Chris Packham and the ‘hen harrier 300’
When Chris Packham criticises grouseshooting, the BBC reports what he says. In the absence of balance, we expose three fibs the anti grouseshooters like to trot out. There should be 300 hen harrier pairs in England This comes from a JNCC report (February 2011 PDF, 1.6mb) that says there should be 2,514–2,653 pairs in the […]
Best shotgun 2020
Got your shotgun licence? Want to buy a shotgun? Baffled by the choice? Here is what the viewers of Fieldsports Channel shoot. We put our Fieldtester survey in front of you in March 2020 while lots of people were twiddling their thumbs in coronavirus lockdown, and 3,500 people got back to us. Our shotguns survey […]
On test: Aimpoint Acro – see more, shoot more
Sometimes you shoot an animal at a good range and you are pleased with the result. Sometimes, the animal emerges from the bushes just in front of you. And occasionally, both can happen at the same time. Swedish gunsight manufacturer’s her Aimpoint reckons it has found the solution. We head to the the Fieldtester […]
Fieldsports Britain – Bouncing Tyre, Laughing Pilbeam
Tim Pilbeam is learning to shoot sideways. He has the new Acro red dot sight from Aimpoint to play with. It’s a sight you can clamp to your scope so you can still take long-range shots and, when the animals get up close, you can twist your rifle and shoot through your Acro. He shows […]
Wild Justice tries to close down pheasant shooting – Fieldsports News, 24 June 2020
Here are the links: Wild Justice granted judicial review into gamebird releases – Fieldsports News Shooting banned at Britain’s wildfowling ‘birthplace’ – Fieldsports News ‘Golf sabs’ spring up as anti-hunt groups diversify – Fieldsports News Gamekeepers mull political party amid anger about mountain hare protection – Fieldsports News Paul McCartney wants meat taken off school […]
Gun dancing: it’s now a thing, judging by videos from Russia and Australia
Warning: this may offend people with good taste. Russian Instagramer Ekaterina Subbotina has posted video of her ‘dancing’ with her shotgun at a shooting range in Kazan in the Republic of Tatarstan. View this post on Instagram If you don’t wanna see me dancing with @glotov_94 don’t show up! 😂 #perazzihightech A post […]
Meet the ‘golf sabs’: antis hit soft targets during donation drought
Hunt saboteurs are trying to reinvent themselves and widen their support base by going after golf courses. The move coincides with a slump in donations to worthy causes – and sabs – due to coronavirus lockdowns. North Dorset Hunt Sabs issued a call to action on Facebook on 17 June 2020 telling people to spam […]
Wild Justice wins judicial review into gamebird releases on protected sites
Chris Packham’s anti-shooting group Wild Justice is celebrating approval of its request for a judicial review into the release of gamebirds on nature conservation sites. According to a post by Mark Avery on the group’s blog, the court hearing will be held before the end of October. “If we were to be successful then this […]
How to make a crow decoy
Do you have old, out-of-shape pigeon decoys? Do you have anything even vaguely crow-shaped you can use instead? You can use it to make your own crow decoy, says our viewer Tim in Essex. You need a black bin liner and black insulation tape. That’s the hard part. Cover the decoy in the black plastic […]
Scotland’s hare ban madness – FieldsportsChannel Podcast, episode 37
The antis ambushed Scotland’s political process and, in under a week in June 2020, they pushed through a ban on catching or killing mountain hares, likely to come into force after the 2020 season (starts 1 August), which goes ahead as normal. The world of wildlife management has been left reeling. Scottish wildlife manager Niall […]
On Test: Winchester Blindside
Sporting Shooter magazine editor Dom Holtam takes the Winchester Blindside shotshells out for a roadtest on some pesky geese. Andy Crow has been suffering from 150 geese plundering his young crops. But they are wily birds and every cartridge has to count. This item appears in Fieldsports Britain, episode 265 Fcha.nl/fieldsportsbritain265
Scotland bans hare shooting
youtu.be/7MuTQFu37p0 This is also available as a podcast Animal rights activists have pushed a ban on mountain hare shooting through the Scottish parliament, even though the animal is in pest proportions in some areas. Green MSP Alison Johnstone lodged an amendment to the Animals and Wildlife Bill at Stage 3 requesting that mountain hares […]
How hen harriers benefit from grouse moors
Followers of BBC celebrity Chris Packham are probably used to hearing stories of doom and gloom on Britain’s moors. This is not one of them. Packham is a fierce critic of grousemoor management, waging what most gamekeepers describe as a ‘relentless campaign of misinformation’. In return, he accuses gamekeepers of killing birds of prey. […]
Crow shoot: 180-bird day
Matt Turley and Nigel White know how to put on a good day. It’s 100-200 birds and it only costs £20 for the day. Matt looks after corvid control at a pig farm outside Taunton in Somerset. The pig nuts are popular with the birds, so you can shoot as often as you like […]
Hares on the edge in Scotland – Fieldsports News, 17 June 2020
Here are the links: Greens ban blue hare shooting in Scotland – Fieldsports News Are birdwatchers allowed to disturb nests? – Aberdeen Press & Journal Natural England toys with wildfowling ban – BASC press release Derbyshire police dismiss hunt sabs ‘exposé’ as nonsense – Facebook Natural England refuses individual gull licences Fieldsports News + Facebook […]
Best hunting boots for men
There are so many walking boots, so many makes and models. So which do you choose? Well, there is one clear winner among Fieldsports Channel’s viewers, with nearly a quarter of the market. And we will come to that at the end of this piece. Out of the 3,500 responses we had to our Fieldtester […]
Fieldsports Britain – Niall deals with Scotland’s sika swarm
Deer expert Niall Rowantree looks at Scottish red deer and how sika deer are affecting them. He stalks both in order to tell their stories. It’s the last in our Aliens & Natives mini series looking at Scotland’s four deer species. Plus we have a story about hen harriers on grouse moors. The birds […]
Swans shot dead in Leeds, suspects caught on camera
West Yorkshire Police are appealing for help after two swans were shot dead in Leeds. The swans, a male and a female, were shot on marshland near Knostrop Sludge Treatment Facility on Pontefract Lane on Monday June 8 between 9pm and 9.30pm. A man was seen with a rifle in the area around that time […]
Natural England toys with wildfowling ban
Wildfowling in England in 2020 could be banned because of Natural England bureaucracy and Wild Justice’s legal threats against pigeonshooting. After Wild Justice’s lawyers threatened the government in spring 2019, Natural England ended the system of shooting birds under general licences on on what it terms ‘European protected sites’, or on land within 300 metres […]
CNN pushes anti-hunting agenda with Trump sheep
CNN is ‘faking news’ in its efforts to attack hunting sports, say conservationists. In an article about Donald Trump Jr’s argali sheep-hunting trip to Mongolia in 2019, broadcaster CNN claims that trophy hunting is driving the argali sheep towards extinction. However, the IUCN says that the argali’s conservation status has nothing to do with regulated […]
Zoo plans to destroy its animals
by Ben O’Rourke “I’d rather starve than watch these die,” Tracy Tweedy tells me inside the Snake House, one of the exhibits at Borth Wild Animal Kingdom. She calls herself an animal-lover, and now she is facing her worst nightmare. A lack of funds, a debt to HMRC, escaped animals, at least one animal […]
RSPB attacks pheasant shooting – Fieldsports News, 10 June 2020
Here are the links: RSPB ditches ‘rigorously neutral’ stance on pheasant shooting – Fieldsports News Springwatch slammed over owl – Fieldsports News Vegan vandal support site celebrates second coming – Fieldsports News Lockdown Britain overrun by pests – The Sun and our film here No deerstalking during lockdown could cost Scotland £9 million – Aberdeen […]
Fieldsports Britain – Crow hits the pigeons hitting the peas
Just because most of the UK has been stuck indoors doesn’t mean work has to stop on British farms. Andy Crow faces a threat from lockdown-busting pigeons, which are eating the peas on his farm in Kent. He heads out with grandson Reagan and faithful lab Rosa to settle into pigeon hides for an […]
Family day on the pigeons – it’s Crowhow
With the pigeons pouring into Andy Crow’s pea crop, it’s time to use local resources. That means members of the Crow family on lockdown are pressed into service, including young Regan the grandson. Crow sets up hides around the farm and lets fly at the birds. Andy is sponsored by: Blaser Blaser.de Jack Pyke […]
Yukon Photon XT – review
Jaf Jefferson talks about the Yukon Photon XT, its drawbacks and why he likes it, plus what he would like to see improved. Here is our film of the Photon XT in action Click here to go to the Fieldtester night vision and thermal front page
Ballistics tips with Keith Poyser, part seven
Stalking saucepans and paint pots at long ranges: part seven of the series by Keith Poyser of Bangs Bucks & Bullseyes on accurate field rifle shooting. Ideal viewing for deer hunters/stalkers, the film is sponsored by Lilja rifle barrels, BAT Machine Co and HPS ammunition. Keith is an Imperial Meeting medallist, competition winner, “Expert” rated […]
How to catch pike with Jan Porter
We’re after pike at Bishops Bowl Fishery in Warwickshire with Jan Porter, one of the top coarse anglers of today and the face of Shimano angling kit. If you want any particular angler next to you when you go fishing, you can’t do better than Jan. This film first appeared in Fieldsports Britain, episode 26. […]
How vegan ‘terrorists’ wage war on British butchers
Terrorism is the unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims. In this case, extremist vegans are smashing butchers’ shop windows, spray-painting their properties with foul language and gluing locks shut. Their goal is to spread fear in the meat industry. These terrorists are organised into local […]
RSPB forgets its ‘rigorously neutral’ stance on pheasant shooting, says GWCT
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust has criticised RSPB after a sustained attack on pheasant shooting on BBC’s Radio 4. Writing on the trust’s blog, chairman of trustees Jim Paice slammed the charity for ‘focusing almost entirely on the negative views of pheasant releasing’. This comes after RSPB senior policy editor Pat Thompson was speaking […]
Rabbiting with hounds – it’s legal!
Great rabbit hunting action: we’re out in West Somerset after rabbits with a trencher pack of any old dog we can find. Leave your guns behind. The rabbits live under brambles here – and that’s great news for the dogs. They flush them and they get after them – and it’s a great family day […]
SIG Sauer closes in Germany
The German gunmaker SIG Sauer is closing in Germany. SIG Sauer managing director Tim Castagne told employees at the plant in Eckernförde that economic problems means it will close. Reported by Germany online newspaper All4Shooters.com, around 130 employees will ‘be affected’ by the closure. SIG Sauer released this statement: The locational disadvantages in Germany for […]
Lockdown Britain goes on pet-buying spree, dog thefts increase
Demand for dogs during the UK lockdown hit new heights.Prices for mongrels soared, and some working pups have sold for more than £2,000 each. Facebook users have been fuming at the extortionate prices, some claiming breeders are selling Dachshunds for £6,000. Meanwhile, lockdown has not stopped dog thefts. These two male cocker spaniels […]
Kofs vs Yildiz shotgun – a boy’s first .410
by Charlie Jacoby A post on the Lamping Foxes Facebook group got me thinking. It read: ‘My son turned 11 today, and as a dad I made a promise that when he reaches 11 we will get a o/u .410. So if anyone has any tips on what to get or where let me know.’ […]
BBC’s Springwatch slammed over ‘incomplete’ owl report
A moorland group has criticised Chris Packham’s ‘Springwatch’ show over a report about an owl that ignores the role of grousemoor managers. The programme broadcast on 29 May featured a short-eared owl it called ‘Dumyat’ which was tagged in Scotland and flew around Europe. The Tayside and Central Scotland Moorland Group says the BBC’s report […]
Norma Oryx
Used by Fieldsports Channel’s Scandinavian viewers, who hunt deer and moose, the Norma Oryx is designed to knock down animals that have a reputation for being ‘armour-plated’. It is called the Oryx for that reason. The gemsbok is not an easy antelope to kill. Fieldsports Channel surveyed its viewers about rifle ammunition in March 2020 […]
Hornady Precision Hunter
The Precision Hunter cartridge from Hornady is only the delivery vehicle for its ELD-X bullet range. Anything you read about Precision Hunter should dwell on the ELD-X and so that’s what we are going to do here. ELD-X stands for ‘Extremely Low Drag – eXpanding’. It’s Hornady’s all-range plastic-tipped hunting bullet design, and goes into […]
Best rifle ammunition of 2020
Fieldsports Channel’s viewers are loyal to their ammunition brands and we have the proof Once they find a rifle cartridge they like, they stick to it. During the coronavirus lockdown of 2020, we surveyed our viewers about the kit they use. We received more than 3,500 responses. Of these, 616 respondents expressed a preference for […]
Night vision pest control success
Ever wondered how much damage wild rabbits can do and what you can do to control them? We’re with Somerset farmer Richard Payne using N550 night vision and a .22LR in order to clear a 21-acre field of rabbits that have munched their way through 16 acres of rape. The advantage of the digisight is […]
How to get duck flying fit, with George Digweed
20 times world champion shooter George Digweed likes doing things well and that includes presenting the best birds possible on his game shoots. We join George with his gamekeepers as he shows what’s involved in getting ducks flying fit. This film was first shown in Fieldsports Britain episode 146. To watch the whole show go […]
No backing down in Baildon battle, says BASC
BASC is fighting an attempt by Bradford City Council to silence criticism of its moorland management. The organisation received a letter from the council’s legal department demanding the removal of a blog which questioned why Baildon Moor was being mown by a tractor at a critical time of the year for ground-nesting birds. In addition, […]
Fieldsports Britain – lead-free bullet killability
How good is copper, tin and even bronze at shooting straight and killing animals? Firearms expert Andrew Venables tests out all kinds of lead-free rounds at Tim Pilbeam’s range in Sussex and gives his verdict. Meanwhile, Jaf Jefferson from the South Somerset Ferreters has a nighttime date with a fox – and gets more than […]
On Test: best copper bullets for deer
Firearms expert Andrew Venables has a guilty secret (innocent secret?). He prefers copper bullets to lead bullets. In this film, he puts copper bullets through their paces on a range, showing how they win on both accuracy and fillability. Thanks to Tim Pilbeam for letting us use his range. Have a look at these […]
Copper bullets and meat damage
Meat damage is one of Andrew Venables’ primary reasons to move away from lead bullets. For him, the argument revolves around weight retention. “You’ve seen the x-rays, you’ve seen the ballistic media, the different pictures going around on social media. 40% of that bullet is left in the animal. Copper retain literally 99% of their […]
Copper bullets and clean kills
Like every ethical hunter in the Western World, Andrew Venables wants a clean kill. The firearms expert reckons the bullet that does that best is not made of lead. It’s made of copper – because it’s such a fast bullet. “Having spent a lot of time shooting lead bullets, particularly with boat tails, you […]
What non lead bullets can you buy
In the 1990s, Andrew Venables was at a US gun show where a mini revolution was taking place. He had no idea at the time that the non-lead bullet Barnes was launching there would change his deer stalking. He says it took about two years for the Barnes bullet to be exported to the […]
A fox and her cubs – shoot or don’t shoot?
Jaf Jefferson takes his night vision out shooting. He is protecting a farmers’ lambs from hungry foxes. But when he comes across a vixen and her cubs, what does he do? Find out in this film… The new Yukon Photon RT replaces the old XT. If you are in the UK and want to […]
How I got my confiscated gun back
What do you do when your gun has been confiscated on a stopover in a foreign country while you’re on your way back to the UK? Will Thompson (@waathompson on Instagram) was hunting in New Zealand when the coronavirus lockdown was enforced. He and his girlfriend decided to cut short their trip and head […]
Clayground closure fallout – Fieldsports News, 3 June 2020
Wales shooting club closure bad for the sport – MidWalesShootingCentre.com/ Estate worker and angler attacked by countryside visitors – Royalty video on Facebook – Kent murder on the BBC – Perthshire stabbing in The Courier New wave of wildfires sweeps the countryside – Fieldsports News Lockdown losses massive on Scottish estates – Strathspey Herald Top […]
British wildfire season 2020
From the beginning of April, wildfires rage across the UK’s uplands, burning hardest where there has been either poor management or rewilding. Just days into the month, there was a huge fire on Marsden Moor, just outside Huddersfield. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service sent 10 fire engines at the fire near Deer Hill Reservoir. […]
Red deer stalking in Cumbria
Whilst test-driving the new Subaru Forester we thought it would be rude not to try some hill stalking in the stunning wild Cumbrian countryside. Sporting Shooter Magazine editor Dom Holtam is finding the going hard as we go after a young stag but the plan changes when we spot two unhealthy hinds. This item first […]
