EXTRA SPORT

At the end of this year’s pheasant shooting season I realised I had two problems: no sport and too many squirrels. So, I contrived with two good friends to create something others could follow.

Squirrelling is a team sport for three people. One is the “dray spotter”, who is also the arbitrator of how many squirrels have been shot. Another is the “driver”, armed with a cheap gun that can fire at least 36gm No 5 steel shot. The steel shot is vital as it decimates older drays, which can be several inches thick. When the steel shot has been fired any squirrels left alive flee. Then the “Gun”, using a nice English shooter with lead shot, finishes the driven squirrels as they belt away through the canopy.

Dogs are vital – they love the anticipation of squirrels falling from the sky – and take at least twice as many cartridges as you expect to use. It’s great exercise

and good for any patch of woodland you are permissioned to shoot through. With more than six weeks’ extra sport this year, next season we intend to put together several teams to maximise the fun and the damage to the squirrel population.

Anthony White, by email