Our hunting friends on the other side of the globe have a representative organisation that’s doing good work to protect their interests and they’ve just put out this fantastic guide for getting started in hunting.
They’re the Countryside Alliance, an organisation formed in 1997 as a response to the newly elected Labor Government’s pledge to ban hunting with dogs.
An amalgamation of three organisations – The Countryside Business Group, the British Field Sports Society and the Countryside Movement – the Countryside Alliance has in its short life become the major British campaigning organisation on rural issues.
With around 100,000 members the Countryside Alliance defends and promotes country sports and rural life at Parliament, in the media and on the ground.
Part of that promotion, the Countryside Alliance has released this brochure aimed at hunting beginners and young hunters. While it’s specific to the game in the United Kingdom, there’s plenty of good advice for all new hunters, such as this rhyme to teach responsible firearms safety:
A Father’s Advice
If a sportsman true you’d be
Listen carefully to me
Never, never let your gun
Pointed be at anyone.
That it may unloaded be
Matters not the least to me.
When a hedge or fence you cross
Though of time it cause a loss
From your gun the cartridge take
For the greater safety’s sake.
If twixt you and neighbouring gun
Bird shall fly or beast may run
Let this maxim ere be thine
“Follow not across the line.”
Stops and beaters oft unseen
Lurk behind some leafy screen.
Calm and steady always be
“Never shoot where you can’t see.”
You may kill or you may miss
But at all times think this:
“All the pheasants ever bred
Won’t repay for one man dead.”
(Mark Beaufoy – 1902)
0 Comments