farm

Rat control w/ Mat Manning

Posted on 10/07/2021 by towens — No Comments ↓

With this year’s influx of rats refusing to let up, Mat Manning gears up for a long night on the farm. Last winter’s ratting season was absolutely crazy, and it is now extending well into the spring. A combination of…

Tagged with: air rifle, airgun, farm, mat manning, rat control, rat hunting, ratting
Posted in Features, Hunting

Farmyard feral pigeon control w/ Mat Manning

Posted on 24/05/2021 by towens — No Comments ↓

With feral pigeons and corvids threatening to spiral out of control on the farm, Mat Manning heads out with a sub-12 ft-lb air rifle – the perfect tool for controlling feathered pests around agricultural buildings. Where is no getting away…

Tagged with: air rifle, airgun, calibre, corvid, crows, fac, farm, farmyard, feral pigeons, fx impact, Hunter, jackdaws, mat manning, pests, pigeon control, quarry, shoot, shooters, shooting, target
Posted in Features, Hunting

Airgun hunting on the farmyard

Posted on 02/03/2021 by towens — No Comments ↓

The farmyard can be an incredibly productive place for airgun hunters who know how to employ the right tactics, as Pete Brookes explains. The air rifle is perfect for dealing with rats and feral pigeons, but shooters should always be…

Tagged with: air rifle, airgun hunting, british, calibres, environment, farm, farming industry, farmyard, fieldcraft, firearm, general licences, outdoors, pcp, pellet, pete brookes, quarry, rat, rifle, shoot, shooters, shooting, shotgun
Posted in Features, Hunting

Wildlife management with FAC air rifles

Posted on 27/12/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

Ex-firearms and rural crime officer Pete Brookes now prefers an armed response of a different kind – wildlife management with his FAC air rifle. Photo credit: David Jinks I was driving to work to start an afternoon shift whilst listening…

Tagged with: air rifle, airguns, fac, farm, farmland, fieldcraft, firearms, hunting, permissions, pest control, pete brookes, pheasant shoot, pigeons, Range, rangefinder, rats, rimfires, rural crime, shoots, stalking, wildlife management
Posted in Features

Decoying crows: The Countryman

Posted on 25/09/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

Wily corvids are seldom easy to outwit, but their scavenging nature can be their downfall, as Mat Manning demonstrates as he sets up with hide and decoy tactics. The quarry: carrion crow & jackdaw The carrion crow is a notorious…

Tagged with: ambush, birds, caller, camo, camoflage, carroin crow, corvids, countryside, crow-shooting, crows, decoy, farm, fieldcraft, headnet, hide, imitation bird, jackdaw, kit, mat manning, natural cover, nature, rabbit, realtree, shots, sitty
Posted in Features

Airgun Shooter 137 – new issue on sale NOW

Posted on 09/07/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

Daystate’s new Delta Wolf must be one of the most eagerly awaited airguns of all time, and our main feature this issue explains just how exciting it is to get in the field and shoot this electronic supergun. With hordes…

Rabbit hunting with Richard Saunders

Posted on 29/06/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

Rich Saunders takes a break from his pure pest control duties to stalk a few rabbits and see if there’s any light at the end of the polytunnel. A set of trigger sticks helps provide a more stable position to…

Tagged with: air arms, air rifle, ATN, brocock sniper xr magnum, farm, field, fx impact, hawke, pellets, permissions, pest control, rabbit, rabbits, rangefinder, Richard Saunders, rifle, Sport
Posted in Hunting

Crow control: The Countryman

Posted on 23/03/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

Mat Manning has a hoot using an owl decoy and a bouncer during a crow control session on the farm. The Quarry: Carrion Crow Crow control is essential during spring Pest status: A major problem for farmers, especially in the…

Tagged with: camoflage, corvids, crow, crow control, farm, farmers, mat manning, owl decoy
Posted in Features, Hunting

The Airgun Show – hectic night vision rat hunt, PLUS slug shooting test with FX Impact MKII…

Posted on 27/01/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

Cold, wet weather has pushed more rats onto the farm, and Mat Manning is using night vision gear to bring them to book. The action takes a while to warm up but the scavenging rodents eventually emerge to feed and…

Tagged with: airgun, ammo, farm, FX, hunt, impact, mat manning, MkII, night vision, rat, shooting, slug, the airgun show
Posted in News, The Airgun Show

Farmyard pest control: The Countryman

Posted on 07/01/2020 by towens — No Comments ↓

With wet weather threatening to stop play, Mat Manning heads onto the farm in search of shelter and finds plenty of pests doing the same. Most shooters are pretty hardy when it comes to inclement weather – we enjoy being…