Red flag

[stroller 341]

just come back from a bit of permission ive been ferreting for several years. Ive just got my shotgun cert back after turning it in when my shooting pal died 10 years ago bless him. ive bought a little moderated baikal 410 as i do a lot of ferreting around stables and i thought a moderated gun would work well where i cannot get in to net. so with a couple of different sizes of cartridges to try it out i ventured forth as there are plenty of rabbits about in rushes and nettles and i had cleared all this with the landowner.

 

Now in all the years ive wandered this bit with the ferrets and the dog ive never been approached by anyone. But i was out about 30 mins and down comes a farmer he isnt the land owner but grazes cattle and sheep on the land. He was ok when i explained who i was and he explained about his quest against poachers he is a shooting man and has put birds down but i never take anything from this land but rabbits and even the hares are safe. We had a chat about guns and loads etc,i was off my permission by a field and in the end he didnt ask me to leave but i did anyway just out of courtesybut guns are like a red flag to some folk.

 

This was the second incident this week shooting clays on a friends farm approx 400m from a footpath some bloke was shouting abuse from the footpath. i thought initially the spent shot was falling near him (!2 bore) but it couldnt have been. He moved on but it leaves a bad taste.

 

I started shooting in ireland many years ago where permission was freely given and i roamed virtually freely. i can only remember one bloke who came up with a rifle once to say i was tresspassing and it turned out he was trying to organise a syndicate shoot like the "english". but in true irish stubborness all the surrounding landowners would have nothing to do with him and encouraged me to" just have a wee shot over his fence"

 

maybe im living in the past too much but is it too much of a romantic notion to wander with the dog and take the odd shot without worrying who your going to upset.

 

as for the gun it did ok i took two rabbits on the bounce one was a good shot the other was ordinary. the baikal is a helluva long gun but it handles well and the 2.5 inch cartridge is ideal for bolting bunnies the 3 inch is better for pigeon. the dog had a couple of good retrieves and is back up on the moor tomorrow working in the line and picking up. and i think we will have a wander tonight and frighten some pigeons. Good luck

 

Keith