Fellside
Members-
Posts
1,427 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Calendar
PW Shop
Everything posted by Fellside
-
I think we are crediting Mr and Mrs general public with too much awareness of game shooting. Not many (not even most politicians or directors of DEFRA) will know the differences between big scale commercial shoots and the smaller farm syndicates - which are more accessible to the average wage earner. I think the main challenge we face is in convincing the public, that there is a net conservation gain via shooting. Even the RSPB have reluctantly admitted this recently, but for some reason this has not been fully capitalised by the orgs in PR term - in needs to be. We are all acutely aware of the habitat preservation and biodiversity gains etc, but the average person in the street believes these can only be gained via designated nature reserves…..?! In short, shooting’s PR needs to emphasise that: a) the great majority of people who shoot are ordinary working folk - not titled estate owners. b) the biodiversity benefits from game habitat management are enormous. Only when these aspects of perceived class-war and conservation are addressed will we make any significant gains.
-
In all honesty, with a decent team on the job I’ve seen some cracking little farm shoots. Often the syndicate members become very enthusiastic part time keepers so to speak. I think it can go horribly wrong if the syndicate aren’t very motivated (or very well lead) - and it’s left to a couple of overworked volunteers to cary the weight of it all. I’ve seen that too many times.
-
Yes a good thought. However I still think small farm syndicates (circa 500 poults) are hugely important for biodiversity. We do need those as well. Often they form a wildlife oasis surrounded by an intensively farmed ‘green desert’. Personally, I really enjoy smaller days, where there is the pressure (and thrill) of making the shot count, because there isn’t a constant stream of pheasants. I don’t want to knock the big shoots, as they are an important part of our rural economy, but scaling down a little might be an idea. Reducing live quarry to the status of many targets - rather like clays - seems somehow unattractive. Ramble over.
-
😆😂 While the car was still moving me thinks.
-
I’ve just bought a thousand red cartridges - they look really nice!
-
It is an interesting read - and thank you. My take on this piece. Some of the author’s assertions may (may!?) be true, however they are poorly evidenced as the list of references demonstrates. What we need is very robust (non biased) review of clean evidence by an external body. This task could / should have been undertaken by the HSE. Unfortunately they have proven to be biased and incapable of evaluating the science. In the ideal world, no authority should proceed to impose lead shot restrictions in the absence of any good contemporary science - free from biased influence.
-
I think the key danger of lead shot when ingested as grit - from the papers I have read - is that it has the potential to cause non lethal harm. One example is the limiting of breeding success. It is unlikely that steel will cause similar. The other important consideration is the rapid rusting and degradation of steel shot, i.e it doesn’t hang around for long. Don’t misunderstand my post however. This does not mean that I support any restrictions. Like most I will continue using lead where it is unlikely to be harmful. It’s just worth thinking about if there are grey partridges around, as they seem to be the most vulnerable non-wildfowl species. In real terms, for most other species, habitat quality (or the lack of it) appears to remain the key population determinant. P.S Plastic wads, that’s an entirely different matter. Don’t get me started re plastic litter (?!). I’ve been using fibre for years for everything including clays.
-
Yes - post war agricultural intensification is the well known cause of grey partridge decline. This has been extensively documented. DDT played its part also. In fact, this period marked the beginning for the decline of many common farmland bird species. However, I think it is important to acknowledge, from recent research, that lead shot litter could play an important part in limiting the breeding success of remaining coveys. This isn’t to say it’s the only factor, but contributory. The lead poisoning does not have to be lethal to have an important adverse effect. Just to be clear I do not (DO NOT) support any restrictions on lead shot. I might however think again if I was lucky enough to have a few coveys around. I think it should be a choice. In some circumstances perhaps steel may be appropriate.
-
I have done a quick scan of the GWCT references for the article you linked. While I haven’t had time to source and read each paper, there does appear to be at least some consensus on the impacts for grey partridge and raptors eating shot birds. I would expect some of those scholarly articles to originate from bias sources - however not all. On this basis, yes I would say it’s good enough. Thanks for the info.
-
If you can recognise a gun which fits YOU well - then you are off to a good start. After gun fit (crucial!), the more ‘nice to have’ aspects come in to view, such as handling dynamics, multichoke barrels, pleasant non distracting trigger pulls, a decent recoil pad etc… Personally (and everyone will have their preferences) I find the 30” Citori to be a bit of a fence post in terms of ‘feel’. The more contemporary sporters by Browning and Beretta tend to have much nicer balance - closer to neutral in 30”. Only you will know what fits and feels right for you out of the range of choices. All the nonsense about Browning being lower on the comb than Beretta is no longer relevant - as there are so many different models and stock dimensions for both these days. Find one that fits and feels right. Have a look at Miroku also - essentially a Browning and Bomb proof. Welcome to Pigeon Watch by the way - and good look!
-
Thanks for the info. I would suggest the great bulk of studies are about wetlands/wildfowl. I do acknowledge that they are vulnerable. I think ‘clean’ evidence re direct impacts on terrestrial fauna is still scant. There does appear however, to be a reasonable case for secondary impacts re birds of prey ingesting lead from wounded birds or carrion containing lead pellets.
-
Hi Conor, Thank you for this clarification……and patience throughout a noisy discussion….! I don’t want to open a whole new can of worms, however the so called evidence for terrestrial impacts of lead shot upon avian and non avian fauna was rather limited the last time I looked (2023) and was produced/influenced by mainly biased anti shooting groups. Has anything changed in this regard?
-
Shooting's Secret Value Revealed
Fellside replied to stockybasher's topic in General Shooting Matters
The ‘natural capital’ and benefits to the ‘public good’ re biodiversity are well know to many of us. However this needs to be widely publicised in PR terms to Mr and Mrs general public - especially in light of the RSPB statement re net wildlife benefits of farm shoots! On a separate note thanks for sharing stockybasher - and well done to BASC so far. Needs further PR work though. -
Yes I have those - impressed. Bought too long ago to remember (10 years…?), still going strong.
-
I agree, that taking guns away from those genuine morons is a good thing - how can’t it be? However, opening the flood gates to malicious complaints, by those who seek to use the police force as a rolling pin against their partner, is an entirely different ball game. I know of a couple of cases local to me where aggrieved wives, in the process of divorce, have attempted (wrongly) to ruin their estranged husbands future in shooting. Both cases were resolved in favour of the gun owner, but not without great aggravation and stress to all concerned.
-
Recommended Gun Safe Installers in Cheshire?
Fellside replied to CheshireBumpkin's topic in General Shooting Matters
Good point. Get a recommendation - one good one is all you need. -
Recommended Gun Safe Installers in Cheshire?
Fellside replied to CheshireBumpkin's topic in General Shooting Matters
Any half decent joiner in the local area. Someone who can fit windows and doors in to houses, make and fit new stairs etc - can fit a gun a gun cabinet very easily. I know DIY isn’t your thing, so let me just say it’s a very straightforward job. They will probably just pop in for half an hour - do it on their way home for cash. Oh and welcome to Pigeon Watch by the way.