 | Home > Off Topic > The Shooting Thread |
 
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972  
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With the lockdown underway there is no formal shooting going on so on Saturday I went for a wander around the farm with the now 10 month old spanner. My son and I have been doing a bit of training with her, but this was her first time out with the gun. She worked nicely, flushed a few birds, dropped to shot nicely and then tried to retrieve this one. Given she is 15lbs it was always going to be a tough ask, so I picked it myself. In time, when the youngster is a bit more sensible / independent I'll take a lab with me to do the retrieve!
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9th Nov 2020 2:14pm |
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| Doc P Member Since: 03 Apr 2016 Location: Midlands Posts: 565 
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13th Nov 2020 9:10pm |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972
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I stayed in the Arundell Arms, Lifton earlier this week. It is quite a famous old fishing and shooting hotel, but it was getting rather tired. Happily it changed hands in the summer and has had a complete makeover. It now looks really smart and the food is fantastic. All of the things that an away gun would need are there, a drying room, gun cleaning area, cabinet, heated kennels......all very impressive.
The new owner is very keen on Land Rovers and has a Series 2 and a late Def 90 both with The Arundell sign writing. |
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17th Dec 2020 4:51pm |
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| diduan Member Since: 13 Oct 2016 Location: Central Balkan Posts: 260 
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It's mallard time in the south east of Europe.
Click image to enlarge Defender 110 SW MY2011 2.4tdci decat, no EGR Jeep Wrangler YJ 1990 4.0. Front 78' Dana 60, Rear CUCV 14 bolt |
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17th Dec 2020 6:26pm |
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| Harry.O Member Since: 25 Jul 2014 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 716 
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That's great to hear, we tried to stay there after lockdown Mk 1 for a fishing trip but they were closed for renovations. Glad it's back to former glory as it was getting a little tired 2005 Td5 110 Hardtop
1989 300Tdi 90 Soft top 1992 200Tdi 90 Truck cab with Land Cruiser axles |
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18th Dec 2020 12:10pm |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972
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Here is my shoot bus, which has been pressed into service whilst I'm Defenderless. in fairness looks smarter than it is. It is booked in for a bit of electrical work in Jan - the ABS and Traction control lights have come on AGAIN, the microswitch in the driver's door is temperamental and the internal temp fan is unhappy. It is then in for some tlc to the bodywork, wheel refurb, caliper tidy up etc in Feb. I accept I'm odd feeling the love for a P38 but there we go. It was very comfortable on the run down to Devon last week, albeit at 17mpg... Who knows, it might even be smart enough to take part in the belated 50th anniversary RR events.
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21st Dec 2020 11:00am |
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| SJM2018 Member Since: 06 Jul 2018 Location: Bristol Posts: 296 
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Hi all,
I have a 21 month old lab and he’s still not been out with guns. He’s an awkward age, too young/silly last season and has missed this season due to Covid (the small syndicate my parents are involved with didn’t want anyone new attending this year). I’ve taken him to clay grounds and played / trained in the car park. He doesn’t appear to be gun-shy, but I do worry the longer we leave it, the more likely he’ll have issues when the sound is nearer. Also, while he’s good on dummies and we’ve done a bit of work with cold game, he’s never picked up anything freshly shot. Do you have any other ideas of what else I can do to familiarise him? (I don’t have a SGC or any land to shoot on currently). Am I overthink the picking up part, after working on cold game, do the dogs just get it? Kind regards Stu 2011 CSW XS 90 |
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21st Dec 2020 4:11pm |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972
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Hi Stu,
It is very difficult to offer advice without seeing the dog - they all have different temperaments and mature at different speeds. You don't say whether you want him on the peg or as a picking up dog or a bit of both? Regardless......I wouldn't worry. My first lab was 4 before she came shooting (I didn't shoot when we got her) but she quickly worked it out. If your dog is comfortable around shot, retrieving dummies and cold game, then moving onto warm birds should be a straightforward transition, one he is unlikely to give a moments thought. The main challenge with a 21 month old lab is likely to be steadiness, so I'd use this Covid time to work on the foundations, recall, stop whistle, heelwork, nice presentation etc, it will all make working the dog much more enjoyable when the time comes. Have you got a little starting pistol with blanks and somewhere to use it? It can be useful to work on steadiness, especially if you sit him up and throw a few feathered dummies around. I wouldn't bother taking the dog to a clay ground - what is in it for the dog, where is the reward? You are in effect asking him to switch off permanently, when in fact you want the dog focused on you and the immediate environment. Here is my 3 year old on Saturday, watching the neighbouring gun in disgust at my efforts..... Click image to enlarge |
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21st Dec 2020 5:00pm |
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| SJM2018 Member Since: 06 Jul 2018 Location: Bristol Posts: 296
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Thank you for the response!
Likely a bit of both. Originally, I had no intention of shooting with him, but he’s so wired and driven (both parents are a ‘proper’ working dog/bitch) that I got into gundog training as a way of tiring him out mentally/physically and ended up really enjoying it. You’re bang on the money, his biggest weakness at the moment is steadiness. We were training with Geoff Shore in Bristol (excellent trainer in my opinion) before the second lockdown and he appeared to be getting better. However, he quickly associates new places with specific activities and what I expect of him there, but as soon as you take him somewhere new, it all goes out the window. Since the second lockdown, I’ve been reading Pippa Mattinson’s book and working on the basics and trying to do this in various new places; he’s slowly getting better. Hopefully I can get some more time with Geoff now we’re in tier 2 to keep working on it! Click image to enlarge Edit: Harness and long line are due to living in a city and other people not having control of their dogs, which can lead him awry!! 2011 CSW XS 90 |
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21st Dec 2020 5:40pm |
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| Co1 Member Since: 19 Aug 2018 Location: North Yorkshire Posts: 3681 
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Pipa mattisons book is great. Was a big help for me.
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21st Dec 2020 7:23pm |
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| Huttopia Member Since: 23 Feb 2016 Location: West Midlands Posts: 1972
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Over the year I think I’ve done more training (with varying degrees of success) with my dogs in the house than outside. 5 or 10 minutes of an evening is ideal for steadiness. Sit the dog up walk back away from it a short distance, go back to it and reward, repeat (vary the distance / time until you can walk around the dog in a circle without it breaking). I also dance around a bit to reinforce the steadiness- so the dog doesn’t confuse me stretching a shoulder when I’m on the peg with an out command- weird I know but it has paid dividends!
So labs I’m happy with....small brown cocker spaniels remain a work in progress- something I suspect I’ll be saying when she’s 10... Click image to enlarge Merry Christmas 🎄 |
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21st Dec 2020 7:31pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8051  
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Well what could be better than a little off roading and some shooting! Been asked to conduct vermin control, squirrels, on new shoot ground. Thought I would dig out an older daysate for the job!
Click image to enlarge Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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25th Feb 2021 2:09pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 8051
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A bit of fun over the weekend. Neither are mine i might add.
Click image to enlarge Not linked to this but just looking at options and thinking on foxing calibre, 22/250? Seems nice and flatish to 300. Cheers James 110 2012 XS Utility 130 2011 M57 bespoke Camper 90 2010 Hardtop 90 M57 1988 Hardtop |
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2nd May 2021 5:57pm |
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| Supacat Member Since: 16 Oct 2012 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 11018 
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So - what's the right type of licence for this?
"PLEASE NOTE THE GUN AND ARMAMENTS WILL BE DEACTIVATED UNLESS SOLD TO ANYONE WITH THE RELEVANT LICENCE" Click image to enlarge https://bid.mod-sales.com/auctions/7821/wi...2c00faf717 |
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21st May 2021 10:19am |
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