Hammergun

The trouble with rubber decoys is that with age they tend to perish and not retain their shape. You may do better with shell ones if space is the issue.

Handy Tip for everyone: When those shooting stockings get too worn out or beyond repair, don't throw them out, but pull them over your gun stocks when you put them in your cabinet! Stops them from scratching each other.

Not too far away. There's quite a few members nearer to you but I'm not sure whether they are all still active.

Farmers and landowners are only naturally going to be wary of letting anyone they don't know, especially a youngster, loose with a shotgun or air rifle loose on their land. Start with the farmer you will be working for. Get round his land plenty of times (if you shoot loads of rabbits / pigeons / squirrels etc, make sure he knows that you are doing him a service). Once he gets to know that you are mature and responsible enough, if you ask him, he may put in a good work for you to others. Networking is the best way, but you need to be well known to at least one other person who the people you are asking are acquianted with. Alternatively, if you can obtain permission with an older relative - dad, grandad, uncle etc, after time you will be able to go out without them. Do bear in mind that it is illegal for you to carry your air rifle in a public place (i.e. not on private land) although you can legally carry a covered shotgun in a public place at 15

Did you get all the sheds cleared? Bet they were full again this year!

Someone posted a traditional oil recipe for treating gun stocks a while back. It contained boiled linseed oil and tung oil. Approx 80 - 20 mix. I used it on a stock with excellent results. Don't use raw linseed oil, Danish oil or Teak Oil as these go sticky or don't harden well.

The Maltese obviously have a poor taste in music! I must say - the dross they entered for the UK makes HearSay and Steps look good! Why is it that when we have so much home grown talent, all they see fit to enter is cheese? Did those who selected it really think a tacky 80's style disco tune would get any votes? I guess they were hoping for the novelty value!

You can get 'em from most hardware / cookshops

You probably will have, just assumed they were sloes. I do drop in occasionally now and then.

Don't forget the sloe's humble relation, the bullace. Similar in appearance to sloes but larger, these are tiny wild black plums which make nice gin too, with the added advantage of the fact the bushes don't bear thorns!!

Stuartp - If they are much bigger, they are probably bullaces and not sloes - but bullaces make very good gin too!! Sloes will only grow on old growth - no good looking at places which get trimmed every year!

For an added Christmassy feel, use honey instead of sugar!!

You can make a good liquer from rosehips and gin in the same way as sloe gin, but cinnamon and cloves are usually added to give more flavour.

Take enough crab apples to 3/4 fill a Kilner jar, blanch and slice in half, then put in the jar along with 4 tbsps sugar, zest of an orange, and sufficient vodka to fill the jar. You can also add cloves and / or cinnamon if desired. Leave as you would sloe gin. By Christmas, decant and add more sugar if necessary to taste. Use the crab apples when making punch.

Correct! I don't suppose any of you would have guessed otherwise!

Might be able to come but will depend on work. Too soon to tell at the moment. Might there be a possiblilty of adding an extra person at a later date?

Slow roasted in an Aga is excellent too.

*bump*

NEVER NEVER NEVER use cleaner on the woodwork - it degrades it over time!

The best hunting dog ever!

http://www.mfha.co.uk/hunts_county/index.html

Are you sure?

Welcome to the forum

http://www.fantasyfarmer.co.uk

A new and unused Barbour canvas fishing bag, leather trim and tabs with pockets for your equipment and detatchable lining for easy cleaning. Unwanted present sold on behalf of a friend. £30 posted direct to your door. (Retail price approx £50.)