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[Music]
Welcome to Fieldsports Britain. Coming up I am at this trade fair here. The tackle and
gun show looking at fishing tackle. Sporting rifle expert Tim Pilbeam is looking at 3 Christmas
packages, rifles for under £900. First Andy Crow has been shot at by poachers. We investigate.
Like thousands of law-abiding shooters all over the country, Andy Crow enjoys an evening
out foxing and rabbitting.
In 99% of cases the evening will pass without incident, but now and again you can come across
poachers.
Me and a friend were out shooting. We were out lamping and as we were going round, he
has got a few pheasants, well it is just a small little family pheasant shoot really,
and I was just helping out shooting the foxes. And it was about quarter to ten or ten to
ten, something like that. We were just trundling down, went down across one field and we were
coming back up. I said to him there is a vehicle just stopped over on the road there and didn't
know who it was. I said there is a torch shining up into the trees.
Andy and his friend went to have a closer look and realised that someone was lamping
the roosting pheasants, shooting them off the branches with a .22 rifle. Andy shone
his lamp on the truck hoping they'd move on - they didn't, and things got nasty...
3 of us were outside and my boy was in the back of the van and we were standing there
and he just walked up the bank and he just up with his rifle, cracked one round off and
then cracked another round off and by the second round we were on our way. Then he went
down and leant on a gate and let another round off across after us. Definitely 100% shooting
at us.
Andy drove the truck away and took cover at the far end of the field, as their exit was
blocked. He switched off the lights and his friend called the police.
We rang the police, rang 999 they put us straight through we were talking to this chap on the
phone and they had another shot at us, they leant on the gate and took another shot at
us. This isn't a .22 air rifle this is a .22 live.
Because they had no idea where the poachers had gone, they stuck tight but had to wait
an hour and 10 minutes before two unarmed police officers arrived.
All it was was unarmed police. We were gobsmacked. I said to the chap, well he is armed, where's
the armed response and he said oh they are coming from Guildford.
Andy still isn't sure if armed response turned up. No one has called him. But even if they
did, it was too late and Andy feels that when there was such a clear threat to life there
should have been action.
When we bloodly needed it they weren't there. Well I don't know, it has wound me up. I am
not going to go into it because I know the old bill has a lot to do. They have got a
lot of work on their plates, but it frightened me as much as anything. To think these people
go to such extremes for just over a £1 pheasant. That was too close for comfort when you have
got when you have .22 rounds whistling past your ear hole.
A number of issues are raised by this incident - Why did it take the police so long to arrive
at the scene, and then with unarmed officers? Would things have been different if Andy had
been in a town? and on a more positive note what should shooters do if they come come
across poachers?
Well this is what Surrey Police says in a statement...
"A man had called 999 after noticing some other men in the fields acting suspiciously.
The man asked the men to leave when he claims one of them fired a single shot from a firearm
into the ground before leaving the scene.
The information relayed by Kent Police and the appropriate protocol for dealing with
firearms incidents was followed."
We were also told by Surrey Police that Andy's friend was visited by officers the next day
and he'd told them that he was happy with the way the incident had been managed...However,
he can't have been that happy, because he told US he's made a formal complaint against
Surrey police.
As for Andy he has some advice.
Any keepers out there, I tell you don't approach these old boys. Doesn't matter how hard you
are, you are not as hard as a bullet.
Well from Andy on the farm to David on the Fieldsports Channel News Stump.
[Music]
This is Fieldsports Britain News.
Shooting organisations have condemned the decision by high-street newsagent WHSmith
to ban under 14-year-olds from buying shooting magazines.
The company says it has taken this decision in the erroneous belief that 14 is the legal
age for obtaining a firearm. In the UK, there are many age limits in firearms legislation
and 14 is not one of them. BASC has asked WHSmith to withdraw the policy and is awaiting
a response.
An American stalker has shot a new world record moose.
Bob Condon could fit inside his moose‘s antlers. The animal weighed more than 1500lb
and had an antler spread of 73 inches. Bob shot it at 400 yards with a Browning A-bolt
with a 260-grain bullet in .375 Holland & Holland calibre.
Want to help the fight for repeal against the ban on hunting with hounds?
The Countryside Alliance and the Council of Hunting Associations have launched a Hunting
Action Pack "containing all the tools you need in order to explain, promote and defend
hunting to the wider public.
There is a new British rod-caught record blue shark - but it is not an official record.
This 248lb giant is the largest to be caught in British waters. It was reeled in by 43-year-old
Bob Pollard, 11 miles off Penzance, in Cornwall, and beats the previous best by 26lb. It does
not qualify as an official record because they have to measured on land.
Rhino poaching is on the up in South Africa.
South Africa has lost 430 rhinos to poaching since January this year, according to the
South African government. Around 21,000 rhinos, both black and white, remain in South Africa,
about 70% of the world's rhino population.
And finally, a squirrel has made a dramatic exit from a fourth-storey flat in Germany.
It's the wildlife story of the week. The squirrel runs round and round the kitchen in a panic,
then makes a terrifying leap for freedom. It takes a second or two for the cameraman
to catch up with it. And there it is - it survived.
You are now up to date with Fieldsports Britain News. Stalking the stories. Fishing for facts.
[Music]
Now thinking of a rifle for Christmas? Well, Tim Pilbeam has a few packages for your loved
ones to look at.
Here we have three bundles of rifle joy - three UK distributors have put together some super
price-busting kit in time for Christmas - The cheapest is under 600 quid, the most expensive
under 900 and Sporting Rifle magazine's rifle reviewer Tim Pilbeam is going to talk us through
them.
This is the new Ruger American recently launched into the UK. This is in .243 calibre, entry
level rifle, got very, very compact magazine, which holds 5 rounds. The trigger itself is
a 4lb trigger. It is quite a tough trigger actually. We will find out when we do the
shooting how good it is. As to all these rifles being entry level, stocks are quite hollow
and also the fore end , they are quite bendy. That is what you pay for with a more expensive
rifle. If you are having a heavy bolt moderator and bipod you will have a few problems there,
because it may affect the point of impact. The rifle itself is £599 and today I have
actually put a ...... 3x12x50 scope with some millet mounts and we will see how it shoots
later on.
This is the Savage package from Edgar Brothers. This package is actually £649. So you can
go fox shooting or deer stalking for £649. So what do we get. We got a savage access
rifle here. This one is in treble 250. Once again a budget stock, with a bendy fore end,
ok we have talked about that. A firm trigger and it shoots very well, very predictable
when you fire it. It has got a reasonably smooth bolt, so there is nothing wrong with
that at all and in the package you get a picatinny style rail, some mounts and also a 3x12 weaver
scope, which has got a really very fine reticule and it shoots really, really well. It is a
nice looking rifle. Accuracy about an inch at 100 yards and I quite like it. It is good.
Last but not least we have got the stealth hunter combo for £899 from Highland Outdoors.
This is superb value for money. What do we get. We have got a Howa model 1500 action
blue sporter barrel. We have got a Hogue over moulded stock. We have got a fibre glass chassy
over moulded with rubber material, very grippable. I actually love this, you either love it or
hate it. It think it is brilliant. The trigger is a 2 ½ lb trigger which I find absolutely
superb. The bolt itself as always with a Howa is smooth works beautifully well and in the
kit there is a Picatinny style rail which is screwed to the receiver, mounts and 2 ½
-12 x 50 seats Nikko Stirling diamond scope with a illuminator reticule. All this for
£899. If you want a Varmint barrel or Sainstill barrel the price will go up to £1069 including
VAT ready to go. Absolutely superb, but does it shoot well.
Right so what's next Tim?
We have got 3 targets here. We have got a fox at 200 yards, a side ways fox, we have
got a moving fox at 150 yards and we have also got another fox down the bottom there
which is 50 yards away. And we are going to have a bit of fun today. It is a competition
between Matt and I. We are going to shoot these foxes. We are going to call the given
targets, A , B and C and when you are out foxing at night time the fox does actually
stop and start and sometimes it completely disappears and if you are lamping then suddenly
you find there is a fox 50 yards away or another one appears 200 yards away. So this is very
much what happens at night time. So it is all about quick thinking, good lamping if
you have got a lamp and it is actually decision making and to make it more interesting we
have 3 seconds to take the shot. So one person will be calling A, B or C and you have got
3 seconds to reset your rifle and shoot it.
Before we start lets have a look at version five of the running target on Tim's range..
This time it looks like he's cracked it...
Got it running on a bit of rope now. I have stabilised the steering so it doesn't move
at all. So all it does is goes backwards and forwards so we have a chance of actually shooting
this thing.
Tim's shooting mate Matt starts things off with the Howa on the bipod... and we get some
pleasing results on all the targets.
Ok Matt, B...A...B..C..B....B has gone go to A
So Matt what do you think of the Stealth Hunter Combo?
Fantastic piece of kit, 5 shots, 5 hits. Doesn't get any better than that for under £1000.
Next up it's Tim with the Savage. As there's no bipod as part of the bundle Tim is using
the tree trunk for support. ..and again the rifle and the man behind it make this challenging
shooting look easy.
Finally it's the Ruger. Again all the bullets find their targets.
So what do these two experienced shots think of the hardware on test today?
So Matt we have got 3 rifles under £900 and we were doing some fairly extreme conditions
today, all rifle shooting under an inch and a half. What do you think?
I think they are 3 fantastic packages for someone starting out in the shooting world.
I particularly liked the safety catch on the Ruger. It is a great brand as well.
That is £599. I wasn't too keen on the trigger, but I am sure someone could play on the trigger
on that. But it performed very, very well.
The Savage is just great, great value for money and the scope on that I particularly
liked.
£649 and it shoots beautifully well, so there is nothing wrong with that at all.
My favourite of the 3 was the Howa package I found I shot that really well and it felt
a really solid quality rifle.
I think overall we have got 3 rifles all under a £1000. You can just walk out the door and
shoot and I think that is absolutely fantastic to see. Well done guys this is brilliant.
Unfortunately the firebird targets didn't get a chance to shine so Matt has an excuse
to bring out his £6000 custom rifle just for fun. It may be 10 times as much as the
Ruger but it just shows that there's something out there for everyone and every pocket.
For more information about the Ruger visit the Viking Arms website, for details on the
Howa visit the Highland Outdoors and for the Savage you need to take a look at Edgar Brothers's
website. Happy shopping - I mean shooting.
Next it is back to David for the map that matters. It is Calendar.
[Music]
Now for some dates for the diary and some seasonal reminders.
Moon is waxing crescent, following the new moon on Monday 15th October. We're still ten
days away from a full moon, so a good time to go lamping and protect those pheasant poults.
Talking of which, the pheasant shooting season is getting going. The culmination of the year's
work by gamekeepers will reach its peak around Christmas. There are plenty of days still
available on good quality shoots. If you have a shoot and would like to publicise it on
Fieldsports Channel, talk to James james@fieldsportschannel.tv
The foxhunting season proper is just around the corner. This week is National Newcomers'
Week which runs from 16th-23rd October and, as its name suggests, will see hunts across
the country welcome those who have never tried it to a day's hunting. This is hunting ‘within
the law'. If you would like to give the sport a go, contact the Countryside Alliance www.countryside-alliance.org.uk
Now you need to put 25th October in your diaries because you could get 20% off clothing, footwear
and accessories at Independent Shooting Supplies in Mountnessing in Essex. It starts at 5pm
and goes through to 9 and the first 10 people through the door will get 20% off some items,
the next 10 people get 10% off, and there is a charity raffle - all proceeds going to
Essex Air Ambulance - where the star prize is a day's pigeonshooting with Fieldsports
Channel star Andy Crow. So that is Independent Shooting Supplies, Mountnessing, Essex on
25th October. For more information call Andrew Stephens on 01277 356181 or email admin@independent-tool.co.uk.
That is our round up for this week.
[Music]
From what is on in the future to what was on last weekend the Tackle and Gun Trade Show.
I have been looking at fishing kit.
Looking for innovation at the Tackle & Gun show? Well, forget the gun part - this year
it was all about tackle. And you have to ask just how bad the recession and the outlook
for British industry really is when there are stories to tell like this one from Northumberland.
Pretty new aren't you, when did you get going?
We are new to market we have been researching the technology now for 4 years and behind
the lines, myself and the other founders, Alan and Ian who have been with me right from
the beginning. We have been working in a small industrial unit in Alnwick, keeping ourselves
away from the world, getting the product right, getting everything ready for market. We then
went through an investment round last November and we raised money to go to market, set up
a factory and employ people. As I alluded earlier on, we were having a quick chat before
you started filming, we have got 72 people in Alnwick at the moment that we employ who
are making these ....for us and we are starting to ship them globally now.
For more about Lynx, have a look at www.lynx-fishing.com.
Even the foreigners at the show are feeling good about the trade. Here's a German from
an American company that sells all kinds of fishing tackle brands including Browning fishing
rods - apparently the biggest selling poles in the UK. He has a new Quantum reel to show
off.
These reels are the first in the industry which have an actual skeletal design we left
out all the metal where it doesn't matter for the construction so these reels are extremely
strong and on our website you can even see the pick-up truck runs over it without damaging
the reel, you can still turn it. So it is really strong but light at the same time.
The fishermen now a days have space age material in their fishing rods which weigh nothing
so they don't want to have a clumsy reel on it. So light bait cast is perfect, but it
withstands the impact of fishing and they can enjoy it for a long time. And the design
of course needs to underline the technology a bit. So you have a lot of metal there - modern
look.
At the risk of sounding like something out of a Quentin Tarantino film, you can see Frerk's
reel on Zebco's website www.zebco-europe.biz
That's the carp and sea angling crew. Now gamefishing has gone punk. The salmon fly
was a thing of beauty and tradition - until the flytiers at Fulling Mill redesigned it
during what must have been a wild weekend in Ibiza.
Have you caught fish with these flies.
Absolutely we have tested many of these flies. In fact most of them over the last 18 months
or so, abroad and in the UK. They fish very, very well. There is something for spring,
summer, autumn. So we cover all the seasons. We cover all the depths anglers can fish on
and we have flies that cover south America. We have got a pattern for basically everywhere.
They are all on display at www.fullingmill.com
Tackle and Gun is not all about fishing. For one member of the tackle trade it is about
the fish.
News reaches me that recently off Milford Haven, South Wales, you saw a shark, what
did you see?
A big shark. I am not sure what type of shark, but it was a big shark.
I want to say a Great White Shark.
You can say what it was, you can tell me what it was. It was a huge, huge fish. We were
blue shark fishing, catching fish up to 100lbs all day, seeing dolphins that were around
500, 600lbs out of the ......all of a sudden, out of nowhere at the side of the boat that
I and my fishing partner were fishing from this huge fish came up through the depths,
didn't actually look us in the eye but came up to our shoulders, it tilted. Honestly it
was 3 times the size of the dolphins we had seen that day. It must have been upwards of
a 1000Kilos easily.
There's lots of unbelievable kit at the Tackle & Gun show. And if you don't believe Paul,
get in touch with him to complain at his website www.wychwood.co.uk
From the small world of a British trade show to the wide world. It is Hunting YouTube.
This is Hunting YouTube, which aims to show the best hunting, shooting and fishing videos
that YouTube has to offer.
MrSmith434 is 17 years old and from Ireland. Here he is pigeon shooting over barley in
County Meath. He finishes two days with 110 crows, 31 pigeons and nine grey crows.
CountryPursuitsTV was at the Tackle & Gun trade show 2012. He had a look at some of
the shooting kit on offer, including NiteSite, Brocockand the new Pulsar N750 digisight
I prefer stars with better figures but in the world of shooting TV, you pays your money
and you takes your choc ice. Ferreting by combatmn2005 has extra drama because part
of the action takes place on a railway line. I hope it's not giving away too much to let
you know that neither of them nor the dog gets run over by a train.
Our favourite freelance cameraman Nicky Brown is fly fishing on the River Avon. His Wilderness
TV channel, which appears on YouTube under the name TechSecMedia, sees Nick Lawrence
giving advice and tips on how to fish a famous chalkstream.
At the other end of the fishy scale, Yuri Grisendi is pleased to have caught two catfish
of more than 200lb in Kazakhstan's Ili Delta. The Italians dominate world interest in catfish
on YouTube, so here is Yuri's translation: luca foroni combatte con un enorme siluro
catturato a clonk sul delta del fiume ili in Kazachistan. There you go. Ole.
Let's go abroad for some silly videos. This may be the silliest. Shooting from water by
CristiClujeanul shows a Romanian AK47 made by Cugir (Romak) in .223 Remington, with aftermarket
folding stock by Mako, Tapco muzzle brake, handguard and pistol grip in a typical AK47
shooting situation…if you are Arnold Schwarzenegger..
Meanwhile, the German channel JagdStifti wins the prize for Most Pointless Hunting Videos.
Like almost all of his films, this one shows minute after long minute of nothing happening
at all - which is a true reflection of going shooting but it doesn't make gripping TV.
In this film called Gänsejagd , Goose Hunting, he reaches new heights by being in the right
place at the right time but pointing the camera in the wrong direction.
Now for pure romance. New Forest Red Stag Hunt (short version) by ShavesgreenShooting
is a trophy red stag stalking outing with Shavesgreen Safaris in England's New Forest.
And it's gorgeous.
You can click on any of these films to watch them. If you have a YouTube film you would
like us to pop in to the weekly top eight, send it in via YouTube, or email me the link
charlie@fieldsportschannel.tv
Well if you like shooting you will love the Shooting Show.
It's Argyllshire deerstalking. Pete, Byron and the team from Sporting Rifle magazine
take to the hills in search of red stags. Assistant publisher Ruth is first behind the
rifle, with estate stalker Mark taking her in search of a takeable beast. As always,
the deer don't make themselves easy to stalk into, and the rapidly closing weather adds
a further challenge. Ruth, taking only her second ever stag, then gives us her thoughts
on the rifle, the stalk and the end result. It's all in this week's Shooting Show. If
you are watching this on YouTube, click on the link.
We are back next week. If you are watching this on Youtube don't hesitate to hit the
subscribe button which is somewhere up in the sky above me or go to our show page www.youtube.com/show/fieldsportsbritain
or our website www.fieldsportschannel.tv where you can click to like us on Facebook follow
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programme which is out 7pm Wednesdays. This has been Fieldsports Britain.