Shooting Times & Country Magazine
Wild, primal creatures
Whichever fieldsport you prefer, there’s nothing quite like the British wilderness and the beasts that call this land home, says James Sutcliffe
When I was told the theme of this issue was wild sport, my mind started wandering, as it often does, to some of the wildest places I’ve ever had the fortune to shoot in. While I have been lucky enough to experience hunting in the high mountains of New Zealand as well as stalking the ancient forests of Germany, the first image my mind conjured up was far closer to home.
I am convinced that we in the UK have wilderness that rivals the rest of the world, as well as a multitude of huntable wild game. Although I would love to write about shooting some of our wildest grouse species, I will be the first to admit that my experience of this is limited, and boils down to a very cold and windy walked-up grouse day when I was 18.
Ancestral skills
Instead, my mind turned to my favourite creatures; the six species of British deer. Anyone who has spent time in the countryside will agree that there’s something wonderfully wild and almost primal about them. With or without the rifle, trying to get close to an animal that is very well equipped to avoid you takes some skill; the same skills used by our ancestors as they hunted to survive.
Then there are the landscapes we find ourselves in. When we think of British wilderness, most of us will instinctively think of the Scottish Highlands. There’s something magical about stalking across a moorland, with no other sign of human life for miles, in pursuit of the red deer that have called the UK hills home for around 400,000 years. However, I would argue that the rest of the UK boasts some equally wild countryside.
I stalk a piece of ground in Wales that is as rugged and wild as they come. One of my favourite types of stalking is creeping around woodlands and through bracken in search of muntjac. These little deer often live in well-populated areas far from moorland environments, and there is something undeniably wild about pursuing them in their favoured woodland. In themselves, muntjac are one of the most ancient of deer species, having many quirks
“Wild sport isn’t just the environment you are in, but the species and moment as well”
and traits that help them thrive in these isles.
Having stalked muntjac extensively in an area of Norfolk famed for its hikers and dog walkers, I will confirm that when you are locked in a staring match with a muntjac buck, all the signs of modern life seem to drift away. It’s just you and an ancient-looking beast in its element.
Wild sport isn’t just the environment you are in, but the species and the moment as well. Whether you are a shooter or a stalker, we have no end of truly wild sport at our fingertips. As a more regular stalker, I find it one of the most enjoyable forms of fieldsports, and there’s a feel-good factor in the knowledge that you are doing your part to keep the overall deer population in check for the good of the habitat they live in.
Whichever wilderness you find yourself in, make sure you stay safe and do your best to enjoy some of the phenomenal wildlife and truly amazing landscapes that the UK has to offer. If you are lucky enough to bag a beast on a wild outing, don’t forget to submit it for measuring.
If you have a head you would like to submit for measurement, or require more information, email BASC’S deer team at deer@basc.org.uk
Iwas a little unsure what was going to turn up as I waited for delivery of the DS 7 Crossback E-tense Hybrid 4x4. No, that’s not a typo, DS is a stand-alone brand now, much like Cupra. The DS 7 is the brand’s mid-size SUV, which boasts some eco credentials and could tick some Shooting Times boxes.
It’s available in five specs: Performance, Performance+, Rivoli, Opera and La Premiere. We’re taking a look at the Rivoli hybrid, which is in the middle of the range. So, without further ado, let’s see how the suburban family wagon gets on around the shoot — just remember not to call it a Citroën.
On first impressions, it’s a bit white. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; other colours are available. Despite the not-so-practical colour, it does look smart and the silhouette is very pleasing as far as SUVS go. I would describe the look as bold and futuristic with a dash of class, maybe verging on blingy. It does look quite a beast with its large grille and never-ending bumper. As bumpers get bigger, headlights get smaller, but don’t be fooled — their retinascorching capacity has increased in tandem with the bumper size.
The fang-like running lights and wedged LED headlights finish off the front with some interesting angles. Underneath, standard black plastic covers the interesting bits, but there is an encouraging 190mm
“It’s exceptionally comfortable and impressive as an urban family vehicle”
of ground clearance. At the rear, the large bumper and small light theme continues. The curves and angles work well with the LED rear lights. Underneath, we can see some glimpses of tiny driveshafts and a bit of the fancy rear motor. Taking in the side profile it does look like a higherend SUV, and the look is completed with those contrasting chrome trims and diamond-cut alloys.
Under the bonnet we have a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine combined with an electric motor, and another electric motor driving the rear wheels for good measure. The 1.6-litre engine produces 200bhp and 300Nm of
THE DS 7 CROSSBACK is a good family SUV. It’s comfortable, stylish and comes with an impressive amount of kit. It’s fun to drive and capable of a mild bit of off-roading, but nothing too taxing. The electric range isn’t massive, but the overall hybrid system is pretty good. The overall quality is fine, and the DS brand is aiming to be slightly higher-end. The Rivoli Crossback 4x4 starts off at £56,540 on the road, which is quite steep, but it’s a good effort for the DS 7.