EDITORIAL
Editor-in-chief Dom Holtam
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First Words image: Dan Beardsmore / Cervus Creative
Cover image: Arterra Picture Library / Alamy
FIRST WORDS
DOM HOLTAM
Editor-in-chiefT
here is something special about getting
really close to wild creatures. Not only
does it allow detailed observation of them
and their behaviour, but from a hunter’s
perspective, it is the ultimate test of skill.
The roe rut will likely be kicking off any
time now – late July into early August being the
sweet spot traditionally. I have spoken to so
many experienced hunters and professional
guides who go all misty-eyed about the rut. For
most, it is all about the interaction with the bucks,
the skill of calling them in and the effect this can
have on clients!
With lush vegetation hiding animals from view,
you can suddenly and unexpectedly find yourself
in very close proximity to your quarry. Even old and
experienced hands can get shaky with a big old
buck charging in to the call.
For Owen Beardsmore, it can be a time of
frustration, too – the animals’ behaviour can be
erratic, the weather unhelpful and even when he
does his bit, there’s no guarantee of success (80).
If you fancy tackling roe bucks somewhere a
little different, then Poland is well worth a look. In
fact, with massive red stags, huge wild boar and a
really well-run hunting infrastructure, it is a great
destination for rifle shooters. Tony Jackson has all
the details on p72.
Organised hunts with professional outfitters area fantastic way of sampling pastures new, and are
a vital part of our industry. But are there other
alternatives? My shooting mentor when I was
starting out was a great one for swapping hunting
experiences with other shooters from around the
country. He hunted CWD in Bedfordshire and sika
stags in Dorset and in return hosted other
stalkers for wild boar on his patch in Sussex.
This month, Emily Damment joins a ‘community
hunt’ – organised on social media, via friends and
contacts, for an English expat and a Danish
hunting journo. It shows what is possible with a
willingness to help, share and support other
hunters – a mindset that can only serve to
enhance the rifle shooting community as a whole.