Moy Country Fair Preview
A Tuscan Shooting Party
How to train your dog like a gun dog
With Mordor Gundogs
Scottish Country Life
With Jake Swindellls,
Scottish Countryside Allliance
Want to catch more salmon? By Ian
Gordon, Speyonline
“Hoping for sense to prevail”
By Tom Turnbull, Chair of
New Pixfra Mile 2 thermal imagers and a Whisky Bar you can carry!
Well folks, here is our second publishing this year of our Shooting Scotland Magazine (plus Fishing of course).
Now with a larger pagination of 24 pages for your reading and enjoyment!
Our aim is to run three issues in 2025 in March to April, July to August and then September to October.
All will remain inside and part of our Farming Scotland Magazine, so two magazines for the price of one can’t be bad!
Christina and I are taking it slowly to bring back Shooting (& Fishing) Scotland Magazine since Covid killed it off for the last few years.
That might be an ‘age thing” too?
Anyway, new connections need to be made, new advertisers need to be found and convinced to get involved and support the title again.
Editorial stories and contributions on new products etc, will all be part of the ‘come back’ in 2025.
In the meantime, I hope you support the title going forwards and enjoy what is in this issue today.
Please do get in touch if you would like to get involved.
We would love to hear from you.
“Onwards and upwards’ is the battle cry here in our wee Perth office!
Slàinte, Athole.
In light of new investigatory powers granted to the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Animals (SSPCA), the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has issued a letter to Police Scotland and the Crown Office, urging them to closely monitor and guard against the potential for bias in any evidence gathered by the charity.
Throughout the passage of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill, now an Act, BASC was clear that the SSPCA is a charity and should not be granted statutory powers.
Given the SSPCA’s longstanding and publicly stated opposition towards shooting, BASC has concerns that this could lead to biased investigations, compromising
the fundamental rights under Article 8 and Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). BASC fears that SSPCA’s actions might lead to unsafe convictions due to its ideological stance.
Considering the enhancement of SSPCA powers and the risk of bias, the UK and Scotland’s largest shooting organisation is seeking reassurance that criminal investigations will proceed with independence, integrity and objectivity.
BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said: “BASC opposes granting statutory investigatory powers to the SSPCA and these representations were made throughout the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill discussions.
“An independent SSPCA taskforce, established by the Scottish Government, recommended enhancing partnership work rather than extending investigatory powers to the SSPCA.
“BASC is concerned that giving a charity both investigatory and lobbying powers creates a significant conflict of interest.
“Many of our members are worried that SSPCA’s involvement could undermine the presumption of innocence and the requirement to pursue all reasonable lines of inquiry, which is crucial for fair trials.
“BASC finds it difficult to reconcile the duty to pursue all reasonable lines of enquiry throughout a criminal investigation with the SSPCA’s strongly stated ideological opposition to lawful activities.”
A Perthshire angling club hopes a historic buy-out of 4 miles of a key spawning river can help rectify water abstractions which are harming endangered salmon.
The river Ericht, which runs through Blairgowrie, is a key spawning tributary in the River Tay system and is part of a European Special Area of Conservation for salmon.
However, in line with rivers nationally, it is witnessing falling stocks, with Scottish Government recently announcing that the 2023 rod catch nationwide was the lowest since records began.
Now, following the purchase of the Macpherson Fishings from the local Macpherson family, on Saturday, the Blairgowrie Rattray and District Angling Association (BRDAA) aim to leave no stone unturned to help species recovery on the Ericht.
The Ericht has a history of industrial water abstractions which act as barriers to fish passage, with low waters making stressed fish more susceptible to predation by piscivorous birds.
Use of the river by mill lades and a fish farm over time has reduced flows along with
Victorian-age weirs which are now falling into disrepair, starving the river of water in dry spells.
Having taken ownership of the Fishings in their centenary year, BRDAA officials now hope their increasing ‘muscle’ can help end historic problems, for the sake of salmon and future anglers.
“This is a purchase for the next generation,” said River Convener Grant Kellie, also a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association’s Fishing Group, which represents Scotland’s river ghillies.
“We need to monitor the water flow. I’ve seen salmon stranded and dying here. Water abstraction has a detrimental effect on the movement of fish, whether juveniles or adult salmon heading upstream so we need to keep the flows more regular.
“This is not just an issue on the Ericht. I believe there are about 260 rivers in Scotland which all have issues preventing the easy passage of migratory fish and Scottish Govt needs to step up at this moment in time
and get this implemented so we can get the fish back to where they should be. The national salmon strategy is not working, at the moment.
“Now that salmon are on the endangered list, how long does the species have?”
While water abstraction presents significant challenges on the Ericht, as it does on rivers like the Spey, it is not the only issue.
Across the Tay catchment, programmes such as riparian
tree planting, to lower water temperature, are being initiated in the conservation area surrounding the Category One river.
Nevertheless, the BRDAA has been encouraged by catches to date, in 2024, with 38 landed from the Ericht and returned to the water, mostly during the key Spring run.
The club, which started in 1924 to encourage angling in the ‘Old Postal District of Blairgowrie’ now has around
300 members and officials are hopeful that, with action, there can be rejuvenation.
“There is no doubt salmon are in decline, nationally. When you think of the numbers that used to come up here in the late 70s and early 80s - the Spring run especially- there is no comparison, but this year so far has been good and there has been enough fish to keep people interested,” said David Hogg, BRDAA Committee member and former President.
The 4 miles of the river were officially handed over during a ceremony on the banks on Saturday, with Jamie Macpherson taking the first ceremonial cast, watched on by members and locals.
George Thomson from the SGA Fishing Group, said: “BRDAA deserves great credit for taking this step at a critical time for our salmon. It demonstrates the passion hard working local people have for the species and a way of life.”
Moorland management in Scotland has a key role to play in the future in order to deliver important
benefits for the environment, the economy and nature, a major rural conference heard recently.
The Moorland Conference, organised by the rural business organisation, Scottish Land &
Estates, featured contributions from Jim Fairlie MSP, Scottish Government Minister for
Agriculture and Connectivity, and NatureScot, which is preparing to introduce a new licensing scheme for grouse shooting.
More than 200 delegates from across the sector attended the conference held near Dunkeld, Perthshire, sponsored by law firm Levy & McRae, The House of Bruar and Spratt’s Game Foods.
Dee Ward, chair of Scottish Land & Estates, told the conference: “Moorland management has a key role to play in delivering so much of what the Scottish Government aspires to achieve – whether it be flourishing biodiversity, climate-resilient landscapes or a thriving rural economy. Moorland management and grouse shooting delivers these benefits in spades, and we are looking forward to ensuring it continues to do so.
“Research shows beyond doubt that grouse moor management provides more jobs per acre than any other land use and the latest Value of Shooting
Report has revealed that shooting providers and volunteers carry out £20m worth of conservation work in Scotland per year.
‘The licensing of grouse shooting was never going to be easy to accept, but I genuinely believe we have ended up with a scheme that is broadly fit for purpose and will allow our sector to continue to deliver tangible benefits.”
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates added: “Government and its agencies have recognised the contribution that is made by grouse shooting and moorland management across rural communities and we hope that, as licensing is introduced, we can move on from an often-polarised debate towards greater cooperation and collaboration across the sector in order to achieve many shared conservation and socioeconomic goals.
“We now have robust legal safeguards which should mean
licences are only suspended or revoked where there is clear evidence of a relevant offence having been committed on the land by a relevant person. There is still a significant amount of change still to be implemented – including muirburn licensing, trap licensing, a new muirburn code and a wider review of species licensing.”
Jim Fairlie, MSP, Scottish Government Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, told the conference the Scottish Government valued the contribution of moorland management, the new licensing scheme being introduced would be workable and grouse moor managers operating within the law had nothing to fear. Donald Fraser, Head of Wildlife Management, NatureScot, outlined how the new licensing scheme will work when it is introduced before the start of the grouse shooting season on 12 August.
He said: “Moorlands are an important part of Scotland’s upland habitats. They include significant areas of peatland and support biodiversity such as birds of prey and ground nesting birds. We have been working closely with stakeholders to develop a workable licensing scheme for grouse shooting that will act as a strong deterrent against raptor persecution, while helping to ensure that moorlands are managed sustainably and play a role in helping to tackle the nature and climate crises.”
Finlay Carson MSP, Convenor of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, Scottish Parliament and Rachael Hamilton MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Scottish Conservatives, also addressed the conference along with Dr Nick Hesford, Head of Advisory at GWCT Scotland, Miles Montgomery, Chair of Wildlife Estates Scotland and David McKie, partner at Levy & McRae.
With summer finally upon us, preparations for the Moy Country Fair are well under way. Taking place at Moy Estate near Inverness on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd August 2024, the Moy Country Fair has something for all ages with a diverse mix of family friendly activities and exhibitors as well as its traditional focus on field sports.
Traditional Main Ring activities will include Highland dancing, falconry, gundog handling and the much-enjoyed terrier racing. There will also be a spectacular performance from Savage Skills, the UK’s leading freestyle mountain bike
stunt team who will be providing performances of their BMX show each day.
For foodies, there will be a Highland Food and Drink Trail featuring nine street food vendors from the Highland area alongside live music acts throughout each day. The Food Tent and Cookery Theatre will offer visitors a journey into Scotland’s Larder, celebrating the very best produce from the local area
As ever, there will be opportunities for visitors to participate in various field sports including fly casting demonstrations at Angler’s Corner, clay shooting, the gun
dog scurry, archery and the return of axe-throwing after it proved so popular at last year’s event.
Matt Harrison from Skyebased A.C.E Target Sports, a fully instructional centre for clay target shooting, air gun shooting, archery and axe-throwing, is journeying to the Fair with his dedicated team to offer visitors the opportunity to try, or in some cases, revisit, axe-throwing. The team will also be offering archery during the weekend.
Last year, the axe-throwing was a real focal point during the event. Matt, who has also worked on the ‘Have a Go at Clay Shooting’ stand for several
years, is excited to be back at Moy offering people from all walks of life to have a go at the popular sport.
Matt said: “Axe-throwing is a very universal thing and we’re hoping to see lots of interest again from people of all ages. There was a real buzz around our little area last year, so we’re looking forward to creating that again and welcoming lots of people to have a go.”
“At Moy we will have playing cards on the targets,” explains Matt. “From three and a half metres away, you can throw the axe and slash the playing card. If, over the course of the weekend,
500 people come and have a go, we would hope that 95% of those people stick one axe target.
Above all, Matt is just really looking forward to returning to Moy with his team.
“In the eight years I have volunteered at Moy, I’ve met friends for life. Everyone works really hard and as a team. They just get on with the job and make an awful lot of people very happy. It’s a real privilege to be part of it all.”
As well as axe-throwing and archery, the shooting area will also offer the opportunity for visitors to have a go with a 19th century musket, clay target shooting and operates a .22 rifle range. The ever popular clay shooting adult competitions are being sponsored by Bruichladdich Distillery and Strathallan School are again generously supporting the junior shooting competition events.
Younger field sports enthusiasts can participate in the Junior MacNab challenge. Hosted by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the popular event invites children to participate in a clay pigeon shooting, air rifle shooting and fly-fishing challenge.
While welcoming a diverse range of exhibitors and performers, Moy will also be focusing on the exceptional work of the RNLI.
Celebrating its 200th anniversary throughout 2024, the RNLI will have a strong presence during the Fair with volunteers from a number of local Lifeboat Stations, including Invergordon, Loch Ness and Kessock, coming along to meet visitors.
This will include hosting a special Lifejacket Clinic to offer advice to the public from RNLI volunteers on how to maintain and safety check lifejackets before use. A first for the event, the clinic will offer an insight into the vast knowledge of RNLI volunteers who have saved an incredible 146,277 lives since the RNLI was founded in 1824.
Visitors will also be able to experience ‘float to live’ water safety demonstrations, pick up limited-edition RNLI
souvenirs and the RNLI’s very own mascot, Stormy Stan, will be making an appearance which is sure to delight the children in attendance.
James Campbell, Chairman of the Moy Country Fair Committee, said: “It’s set to be another exciting two days for our visitors at this year’s Moy Country Fair with a diverse range of activities, performances and exhibitors for everyone to enjoy. We are
delighted to be welcoming our friends from A.C.E. Target Sports to offer axe-throwing and archery to our visitors which proved to be very popular indeed last year.
“We are also particularly proud to be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the RNLI across the Fair. Water safety is something we always highlight, alongside the RNLI, so this is a great opportunity to raise awareness and inform our visitors.”
Tickets are now on sale for the event which drew thousands to Moy Estate for the event last summer. Tickets cost £17 for adults when pre-booking online or will cost £20 per adult at the gate on the day. All children aged under 16 years of age can access Moy Country Fair for free.
For more information and the book tickets please visit www. moyfieldsportsfair.co.uk
A prescription of rotational muirburning and grazing management by highland gamekeepers has helped to preserve one of Scotland’s most northerly homes of an extremely rare ant.
Narrow-headed ants, a wood ant, are one of Britain’s rarest and are now confined to the Scottish
highlands and a single heathland in Devon after disappearing from most of their former territories.
However, recent survey work, commissioned by the Cairngorms National Park, has found that some sites of national importance, around the village of Carrbridge, are maintaining populations.
Five sites on Seafield Estate with known historic nests were re-surveyed by a Strathspey ecologist with a total of 97 nests recorded of the endangered ant; now a UK priority species.
Management for red grouse, on one site at Foregin, helped to maintain the open heathland areas the ants need, with 28 nests recorded overall - the second highest number.
Conservationists acknowledged that sheep grazing and the rotational burning of heather at the site, over the longer term, had helped to maintain suitable habitat for the ants, which have a characteristic notch in the back of their heads.
Despite narrow-headed ants preferring heath at the edge of scrubland, woodland encroachment, dense scrub and even overgrown heather can generate too much shade for successful nesting.
However, moorland management by the gamekeepers is helping to preserve the ants’ open habitats, with some new nests identified at the location.
Whilst certain species benefit from woodland expansion, encroachment of Scots Pine and overgrown heather were identified as dual threats to the long-term future of narrowheaded ants at some of the studied Carrbridge sites.
“Heather moorland is unique. It has its own biodiversity,” said gamekeeper Duncan MacKenzie, a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, who was managing the moor at Foregin at the time of the survey work.
“If species are there on the moor, they must find the management beneficial.
“Obviously some species benefit from more woodland and allowing vegetation to grow but others don’t, to the point that they may no longer be there, if that growth is not managed.”
Narrow-headed ants are black and red and grow to between 10 and 12mm in length. They live on aphid honeydew on nearby plants and the Queens shed their wings after mating.
The discovery that nests are still existing at the important highland site is testimony to the management at Seafield Estate, by three-full time gamekeepers, working alongside tenant farmers.
“There is a lot of surveying work goes on, here, on things like butterflies and moths. That is on top of white tailed eagle, Osprey and black grouse work,” said Head Gamekeeper, Ewan Archer.
“We are working with the Spey Fishery Board on river restoration and the National Park on Capercaillie, so there is a lot of collaborative working going on, here, for conservation.”
Seafield Estate is a mixed highland estate, combining field sports, deer management, forestry, fishing, farming, woodland planting, regeneration, accommodation and conservation.
Fourteen thousand acres of the estate have been designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and its woods contain some of the last remaining Capercaillie populations.
by Keith Allan
Looking down from the open window of our room at the St Regis Hotel we can hear the River Arno cascading over a weir. Below it, anglers with spinning rods are stalking through the shallow water like hungry herons. They are surrounded by an historic backdrop, for a little way upstream is the Ponte Vecchio, where goldsmiths have traded since the 14th century, and from our vantage point we can follow the red baked terracotta tiles that peel off in every direction towards the Renaissance domes of San Lorenzo, the Duomo and the tower of Palazzo Vecchio. And if we name drop a few of the Florentines who have lived and
worked here like Michelangelo, Giotto, Dante, Donatello, Botticelli and Machiavelli it only adds to the rarefied scene - civilisation at a glance art historian Kenneth Clark would have said.
A short car ride away is Chianti paradise and it comes in the shape of Villa Le Corti. Waiting for us, puffing on a cigar, is its owner, Duccio Corsini, wine maker extraordinaire. He is head of a remarkable family; the Corsinis arrived in Florence towards the end of the 12th century; some were cardinals and bishops, one of whom became a Saint in 1629, and Lorenzo Corsini was made Pope Clemente
X11 in 1730 (during his ten year reign he commissioned the Trevi Fountain). Others were bankers and brokers and politicians. They built palaces in Florence and Rome (Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at the Palazzo Corsini in Florence) owned country estates and collected a vast Italian art collection stretching from the Renaissance to the late 18th century. Bartolomeo Corsini became the first Prince of Sismano and Duke of Casigliano.
No wonder the Corsinis can make wine! Their range of luscious reds, not to mention organic olive oil, is impossible to resist, especially when you order lunch at the restaurant
which sits in the heart of the winery at Le Corti. But there is something else the Corsinis can boast about. A pheasant shoot, set in the landscapes of Leonardo da Vinci, but with a distinctly British influence and modelled on extravagant Edwardian shooting parties of a century ago.
This tried and tested formula fascinated Corsini. And he longed to adopt it but acres of land covered in grape vines aren’t much good for driven pheasants. But he had an ace up his sleeve, namely his aunt, Princess Anna.
“I started to manage her estate in 2009. She had just died and although there was shooting here I wanted to step it up and
create something special. We have 600 hectares dotted with oak woodlands and surrounded by rolling hills. On the flat lands we grow organic oats and wheat and a variety of game crops that not only attract pheasants but chattering flocks of finch-es and other song birds,” Corsini tells me as he swings his car into a hair-pin driveway, where we get our first glimpse of the yellow painted villa known as Renacci. And thanks to his long friendship with Lord Lovat and the Fraser clan of Inverness-shire he gleaned invaluable advice about using British gamekeepers to make it all happen.
“Over seven years we used three different keepers but they all had a wide range of experience. They came with their wives, who loved it, especially when they could hop on a train and be in Florence in fifteen minutes. But eventually they got a bit homesick and started to miss the wind and rain so they left us.” Without them, Corsini admits, they could not have done it. Today they breed and rear 20,000 pheasants a year and 500 bird days are the norm.
Friends of the Corsinis, their cars packed with shooting paraphernalia, start arriving from Venice and Milan. The old villa, glowing in the fading light, will be our base for the next twenty four hours. From the gun room, where beautiful Berettas, Rizzinis and a Perazzi or two, together with their car-tridge magazines, are correctly stored and locked away, we climb a flight of stairs to a sitting room for drinks. Everyone is settling in, chatting, working up an appetite for dinner. “So my aunt’s estate is perfect for pheasants,” Corsini continues as we look out on the spectacular countryside and watch a red sun dip behind the hills turning them charcoal-black.
My wife and I are shown to our room. It’s a 1950’s time capsule with electrics to match but we love it. Antique furniture and creaky, wooden beds make it look and feel much older but there is a tale to tell. It was occupied by the Germans during the Second World War and used
as their headquarters but when they retreated, leaving all their papers and records behind, the whole house was set on fire and burned to the ground. Undaunted Princess Anna rebuilt it and brought it back to life in the same classic style.
Over a seven course dinner of fish, pasta and game, (all classic Tuscan dishes) accompanied by Corsini wines and delicious cheeses the talk is of shooting. Most of the guns have shot in England and Scotland and driven grouse turns out to be much admired.
The next morning we are up and ready for a spectacular day in pursuit of Corsini’s pheasants. A hearty breakfast of ham, cheese and eggs, delicious focaccia and coffee has us all in good fettle. It’s late October, with a slight chill in the air; the guns gather outside the villa, immaculately dressed in tweeds and plus fours, and along with their loaders we are ready for the off, not in vehicles as you might expect, but a gentle walk to the first of seven drives. This will be the pattern of the day, unless someone needs a lift. The drives are not far apart and it’s a perfect way to properly enjoy the breathtaking Tuscan countryside.
As we walk we are allowed to chatter. Some guns have brought
their wives, sons and daughters. Marco Giol, who first introduced me to Corsini, is a special friend and his young son Alessandro will shoot his first pheasant to-day. They are part of an ancient Venetian family too with a palazzo on the Grand Canal and a wonderful wild fowling estate in the Po valley. I’ve been there to shoot wigeon, mallard and teal from barrels, like Hemingway did in Venice. An hour before dawn we were rowed, gondolier-style, to our allot-ted barrels and provisioned with soup, sandwiches and coffee for the never to be forgotten flight!
But back to pheasants. The first birds come nosing over the distant hills, their plumage glinting russet in the golden light. They are high and flying hard, some still rising, others drifting, making for cover, heading straight over our heads and into the trees behind us. A few come crashing down at our feet. Hearts are racing. I’m looking forward to shooting the last drive but before that I am here to observe and record the day. Watching a good shot is always a joy. Calmness with good footwork, judging the speed of the bird,
following it with the muzzles, (all Italian over-and-unders), no rushing, smooth mounting before swinging through and firing. And all with double guns too, and loaders doing a good job.
The Giols shoot well. Alessandro already has his first pheasant and he’s over the moon; his father is smiling too. Meanwhile Marco’s wife Cinzia and her friend Claudia Foscari have stumbled on some giant mushrooms which makes an interesting addition to the bag! Another gentle stroll to the next drive and we’re off again. This time there’s some snap shooting to be had. Guns and loaders are in little clearings surrounded by deep cover with not much time to get on to the high birds which come streaking over them. This makes for an interesting drive and challenges the guns in a different way. But they love it. Dogs work well with some excellent retrieves.
The plan is to shoot right through and have a late lunch. Elevenses take care of any hunger pangs we might have and under a large umbrella, set up between drives, yet more delicious hams and cheeses are laid out along with flasks of bouillon and coffee.
The last drive quickly comes around and it’s time for me to show what an Englishman shooting a borrowed pair of Berettas can do; while we are waiting a huge black boar comes galloping out of the trees beside us. He heads hell for leather up a slope of grape vines and I watch him disappear into the distance. It must have been a good omen because I manage a right and left plus a few more single kills. When we eventually sit down to a most delicious lunch back at the villa, with the bag counted and admired, the talk is of a never to be forgotten day. Of course we also raise our glasses to a unique shoot and the man who made it all possible.
BASC Scotland has written to the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, seeking clarification over the introduction of licensing for grouse shooting ahead of the start of the season.
With just over a month to go until the start of the season, BASC is calling on the Minister to confirm the date the licensing system will be fully operational and whether the processes needed to deliver the licences will be in place by that date.
BASC Scotland director Peter Clark said that while the Scottish Government’s intention was to have grouse shoot licensing in place for the start of the 2024 season, the process of shaping the Code of Practice underpinning it was still ongoing.
He said BASC members were concerned that the online system for licence applications was not yet operational and that members were not confident the system would be working and delivering licences in advance of 12th August.
In a letter to the Minister, BASC is seeking assurance that licensing will be in place by that date or that the commencement date of the licencing framework is pushed back to the start of the 2025 season to allow enough time to set up the relevant processes.
Mr Clark said: “Our members are concerned that with the Scottish Government seeking to introduce grouse shoot licensing before the 12th August, that time is running out.
businesses need time
“The grouse shooting sector in Scotland must not be placed in such a situation so close to its most important date, given the risk to jobs, livelihoods and the rural economy.
“We have written to the Minister seeking assurance that our sector will not be left in an uncertain situation”.
Women Who Work in Fieldsports (WWWF) was created to establish a strong female network of women working within the fieldsport sectors. The launch of the membership aims to create a tighter network of women who can support and learn from each other. Membership benefits include
• Priority access to event booking and free-to-attend events
• Member-only events
• Monthly webinars
• Exclusive membership discounts from our partner brands
• Access to mentorship
• Access to a membership directory
“We hope that businesses will want to pay for their female staff to join WWWF as a way for them
to network with other women who work in the same area. Fieldsports can be incredibly isolating, but we have been overwhelmed by the engagement with our organization already and hope that we can inspire and unite the women who work within the fieldsports community.” - Louisa Clutterbuck, co-founder of Women Who Work in Fieldsports and CEO of Eat Wild.
The membership launch comes after they started a podcast interviewing senior women from the fieldsports sector; their first guest was Paula Lester from Country Life, and future guests include Anikka Purdey, SJ Hunt, and many more. Additionally, there is a monthly profile of a woman from fieldsports explaining how
The WWWF team: Vanessa Steel (Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust), Iona Campbell (Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Louisa Clutterbuck (CEO of Eat Wild)
they found their role and offering advice for other women.
Women Who Work in Fieldsports is for women who may not shoot, fish, or hunt themselves but help run shoot days, work in the office, run the estate office, organise fishing trips, help
process game, run a game meat business, master of the hunt, or have any other involvement within fieldsports.
Contact details for membership andanyqueriesforWWWFhello@ womenwhoworkinfieldsports. co.uk.
be
Tom Turnbull, Chair of The Association of Deer Management Groups (ADMG) is hoping that “sense will prevail” and that one particular proposal which featured in the Scottish Government’s consultation on deer management, namely to introduce Deer Management Nature Restoration Orders (DMNROs), will not be taken forward.
The consultation closed at the end of March and responses are now being considered by the Scottish Government.
DMNROs if progressed would be one of the most radical measures introduced into deer management in Scotland in living memory and in Tom Turnbull’s view “a major step backwards for the delivery of
collaborative deer management in the future.”
The DMNRO idea is a completely new regulatory concept demanding reductions in deer numbers to levels to be specified over potentially extensive areas and over an undefined timeframe, possibly decades. It had been proposed that such orders could be implemented on the basis of ‘nature restoration and enhancement’ ie on a totally subjective basis, whereas current regulations can only be applied to counter or prevent damage following a series of rigorous steps and negotiation with the land owner or Deer Management Group.
The penalty for a land owner for non-compliance with the new
DMNRO was proposed in the consultation as a £40,000 fine and 3 months imprisonment.
The concept was thought to be one of a number of Green Party interventions in deer management, but which might no longer be taken forward with Green Ministers departing the Scottish Government.
Tom Turnbull says: “This draconian measure would completely over-ride the current system that we understood was to be updated through this latest round of changes to deer management regulation and legislation. It also blows the principle of voluntary deer management clean out of the water. There would be no room for negotiation and it’s unclear in the consultation whether there
would be any mechanism for appeal. If it goes ahead it will almost certainly end up in the courts.
Moreover, this concept was not one of the recommendations of the expert Independent Deer Working Group that was set up to advise government where legislation around wild deer might be improved and streamlined. This came completely out of left field - no science in support, no evidence that it will work - and actually at this stage very little if any detail, which is another reason for wanting to see it removed from any future thinking or plans.”
For more information about ADMG see www.deermanagement.co.uk
Mordor Gundogs, renowned for its expertise in training and showcasing exceptional gundogs, is set to make a triumphant return to the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Scottish Game Fair, which takes place from Friday 5 to Saturday 7 July at Scone Palace, Perthshire. Ahead of the show, we caught up with Charlie Thorburn, owner of Mordor Gundogs and Head Trainer, Ash Cunliffe for their top tips on training your dog to be as obedient as a gun dog.
Led by an expert team, Mordor Gundogs offers a wealth of knowledge and experience in professional training for pet and working dogs alike. With a focus on practical techniques and proven methodologies, the approach empowers dog owners to unlock the full potential of their four-legged friends.
Partnership
Charlie tells us that training your dog like a gun dog is not just about obedience; it’s about building a partnership based on trust, communication, and mutual respect. At Mordor’s sessions the team delve into the importance of building a strong foundation and the long-term impact of this on the success of your training. Charlie likened the foundation to building a house, once you have the solid base, you can build what you like, but you can’t start with the shed.
One of the fundamental parts of dog training once you have the strong foundation of a solid relationship and trust, is consistency and patience. Charlie recommends taking time Mordor
to gain a clear understanding of your dog’s needs and instincts and go from there. The most sustainable route he believes is by setting realistic expectations and celebrating every milestone achieved along the way.
One of the most common issues that people face in dog training is simple recall. This may seem simple but is part of a much bigger picture within the training journey. Charlie encourages owners to focus on reflection of the journey so far, to understand how far you have come and to be able to strategically plan ahead for next steps.
Whether it’s selecting the perfect canine companion or honing training techniques, seasoned experts can draw from years of hands-on experience to provide actionable advice tailored to your needs and aspirations. Ash explained that dogs board with Mordor frequently due to the owner’s lack of time or experience. However, they believe it is equally important to keep the owner engaged in the training journey to ensure that they are as well prepared as their pet. As an owner, don’t be afraid to tackle those one-to-one lessons.
• Ignore internet ‘hacks’ for picking the perfect puppy from a litter, often when you visit puppies, they are too young to judge their character.
• Find a suitable environment for training, start out in remote, quiet areas to avoid distractions.
• Avoid using a harness, this gets dogs into the habit of pulling.
• Be realistic about when to ‘treat’ your dog, using the reward vs bribe technique.
• Try to enjoy the process as much as possible, it’s all about making your dog the best version of themselves.
Join Mordor Gundogs at the Scottish Game Fair for an unforgettable experience filled with excitement, education, and the undeniable charm of man’s best friend. Don’t miss the opportunity to witness
their captivating demonstrations and gain valuable insights into the world of gun dog training.
Rural organisations are set to publish the latest ‘Value of Shooting’ report which will set out in detail the benefits the shooting sector brings to the economy and the conservation of the countryside in Scotland. The key findings will play an important role in shaping the debate around shooting in the run up to the general election and beyond.
Shooting is a key component of the rural economy and goes hand-in-hand with the conservation of the countryside, as well as bringing both mental and physical health benefits to participants and providing a healthy and sustainable food source.
The new Value of Shooting report was commissioned by 24 rural organisations and carried out by Cognisense, a market research and data analytics firm. The report will set out the following headline figures for Scotland:
• Shooting in Scotland is worth £340m (GVA) to the UK economy every year, and the equivalent of 5,600 jobs.
• £780m of wider economic activity is generated for the UK economy.
• Shooting providers and volunteers carry out £20m worth of conservation work in Scotland per annum.
• Approximately 68,000 individuals in Scotland are actively involved in shootingrelated activities.
The following headline figures cover the UK economy as a whole:
• Shooting is worth £3.3bn (GVA) to the UK economy every year.
• The new report has taken a more comprehensive and detailed approach than previous reports, attaching a value to contribution in kind (CiK) and supply chain value, which shows that £9.3bn of wider economic activity is generated for the UK economy.
• 620,000 individuals are actively involved in shootingrelated activities.
• Shooting providers and volunteers carry out £500m worth of conservation work,
equivalent to 26,000 full-time jobs and 14m workdays each year.
• Habitat management and conservation are carried out on 7.6m hectares as a result of shooting.
• Three out of four people who take part in shooting said that it is important to them and their personal wellbeing, with most claiming shooting specifically contributes positively to their physical and mental health.
• Shooters spend £4.4bn on their UK-based supply chain each year.
BASC’s Scotland director Peter Clark said:
“Shooting and conservation is vital to Scotland’s economy, to the tune of £340 million GVA.
“Shooting has so many spinoff advantages too, such as the work that goes into important conservation projects.
“We must also remember shooting employs people in remote and rural areas, where there is no other viable alternative employment.
“From positive mental health benefits right through to habitat management, shooting
in Scotland provides benefits in abundance”.
Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates, said:
“The research underlines the significant value of shooting and country sports for people, jobs and nature in rural Scotland.
“Scotland is a world-class destination for shooting and the work of estates, land managers and gamekeepers in sustaining those activities should be widely celebrated.
“Land managed for shooting is vital for addressing biodiversity loss and is also hugely important in combatting for climate change, particularly in the uplands through projects to restore peatland and create landscape-scale resilience to wildfire.
“Much of this activity – and the downstream benefits to hoteliers, retailers, garages and other businesses – would not be possible without the value that shooting brings to the economy. Our desire is to work in partnership with other stakeholders to deliver a sustained contribution long into the future.”
Eat Wild have created new and accessible flyers for schools to share the benefits of wild game in classrooms and kitchens across the country.
Educating the next generation about the benefits of wild meat is so important, and in recent months alone, Eat Wild has made significant strides in doing so, creating new markets for wild meat across a plethora
of venues including importantly, in schools.
Eat Wild’s educational work doesn’t stop in schools; through their ongoing campaigns, presence at events, cooking demonstrations, direct work with chefs, and social media outreach, Eat Wild is continuously introducing and teaching new people about wild game in order to secure markets for it.
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Scotland’s Fiona Torrance recently took Dougie Vipond from BBC Landward on a grey partridge count around the fields of Balgonie, where conservation efforts have seen numbers of this iconic farmland bird soar in the last 10 years.
The grey partridge was once common in the British countryside, but it has suffered a dramatic 94% decline since the 1980s. Grey partridges have been on the UK’s Red List since its inception in 1996.
The GWCT has been working with the farm team, Kingdom Farming, at Balgonie near Glenrothes, Fife, since 2014 with the aim of increasing populations of grey partridge and other wildlife
through targeted management interventions, primarily in the form of creating novel habitats such as wider field margins providing cover and food for them.
Spring counts have recorded a 40% increase in grey partridge pairs, and autumn counts, which include chicks, have gone up by 300%.
Fiona told Dougie: “It’s extremely satisfying. I absolutely love what I do and to see the effects of the habitat and the other measures we are putting in is incredibly rewarding.”
Farm manager John Drysdale also spoke to Dougie about the joy his employees experience seeing the increase in wildlife around them as they go about their daily tasks around the farm.
By Jake Swindells
While most rural issues are devolved to the Scottish Parliament the position of the UK government and parliament matters. Both need to understand and respect rural communities and their way of life. They must recognise that if we are to meet the challenges of food security, climate change and biodiversity loss then this means working with those that live and work in the countryside not against them, as well as with the devolved governments. Too often politicians, whether in
Holyrood, Westminster or elsewhere in the UK seem only interested in doing things to the countryside rather than for it.
With fifty-seven Scottish Westminster seats up for grabs at the recent General Election it was a vital time for rural Scotland. Hustings, debates and canvassing all played a big part, but did the people of rural Scotland know what their vote achieved? It’s never as easy as it seems.
In the last Scottish Parliament elections there
was an element of tactical voting. Some voted SNP as it was becoming clear that the Scottish Greens might increase their presence if they did not, but did tactical voting play a part this time around? Manifestos were published and there were no real surprises. The SNP obviously continued their campaign for independence, Labour made it clear that they will ban trail hunting in England and Wales and ban the use of snares in England. Labour MSPs supported both the Hunting
Jake Swindells
with Dogs (Scotland) Act and the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Act. The Liberal Democrats aim to ban the routine burning of heather on moorland, ignoring all the research and evidence. The Conservatives pledged to invest in river restoration whilst ensuring that tree planting and peatland commitments are met. Preelection polls from Wales clearly showed Reform UK gathering momentum, and the Green Party manifesto showed a remarkable
lack of understanding of the countryside and its management.
What has happened in Scotland in recent years is evidence of the irreparable damage that can be caused by pursuing policies that fly in the face of science and evidence, damaging the countryside, its communities and wildlife. The Scottish Countryside Alliance is, and will remain, an allparty organisation, but we will continue to speak out against harmful policies coming from any party whether in Holyrood, Westminster or anywhere else.
Recently, the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie MSP, spoke at a moorland conference organised by Scottish Land and Estates. Mr Fairlie used key phrases, such as “proportionate” and “partners” when talking about legislation and rural constituents who face the new regulations and restrictions that are being forced on farmers and land managers. However, I can assure you that little of the recent legislation that has been rammed through, such as the Hunting with Dogs Act, is proportionate. Throughout the passage of that legislation the public were repeatedly told by ministers that “stakeholders had been consulted”. The reality was that while we had been consulted, we were also totally ignored, as indeed were the findings of their own independent inquiry, the Bonomy Review. Now the SNP want to be partners and work collaboratively, and all this just before a key election.
In Wales, Labour is open about its opposition to shooting and other legal and legitimate activities. In Scotland, they have often been a thorn in the side of rural organisations with damaging amendments proposed to legislation. Thankfully, most have failed, but this won’t always be the case. Liberal
Democrats in Scotland have too often sat on the fence when it came to key decisions in the Rural Affairs Committee and although their UK manifesto had a number of interesting commitments for rural communities, such as the “appointment of a crossdepartmental Minister for Rural Communities, to make sure that rural voices are heard across government”, their record is mixed. While there were commitments from the Conservatives on rural funding and broadband connectivity, there were also welcome policies in all the manifestos. However, it cannot have gone unnoticed that while some Labour policies could help rural communities, the word rural, which appeared in all the other manifestos launched, did not appear once in the Labour manifesto.
The Countryside Alliance set out its stall prior to the election in relation to what we wanted to see addressed, whichever party took on the hot seat. Our Rural Charter covered key issues such digital connectivity, access to services, food and farming and the importance of countryside and wildlife management, but perhaps most important is the need for rural people to be respected and understood. With one sixth of the UK’s population living in a rural area, our leading party cannot ignore the rural community or refuse to work with it. Many of those in power, despite all the rhetoric about listening to the experts and following the science, seem more interested in ideologies which ignore the evidence and do nothing but harm communities, landscape and wildlife, No political party is perfect, but what we want to see now and in the future is support for our farmers and landowners and any legislation based on fact, rather than public opinion. For now, and for always, the Alliance will continue to fight for the rural way of life.
Helen M J Benson CEO
The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust are on record in expressing extreme disquiet at the proposed changes to deer licensing seasons, and other legislation directly affecting the uplands of Scotland.
We understand there are areas where deer are a concern especially on urban fringes which can cause problems but is not necessarily the case further North. To think that hinds can be slaughtered at the latter stages of pregnancy surely goes against fundamental principles of animal welfare. It is also an anathema to professional stalkers and ghillies who care deeply for the deer on their hill and forest.
Fishing ghillies, boatmen and managers are also at the forefront of change and challenging times. Pollution and increasing populations of predators not least seals for example, all have an adverse impact on salmon stocks and the riparian economy.
Grouse keepers are busy ensuring there is the best chance for red grouse and ground nesting birds but also keeping an eye on
further developments and detail regarding the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill.
As the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust, we are concerned for the welfare of the people involved, the gamekeepers, stalkers and ghillies. We are concerned for the families too; stress and anxiety can percolate and adversely affect homelife and rural communities.
The Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust is working hard to support these remarkable professions, steeped in history and tradition but looking to the future, employing technology and educating future generations.
GWT Initiatives include a housing and benefits officer to help with enquiries, our nurse team offering health checks on shoots and estates as well at events and the health and wellbeing hub providing valuable advice and support on any health-related issue (physical and mental health) are just a few of the ways in which we support gamekeepers, stalkers, ghillies (deer and river).
www.thegamekeeperswelfaretrust.com enquiries@thegamekeeperswelfaretrust.com
Tel: 01677 470180
What were/are the signs of a poorer run of salmon?
By Ian Gordon
Back in the 1990s those of us working on the river noticed a drop off in the number of salmon on the Spey. All the classic signs were there, but unfortunately, because no one at the time wanted to hear such talk, they were all ignored. But what were the signs? I try to outline them below.
My Salmon fishing experience began, not on the Spey, but it’s much smaller cousin 30 miles east, the Deveron. At this time, the mid 1970s, good runs prevailed, and most fishing was by invitation only. Pressure on the river and beat by rods was minimal.
As a boy I was lucky to fish Forglen, the best beat on the
Deveron and had many days of catching between 3 and 7 salmon, sometimes more. Those were all “Autumn” Fish. For the eyes of a young boy at this time, the sight of so many salmon jumping was just so exciting. It was nothing to count 100+ fish jumping in a pool on the way through it. Our rivers were
running on full. Life, and fishing was awesome!
A few years later in 1985, I began working as a Ghillie on Lower Pitchroy, the uppermost of the 3 Knockando beats on the river Spey. This was also a time of plenty on the Spey with so many fish visible in each of the five named pools. However, over a relatively short period it became obvious that less fish were resident in each pool.
Although the overall catch remained at 10k+, those of us with a keen eye could see the overall number entering the river was dropping. But what were the signs? As it was not visible in the catches. In fact, due to the part played by “conditions” both water and weather, along with advances in method and tackle and more competent anglers, with better method, anglers now caught a higher percentage of salmon. Sea Trout too we’re dropping in number but need to be dealt with separately.
Estimating the overall numbers of salmon in a river solely on rod catch has serious flaws and for those trying to manage rivers, can be dangerous to say the least! For the reasons listed above, a season with extreme weather and water will not produce anything like as many fish to the rod and line and has no relevance to the season before, especially in years when fish were scarce.
So how do know this? What do I base this information on? Was
this guesswork based on a formula, or was it factual?
During the 1980s whilst working on Lower Pitchroy, each year in the summer I would snorkel and count the fish in my 5 pools. At this time, on most years I would see good numbers of salmon in all 5. However, in the early 1990s it became clear that 3 of the 5 pools had little or no salmon resident in them. However, catches generally remained unchanged. By the end of the decade only 2 of the 5 ever had decent numbers of resident fish. By the time I left the beat in 2003, apart from the best holding pool in the area there no resident fish anywhere. Through snorkelling each summer, I knew that numbers of fish in my beat had declined from 1k – 1.5k in the 80s to less than 200 in 2003. However, the fact that there was still “some” resident fish, meant my guests had a decent chance of catching a few and importantly, seeing a few gave us confidence! Fishing for fresh running or moving fish is always easier when there are a few residents in the pool you were targeting. I had watched the
5 pools in my beat go from all holding resident fish to just one. The important thing here was, even with this massive drop in overall numbers, at this point, on a good season (weather and water conditions) we still caught decent numbers150-180. For me, the red flag was there and glaringly obvious. However, when tying to point this out I was repeatedly told by the then Chairman of the board not be so negative, the long term catch on the Spey is 10k and has not changed in 50 years. Based on what I had seen in the 90s, I knew this wouldn’t be the case for too long. This was the time we could have done something about the problem, but heads were buried firmly in the sand, or, possibly, in a new fledgling business!
My first fish of this year (2024), caught in the Fiddich pool on Easter Elchies, reminded me of the importance of having residents. On the day (26th April), I was super confident because I knew it had produced 20 of the 25 fish caught on the beat this season. Did it surprise me when it was the only place I saw any fish on the beat too? Nope! But why this pool
and not the others? Well, the short answer is, not only was the pool in good height when fish arrived, but it is also the top pool in Zone 2 with an important juvenile producing tributary flowing into it. It is also a “Gathering” pool for Juveniles.
The presence of a tributary and “gathering” is also extremely relevant but requires much more explanation than I have time for here!
What, I hear you say, is Zone 2? It’s my personal code for what is historically the best and most productive part of the Spey, the area between two tributaries, the Mulben Burn to the River Fiddich. More fish stop in this, than any of the other 5 zones on the river. On the Spey, this is the benchmark, the area that spring salmon will initially rest/stop on their way upstream as adults. A good, bad or indifferent run of Spring Salmon can be measured, not by how many fish are caught, but by how many of the holding pools in this zone have fish in them by the end of May. This year has been particularly poor. A little like we saw on the Dee a few years back.
Here is my take on the 5 zones on the SpeyZone 1 – The sea to the Mulben Burn.
Zone 2 – The Mulben Burn to The Fiddich Burn.
Zone 3 – The Fiddich Burn – River Ann
Zone 4 – River Ann – River Dulnain
Zone 5 – Above the Dulnain.
Correct height of water, not only for specific beats, but specific pools within that area or zone.
In order for salmon to take up residency in a pool, it’s important that the river level suits that particular pool. Two days of the correct water height is no good. The mean height must be over a longer period. This year, unusually, we had higher water throughout the spring, meaning those beats with good “high water” pools faired best.
In part 2 (my next blog) I will highlight why, in my opinion, some beats in Zone 2 faired better than others, whilst those in other zones had the most awful spring. I know you will find my thoughts interesting.
The new Mile 2 range for thermal imagers (infrared cameras) from Pixfra has just launched, and the M625 model is set to be an exceptional buy! What makes the M625 thermal imaging monocular really stand out from the crowd is its compactness, performance, clarity and usability. Pixfra has taken its time with understanding what professional users need from a thermal device and integrated this knowledge into the new M625, which is part of the recently launched Mile 2 range.
Thermal imaging equipment has become very popular with gamekeepers, deerstalkers and pest controllers, as it allows them to covertly observe and track animals during day and night. Generally, thermal devices use a thermal camera and heat sensor, which with the use of a special lens, detects body heat. Depending on the thermal imaging device, a gamekeeper will be able to view animals over a range of several hundred metres and even behind loose cover, such as tree branches or hedges. A few years ago, you would have had to pay upwards of £2,250 for such performance, but Pixfra’s M625 model has been very sensibly priced.
All thermal imaging devices are designed to display body heat, with varying degrees of detail and clarity. What makes the M625 stand out is its ability to create a clear, detailed image in such a compact unit. Priced at only £1,259.95, the M625 is £1,000 cheaper than the Pulsar Helion XQ38, which was one of the most popular thermal imaging monoculars in the UK just a few years ago. But today, the Pixfra Mile 2: M625 model is smaller, provides a clearer image, is easier to use and cheaper!
Small but mighty Compact and lightweight, the range-topping Mile 2: M625 will fit into your shooting jacket pocket, or you can use the
supplied pouch, which provides a silent open/ close feature and mounting options – either attach it to the shoulder strap of your backpack, onto a bino harness or even a trouser belt. The M625 fits neatly into the hand and the smooth focus rings at the front and rear assist with fast focus of the image and near-eye display. Very few devices of this size provide both front and rear focus rings.
Pixfra has very cleverly placed the on/off/standby button on the side of the Mile 2 to prevent accidentally placing the Mile 2 into standby mode. The main function buttons are situated centrally at the top of the unit –making it easy to use with either left or right hands – and there are only 3 buttons to operate all the features. Photo/ video recording, colour palette change, full menu access, and digital image zoom are all quickly available from these three buttons.
The choice is clear
If you need a compact, high quality and sensibly priced thermal imaging spotter, take a look at the Pixfra Mile 2: M625. It comes with a quality pouch, neck strap, USB type-c cable and a 3-year warranty, which is supported by a UK service centre. If you would like to know more about this incredible product, please contact the team at Night Master on 01535 611688
Pixfra Mile 2: M625
Price: £1,259.95
www.nightmaster.co.uk
Embark on your next safari in style with the latest addition to London gunmaker John Rigby & Co.’s safari clothing collection with the Rigby Canvas & Leather Belt. Crafted for the modern adventurer, this belt seamlessly combines durability with timeless style.
Handcrafted by the skilled artisans at Els & Co. in South Africa, the belt features a soft cotton canvas in a sand-coloured tone, perfectly complemented by tan leather tips for a striking contrast reminiscent of a bygone era.
Designed to stand the test of time, the non-slip, suede-lined leather tips are hand-stitched using a thick wax-coated cotton thread. The belt’s solid cast brass buckles, ensure longevity in even the most demanding environments and each leather belt proudly carries the iconic Rigby ‘double R’ logo.
Available to purchase from the Rigby Shikar Store, this belt is a versatile accessory suitable for any adventure, from tracking game to exploring the great outdoors.
Available in sizes 38-inches or 46-inches,. Canvas & Leather Belt is priced at £192, plus P&P. For more information visit: www.johnrigbyandco.com
Rigby’s new .500 Nitro Express
are not for the faint hearted
Developed in the 1890s, the .500 Nitro Express (NE) rifle cartridge was developed for intrepid hunters who dared venture off to the wilds of Africa and India in pursuit of large and dangerous game. London gunmaker, John Rigby & Co.’s new cufflinks adorned with the inner rifling of a .500 NE barrel offer a steadfast reminder of strength and courage.
Meticulously hand-crafted, these enamelled sterling silver cufflinks, part of Rigby’s Objet d’art collection are inspired by the company’s long history of gunmaking and feature a seven-grooved rifling spiral design, as influenced by the iconic .500 Rigby Rising Bite double rifle. With enamelled oval swivels baring the Rigby name, they are perfect for collectors or those searching for the ultimate gift.
As with all items in Rigby’s Objet d’art collection, each are stamped with the Rigby maker’s mark, alongside the London hallmark. Each set of cufflinks come presented in a beautiful Rigby blue box, bearing the iconic Rigby ‘double R’ logo.
Rigby .500 Nitro Express Cufflinks: £1,080, plus P&P.
For more information about Rigby’s Objet d’art collection, visit: www.johnrigbyandco.com
London gunmaker John Rigby & Co. is proud to introduce their latest luxury travel companion – the Rigby Whisky Bar, now available at the Rigby Shikar Store. Handmade by Els & Co. fine leather craftsmen, it is crafted for the modern adventurer who seeks a touch of luxury even in the heart of the great outdoors.
Made with durability in mind, it features a robust handle and two brass buckle fasteners that secure the opener. Inside, it’s ingeniously partitioned to house six tumblers, each thoughtfully accommodated in its own slot, ensuring they remain safe and ready for your next pour. A spacious compartment is dedicated to cradle your chosen bottle, safeguarded by an internal buckle fastener, ensuring it stays firmly in place during your adventures.
Whether you’re venturing deep into the wilderness or simply seeking a refined drink on the go, the Rigby Whisky Travel Bar is your perfect companion.
RRP: £600, plus P&P
Shop here: www.johnrigbyandco.com/shop/rigby-whisky-bar
