New season’s resolutions

As the new season approaches, I thought it would be a good time for guns (including myself) to make some resolutions to improve everyone’s days. Here are a few suggestions:

•Turn up on time. It is rude to turn up half an hour late blaming the traffic when we all know you were on the booze last night and didn’t get up in good time.

•Use fibre-wad cartridges and pick up your spent shells. If we are serious about our love of the environment and the contribution of our sport to its good management we should not litter it with plastic. •Take at least two birds home to eat. •Go quietly to your peg, spare us your loud-mouthed banter.

•Check your vehicle insurance covers you for off-roading on an estate and ensure you have thirdparty liability insurance.

•Ensure your vehicle – tyres in particular – is in good shape to go off road.

•Alcohol and firearms are a dangerous mix. Comments such as, “a drink relaxes me and I shoot better” are frankly rubbish. Stay off the booze and stay safe.

•On safety: don’t shoot low birds; don’t point a gun at anything you don’t wish to kill; put your gun away in a slip between drives, not unbroken over your shoulder; check your gun is unobstructed and that multichokes are well screwed in. •Finally, spare us the bulls**t at lunch, particularly about the length of your barrels and how with your bespoke 46gm No 4s you can routinely kill birds at 75yd. We know you can’t so why bore the pants off us and make yourself look stupid.

Our sport is a wonderful way of enjoying and supporting the countryside. I know if I follow my resolutions it will improve for all. You can do the same. Enjoy the season. Andrew J Palmer Brimfield, Ludlow