Looking back, 2011 has been curiously reminiscent of 1992 when even the Queen had an “annus horribilis” and I fear this has been much the same for many. We took our promotional activities to mainland Europe this year although it was also pleasing to see the British Shooting Show going from strength to strength and the CLA remaining buoyant this year, although visitor numbers for the subsequent Midland Game Fair appeared down on previous years….and then there was Bisley Live!
The concept of ‘Bizzo’ was sound and we believe anything that is designed to positively promote shooting sports to the non-shooting public should be encouraged. There will be many will gnash their teeth in the media over those three days in Surrey, many a hard lesson was learned and I personally hope the event evolves and grows. Frankly we need it!
In the UK we have allowed much of our National heritage to be diluted with shooting sports under constant threat. I fear that unless addressed, hunting will become an underground movement, a secret society almost, hidden behind myths, half-truths and innuendo. It still shocks me how few people realise that you can legally own firearms here, such is the size of the task at hand! In the same way that we encourage each reader to pass on their copy of this magazine to a like-minded friend when they have finished with it, perhaps next year each of us can take the initiative to enthusiastically ‘spread the word’ about what it is we do and why?
Perhaps getting .22 pistols reintroduced form target shooting would be a good start? If you think so, why not sign the petition online at https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/360 although don’t forget that your vote won’t count until you reply to the email this will generate.
And finally as we wish you all very Merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous, peaceful 2012, let me explain that the mug-shot of yours truly with his Cold Steel Bowie links with the article on page 40 which I hope brings you all a festive grin, and don’t forget that we still have some late availability for Driven Boar in Croatia and Hungary too, see Page 15 for details!
Rupert ‘Roo’ Ellis
On behalf of The Hunting Agency
To see this page onlie, please visit http://www.huntingandshootingnews.com/hsn-nov/index.html#/4/ and to find out more about Roo and The Hunting Agency, see www.TheHuntingAgency.com, thank you!