Novice

It will be interesting to see how the new owners of yorkshire game get on. They're the people behind the gressingham duck brand, which has apparently massively increased public consumption of domestic duck. They already have the relationships with the big supermarkets and the facilities to handle and process game. I've heard talk of them focusing on ready meals and curry/stewing mixes already seasoned/marinaded. Could genuinely be the answer and if they do well, i can see the rest of the industry following on. To put it in context, consider the last time you ate chicken as opposed to the last time you roasted a chicken. We've got to look at game the same. Things have moved on a long way in terms of public demand for simply a roasting bird.

I've had a very hectic session on laid oats. Although to be fair it was in an area with little arable, so maybe they're not as fussy as elsewhere.

There are driving moors in that area, but as you say they're hamstrung by UU to a certain extent on what they can do, so they're never going to be top grouse producers. I understand that they pulled in keepers from elsewhere in the peak district and so had a fair few bods on the ground, but obviously not enough. What i do find interesting, although this relates more to the winter hill fire, is that they're apparently digging ditches as fire breaks. I appreciate these are desperate times, but it'll be very interesting to see if they're filled in afterwards. I suspect not, citing the cost involved. Imagine the run off damage that they'll bring to bear come winter. As i say, perhaps I'm being pessimistic, but i look forward to being wrong.

Teams of keepers have been working alongside the fire service from the outset, particularly on the saddleworth fire. News outlet comment on this has been limited, as you might expect. I think they may have stepped aside a little now, but they were definitely involved at the outset, mainly as you say because they have the kit and experience to handle moorland fires. I imagine the fire brigade have been involved in an element of catch up and learning on the job with these events.

I've seen quite a few dessicated osr fields up and down the country on my travels today.

I think it's fair to say, especially in the case of the saddleworth fire, that a lack of managed burning in recent years in the area it started is one of the major reasons it got hold to the extent it has. The original footage showed firefighters working in almost chest high degenerate heather and bracken. The fuel load must have been phenomenal. I'm happy to be corrected, but I'd suggest one of the reasons they've been able to get some control over the saddleworth fire is that it worked it's way up into an area managed for grouse production where there was a lesser fuel load and more chance to break the fire up. The winter hill situation is a bit different as that's an area that is mainly grassland and overgrazed heather. I accept that in dry conditions such as this that large areas of dry rough grazing will go up quickly. I'd be interested to know whether the repeat fire referred to by the poster above was on a true heather moor burned for heather regeneration and grouse production on a commercial basis, or on a grass moor.

What chance United Utilities recognising that the rspb management regime has been a disaster and them bringing in a shooting tenant to take the area back into grouse production? Oh well, we can dream. I can't see the rspb footing the bill for reseeding the heather, but you never know.

Exactly as in the pic. Horseflys, or clegs to give them the local vernacular. No idea of the structure of their mouthparts, but that's what was biting me when out stalking in the cotswolds at the weekend. You know it's them as you feel them biting and look down to see them tucking in. In fact, come to think of it, they must have chainsaws for mouths.

I had horseflys biting me THROUGH a long sleeved top at the weekend..

Yes, plenty to hide from what i understand.

The estate involved obtained a court injunction to prevent it being shown.

Park?

I anticipate that if it's a racer that's not made it's way to it's home loft, it's effectively a cull in racing terms. Can't imagine it's owner will be keen to have it back.

I think the problem is that even in the lab test, where presumably they do ensure that the target is stepping properly on the plate, they weren't reaching death/unconsciousness, within the required 45 seconds. Regardless of the tunnel design, although I agree entirely with you that steps can be taken to ensure a better strike rate, the fenn isn't killing them quick enough.

Do you have any suggestions on tunnel design? I appreciate what you're saying as the doc, as part of the licence, has to be used in a standard tunnel with consistent dimensions. I'm fairly sure that part of the doc trigger design almost ensures a head catch, whereas the fenn is more likely to catch across the body and shoulders. I know of someone who was involved in trying to get a further version of the fenn licenced but it couldn't pass the test. As I understand it, the trap has to kill 6 stoats on the trot within 45 seconds each to pass (no doubt there are also other criteria involved). The "improved" version couldn't do it either. As I've said above, my worry is that the amended legislation will create a situation where even the mk6 fenn or 116 magnum can't be used as there will be no way to exclude stoats while also allowing target species to enter the tunnel.

All up to date info in link https://www.gwct.org.uk/advisory/faqs/aihts/ As I understand it, the agreement relates to commercial furbearers of which the stoats is the only one we have indigenous to the UK. What worries me is that as I read it, both the mk6 fenn and the bmi magnum traps also fall short of the business standards and so they won't be able to be set anywhere that they may catch a stoats, which is pretty much anywhere you'd think of setting them. We seem to be sleepwalking into a situation where in less than a year we won't be able to effectively tunnel trap for mustelids, rats and squirrels.

I'd suggest the challenge is getting undetected into a position a stones throw away from an animal that is quite capable of killing you in the blink of an eye. To be honest, I thought that was a fairly lengthy shot from what I understand of elephant hunting, but camera angles can be deceptive.

Out of interest, would you have to change the description on your cert from 10b to 8b?

How much, roughly, would it cost to have a gun fitted to you?

That would be a very handy thing to have. Good luck with the sale.

While I appreciate the current wildfowling season is still with us, but I've been giving some thought to the coming breeding season. Does anyone know whether the presence of nesting Canada geese will have an effect, negative or otherwise, on the prospects of duck nesting in the immediate vicinity? Wondering whether their presence will bully other species away, or whether they may even offer some incidental protection against predators with their aggressive behaviour? Many thanks

Out and about in Cheshire this morning. In the same field as the obligatory Canadas (about 100 strong) there was a smaller party of 6 geese some way off, about 200 yards further on. These got up and away as soon as I came into view. 5 looked like greylag, which are fairly common around here (although not normally as jumpy). The sixth appeared to me to be a pink (although I rarely see them in the feather so to speak, although a big group did appear later, although way up and presumably with long distance intentions). Is it common for the species to mix like that? Think that's the first time I've seen a pink with its paddles on the floor around here. The canadas didn't get up until they were nearly stood on. Think they own the place. Cheers

That ptarmigan jacket is an absolute bargain.

Excuse my ignorance, but is the wrench to fit the item to the barrel, or adjust the choke when in situ? Cheers

Another great gun. If I remember correctly, the Beretta Mobil chokes will fit this gun.