally

the south-west of

knows all about trying to get a shot on a wild

go wrong, in some cases with potentially

Scotland is a bit later

animal. While the trip was a huge success from

catastrophic results.

than you get in England – generally around the

one perspective – we shot both red and roe deer

end of the first week in August. The rut of 2017

on camera – it was very nearly a disaster from

edge of the open hill, Andrea following, in humid

was a good example – we were busy from

another perspective.

conditions with a thick mist and no wind. I got

late July with the annual pilgrimage of visiting

I have never been a great advocate of the

I had spent the first morning stalking on the

into a group of reds, among which was a young

stalkers and regular syndicate guys.

health and safety red tape epidemic. In my

stag – a perfect cull animal for mid-August. Of

But then things got a bit different.

military career I saw a constant increase in

course, on the open hill, in balmy conditions in

As we approached the end of the second week

health and safety officers who seemed to revel

mid-August, the midges were taking lumps out

of the month, my attention turned towards some

in coming up with one hare-brained scheme

of us – challenging conditions to say the least.

promotional work I was doing with Eagle Review

after another and stopping anybody doing

However, I managed to get into the deer and shot

on Kinnaird Estate in central Scotland. I had two

anything half the time on the basis that it might

a young stag with all the action captured on film.

days of filming organised with a cameraman,

be dangerous. It seemed that expecting folk to

My cameraman had me posing several shots so

Andrea Cavaglià, and we had spoken a number

use common sense while going about day-to-

he could put together a piece for a documentary

of times before the trip to sort out a plan. Andrea

day tasks was a bridge too far. But I won’t rant

for the European hunting fraternity. I began to

is an Italian who comes from a hunting family

too much – I do accept that there is a need for a

understand what an actor has to go through,

and was taken up into the Alps by his father on

common-sense approach to working practices

all the while being eaten alive by those blasted

hunting trips almost as soon as he could walk.

and the need to prevent injury. It’s the sensible

midges – I bet Harrison Ford would not take kindly

It’s always good to work with a professional

bit that sometimes gets lost in translation. But

to the wee tartan biters.

72

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Stalking Injury

The Scottish terrain proves dangerous even for experienced ATV driver Chris

I was delighted when we were finally finished, and I took the short walk down to HQ to fetch the ATV to recover kit, cameraman and stag, and work out a way down the hill for breakfast. It was an easy drive up to where the stag was, and I recovered it, Andrea and his camera, along with my stalking kit. He sat side-saddle on the machine and I started to retrace the route along the side of the hill back to the track. Easy, or so it should have been.

I have got my NPTC qualification in ATV driving, and knew what I was doing – load balanced, bike not overloaded and safe route sorted. Black mark for not wearing a helmet, though. All was well until

The stag is on the ground but the difficulty has only just begun…

on a gentle slope the front-right wheel ran on to a rock not seen under the moss, while the front-left wheel sank into same moss, resulting in the bike sinking left and then tipping over.

What happened next seemed to be in slow motion. The equipment and Andrea all went left

“ My eyes look like I had just got in from an allnight drinking session. I never touched a drop – that was just pain ”

and clear, while I ended up with a bump on the floor and looked up to see a 1,000cc six-wheel machine – and stag – heading in my direction. The

guys and get some breakfast. As we had been up

session. I never touched a drop – that was just

machine hit me hard across the hips, engine block

since very early and it was now late morning, we

pain. It does make you think, though, and I have

first, and I gained a new appreciation for just how

had finished for a while – this allowed me to get

tried to reassess how I do things. Had I been alone

heavy they are. I also realised that I was totally

back to the hotel, cleaned up, showered and take

on the hill when that happened, there is no way

pinned down.

some time to regroup. I was still feeling rather

I could have got out from under that bike – how

uncomfortable – that’s an understatement.

long would it have been before someone came

A panicky cameraman, having established I was still alive, tried to lift the machine – no chance.

We finished filming, and I then guided another

looking, and where would they look?

Eventually, after much pulling and shoving and by

client for few days, returning to Garryloop five

It makes you think that maybe you do need

working together, we managed to push it up high

days later. I had not mentioned my incident to

to have a close look at how you are operating –

enough for me to wriggle out. I stood up and tried

Anne, who was none the wiser – until I got into the

you might not be as lucky as I was. Additionally,

to take stock of whether all my body parts were in

shower, that is, revealing hips black with bruising

I am convinced the Apex Predator sack, packed

working order. Though I knew something wasn’t

and a haematoma that made me look pregnant

with my kit, saved me a broken pelvis. I was

right with me, I quickly became more concerned

on my right-hand side along with three broken

clearly very lucky.

with whether I had damaged my bike – I’d paid a

ribs. She wasn’t pleased.

lot of money for it! We managed to get it back over

Oh, and the bike was fine. Not a scratch.

Watching some of the subsequent film clips

the right way up and it started; we reloaded it and

with close-up shots of me on the rifle, my eyes

For stalking opportunities Chris can be contacted

I drove back down to HQ to meet the rest of the

look like I had just got in from an all-night drinking

on 07710 871190 or at www.ayrstalk.co.uk

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

73

grouse walked up

Credit: Jeff J Mitchell

Conquer the hill From planning all the way through to extraction, stalking on the hill in winter is a constant challenge. Dominic Griffith shows you how to overcome it

O

ne of the most

invariably does significantly worse than the

start of the season in late October, when late-born

significant

other two, or where a very late birth means

calves are so easily identifiable.

differences

that a kid may enter the winter inadequately

between the

prepared. Red hinds, of course, give birth a

to the plan. As the pressure of a large cull and

approach to lowland does and upland hinds

month or more later than roe, while the onset

short days becomes increasingly significant, and

is the important challenge of identifying weak

of winter starts a month or so earlier. The

having made a belly approach through rank

calves. Those of us in the south concerned

occurrence of a late-born red calf, therefore,

heather of perhaps 100 metres in freezing rain,

principally with roe will rarely see a poor

takes on much greater significance.

the inclination is to select the first shootable

kid. This is due to the fact that the relatively

It is certainly the case that within any planned

The challenge of hind stalking is in sticking

hind or calf within the group that is immediately

temperate weather has almost always

hind cull, the stalker will be actively seeking

visible. In this way, and quite by chance, a weak

improved sufficiently by the time the kids

out and selecting those weak calves which will

calf might survive the winter much longer than

have dropped, and there is rarely any reason

otherwise not make it through late winter and

you intend. Indeed, it is often the case that such a

why a doe cannot make enough milk to

early spring – the largest impact of mortality

calf, even one well-known to you, keeps avoiding

ensure her kid or kids’ rapid development.

frequently not actually occurring in the highlands

the cull despite your best efforts. Even in parks

The obvious exception to this is where a roe

until early spring. Nevertheless, early identification

this happens – I well remember an old hind in my

doe gives birth to triplets, one of those triplets

of such calves remains a priority right from the

own enclosure who each year managed to avoid

74

www.countrysportscotland.com

Deer management Hinds

the rifle, even though the park and population

wet, windy, wintry day, but simply that the chances

stalker – very visible, with the sound of frozen

was small. In this case the downside was that she

of success are so very much reduced. Wait a day,

bracken stems on gaiters alerting every deer,

was an aggressive old beast who, once she had

the weather clears, and approaching the roe

seen or unseen, to your presence, sometimes for

dropped her calf, would spend the next couple

becomes immeasurably more rewarding in terms

some hundreds of metres. It is worth going out on

of months attacking any incomer to the park in a

of relative success. With hinds in the highlands,

a poor day just to snatch a morning, or even the

flurry of flailing hooves!

however, the weather is your friend and can mask

end of an improving day, especially at that time

I think what draws me to hind stalking is doing

small deficiencies or mistakes in an approach. The

when the hinds begin to descend off the tops and

battle with the conditions, and the sheer amount

deer are still there, they are still entirely visible but,

down to the low ground to feed. On the island

of hard work involved. As a lowland stalker, it’s not

if anything, they are slightly less alert. In contrast,

that I have been lucky enough to stalk for the past

laziness that stops you getting out after roe on a

a bright, crisp day on the hill makes you – the

15 years, we often catch as many on the return journey as we do in a full day on the hill. In fact,

“ The weather is your friend and can mask small deficiencies or mistakes in an approach ”

dawn and dusk stalking works as successfully as it does anywhere, and it often surprises me how late people tend to go out and how early they tend to return when stalking red deer generally.

Extraction is also one of the rewarding challenges of stalking hinds. At home one gets used to the ease with which roe can be collected and transported, and it is only fallow that entail hard work. Such work, however, is not confined to the simple exertion of dragging, and usually involves mud, lifting, gore and just enough weight to make it almost impossible. Those who have tried lifting a decent pricket on to the back of a quad will understand what I mean – it’s not impossible, but sometimes it seems to be!

Extracting hinds from the hill is by no means easy, particularly if you chose the wrong burn and end up dragging down a narrow, rocky chasm. Stick to the wet grass and a carcase will glide gently downhill and will even pull uphill without too much trouble when necessary.

Unlike the stags there are no antlers to get

Credit: Byron Pace

lodged in the heather or entwined in the dead bracken – and a long drag leaves the feeling of More and more, full grallochs are performed on the hill

having worked hard.

We are also beginning to do full field grallochs before returning to the larder, rather than the traditional approach of removing the green

When hind stalking, the hardest part of the excursion can come after taking the shot

gralloch on the hill and completing the process back in the larder. Using one of the many lifting aids on the market, like the Napier Truck Click, which can be fitted to the back of a quad, a clean, suspended full gralloch can be completed and then inspected without the need to transport waste back to the larder. Care needs to be taken in transporting the carcase to ensure no crosscontamination occurs during the journey home.

For this we use an aluminium trailer, cleaned down between forays, with a cover to ensure mud from the quad wheels is kept away from the carcases.

The physical challenge and required skill set of stalking reds is so very different from the art of stalking a solitary roe that the opportunity

Credit: Byron Pace

becomes a welcome break from the established daily routine. I look forward to the opportunity with great enthusiasm and anticipation of a good job done to preserve and improve a fine island herd.

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75

kit ACCESSORIES

BITS AND PIECES

You’ve got the rifle and scope sorted – what else do you need? Here’s a roundup of handy gear to make your stalks and shoots successful and enjoyable

CENS PROFLEX DX5 Protecting your hearing is crucial whether you’ll be taking one shot or 100. The ProFlex DX5 is the latest offering from moulded electronic ear defender company CENS, and the new model boasts five individual programs, which translate to in-built settings for different environments. These programs are selected via a toggle switch. The ‘Hunter’ mode will be most suitable for stalking,

3HGR (TREEHUGGER)

making everyday sounds and noises easily

Distinctive in design and function, the Treehugger is a versatile and easy-to-use sling that transforms

recognisable and not distracting from the stalk.

just about anything into a stable rest. Helping with improvised shooting positions, the 3HGR enables

Should you get home and need to use these plugs

the customer to use trees, poles, beams and other vertical objects for added support. Also flexible to

for clay shooting or range work – no problem, just

become a harness – distributing the weight of the gun across both shoulders – the sling makes for a

switch the profile.

balanced and comfortable carry, especially when using suppressed or heavy rifles. With the help of 3HGR

Price: From £699

it is possible to fire in more demanding positions and angles and even shoot moving targets.

CENS Digital 01634 719427 censdigital.com

Price: From £46 Viking Arms 01423 780810 vikingshoot.com

Gerber Kettlebell New to the Gerber collection is the Gerber Kettlebell FE folding knife, a versatile tool that benefits from its rugged design with its stainlesssteel 7Cr17MoV 2.5in blade and sturdy frame lock.

Lars Fält knife

The Kettlebell has a dual finger choil as well as an

A sturdy knife from Casström developed with renowned wilderness and survival expert Lars Fält. The

anodised aluminium textured handle, offering a

blade is made from thick Böhler K720 tool steel with high carbon content to make the knife durable even

secure grip. This knife can also be clipped to your

with hard use. The steel quality coupled with the Scandinavian grind make the blade robust but still easy

pocket for quick access. With a slim profile, it can

to handle and easy to grind. The knife has a full-tang construction, and even if the handle is damaged in

be carried about your person for any outdoor task

any way, it can still be used without problems. A sturdy and deep sheath in vegetable tanned leather and

without getting in the way.

a leather strap for the handle is included.

Price: £35.95

Price: £125

Thomas Jacks 01789 264100 www.

Casstrom 01628 330330 casstrom.co.uk

thomasjacks.co.uk

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kit ACCESSORIES

Schöffel gloves These tweed gloves are part of Schöffel’s new autumn/winter collection, which includes coats, fleeces, accessories and more. While looking the part on a shoot, they’re also warm, made from pure lambswool, British milled tweed and cowhide leather. The cuff is adjustable with two side buttons, so you can reduce draughts at the wrist and keep in the heat.

LEUPOLD LTO THERMAL TRACKER

Price: £60

Released last year, the LTO-Tracker thermal unit is built with deer follow-ups in mind, helping you easily

Schöffel schoffelcountry.com

recover game even when you’ve completely lost light. This compact and lightweight thermal imager boasts a 21-degree field of view and up to 6x digital zoom with a man-sized detection distance up to 600 yards (500m). With six optional palettes and user-controlled reticle for a quick acquisition of the target, the LTO offers up to 10 hours of continuous use on one battery cycle.

Price: From £952 Viking Arms 01423 780810 vikingshoot.com

JAVBELIN BIPOD It’s possible you’ve never even really thought about what bipod goes on your rifle. This bipod, with a carbon-fibre construction and magnetic attachment, is going to make you think again. It’s ultra-quiet in attachment and removal – and since

APEX FINDERS KEEPERS

it detaches so easily, you can take it off when not

Never lose anything out on the hill again. These high-vis, flat-profile ear identifiers can be attached to

required and save yourself some weight. Plus, you

virtually any piece of equipment, available in two sizes: small for knives, torches and tools, large for radios

can attach it to more than one rifle – so you can

and smartphones. The FKs are heat-resistant, strong and stretchy, and once attached they won’t simply

buy one bipod to cover your entire collection of

roll off thanks to the flat inner profile. You can also write on the inside of the ring with a permanent

rifles. The result – surprisingly for one of the more

marker – just add your name, number or postcode for added security.

expensive bipods on the market – is a big saving.

Price: £5.99-£8.99

Price: £255

Napier 01235 812993 napieruk.com

Javelin javelinbipod.com

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Credit: Slots Media, Instagram @slotsmedia

stalking safety

Safety first Are you taking safety in the field seriously enough? Will O’Meara takes you through the essential safety measures before, during and after a stalk

T

he auld ‘health and

things like hypothermia, bullet holes, and falling

This article is not designed to stop you pursuing

safety’ is a sure

out of flying machines.

your passion or seeking adventure – I hope it will

topic to induce that glazed-over,

Hunting is a hobby for most, a time of

facilitate more adventure not less.

relaxation and enjoyment, and as a result most

thousand-yard stare from any audience,

recreational hunters never sit down and think

Nightmare scenario

but when the topic is surrounding rifles and

about the possible risks in quite the same way

Safety starts at home. What can go wrong, will go

hunting, it should be far more worthy of

as we do in a professional environment. When

wrong. An example of this that comes to mind is

attention, right? Well, it should be, and if you

you look at hunting in a clinical matter it’s not

a story of a friend of a friend, based in Scotland.

think you know it all, think again.

difficult to readily come up with a list of possible

This experienced hunter always took great care

risks involving knives, firearms, extreme terrain,

and attention with the safety of his firearms. On

statements and risk assessments for everything

and vehicles to name a few. We cannot live our

one particular day he took his new .300WSM out

from a paper cut to a caffeine overdose. In the

life in constant worry or without risk, but we

of the safe, and handed it to his friend. There

military we do the same, but the risks include

should definitely plan for when things go wrong.

was no bolt or magazine in the rifle, as he always

In the office environment we have safety

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stalking safety

“ A visual check of the chamber is always necessary. Strange things can and do happen ”

hindsight is that a visual check of the chamber is always necessary.

Strange things can and do happen – a broken extractor could yield a similar result. Check, always visually check. Every time someone hands you a

stored these separately. He retrieved the bolt as

three shots, and as he chambered the fourth he

rifle, check the safety, remove the mag, open the

his friend admired the new rifle. Fitting the bolt,

noted that the group looked to be just a ragged

bolt and look in the chamber. Keep your firearm

he said, “Try the trigger.” His friend looked to see

hole. He removed the bolt and walked up to

in a quality safe, store the bolt and ammo safely

no magazine fitted to the rifle, closed the bolt,

confirm. On closer inspection he noted that, yes,

and separately, be mindful. And get insurance. If

shouldered the rifle and touched the trigger.

indeed the group was phenomenally just a ragged

you are reading this and you don’t have hunting

It is hard to even imagine the fright that both

hole. The same as any of us, he was delighted, and

insurance, stop, get on the web and buy insurance

men got when the boom of the shot went off. It is

packed up his kit happy to be the proud owner of

now – you’ll be glad of it if something happens.

even more unimaginable what their shock would

a tack driver in a serious calibre.

Vehicle safety

have been on hearing the scream of the man’s

But he stored the rifle without bolt or

wife as the ballistic tip bullet tore through wall,

magazine… so how did it fire a shot? What

Quad, four-wheeler, ATV, call it what you will. It

into the next room and her shoulder. This is a

happened was that the fourth round that he fed

is an exceptional tool for the recovery of deer

true story. The lady survived the accident, but not

into the chamber was push-fed in. He didn’t close

carcases but it is not without its dangers. I have

without a lengthy treatment in hospital.

the bolt so the extractor never engaged in the rim

used the quad in a professional and recreational

So what happened? We’ve all done it: gone

of the case. So when he removed the bolt, there

capacity and while they are a handy tool, they

to the range in the excitement of setting up and

was a round in the chamber. He stored the gun

need to be treated with respect.

zeroing a new rifle. On this occasion the guy

muzzle-up in the safe so it was bad luck that that

decided to finish up with a grouping practice. He

short, fat .300 WSM case stayed in the chamber

over. The most impressive addition to a quad

loaded four rounds into the magazine and settled

overnight and remained there… waiting.The

that I have used is the use of dual wheels on the

in at 100 yards to shoot a group. He fired the first

lesson we can all learn from the clarity of 20/20

rear axle. Clic are one such make that can detach

One of the main concerns with a quad is a roll

You need to know your chamber state – that means visually checking

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stalking safety

easily and attach securely – they really widen the stance of the vehicle and make a roll over almost impossible. Almost… They also add considerable capability for crossing soft ground, and as such they also cause less damage to the ground. All in all I believe they are the best addition to any quad that I have used in my years.

On mountain terrain the chance of flipping the quad is always there and there have been many accidents where a quad has flipped backwards on a steep ascent. The danger here is that the most natural reaction can be to try and save yourself from being crushed by using your feet to stop the bike falling on you – the inevitable result is breaking a leg or a hip.

Alternative methods of recovery range from pony to packs, and each needs to be well thought out using reliable equipment designed for the task. For dragging or backpacking out the meat, you can prepare by conditioning the body. This can take the format of off-season strength and endurance training to ensure you are as fit as possible. It should also include task-specific training such as weighted cardio using a backpack or dragging a sled. These preparations will ensure that you build your physical conditioning in a progressive manner and that your kit and equipment fits correctly and is fit for purpose.

People might throw their eyes to heaven at but think about its benefits. Such training will make you stronger, it will help prevent injury, it will ensure speedy recovery, allow you to perform these physical tasks as you get older, and it will also make the experience become more enjoyable. Fitness is a habit – a little bit everyday will add up over time. A good philosophy to apply here is, “being weak never came in handy.”

Whatever hunting situation you are in, be aware of the hazards, and mitigate or accept the risk.

First aid If you spend a considerable amount of your time around firearms and in remote and rugged locations, you should be equipped to deal with

At the beginning of a hunt I will check that the

of the hunt for an accidental discharge of the

injuries that can range from gunshot wounds, to

chamber is empty and demonstrate to my hunting

rifle to occur. It is my long-term habit only to

cuts from knives, to a sprained ankle. You and

partner that it is so. I will close the bolt and fit the

load the rifle once I am set up in the final firing

your first aid kit should know how to deal with a

full magazine.

position. The load can be done almost silently

gunshot wound, know how to give CPR and how

It is good practice to have your safety catch

by drawing the bolt back halfway and feeding

to field-treat everything from a broken limb to an

on safe, if only to ingrain that good habit and

a round directly into the chamber. For this

upset stomach. As well as knowing the first aid to

to give everyone else the visual reassurance

purpose I usually carry spare rounds in my bino

administer in a wilderness scenario, you should

that the firearm is safe. This may take some

harness and on the stock of the rifle. The added

also know how to initiate a rescue – it can be as

manipulation for certain rifles but in my opinion

bonus of this is that I can have my magazine full

simple as a phone call to the mountain rescue or

it is worth the effort.

plus an additional round in the chamber, giving

coastguard – and how to keep a casualty stable and comfortable while help arrives.

Treat the muzzle of the rifle like a laser. It should never sweep through or point at another

me a total of five rounds for my .270 Win. A word on the Blaser-style straight pull. I have

person regardless of the state of the firearm.

owned a couple of Blasers and found them to

Firearm safety

To demonstrate such discipline can only be

be nice to shoot and well made – a useful and

Firearms handling should be a point of pride. Your

interpreted as competence on your behalf.

adaptable tool. I get the mechanics of having a

confidence in the safe state of your firearm should

It continues to surprise me that people often

live round in the chamber of a Blaser and the

be based on your attention to detail. As I said, it is

suggest loading the rifle at the early stage of a

cocking of the gun, but I don’t agree with having

always important to check your chamber is empty.

stalk. The stalk is perhaps the most likely stage

a round in the chamber. It’s unsafe.

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Credit: Slots Media, Instagram @slotsmedia

the thought of physical preparation for the hunt,

stalking safety

Credit: Jason Doyle

The sharper it is, the safer it is. Pay attention to knife handling regardless of your experience

I suppose an element of this is mechanical

believe that if you don’t have time to load the rifle,

emotions visibly shaking after the shot. The main

mistrust, based on years of seeing things that

then the opportunity has passed. So what! There

points after the shot and during the follow up

“shouldn’t be possible” happening through freak

will be other opportunities.

are the same as during the stalk.

however, is based on my own experience. With a

The final moment

deer that has been shot, they can often be

traditional bolt rifle I am always super-disciplined

On taking the shot we should all be aware that a

very much alive and may require further action

about loading and unloading, checking the

safe backdrop is required. Despite this obvious

to swiftly and humanely dispatch. This can be

and unforeseen series of events. The main reason,

chamber and applying the safety.

This can all happen in a matter of seconds. A good example is where you have a failed stalk or have to move a few yards to

It is my experience that on approaching a

“ It is my experience that on approaching a deer that has been shot, they can often be very much alive ”

a different firing position. The

especially true with a head or neck shot. As experienced hunters we don’t really put a whole load of thought into this, but when you sit down and analyse the prospect of

process with a bolt-action rifle is

approaching a wounded animal

quite definite and has a few parts to it. With the

safety point, I am surprised with the amount

of – in the case of a red stag – up to 300kg who

Blaser-style action, however, you simply cock or

of videos online that show a shot taken at an

is armed with sharpened antlers and built of wild

de-cock the little button. The process is so small

animal on a skyline. No matter how remote

muscle, then surely some amount of caution is

and so un-deliberate that it can on occasion, in

the chance this may present a danger, it is an

in order. There is no secret recipe here other

the heat of the moment, get overlooked. In a

unnecessary risk.

than to use observation and caution, be aware

situation like a high-seat this may not be such a

Without turning this into a DSC manual, it is

of your backdrop and ricochet potential if a

big deal, but in a gritty dynamic stalk it can be a

worth considering the safety issues that can occur

follow-up shot is required, and use caution with

major risk. For me, in a spot-and-stalk scenario, I

after the shot. I’ve seen hunters overcome with

your knife.

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OPINION CONSERVATION

The future of hunting Scottish hill stalking has been essentially the same for over 100 years, but its future is not guaranted. Byron Pace says we all need to try harder to defend and promote hunting

A

s a teenager I lusted

This places a great burden on all of us, but

the progress of our forefathers. Yet, within the

over the stories of

gives unprecedented meaning and purpose to

hunting community, in many respects, we have

old. I saw them as

the legacy we leave. If you wanted to make a

allowed the foundations of ethics, conservation

the adventures of a

difference, now is the time to be living it.

and sportsmanship etiquette slide in the wake

time long past, and resigned myself to seeking

What we do as hunters today matters. How we

of over commercialisation. We as individuals are

out the best of the hunting opportunities

are perceived matters. Doing nothing, hiding from

not the most important aspect of hunting. What

that remained. As far as I was concerned, the

the realities of a shifting society, is only an option

hunting means is.

golden days of hunting were gone.

if we are happy to drift and fade with the sands

However, as I got older I realised just how

of time.

wrong and defeatist I had been. I realised, that in

Be in no doubt. We are not winning. As a community globally, we are losing our relevance in a society which has moved faster than we have

spite of what may have been, right now is one of

Looking back

evolved. A society disconnected and removed

the greatest eras in hunting’s history.

Do you know what is written on the side of a two-

from the land we inhabit.

I say this because never before will the actions we take over such a confined period define our future so drastically.

pound coin? “Standing on the shoulder of giants”.

You don’t have to cast your mind back all that

That quote was taken from the 12th century

far to find a time when hunters were the heroes of

and repeated by Isaac Newton. We build on

every story. They were revered and championed

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opinion conservation

Hunters were once seen as heroes – will they ever be seen this way again?

Scottish species may be magnificent but we need to think about the conservation of species all over the world

of an outcome they could not stand by and allow to happen. It was great people – hunters, conservationists, naturalists and visionaries such as Teddy Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold and George Bird Grinnell – who worked tirelessly for the greater good. A future where hunting formed an integral tool to ensure the wildlife came first.

But they didn’t do it alone. It required collaboration with people and organisations who didn’t necessarily see eye to eye. With this, they were able to forge a positive future towards a common end goal. John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt disagreed on many things, but they found a way

Credit: Empato/iStock

to come together.

This is something we could learn from today.

Not just between the hunting community and non-hunting organisations who are often critical of us, but also within our own community. In a future where hunting survives, we have to unify far more, in thinking, in resources and in direction. in life and as much as fiction. Hunters and

to save what was left. Humans had wiped out

naturalists were not distinguished from one

the passenger pigeon in the blink of an eye for

and the custodianship of the wildlife and

another. They were one and the same. At some

greed and agricultural progression. The mighty

landscape. Where our interest and care extended

point, this diverged, and with it came a great loss

bison stood at a mere few hundred individuals.

beyond the species we pursued. Where the

in our deeper connection to the land.

Herds that would take many days to pass by,

idea of honour to yourself, the wildlife and the

disappeared on the back of politics and market

environment lay at the very foundation of what it

Against the odds

hunting. Name any of the big game now abundant

was to be a hunter.

In the years that followed the 1890s, in face of

in North America, and at that period in history,

great odds and the near-certain demise of much

population recovery seemed almost a lost cause.

of the big game in Northern America, it was hunters which were at the forefront of the drive

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Despite what seemed an impossible task, a small number of people stood in defiance

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What used to be important was the experience

As a community we allowed the end result to become the sole point of our endeavours. We stopped focusing on the experience, and the contributing role we played as hunters. Very often

OPINION CONSERVATION

educate, and crucially, reach people outside of what we may have seen traditionally as part of our community.

Herein lies one of our great failures. Our ability to recognise the simple fact that in order for hunting to continue to play a role in the management of our landscape, it has to be both relatable and relevant in today’s world. In a modern society. This is no easy task, but we first have to acknowledge it.

One thing we do wrong is we spend far too much time preaching to the converted.

We need people to stand up and drive forward change. Sometimes change won’t be popular, but the time for such concerns is long passed.

We need to push ourselves to a situation where we are proactive, not reactive. Continually we find ourselves on the back foot, often defending aspects of hunting against attacks we should have seen coming.

I believe part of the issue lies in the incredibly short horizon we seem to have. Who is sitting down and formulating a strategy for the next 100 years? A strategy to ensure we pull through the shift in how society views hunting?

I hope someone is, because we should be. A longer horizon, viewed by people with the right skillset, would have foreseen the over-supply of reared game long before it happened. There, it became about the inches, and in this we allowed

learn from our mistakes. I see chinks of light in the

we have all been so consumed with a problem

the concept of trophy hunting to be stolen and

dark clouds that sit firmly over hunting. A rewriting

entirely self-produced, and fixable with restraint

morphed into something it wasn’t.

of the narrative we tell, where once again the

and the right leadership. Meanwhile we ignore the

journey takes priority, and the wildlife comes first.

global precedents being set. We are so blinkered

we pursued as hunters was only one moment. A

I see a shift in the nature of articles in our press

inside our own little island, refusing to comment

moment of success measured by blood on the

and that is encouraging.

or be counted on international events.

We became content with the notion that what

ground. We saw this in articles home and abroad,

The last two years have also seen the much

we saw it in adverts and we saw it rampant during

newer medium of podcasting forge a powerful

down grizzly bear hunting. Poland has laid down

the rise of hunting videos, both before and after

and important voice for the thoughtful hunter.

crippling restrictions on their own hunting culture.

the wave of online content available today.

My brother Darryl and I know from our own

Tanzania is busy imploding as one concession

podcast show just how this can inform and

after the next is handed back to the government.

Today we have trivialised hunting for the benefit

In the last six months British Columbia has shut

of a social media following. An often shallow veneer for popularity where it’s done for the story first. Our ability as individuals to reach so many people is empowering for the hunting community, but in the same breath incredibly dangerous.

What do you think the greatest recruiting drive for PETA last year was? Not anything they did. It was something we did. ‘Shoot animals not selfies’, the profile picture campaign. Who thought that was a good idea? Just pause for a moment and reflect on how that looked to someone who didn’t hunt. Not a hater. Not an anti-hunter. Just an average urban-dwelling person who knows little of hunting. It looked bad. It was an easy trap to get carried away with, but it was naive and arrogant and encapsulates in a single action just how deep our lack of understanding goes when it comes to how we shape a positive future for hunting.

I don’t like to dwell on the negatives or the failures of the past, but I do believe we should

We all need to put more effort into conservation and safeguarding the environment around us

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opinion conservation

that you will take home what you kill. If you share a few hundred birds between a group of friends, you should be prepared to take them home and process them. You may be told that this comes at extra cost. Market prices may be good, and demand abundant. Then the choice becomes yours. However, the expectation should be, we are responsible for the lives we take.

This has to be the case, and often it’s not. We need to rebuild this connection.

From here we must grow. We must re-shape and re-write the hunting narrative to be relevant today. It can be done, and it will work if the wildlife comes first.

Realise that all the people and agendas that would like to wipe hunting from our future have as many hours in the days as we do. So what

Whatever kind of shooting you prefer, you are responsible for the lives you take

does this tell us? It tells us we must be smarter.

We must work harder. Be more dedicated and resolute. It may be politically correct to tell the

We need to be more engaged on an

We are increasingly surrounded by taglines

kids of today that it’s the taking part that counts,

international stage. At the very least it allows us

and straplines like ‘huntervationist’. Many of us

but we all know that’s a lie. There will be no taking-

to learn and prepare ourselves better. At most,

embrace it proudly. But are we being honest?

part medal for the hunting community if we fail

Ask yourself, what do you really do? What

we will be contributing and helping towards

find a foothold in the future. And we must. As our

the greater challenge of safeguarding hunting

makes you a conservationist? If you are going to

population climbs from 7 to 8 billion people, and

and the sustainable harvest of game all over

say it. Own it. If you can’t give your time, give your

will probably reach 9 in the future, it will be the

the world.

money, but be invested in more than what you

value given to wildlife and wild places that allows

can get out of it. What made the great hunter

us to safeguard the soul of our planet.

What it shows us now is that the science is no longer enough. If it was, many of

conservationists was love and dedication to the

the confrontations we have on moorland

natural world. A desire to understand and learn.

Looking forward

management would disappear. If science was

Just because you do, doesn’t mean you are.

It’s said that one person can change the world.

enough, grizzly bears would still be hunted in

We must realise that it’s no longer an argument

We don’t have one. We have a whole community.

BC, regulated elephant hunting would be widely

that our actions are sustainable. Why would we be

If one person can change the world, imagine what

accepted, and Cecil the lion would be a name no

doing something that isn’t sustainable? Our aim

we can do together.

one knew.

should be enhancement.

The fact is, in the modern society we are all part

We must take greater personal responsibility,

of, the moral reasons we do what we do matter.

and our organisations should be brave enough to

This is the reality. It is a reality we will not change,

lay down an ethical framework that challenges us.

but we need to understand.

There must, and there has to be, a morally

Every time you hunt, be that a driven day or stalking on the hill, the expectation should be

Let the emotion of what we could lose drive you. Feel in the pit of your stomach and take ownership of the future.

We must find our voice. The voice of the modern hunter. Because it is the modern hunter we must become. This is our time.

acceptable justification for our actions.

Without this, any expectation we will convince a disinterested, discounted urban majority is destined to failure.

It would be neat to conclude a positive outcome for the future with a single line or euphony, but I can’t. The matter is far too complex for that.

I do however believe that we would be facing a very different proposition if we all expected more from ourselves.

What makes a conservationist?

What many of the great hunters and naturalists had in common was a deep-seated connection with the wilderness. More often than not, this is lost today. We are not honest with ourselves or our motivations enough. We fail to appreciate the small things with enough gravity.

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We need to think about the stories we tell and the way we portray hunting – particularly when it comes to social media

the future GROUSE SHOOTING

MOOR EFFORTS It’s a crucial time for the grouse shooting sector, says Tim Baynes of the Scottish Land & Estates Moorland Group, but we have already seen a cultural shift

T

his is set to be an important year

The loss to other rural businesses, such as

suggests that sphagnum moss and cottongrass

for the grouse shooting sector.

hotels, pubs, taxi firms, and local shops, has not

cover appears to benefit from regular muirburn

We await with keen interest the

been calculated, but we know that in a good year

every few years, and a similar positive effect has

outcome of the Werritty Review,

they can benefit to the tune of £23m. Scottish

been noted on biodiversity.

to be delivered to the Scottish Parliament in

Government VAT and tax receipts will also have

April. Some of you will have been involved in

been hit by the reduction in shoot days.

as he has gathered information from

Muirburn is working well

shooting estates, countryside organisations

The new muirburn code was introduced in

Raptors are returning and a new attitude to their conservation prevails

and conservation bodies the length and

September 2017 and shooting estates have

Moorlands have wildlife in abundance, from

breadth of Scotland.

adapted well to the changes introduced. We

lizards and mountain hares to rare plants, ground-

know that gamekeepers have helped provide

nesting birds, owls and raptors. Birds of prey are

of gathering information from relevant parties

training for the SFRS in some areas to help

particularly important to us and there has been

has been conducted in a comprehensive

reduce the spread of wildfires when they do

a culture shift in recent years. Grouse moors

and effective manner. What would I hope

break out, and this valuable work continues.

are active participants in the SNH-led “Heads

that Professor Werritty has retained from his

We also saw gamekeepers rush to assist their

Up For Harriers” project to find out reasons for

meetings with the shooting fraternity? My key

neighbours when there were wildfires caused

poor breeding, and SLE is a founder member of

message would be that the sector has already

by members of the public in the Angus Glens

the South of Scotland Golden Eagle project. On

embraced a culture of self-regulation and shown

in the hot summer of 2018. Recent evidence

Speyside and the Monadhliaths there has been

submitting information to Professor Werritty

We should be reassured that the process

its commitment to conservation.

Grouse shooting supports jobs in fragile rural communities Last month, Scotland’s regional moorland groups assessed the impact of the poor season as resulting in a loss of between £10m and £15m nationwide. Among the worst hit areas were Tayside, Speyside and the Lammermuirs.

A survey of 50 estates found that 16,000 day shifts for beaters, cooks, and housekeepers were cancelled, although full-time gamekeepers’ jobs were protected.

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www.countrysportscotland.com

Muirburn continues to play a role in shaping today’s uplands

the future GROUSE SHOOTING

Tourists come to shoot, but often stay and spend money elsewhere in Scotland Groups who come here for country sports will also spend money on other pursuits. It must not be forgotten that visitors use non-shooting days for distillery and castle visits, golf or shopping in Edinburgh. Many also extend their trip to see more of Scotland while they are here. Shooting is a showcase for the heritage and tradition loved by millions around the world but not always appreciated at home.

The creation of the British Game Alliance shows the way ahead for marketing game The BGA seeks to create sustainable outlets improvements for other species of ground-

for fresh game, backed by a quality assurance

nesting and moorland birds. In Tomatin, wild grey

scheme to maintain the highest standards. The

partridges returned to the Tomatin moors in 2017

BGA is on target to achieve its target of 500 shoots

for the first time in 20 years after bantam hens

signed up by April, with Scotland playing its part.

were used as surrogate egg-sitters.

Members are audited before they can display the British Game Assurance Scheme logo. Consumers

The whole community benefits from the work of shooting estates Estates are sometimes portrayed in the media as

benefit from full traceability and the knowledge that game has been produced in an ethical and transparent manner.

Scottish grouse shooting remains in high

distant or removed from the rest of the country.

demand from shooters around the world. It has

The reality is that estates play a full role in their

been a poor year for shooting due to the weather

local communities and often support local

but enthusiasm has not been dampened, and

businesses. In the Lammermuirs and the Tomatin

we hope that by next season there will be a more

a rise in golden eagle breeding. Collaborative

region, local bee-keepers benefit from moving

secure political future for the sector, locking in

projects like these, where land managers

their hives on to the moorland early in the season

best practice grouse moor management for the

are working with raptor experts, are the way

to take advantage of the young heather blooms.

long term. In a post-Brexit world, sustainable

ahead. Any crime against a bird of prey is simply

Estate shops are often a vital resource for local

land uses which contribute strongly to the rural

unacceptable today. We have progressed to the

people and walkers benefit from hill tracks and

economy and biodiversity, without reliance on

point where recorded crimes against all birds of

open access to moorland.

public subsidy, will be valuable – grouse shooting

Keepers and raptor advocates need to work together to conserve them

prey in Scotland have dwindled to single figures,

can provide that.

with moorland managers playing their part to bring the figures down.

Peatland restoration projects and other conservation work continues apace Major peatland restoration projects were in progress in 2018 which will enable carbon sequestration, habitat improvement and restoration of eroded areas of upland amid some of Scotland’s most wild and beautiful landscapes.

Over 3,700 acres of land in the Monadhliaths and over 1,200 acres in the Cairngorms National Park will have been restored by this summer.

The work will help to enhance the precious home of rare birds, mammals and plants. Other longterm initiatives will also continue despite the economic hit, such as new fencing and habitat

Beekeepers in Tomatin are an example of a non-shooting group benefiting from moorland management

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

91

kit cartridges

SHELLS TO SUIT If you’re heading to Scotland for driven grouse or lowland game shooting, you need a high-quality cartridge to do the job on those fast-flying birds…

Express Supreme Game The flagship of the Lyalvale Express fleet, Supreme is designed to meet the demands of the most discerning grouse shooter for patterning, velocity and versatility. Based on the Olympic Gold Medal case, this is a true 65mm cartridge suitable for best English guns, while a high brass cap enhances the cartridge’s traditional appeal and aids ejection.

A single-base powder helps ensure manageable recoil, while the lead is tightly quality-controlled for antimony content and sphericity. Available in 28, 30- and 32gram plastic and fibre plus 34-gram fibre.

Lyalvale Express 01543 434400 www.lyalvaleexpress.com

Hull Driven Grouse Rio Classic Game It might sport a partridge on the box, but Rio’s Classic Game Ojeo is a favourite choice of grouse shooters – including the owner of CCI, who we’re told selects them when he heads to the moor.

Competitively priced and smoothshooting, it’s a versatile cartridge suitable for early-season lowland birds as well as grouse, loaded with 30 grams of 6-shot and a fibre wad. Rio quotes a muzzle velocity of around 400m/s, with pressures well within the CIP recommendation.

CCI 1536 260933 cci-international.com

There’s no doubt what form of quarry this cartridge is designed to tackle. Designed from the ground up, it’s available in 20bore (pictured) as well as 12, with shot loads from 28 to 32 grams in 6-shot or 5.5. Hull styles these as early and late-season specifications, which neatly demonstrates the made-for-purpose appeal of their brand. Stated velocities of 1,450fps at the muzzle are ample for dealing with with fast-flying grouse.

There are 65mm and 70mm case options available.

Hull Cartridge 01482 342756 hullcartridge.co.uk

Black Gold Game Gamebore’s ubiquitous and respected flagship load, the Black Gold is a highperformance game cartridge that can be seen in great numbers on the moor. Powered by F2 powder technology and incorporating Gamebore’s Diamond shot – designed to hold patterns tighter at long range – it’s truly a load for testing shots on driven birds, having been field-tested by high-bird specialist Simon Ward before release. Gamebore also say the cartridge boasts 15 per cent less recoil compared to other comparable loads on the market. Available in 12- and 20-bore.

Gamebore 01482 223 707 www.gamebore.com

60

www.countrysportscotland.com

kit cartridges

Eley Zenith Since release in late 2015, the Zenith cartridge, with its distinctive coppercoated shot, has garnered no shortage of fans. It’s regularly used by the stars of The Shooting Show, including Geoff Garrod and Peter Carr, and Eley’s starstudded line-up of sponsored shooters cant get enough of it either – England rugby player Tom Croft has described them as “phenomenal”. Coming in 12or 20-bore designs, the Zenith line-up includes 28-gram 6-shot 20b and 30gram 6-shot 12b options, both ideally suited to Scottish game shooting.

Eley Hawk 0121 3523277 www.eleyhawkltd.com

Nobel Speed

Clever T3 Game

Fiocchi F3 Game

Coming from Italian brand Clever, this is nonetheless a cartridge suitable for quintessentially British hunting scenarios, as the box art signifies. It’s not just a pheasant load, though – in 30-gram 6-shot it’s more than suitable for grouse.

And with a cartridge length of 65mm, it’s made to work in any shotgun, including the classical side-by-sides you’re more likely to see on the moor.

Garlands 01827 383300 www.garlands.uk.com

An ultra-versatile cartridge, no game cartridge round-up would be complete without Fiocchi’s F3 Game. The cartridges are available in 30- and 32-gram loads in shot sizes 5 and 6. They are loaded with fibre wads and available at a competitive price. The 12-gauge cartridges are loaded into a 67mm case with 16mm head space and are suitable for both 2.5 and 2.75 inch chambers.

Fiocchi 07836 372179 fiocchiuk.com

As the name gives away, this game cartridge from NSI is designed for high muzzle velocities within CIP pressure limits – NSI quotes 1,335fps at the muzzle in the 20-bore version of this load.

Pictured here is the 12-bore option, ideal for the modern grouse shooter with a 70mm length and loads available from 28 to 34 grams, with shot sizes of 5, 6 and 7.5 across the load’s various guises.

A fibre-wadded cartridge, it’s perfect for shooting in harmony with the UK’s picturesque moorlands.

Edgar Brothers 01625 613177 www.edgarbrothers.com

Cheddite Royal Drive A 65mm premium game load – “for the gentleman of the field,” as UK importer Malmo Guns puts it – the Royal Drive offers the shooter an impressive degree of choice. With 5-shot and 6-shot options available, it also comes in 30- or 32-gram loads, with the option of copper-coated shot. This fibre-wadded cartridge was released in its copper-plated form a couple of years ago, and the take-up it saw then indicates that it’ll be a popular option when this August rolls around.

Malmo Guns 01524 793007 www.malmoguns.com

RC Professional Game A quintessentially Italian cartridge, this 65mm load will work in best English guns on the moor, but is versatile enough to take to the lowlands for partridge too. Coming in fibre wad only, it’s most commonly seen loaded with 28 grams of 7-shot. Italian shot sizes are slightly different to British measurements – so an Italian size 7 is what we could call a 6.5, closer to the standard for grouse. There is also a 30-gram load and a 6-shot (UK 5.5).

Shooting Star 01728 660372 nick@shootingstarcc.co.uk Shoot IN SCOTLAND

61

DIRECTORY

where to shoot Plan your next Scottish shooting foray anywhere from the Borders to the Highlands with this selection of outfitters and estates compiled by the SCSTG

2

1

3

4

4 5

Achentoul Estate

Anson MacAuslan, Achentoul Estate, Kinbrace, Sutherland, KW11 6UB macanson@hotmail.com 01593 751237 4

6

7

Achnacarry Sporting &

Country Pursuits Linda Poll, Ardechive House, Achnacarry, Spean Bridge,

8

Highlands, PH34 4EL

9

info@achnacarrycountry.co.uk 07554 275832

10

4

11

SCSTG Regions

www.achnacarrycountry.co.uk Altyre Estate

Sir Alistair Gordon Cumming, Altyre

14

12

Estate, Forres, Moray, Highlands, IV36 2SH office@altyre.com, 01309 672265

1

Shetland

2

Orkney

3

The Outer Hebrides

4

Highlands and Skye

5

Aberdeen and Grampian

David Kinnear / Sarah Harvie, Alvie

6

Angus and Dundee

Estate Office, Kincraig, Kingussie,

7

Perthshire

Inverness-shire, PH21 1NE

8

Argyll, the Isles, Loch

info@alvie-estate.co.uk

Lomond, Stirling and

01540 651255

Trossachs 9

13

4

Alvie and Dalraddy

www.alvie-estate.co.uk

The Kingdom of Fife

10 Edinburgh and the Lothians 11 Glasgow and the Clyde Valley 12 Ayrshire and Arran 13 Dumfries and Galloway 14 Scottish Borders

94

www.altyre-estate.co.uk

www.countrysportscotland.com

3

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle

Innes Morrison, Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, Isle of Harris, Western Isles, The Outer Hebrides, HS3 3AS info@amhuinnsuidhe.com 01859 560200, www.amhuinnsuidhe.com

DIRECTORY

8

Ardchattan

Jocelyn Miller, Ardchattan Priory,

01250 883268

01644 430469 / 07747 691447

www.ballathiehousehotel.com

www.casesport.com

Oban, Argyll, PA37 1RQ admin@ardchattan.co.uk www.ardchattan.co.uk

5

Ballogie Estate

12

Cassillis & Culzean Estates

Jean Menage, Ballogie Estate Office,

Ann Williamson / Chris Savage,

Aboyne, Aberdeenshire AB34 5DS

Cassillis & Culzean Estates,

info@ballogie-estate.co.uk,

Jameston, Maidens, Girvan,

Niall Rowantree, West Highland

01339 886497

Ayrshire, KA26 9NF

Hunting, Ardnamurchan Estates,

www.ballogie-estate.co.uk

8

Ardnamurchan Estates

hunting@westhighland-hunting.

ann@cassillisestate.co.uk 01655 332555

Acharacle, Argyll, PH36 4LH 8

Benmore Estate

co.uk

(Isle of Mull)

01972 500275 / 01972 510208

Sarah Pearson, Benmore Estate

Lynda Campbell, Corrielair Estate,

www.westhighland-hunting.co.uk

Office, Heydour Farm, Heydour,

Battleby Farm, Redgorton, Perth,

Lincolnshire NG32 3NG (Estate

PH1 3EN (Property postcode IV63

postcode PA71 6HT)

7YW)

Hugh Nicol MRICS, Argyll Estates

sarah.pearson@tpradford.co.uk,

lynda.campbell@ihbrown.com

office, Cherry Park, Inveraray, Argyll

01400 231133

01738 494488

& The Isles, PA32 8XE

www.benmoreestate.co.uk

8

Argyll Estates

enquiries@inveraray-castle.com 01499 302203

4

7

Black Mount Estate (Glen

Corrielair Estate

INTERNATIONAL BIG GAME & BIRD HUNTING Long-established, well connected and reliable, International Big Game & Bird Hunting can offer all forms of

Craiganour Estate

sporting experience, including

Bobbie Carter/James Adamson,

shooting, stalking and fishing in

Etive)

Craiganour Estate, c/o Savills, Earn

Scotland, as well as throughout

c/o Helen Polley, Bidwells, Carn

House, Broxden Business Park,

the UK and big game hunting

Dearg House, North Road, Fort

Lamberkine Drive, Perth, PH1 1RA

and wing shooting overseas.

Andrew Bruce Wootton, Atholl

William, Highlands, PH33 6PP

(Estate postcode PH17 2QN)

Estates, Blair Atholl, Perthshire,

helen.polley@bidwells.co.uk

BCarter@savills.com; james.

PH18 5TH

01397 702433

adamson@savills.com

www.inveraray-castle.com 7

Atholl Estates

4

www.atholl-estates.co.uk

for all budgets and group sizes from single hunters to large family

01738 477535

abw@atholl-estates.co.uk 01796 481355

Truly everything is available – from bespoke packages designed

3

Borve Lodge Estate

groups. The possibilities are

www.craiganour.co.uk

endless – get in touch to discuss

Neil St Quinton (Estate Manager), Estate Office, Borve Lodge, Borve,

7

your ideas and requirements.

Culfargie Estates

Offering personal attention,

Isle of Harris, Outer Hebrides,

(Bandirran and Lochan)

quality accommodation

Sheila McIntosh, Auchmacoy Estate

HS3 3HT

Brian Kaye, Culfargie Estate Office,

and experienced guides,

Office, Ellon, Aberdeenshire,

neil@borvelodge.com

Tarrylaw, Balbeggie, Perth, PH2 6HL

International Big Game & Bird

AB41 8RB

01859 550358

Brian.Kaye@culfargie-estates.co.uk

Hunting pays attention to every

office@auchmacoyestate.co.uk

www.borvelodge.com

01821 640294

5

Auchmacoy Estate

4

Badanloch Estate

goes around it.

Braemore and Langwell

Estates

6

Visit www.kiltarlity.com, email

Dalhousie Estates

Diane Fleming, Badanloch Estate Ltd

Welbeck Estates Co Ltd, Portland

Richard Cooke, Dalhousie Estates,

c/o Strutt and Parker, The Courier

Estates Office, Berriedale, Caithness,

Invermark, Angus, DD9 6SG

Building, 9-11 Bank Lane, Inverness,

Highlands, KW7 6HE

dalhousieestates@btinternet.com

IV1 1WA

macanson@hotmail.com

01356 624566

diane.fleming@struttandparker.

01593 751237

www.dalhousieestates.co.uk

com, 01463 719171 www.badanlochestates.co.uk

the trigger and everything that

www.bandirran.co.uk

01358 720291 4

part of the experience – pulling

girlboots@btinternet.com, or call Cara on 07771 695494 / 01540 661496.

4

Drimnin Estate

Rhonda Newsham, Drimnin Estate, 14

Buccleuch Arms

Diana

Drimnin House, by Lochaline,

Billy Hamilton, Buccleuch Arms, The

Kristina Moeller Neilsen, Diana,

Morvern, Highlands, PA80 5XZ

Green, St Boswells, Melrose, The

Faaborgvej 240, DK-5700,

enquiries@drimninestate.co.uk

Robert Balfour, Pitillock Farm,

Scottish Borders, TD6 0EW

Svendborg, Denmark

07714 248425

Freuchie, Fife, KY15 7JQ

billy@buccleucharms.com

info@diana.dk, 00 45 6220 2540

www.drimninestate.co.uk

RobertBalfour@balbirnie.com

01835 822243 / 07803 745331

www.diana-hunting.com

01337 857437

www.buccleucharms.com

9

Balbirnie Home Farms

www.balbirnie.com

7 12

Case Sport /

Dougarie Estate

Drummond Estates

Michael Aldridge, Drummond

Jamie Gibbs, The Estate Office,

Estate Office, Muthill, Perthshire,

Forrest Estate Enterprises

Dougarie, Isle of Arran, Ayrshire

PH5 2AA

Estate

Andrew Case, Case Sport/Forrest

KA27 8EB

michael_aldridge@

Verity Power, Ballathie House Hotel

Estate Enterprises, St John’s Town of

office@dougarie.com

drummondestates.org.uk

& Estate, Kinclaven, Stanley, Perth,

Dalry, Castle Douglas, Dumfries &

01770 840259

01764 681257

Perthshire, PH1 4QN

Galloway, DG7 3XS

www.dougarie.com

www.simulatedgameshooting.com

verity@ballathiehousehotel.com

andrew@casesport.com

13 7

Ballathie House Hotel &

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

95

DIRECTORY

East Haugh House Hotel

Glendye Estate, Bridge of Dye,

Kingussie, Inverness-shire, PH21

Sophie McGown, Pitlochry,

Strachan, Banchory, AB31 6LT

1NU

Perthshire, PH16 5TE

murdo@glendye.com; rachel@

girlboots@btinternet.com

info@easthaugh.co.uk

glendye.com, 01330 850689

07771 695494

01796 473121

www.glendye.com

www.kiltarlity.com

7

www.easthaugh.co.uk 5 4

East Rhidorroch Estate

Glenmuick Estate

5

Invercauld Estate

Sir Andrew Walker-Okeover,

Angus McNicol, The Estate Office, 4

Julien Legrand, East Rhidorroch

Glenmuick Estate, Glenmuick,

The Keiloch, Invercauld, Braemar,

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel

Estate, East Rhidorroch Old Lodge,

Ballater, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5SL

Aberdeenshire, AB35 5TW

Ullapool, Highlands, IV26 2XQ

enquiries@glenmuick.com,

angus@invercauld.org

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel has been

info@rhidorrochlodge.co.uk, 01854

01335 350279

01339 741224

recognised as Scottish Country

612265, www.rhidorrochlodge.co.uk

www.glenmuick.com

www.invercauld.org

Sports Hotel of the Year for the past six years. The Hotel is currently Scottish Country House Hotel as well as Scottish Dog Friendly Hotel of the Year for 2017.

This 38-bedroomed hotel is owned and run by a family who have been involved in country sports for over 50 years and know exactly what guests require.

The sport available is wide

5

Edinglassie

6

Glenprosen Estate

4

Inverpolly Estate

Malcolm Hay, Edinglassie, Huntly,

Ruth White, Estate Office,

David & Nicky Davies, Inverpolly

Aberdeenshire, AB54 4YD

Headkeeper’s Cottage, Glenprosen

Estate, Ullapool, Ross-shire IV26

malcolm.hay@btinternet.com

Estate, Kirriemuir, Angus, DD8 4SD

2YB

01466 700274

info@glenprosenestate.co.uk

info@inverpolly.com, 01854 622452

01575 540319

www.inverpolly.com

7

Galbraith Group

www.glenprosenestate.co.uk

Robert Rattray, Galbraith Group/ Sporting Lets, Lynedoch House,

4 4

Glenshero Estate &

Kilchoan Estate

Jacqui Wallace / Iain Biggart,

and varied, with some of the

Barossa Place, Perth, PH1 5EP

Sherramore Lodge

Kilchoan Estate Office, Inverie,

renowned local shoots providing

sporting@galbraithgroup.com

Helen Polley, Glenshero Estate &

Knoydart, Mallaig, Inverness-shire,

high, testing pheasants and

01738 451600

Sherramore Lodge, c/o Bidwells,

PH41 4PL

partridges from drives whose

www.sportinglets.co.uk

Carn Dearg House, North Road,

kilchoanestate@btinternet.com

Fort William, Highlands, PH33 6PP

01687 462133

(Estate postcode is PH20 1AJ)

www.kilchoan-knoydart.com

names are well known throughout all of the shooting world, as well as an extensive range of species, which adds great variety and excitement to ‘mixed’ and ‘knockabout’ days.

All types of shooting and stalking are available:

9

Game Shooting Fife Ltd

Jamie Horne, 58 Main Street,

helen.polley@bidwells.co.uk

Strathkinness, Fife, KY16 9SA

01397 702433

jamie.horne@deerscotland.com 07502 412201 www.deerscotland.com

• Pigeons over decoys George Goldsmith

4

Kingairloch Estate

Katrina Larson, Kingairloch Estate, 4

Glenshiel Estate

Ardgour, Fort William, Highlands,

Claire Acheson (Estate Alison

PH33 7AE

Stoddard), The Burton Property

info@kingairloch.co.uk

Trust c/o CKD Galbraith, 17 Old

01967 411242 www.kingairloch.co.uk

• Roebuck stalking

10

• Grouse – walked up, over

48 North Castle Street, Edinburgh,

Edinburgh Road, Inverness, IV2 3HF

pointers and driven

EH2 3LU

claire.acheson@ckdgalbraith.

• Driven pheasant and partridge

info@georgegoldsmith.com,

co.uk; booking@glenshielestate.

14

0131 476 6500

com, 01463 224343 / 07766 770796

Doug Virtue, Lammermuir Game

www.georgegoldsmith.com

(Alison), www.glenshielestate.com

Services, Whiteknowes House,

• Mixed walked-up days, woodcock a speciality Contact: john@dryburgh.co.uk, 01835 822261, www.dryburgh.co.uk

Lammermuir Shoot

Westruther, Gordon, Berwickshire, 4

Glenaladale Estate

5

Glen Tanar Estate

TD3 6NE

Jane Cheape, Slatach House,

Eilidh Connolly, Brooks House, Glen

info@lammermuirshoot.co.uk

Glenfinnan, Fort William, Highlands,

Tanar Estate, Aboyne, AB34 5EU

01578 740258

John Wallace, Dryburgh Abbey

PH37 4LT

info@glentanar.co.uk

www.lammermuirshoot.co.uk

Hotel, St Boswells, Melrose, Scottish

j.cheape@btinternet.com

01339 886451, www.glentanar.

Borders, TD6 0RQ

01397 722411

co.uk

14

Dryburgh Abbey Hotel

john@dryburgh.co.uk 01835 822261 www.dryburgh.co.uk

4

Loch Choire Estate

Tom Chetwynd, Loch Choire Estate, 4

Glenavon Estate

7

Innerhadden Estate

Chetwynd Rural, Califermoss,

Debbie Behan, Glenavon Estate Ltd

Richard Barclay, Innerhadden

Forres, IF36 2RN (Estate postcode

c/o Glenavon and Braulen Estates,

Estate, Kinloch Rannoch, by

KW11 6UD)

Beannacharan Lodge, Braulen

Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH16 5QD

tom@chetwyndrural.co.uk

Hamish McCorquodale,

Estate, Glen Strathfarrar, Beauly,

richard@innerhadden.co.uk

07977 516088

Dunan Estate, Rannoch Station,

Inverness, IV4 7JX

01882 632423 / 07917 120429

Pitlochry, Perthshire, PH17 2QB

admin@glenavonestate.co.uk

www.innerhadden.co.uk

hamish@dunan2.co.uk

01463 761204

7

Dunan Estate

01869 277218 www.dunan-estate.co.uk

4 5

Glendye Estate

Murdo MacLeod/Rachel Sedgwick,

96

www.countrysportscotland.com

7

Lude Estate

Duncan Gordon, Lude Estate, Blair International Big Game &

Atholl, Perthshire, PH18 5TR

Bird Hunting

dwjg@lude.co.uk, 01796 481230

Cara Richardson, Burnbank, Insh,

www.ludeestatecottages.co.uk

DIRECTORY

MacIntyre & Thomson

Sorn Castle Shoot

Rannoch Barracks, by Rannoch

12

Simon Wright, MacIntyre &

Station, Perthshire, PH17 2QE

Nick Wright, The Estate Office,

Thomson, 42 Comrie Street, Crieff,

rannochdeermanagement@gmail.

Ulzieside, Sanquhar, Ayrshire,

Perthshire, PH7 4AX

com, 01882 633241

DG4 6LA (Estate postcode KA5

info@macintyreandthomson.co.uk,

www.rannoch-estate.com

6HR)

7

01764 662682 www.macintyreandthomson.co.uk

nick@stanleywright.co.uk 7

Remony Estate

Macintyre & Thomson

01659 58697

James Duncan Millar, Remony Mansfield Estates

MacIntyre & Thomson are a South Ayrshire Stalking

Estate, Aberfeldy, Perthshire,

12

Anne Conoboy, Mansfield Estate,

PH15 2HR

Chris Dalton, Garryloop, Penkill,

pride ourselves on the service

Scone Palace, Scone, Perthshire

james@remonyestate.co.uk

Old Dailly, Girvan, Ayrshire, KA26

we provide to our clients, who

PH2 6BD

01887 830209

9TG

become our friends and return

estate@scone-palace.co.uk

www.lochtaylodges.co.uk

chris@ayrstalk.co.uk, 01465

7

01738 554920 Mar Lodge Estate

year after year. We are able to provide sport of the finest quality

871393 / 07710 871190 4

5

traditional sporting agency. We

Rhidorroch Estate

in the most stunning of settings.

www.ayrstalk.co.uk

Our slogan, “You have the dream /

Kim Scobie, Rhidorroch Estate,

We make it happen,� sums it all up.

South Chesthill Estate

Lisa Dipper, Mar Lodge Estate,

Ullapool, Ross-shire, Highlands,

Braemar, Aberdeenshire, AB35 5YJ

IV26 2XQ

Debbie Beer, South Chesthill

marlodgeestate@nts.org.uk,

holidays@rhidorroch.com, 01854

Partnership, Suite A, 2nd Floor,

be it fishing, stalking, hawking

01339 720163

612373, www.rhidorroch.com

Everards House, 2 Cornhill, Bury St

or shooting, we can build you a

Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1BE (Estate

memorable experience.

postcode is PH15 2NH)

Contact Simon at 01764 662 682 or

7

Murthly and Strathbraan

3

RJH Sports

7

Estate

Russell Hird, RJH Sports, 9 New

bookings@southchesthill.com

Ralph Peters, c/o Bidwells, 5 Atholl

Street, Back, Isle of Lewis, Outer

0207 193 1466

Place, Perth, PH1 5NE

Hebrides, HS2 0LH

www.southchesthill.com

ralph.peters@bidwells.co.uk

info@rjhsports.co.uk, 07751

01738 630666

839579

www.murthly-estate.com

www.rjhsports.co.uk

12

Newark Castle

14

Roxburghe Estates

4

Southesk Estate

We are able to put together mixed packages of different pursuits,

email: info@macintyreandthomson. co.uk

Blachford Manor, Cornwood, Nr

Charles Gow, Southesk Estate

Ivybridge, Devon, PL21 9QX (Estate

Office, Haughs of Kinnaird,

postcode KW8 6HY)

Brechin, Angus, DD9 6UA

diana.darwall@btinternet.com

Mrs A G O Walker, Newark Castle,

Victoria Roddie, Roxburghe

factor@southesk.co.uk

klaus_olofsen@hotmail.com

Ayr, KA7 4ED

Estates, Kelso, Scottish Borders,

01674 810240

Klaus 07787 527824

fiona@newarkcastle.plus.com

TD5 7SF

www.southesk.co.uk

www.suisgill.co.uk

01292 441587

vroddie@floorscastle.com 01573 227 663

7

North Chesthill Estate

www.roxburghe.net

Alastair Riddell, Balintyre House, Roxtons

North Chesthill Estate, Glen Lyon,

3

South Uist Estate

9

Teasses Estate

Jennifer MacLeod, South Uist

Kenneth Horne, Teasses Estate

Estate, Storas Uibhist, Oifis Storas,

Office, Ceres, by Leven, Fife

Daliburgh, South Uist, Outer

KY8 5PG

Perthshire, PH15 2NH

John Duncan, Roxtons, 25 High

Hebrides, HS8 5SS

kennethhorne@teasses.com

information@chesthill.com

Street, Hungerford, Berkshire,

jennifer.macleod@storasuibhist.

07966 529327

01887 877267

RG17 0NF

com, 01878 700101

01334 840580

www.chesthill.com

info@roxtons.com, 01488 689788

www.grogarrylodge.com

www.teasses.com

www.roxtons.com 6

Pearsie Estate

4

Mrs Rosemary Rose, Pearsie

14

Estate, Glen Prosen Sporting Limited, East Memus, Forfar,

Rule Valley Simulated Game

Strathspey Estate

7

Venator Pro

Tracy Wharton, Strathspey Estate

Kenneth Larsen, Venator Pro Ltd,

David Reddihough, Rule Valley

Office, Old Spey Bridge Road,

Riverview Business Centre, Unit 3,

Simulated Game, Spittal on Rule,

Grantown-on -Spey, Moray,

Friarton Road, Perth, PH2 8DF

Angus, DD8 3TY

Denholm, Hawick, Roxburghshire,

Highlands, PH26 3NQ

kenneth.larsen@venatorpro.com

rrose@memus.com, 01307 860355

The Scottish Borders, TD9 8TA

mail@strathspey-estate.co.uk

01738 479714

www.pearsie-lodge.com

info@rulevalley.com, 01450

01479 872529

07940 297921

870202

www.strathspey-estate.co.uk

www.venatorpro.com

7

Pitcarmick Estate

www.rulevalley.com

Mark Wood, Lower Dalvey, Pitcarmick Estate, Ballintuim,

8 5

Scotsport

Strone Estate

9

Woodmill Shootings

Tom Turnbull, Strone House,

Steven Wade, Woodmill Shootings,

Blairgowrie, Perthshire, PH10 7PZ

Alf Sorensen, Learney

Cairndow, Argyll, PA26 8BQ

Woodmill, Lindores, Newburgh,

pitcarmicksporting@btinternet.

House, Torphins, Banchory,

strone@btconnect.com

Fife, KY14 6JA

com 07769 206003

Aberdeenshire, AB31 4NB

01499 600284 / 07743 879830

stalking@woodmillshootings.com 01337 810428

scotsportuk@btconnect.com 7

Rannoch Estate

Anna Young, Rannoch Estate,

01339 889290 / 07712 892456 www.scotsportuk.com

4

Suisgill Estate

www.woodmillshootings.com

Diana Darwall, Suisgill Estate,

Shoot IN SCOTLAND

97

grouse walked up

WHEN IT’S ALL OVER Concluding Shoot In Scotland, David Barrington Barnes remarks that the best aspect of a Highland hunt is the chance to share it with friends afterwards

W

hen we stopped

the grass below us – a bedded stag in the late

always do on the hill. On their beats they too

at the target

afternoon sunshine.

had had disappointments and successes.

that morning, my stalker, John,

We were unable to move – the only shot I was

In his memoir One Man’s Scotland, Peter

offered was with John’s bent knee as a rest for my

McManus wrote that a highland shooting lodge on

relieved me of my cased rifle before I had got

left elbow as I used my right knee to steady my

an October evening in front of a blazing fire with a

out of his truck. This made me realise I was

right arm (I am left-handed). My arms and hands

few companions to share the experiences of the

going to be treated like a king for the day. I

were aching and I was conscious that this was

day is the most desirable place on the face of this

felt a moment’s guilt over the indulgence and

a last chance stag. At the last moment, in that

planet. How right he was.

decided to enjoy it to the full.

fluid way they do, the stag stood. As he got to his

While low ground stalking is often a solitary

As it happened, the stags were less than

feet the crosshairs came up on to his chest and I

occupation, the participants in a stag party enjoy

co-operative. The day was mild for the end of

squeezed off my shot. The stag took off downhill,

the sharing of the events in their individual day’s

September and the stags had not broken out

lost his footing, tumbled into a hollow and was still.

pursuit. There is surely no preferable time to be in

properly. True, there was a roar to be heard here

The moments that followed were good ones. I

the Highlands or any better way to carry on than

and there, and there were stags holding hinds far

was mightily relieved that I had made a good shot

to stalk red deer stags on the high, open hill. The

out, but they were not busy.

from such a stress rest. John, perfectly mannered

pursuit is embedded in tradition but has adapted

at the day’s end, needlessly apologised for it,

itself to modern conditions. The rifles, optics and

and John walked me back nearly to our start point

saying that once we had seen the stag we simply

ammunition are all much more effective than they

before dropping down the hill a few hundred feet

could not move. I got the firm impression that

were in the early days, leading to more humane

and starting to stalk the tables below us which

John did not like his ‘gentlemen’ essaying shots like

culling. Its practice importantly supports the local

had previously been out of our sight. We prowled

that if it could be helped.

economy of the Highlands in all sorts of ways.

By late afternoon we had run out of ground

along the shoulder, peeping over as fresh ground

That evening, back in the lodge, I had a good

It is indeed a tragedy that some well funded

became visible, and only saw one small party of

war story to tell. I suspect I glossed over the

charities and wealthy individuals disregard all

hinds. As we approached our eastern march, we

fact that by the time of the encounter I was

these benefits in promoting their versions of

began to drop down towards the track from which

walking more than stalking! However, after hill

‘Wilderness Scotland’. In so doing they disrespect

we would be extracted. By then we were walking

stalking, a hot bath, flaming fire and a glass

the traditions of the past and demonise the

wearily, without hope and taking care to avoid a

of whisky almost excuse much more serious

needs of the present. Perhaps one should not be

slip on the steep slope.

misdemeanours than the spin I put on my story.

surprised. After all, for most, a stag party is one

My companions had their own tales too. All of

in which a prospective bridegroom is handcuffed

us had experienced a little pain, as southerners

naked to a lamp post.

And then John suddenly stopped and sat down. He had seen the tip of one antler in

98

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