Irish Extra February 2024
It was with great disappointment and sadness that I heard the news of the end of the Countrymans Weekly as we all knew it. For decades it was the publication for the roustabout country sports person. Terrier man, lurcher enthusiast or rough or Grouse shooter alike. Originally beginning life as the Shooting News and later “The Countrymans Weekly” it has been in existence as long as I have. Being a weekly publication in the days before the internet it had all the latest news and reviews, updates and articles from some of the biggest and best field sports writers in the country historically and right up to present day. With writers like Phil Lloyd, Jon Darcy and even Northern Irelands own Seamus Irwin with his much loved “Tarrier Talk” in the shooting news editions it really was a special publication and I think many have realised that now that it has gone. Many writers who went on to write for other publications and even publish books cut their teeth in the paper and they were always willing to give anyone interested in putting pen to paper the opportunity to do so when other publications couldn’t or wouldn’t do the same. This support went right the way through the publication and the Countrymans Weekly whether you were a driven Grouse shooter or a rat catcher treated everyone equally and gave support to every aspect of Country Sports which is something not many publications can lay claim to. The summer dog showing scene is a huge interest for a lot of people and for many, to get your face and your dogs in the paper after winning a big tasty rosette on a Sunday afternoon was the icing on the cake, and if that’s your thing then why not. Across the water here in Ireland the paper was very popular and again Ireland was never left out of proceedings and this very column which I wrote for 13 years was previously written by the late Phillip Lawton who went under the name “Plus Twos” and was the epitome of we might call a “Character”.
Tracey Allen, general manager of the Countrymans Weekly in many ways was the Countrymans Weekly alongside colleague Jill Russell, the pair attended shows, Game Fairs and events up and down the country, kept the wheels turning and ensured nobody missed a deadline and week after week turned out a great publication.
Of course, there was the occasional keyboard hunter that had an opinion on the publication, my answer was simply that if you can do better then fill your boots, put your pen where your mouth is! Joking aside, what other publication supported ALL country sports like the Countrymans Weekly did from the beginning to the end. I am truly grateful for the years I was privileged to have my scribblings published in the Countrymans Weekly and can’t thank Tracey, Jill and the rest of the team enough for everything they done for us all, but as is often said – Its not over until the Fat Lady sings.
Shooting Show Spectacular
I had an early rise on 24th February and slipped off in the small hours to meet up with my friend Richard. We had a quick to Birmingham, grabbed a very early breakfast among many other “Schöffel” wearers and made our way to Hall 5 of the NEC for a day browsing at the British Shooting Show. I was quite looking forward to it as it was 2018 since I last attended the show. I had a few things in mind, but one in particular was to get a good look at and handle the Merkel K5. I have for a while now had a Kiplauf rifle on my mind, and the Merkel really sings to me! However, I was unable to track one down anywhere in Ireland I knew Viking Arms, the UK importer of Merkel might just have one on display & I was very pleased to see one in its all glory on the Viking stand. A very knowledgeable young lady was quite happy to discuss the finer details of the weapon and of course let me handle it and its was every bit as good as I thought. I have created a list of reasons and excuses why I need a Merkel K5 and they are fully valid and Viking have said they are happy to provide a receipt showing the cost at 25% of what it actually is should my good lady enquire!
Viking was only one of many fantastic exhibitors at the show including Blaser, J.P Sauer, Beretta, Westley Richardson, the list goes on along with the many clothing and other retailers. One company that really impressed me on the day was a leather manufacturer from the UK called “Hicks & Hydes”. I bumped into them on leaving the show and a gentleman was quite happy to show us their range of Nubuck leather shotgun slips which come in double and single, are handmade and are absolutely stunning at a reasonable price. They make a massive range of other excellent leather goods and their website is well worth a look at – www.hickandhides.co.uk
The Shooting Show is a great place to have a look at what is up and coming as well as what you do and have been doing. I often find myself in conversations with a variety of exhibitors from Gun makers to ammunition and even clothing manufacturers as well attendees of the show just like myself. It never ceases to amaze me how much you can pick up and learn from all these people and use it to improve what you do. There is never a show goes past where I don’t glean something from someone and put it use myself and it could be anything from advice on a new piece of equipment or simply a technique for doing something which improves things.
The 2025 British Shooting Show takes place @ The NEC Birmingham on 14th, 15th & 16th February
Oh Deer…
I wrote back in January on the changing landscape and proposed changes to Deer legislation which were coming into effect, and these changes did happen – However for a much more expert opinion and clarity on the matter, I reached and spoke to life long Stalker, hunter & writer Mr Jim Daly.
A peer-reviewed scientific analysis of Defra’s badger control policy in England has revealed a 56% fall in bovine TB rates. This report is not the first to debunk and cast serious doubt on the wild deer TB scare, much heralded by farming organisations in Ireland. In fact, the IFA’s own recently commissioned report largely does the same, but that was kept fairly quiet. So, it is no wonder the IFA and others were in a hurry to get the Deer Hunting seasons extended, that is, before these reports and those of the record numbers of deer already culled this season, becoming more generally know. There were more than 60,000 deer culled last season and I’d guess over 80k this year so far. The ill-advised season extension follows a three-year vilification of wild deer, where gross exaggeration of the damage they cause, the disease they spread, and their distribution and numbers, was spewed out to an eager media and subsequently to a gullible public.
Sure, there are excessive populations and associated problems in some areas, but there are also areas in most counties with little or no deer. (Remember, there has never been a proper national census of deer or their distribution) This extension, in effect, is more than a doubling of the male season and will only serve to further reduce only male deer. Stags/Bucks are in at least an 8:1 negative ratio compared to female deer. The hunting of stags after December is patently inhumane, they are still recovering in the difficult winter/spring months from the rigors of the rut. The obvious mechanism to reduce numbers is to cull breeding females and a one-month extension alone will not do that.
What it will do, is reduce the quality, genetic diversity and general health of all deer, not to mention scattering existing population further afield. This result is already witnessed in England and other countries. Take islands near Vancouver for example, where there is no closed season at all, and the Fallow Deer population continues to grow.
Most importantly and very concerning is the formation of ‘deer contractor teams’ and their coordinators. From where will these hunters be drawn? What qualifications, experience and expertise are required? Are there any safety courses and risk assessment measures underway? Certainly none that I heard of.
The extended season also means winter housed domestic stock will be out on the land, children will be off school and many more people enjoying the countryside. Better not mention the insurance cover required, that is, if any can be obtained particularly in light of the aforementioned concerns. So, with risk factors obviously being much more acute, will the IFA and the Dept of Agriculture cover all this responsibility? I doubt it.
There has been, what I call, other lies of omission in this agenda to include disregarding the value of deer to the economy, its sustainability or it’s future development, be it by way of exported venison, or the consumption of it in the domestic market, including homes, hotels and restaurants. In fact the whole idea lacks any modicum of common sense or realistic planning. No mention either of the trade value in hunting clothing, firearms, ammo, optics, quad bikes, jeeps and a myriad of other commercial spinoffs to local businesses. Or, for that matter the tax free monies many farmers enjoy, particularly those in the east of Ireland, who actually charge hunters for the service of culling deer on their lands. The public were subjected to a constant mantra of negative misinformation, emanating not least from the IFA.
A prime example being their so called ‘consultation survey’ A survey saturated with questions and narratives designed to allow only a negative response and outcome for deer. One’s only choice was to compose a ‘comment’ in the survey to mention any positive impact deer might be worth. The silence and inactivity of our largest hunter association has been ominous if not startling, while certain bespoke deer hunting organisations, gave weak and paltry offerings of objection. Why? it seems they observed the tsunami of orchestrated vitriol against wild deer and foresaw its inevitable outcome. They also saw a need to be on a winning side, to safeguard their positions in their little ponds and hope to continue safely swimming with the sharks. It was particularly sinister to note that other organisations, such as the normally vociferous anti-hunting brigade and kindred organisations, including the greens and vegans of this world were uncharacteristically silent. Is it possible the Green Party leadership, together with our minister for Agriculture and other politicians, silenced them all by coming out publicly in support of this madcap cull plan? I doubt it. Obviously, it had some effect! However, it was more likely a silencing of dissenting voices by way of careful media management. Silenced by powerful farming, forestry and other Agri interests and, aided of course, by those vote catching politicians, most of whom hold some sway with the various opinion forming appendages of the media.
Lastly, and certainly not least, to say I am disappointed with the total and complete abdicated by NPWS of its stewardship, in particularly its responsibility for the protection of a wild mammal, is the understatement of the decade. They are the very department that can open, close, lengthen or shorten the open seasons order on huntable species. They are tasked with this function by our government and by way of E.U. law orders. Maybe a reported breach of E.U. law is the place to find relief because, in the opinion of many, the NPWS has been absolutely negligent in the discharge of it’s duties.
In effect, all the evidence points primarily to a farming lobby dictating the future of a wild mammal, not any mammal but the largest and most beautiful of our wild animals on this island of ours.
Until Next Time…