Tory Boy

Markbivvy ***** Get off the fence and say what you think! The Conservative Party have expressly stated that they would repeal the Act, and currently James Gray MP is roadshowing the UK with this mantra. If you want a small "c" conservative countryside, then Vote Big C next time round. The time has passed for asking questions "Is Michael Howard up to it etc.....?" The questions you should be asking are "Do we want our sport in two, three, ten years time? And do we really want Labour anymore?" The Tories are not going to change the world, but they are going to restore the countryside. The future of the countryside is in the hands of the voters. TB

Cranfield You are so right. Albeit this is a perceived Class issue, one perpetuated by those hungry for power and retaliation. New Labour think we are all middle/upper class, which is quite wrong. I have never hunted, but I know one thing.....if you want hunting to continue... Vote Conservative at the next General Election. We will repeal the Act. Period. TB

It is at times like these that I like to refer to a great man, who had at least two heart attacks during his first term as Prime Minster, which just happended to be during the Second World War, and I believe this is for you YP - "If you're going through hell, keep going." Winston Churchill. I have been a member for far too short a period to have any influence, but what strikes me as somewhat strange is that some of the oldest members are being upset by the newest members. Now.....I am not going to play devil's advocate, but isn't this somewhat strange? Are there other reasons for the boys leaving? TB

Because I am a ....... TB

It's funny you should say that. Saturday was my last day of four days. On every day previous to Saturday, I struggled to notice any long-tails, even shot by myself; however on Saturday the young cocks were conspicuous by their absence, yet the long-tails, although wily appeared to come down in greater proportions. This is inevitable as the season progresses, and I can only assume that as our shooting has improved, we have merely caught up with the wily long-tails in our own wilyness! However DH, methinks your prophecy of "showing the guns how to do it" might just come true! TB

Was pheasant shooting on Saturday in the New Forest, and on our final drive noticed that the pigeons had started to flock together finally in this particular neck of the woods (so to speak). I am normally a game shooter, but obviously took a shot or two at the fast-flying terrors. Only one was shot this drive, and was taken by the gun next to me. Was a cracking shot by a guy who grew up on an arable farm! No mispent youth there then?! I have (thankfully) been asked to attend the beaters shoot day, and of course I can't wait to repay the favour of a really good seasons game shooting by giving them the same enjoyment I have enjoyed. As a result of attending the beater day, the keeper has invited me to the vermin day too, so am currently over the moon. Will keep you all informed of the New Forest Vermin day enjoyment when it happens in February. TB

Hubertus The old recipes really are the best. Sloe/Damson/Raspberry Gin/Vodka are just the best cheap yet rewarding liqeurs you can drink. A liquer that you make yourself just tastes so much better. Millomite When you find some good Sloes, just pick them and freeze them if you gather them before the first frost. However they can be frozen indefinitely if you get a good harvest. Don't think you can get them in the supermarkets, never seen them. Damsons can normally only be bought in season. Made my first batch of Sloe Gin some years ago and made 1 gallon. No way did it last any longer than six months! I just can't seem to find enough fruit! TB

Without trying to tell how you good the Isles of Scilly are, if you like Fresh Mackerel, you can't go wrong there. They shoal around 40-50 yards off the rocks all summer long, I could explain why but it is quite boring. Anyway, the trick is quite simple, you wait until you either see a seal or a Gannet heading for a particular area, or when the fry start jumping, and basically cast into the melee. We never take more than eight - usually three each for me and the missus, and two for my mate who lives in the small cottage which he has for breakfast. Come rain or shine, Mackerel can be had for tea everyday there. Smoking them on a small barbie is just perfect. Damn. Now I am really missing the place. Must block it out......... TB

Sea Fishing from the rocks off Cornwall and South Coast is my favourite. Do a bit of Boat fishing from Poole in the summer months, but only with the lads as a social thing rather than on my own. Sometimes when the Premier League football is on, or something really big like Queens Jubilee, me and the missus go and camp and fish on the beach, all night in Poole as an excuse to get away from it. You just can't beat fishing in the middle of the night, in pitch blackness, in Poole Harbour watching the Special Boat Squadron Marines (Water-based SAS) trying to do secret training dives! Ha ha. There is no-one around for miles, they think they are alone, and me and the missus just find it hilarious that they think they are invisible! TB

This are one afternoons fishing last summer in the Isles of Scilly. My daugther cleaned about 3 of them, and brought in 3 of them from off the rocks!

I have been reading posts for some time - since 29th December when I joined, and I only joined this forum to find out a little more about Pigeon Shooting etc; I recently joined a game syndicate this year, after buying my first Shotgun when my cert came through. I rarely try to stick my feet in to an old conversation, but seeing that I can see most of it, I feel compelled to contribute. Without repeating anything said before: The Antis who read this board, and they do read this board, some may even contribute, are not going to be swayed in their opinions by anything we say on this board, either positive or negative. Their minds are made up, just like ours. Vim has openly, honestly and with passion stated his case and I respect it wholeheartedly. Pictures paint a thousand words, and sometimes we need 1030 to say what we want; so keep up the friendly banter. I personally am not upset by the thought of blood and dead animals. I have been teaching my daughter since the age of 4 to clean fish and game, something she (now 7) is keen to do, but strangely my missus is not. It is entirely down to what we are accumstomed to. If we keep the pictures underground, we run the risk of becoming a seedy sport that should be kept from peoples eyes. Be proud of what we do. Educate the world that what we do is for our pleasure, food, environmental and agricultural economics. Show it off. However how we do that should be in good taste. I have not seen anything on this particular posting that is in bad taste, however I am aware of some editing that has taken place, so don't judge my comments in this respect. I am looking forward to my first summer's shooting, and I might take some photos if I remember, but I am usually too busy to get round to it. I was a little concerned that we are giving Vim some stick. I am not going to repeat any other previous sensible postings, but I echo Tiercel's words in this regard. He may have rubbed some people up the wrong way, but why is that everyone gets so aggressive on a forum? Surely we are not all this aggressive in a normal lives I hope? Thanks for letting me contribute. TB

could you mail me pics of the laurona please? Tory boy

I am very interested in the 410. Would you be able to email me some pics? I am not time wasting - want a second gun and would like one for my daughter and missus to clay shoot with. Look forward to hearing from you. Tory boy