The competitor: The Guide is the newer addition to the UK market

We are at the dawn of a new era for wildlife management. Thermal imaging technology is by no means new, but with two companies launching units for the consumer market at affordable (relatively speaking) price points, this technology is no longer for the exclusive use of the police and military.

Many will be aware of night vision technology, which uses either a digital or vacuum-tube based device to convert dim light from the visible and infrared spectrum to an image in a device that can be viewed by the naked eye. Most commercially available night vision units rely on an active infra-red light source, which is visible to wildlife. Animals can see much further into the infrared spectrum than we can. You will have witnessed this if you have ever seen a dog running through woodland at night avoiding trees and eye-height obstacles.

Thermal imaging technology detects thermal radiation, and requires no additional source of illumination whatsoever. All living beings, particularly warm-blooded ones, have heat signatures. Inert objects such as stones, roads and buildings also have heat signatures as they absorb heat during the day from the sun’s radiation. Thermal imaging technology exaggerates small temperature differences and displays these in a way that can be viewed on an LCD screen. This is typically in greyscale, with the hot areas either white hot or in negative. There is crude detail, and often you just have outlines to identify objects by. It is remarkable to see how well insulated a fox is, for example – the tips of its ears are the only truly white hot areas on its body.

Double vision: Two thermal imagers go up against each other in a test of new technology

Earlier in the summer I reviewed the USA-made FLIR Scout TS32 Pro. To my mind the FLIR was a good start at consumer thermal imagers, but still needed a lot of development to make it truly usable in the field. There were some design flaws on the unit, which restricted how well it would perform in real-life scenarios. I was therefore interested when Thomas Jacks took delivery of a new thermal imager unit from Chinese manufacturer Guide IR. In a similar vein to the FLIR, the Guide IR units have been designed for hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and security uses.

I was sent a Guide IR 518C to test. This is the top-of-the-range unit, retailing at £4,849.95 – not quite within the grasp of the average stalker, but certainly affordable for an estate or professional deer manager as a tool of the trade. The FLIR unit I had reviewed was £5,439.99 – almost £600 more expensive. With a total of eight units in the FLIR range, the units I had for review seemed a fair comparison based on price.

The Guide unit initially felt slightly less ergonomic to hold than the FLIR, but this might be a subjective, personal view. The Guide IR has an exterior rubber housing that sleeves the body and overall has a typically utilitarian feel to it. There was no quality issue with the Guide IR, but the FLIR felt marginally better in my hands. I doubt this would really matter to any user when out surveying wildlife or selecting specific animals to cull.

The first major difference that I noticed was the large lens on the front of the Guide IR unit – all 50mm of it. There are three models in the Guide IR range: models A and B, which have 25mm lenses, and the C, which has a 50mm lens. The entire FLIR range has a 19mm lens, which offers far shorter detection ranges. The FLIR Scout I reviewed can recognise a man-sized object at 200 metres whereas the Guide IR can detect the same at 500 metres. This is certainly because of the size of the lens.

The Guide also excels in field of view. The field of view is decided by the image resolution and number of pixels the sensors deliver. The FLIR offers 320×240 and the Guide IR brings 384×288 – these extra pixels can be incredibly useful in the field where fast detection might be necessary.

A key point when I reviewed the FLIR was how inaccessible the battery compartment is. The literature that comes with the FLIR claims five hours’ usage from one set of batteries, but I struggled to get an hour’s use out of the unit. To change the batteries in the field, you need a tiny watchmaker-type screwdriver to unscrew four small screws on the battery compartment on the bottom of the unit. Not a practical solution at night in the rain with cold hands. Changing the four AA batteries on the Guide IR is simple, as it should be on a power-thirsty piece of kit such as this. The Guide IR promises two hours’ usage, and I was keen to see how honest this would turn out to be when I used it.

Fully focusable: The Guide’s bigger, adjustable lens proved a point in its favour

When you switch the Guide IR on, it takes about 25 seconds to go from the off setting to on. The FLIR takes around 90 seconds to do the same thing. Once the Guide IR is on, the clarity is significantly sharper than the FLIR. The screen refresh rate is at 50hz, which is the same as many televisions. This gives you a real-time picture with no lagging when you scan with the unit. The FLIR has a frame rate of 8hz, meaning the images drag behind your movements when scanning. This could lead you to lose detail when looking at a dynamic object like a living animal.

A clever design feature on the Guide IR is the sensor on the back of the unit next to the eyepiece, which keeps the unit on when you have it up to your eye and automatically puts it on standby when you bring it down. This is a good way of regulating battery usage, and it stops excessive light spilling out of the unit when it is not up to your eye.

The FLIR’s 19mm lens has a fixed focal length, but it claims all objects will be in full focus. However, you simply cannot have everything in pin-sharp detail with a fixed focal lens. The Guide IR’s 50mm lens is fully focusable, which takes a while to get used to. Once I had mastered its operation, I was able to focus on a squirrel in a tree 180 metres away, as ranged with my binos.

Both units boast a digital 2x zoom capability, which is useful – but both units could do with a bit more zoom. Every Guide IR model comes ready to take videos and capture images, whereas this is only available in the higher FLIR models.

In the field on a cold night, the Guide IR certainly did the business. I was amazed at the level of detail I could see. The image was crisp and in complete real time. I used a rangefinder to see to what distances I could detect animals, and I found that deer were easy to spot at up to 1,000 metres.

It took a few hours to get used to what size different heat signatures looked like. Rabbits initially looked like boar and deer like horses, but I soon got the hang of it. For animal census surveys, this tool would be very useful. The battery life lived up to its two-hour promise, and I was able to change the batteries with ease when they did run down. This was still a nuisance, as you’d need three or four changes of batteries to spend a full night out in the field, but a little forethought and planning can overcome that. The ultimate set-up for wildlife management would be to use thermal imaging for detection and then night vision to positively identify what you are looking at – if money was no object, of course.

The FLIR Scout I reviewed costs £5,439.99. There is an entry model at £2,999.99 and another seven models ranging up to £7,499.99. The entry model A on the Guide IR range is at £3,099.95, and the top-of-the-range model C is £4,849.95. Although it is £600 cheaper than the FLIR I tested, it is a far more powerful proposition.

Thermal imaging will undoubtedly make a big difference to wildlife management across the UK. The technology is cutting-edge and the applications are endless. As far as these two units go, beauty is inside the eye of the holder. Although the Guide IR might not have the aesthetic appeal of the FLIR Scout, having spent many hours looking through the eyepieces of both, I know which I would buy.

Atherton apparently legally owned six guns including three Section One firearms. It also appeared that the police had decided not to revoke his licences after being alerted to concerns about his mental health in 2008. Some MPs and members of the public were quick to call for a tightening of licensing laws in the light of the shootings, including stricter checks on a person’s mental health, and involving partners in the application process.

However, the response from shooting bodies has been calm and organised. The Countryside Alliance was first off the mark, as director of shooting David Taylor circulated a public statement.

He said: “The United Kingdom possesses the toughest and most stringent licensing laws of anywhere in the world, and the result is that tragic incidents like this one in Peterlee are extremely rare.

“Over half a million people shoot for sport each year and Great Britain will have some of the finest sportsmen and women participating in the shooting events at London 2012.

“The authorities in this country have been careful to find the right balance between public safety and shooting rights, and must ensure they continue to strike the right balance.”

BASC followed on 3 January with a statement: “The UK’s largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), has expressed sadness at this tragedy and sympathy for the families of the victims but has warned against any kneejerk reaction. No conclusions can be drawn from this case until the full facts are known.

“There has just been a comprehensive parliamentary review of firearms law in the UK and the facts in this incident need to be firmly established.

“BASC notes that this case has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission and awaits the outcome of that investigation.

“BASC is involved in talks with the government, doctors and the police as to whether any improvements can be made to the operation of the licensing system.”

Mike Yardley, representing the Shooting Sports Trust, made 25 television and radio broadcasts in a day, as well as consulting with a wide variety of print media, in order to balance shooter’s rights with concerns for public safety. He says, “Well, it was certainly a tough day professionally speaking, but I think we succeeded quite well in getting the message across – that is, shooting is a sport enjoyed by more than a million law-abiding decent people and that further restrictions would offer no public benefit. As well as BBC TV, I was interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Birmingham and host of BBC local stations as well as an independent station. The interviewers ranged from frosty to perfectly sensible, the toughest was on Radio 5, but even there I would not let myself be bulldozered.”

A shot off sticks as Tim tests the T3 in various situations

Tikka T3 rifles need no introduction as they are some of the most popular rifles on the market, The whole T3 range is renowned for accuracy, reliability and consistent build quality. For this review, I was sent the Hunter model in a feisty .300 WSM. I sincerely hoped it would live up to its high reputation.

The Hunter is the entry-level model of the T3 range, sporting a wooden stock with a blued action and barrel. The oiled walnut stock has two sets of three neat chequering grip panels either side of the pistol grip and forend. The pistol grip is very comfortable and has palm swells on both sides, thus suiting both right- and left-handed shooters. The comb is of a simple straight hunting design, with a sturdy recoil pad at the rear. The length of pull can be adjusted by adding extra spacers. The forend is stiff enough to support a bipod, so it does not affect the accuracy by touching the barrel, and also comes with QD mount studs. Overall, the walnut is of respectable quality and very comfortable to hold.

The recessed grip panels make a nice addition to the walnut stock

The well established T3 action has a narrow ejector port, making it much stronger than most, but it does make the top loading of the ammo a little fiddly. The stainless steel bolt is very smooth, with a cocking extension lever to the rear to show when the action is cocked. The two locking lugs are simple and effective, as is the spring-loaded plunger ejector, and all can be easily stripped down for servicing. The two-position safety catch will lock the action when pushed to the rear (safe) and the forward position will allow you to shoot. The action is well proven, simple and smooth, aided by an easy-to-use bolt handle that is a delight to cycle.

The T3 comes with an adjustable trigger (2-4lb). This rifle’s trigger was set at 3¾lb, and was very crisp with no creep at all. The trigger guard and magazine are made of a plastic polymer, with the latter holding three rounds. The near-flush fitting magazine can be easily released and replaced with one hand by pressing the catch located at the front of it.

Being a magnum calibre, the .300 WSM comes with a 24in barrel (1 in 11in twist). It is cold hammer forged and fully free floating with no front or rear sights or thread for a moderator. The barrel is a lightweight tube, ideal for the hunter, with a nicely blued finish that seems to be suitable for the most rugged of conditions.

For the review, GMK kindly sent a newly launched Leupold FireDot VX-R 3-9×50 hunting scope with an illuminated red dot at the centre of the reticle. It also came with Optilock mounts that fitted beautifully to the 11mm integral dovetail located on the top of the receiver. For ammunition, I used 180-grain Sako Super Hammerhead soft points and Federal Power Shok soft points, both pushing out bullets at a punishing 2,950fps.

On target: The T3 Hunter shoots a 1.5in group at 150 yards

My first impressions of the Hunter, when lifted to the shoulder, were its superb balance and weight of 7lb. To test the accuracy, I used a 6-12in Harris bipod with no butt support. After setting a zero of 150 yards, both the Sako and Federal ammunition managed a group of 1.5-1.75in, which is impressive considering this is an entry level rifle with a lightweight hunting barrel. After six shots, the groups became larger owing to the barrel heating up, but on all occasions, the first three always retained tight groups. Since this was a 7lb rifle in .300WSM, firing 180-grain bullets at 2,950fps with 3,450ft/lb of energy at the muzzle, shooting prone was not the most popular of positions to shoot in owing to the recoil. Off came the bipod, and throughout the test I used shooting sticks and various forms of support such as trees and shooting bags, as well as kneeling and standing positions.

The Tikka T3 Hunter lived up to my expectations in terms of accuracy, reliability and ease of use. The pistol grip and forend were comfortable with a firm, crisp trigger, and the action was smooth to cycle. Bearing in mind that this rifle retails at an incredibly low £995, what more could a hunter want out of a rifle? I talked to my gunsmith about the price, and he seemed to think that wooden stocks are no longer popular compared to synthetic or laminated alternatives. As for the entry-level sector of the T3 range, prices range from around £750 with a variety of black and stainless steel actions, wooden and synthetic stocks and ‘Lite’ (lighter) to heavier weights. Tikka now guarantees accuracy of 1in at 100 yards, so there is no question over their performance.

Many thanks to GMK for the loan of the rifle, Leupold telescopic sight and the supply of ammunition.

Author, top foxer and Sporting Rifle contributor Robert Bucknell will be in attendance to talk about equipment and tactics, and some of the best NV kit on the market will be on display.

Chris Jenkins, BASC’s northern regional officer, said: “This specialist event should not be missed by rifle shooters, who will find out everything they might need for the 2012 season under one roof.”

The event starts at 6pm tonight. For more information, contact Chris Jenkins on 07739 684555.

Established in 1947, the premium gunmaker is responsible for a number of quality rifles and championship-winning shotguns, but it is still a fairly unknown brand in Britain. Edgar Brothers, which already has an impressive array of distributorships under its belt, hopes to provide the buying and marketing power to change that.

Edgar Brothers’ managing director Derek Edgar said: “We needed a product to sell into the high-end clay and sporting markets that was innovative but traditionally made by skilled craftsmen. Zoli gives us that product line.”

She said there was “no satisfactory alternative” to the culls, which will initially take place in two trial areas before potentially expanding to 10 cull areas a year.

Although the exact locations of the two pilot areas have not been revealed, it is known that one is in west Gloucestershire and the other in west Somerset.

Though the national badger population is not known, recent estimates put it at 250,000-300,000. Since badger populations in cull areas should drop by at least 70 per cent, an estimated 40,000-60,000 badgers will be culled by 2016.

In 2010, 25,000 cattle were slaughtered as a result of bovine tuberculosis, which cost taxpayers £90 million in compensation payments. Ms Spelman said compensation costs would run up to £1 billion in the next 10 years if the cull was not approved.

Andrew Prail, president of the British Cattle Veterinary Association, said: “Any intervention in bovine TB takes time to show an effect due to the chronic nature of the disease and we need all the tools in the toolbox at our disposal.

“That is why we are giving our full support to the pilots. Bovine TB is resulting in the premature culling of thousands of cattle every year. Doing nothing is not an option.”

Should the pilot be judged a success and the cull be rolled out more widely, farmers will be able to apply to Natural England for a four-year cull licence covering at least 150 square kilometres.

Ralph Pace gets to grips with this innovatively designed rifle

Sauer had amassed over two centuries of solid reputation by the time I had the chance to fire one of their rifles for the first time. Their increasing appearance in the hands of professional hunters had made me wonder what I was missing, so you can imagine my elation when Jamie Garland offered a rifle for testing.

As the oldest gun manufacturer in Germany, the company builds on generations of knowledge and experience. Founded in 1771 in Suhl, J P Sauer & Sohn had a simple ethos: manufacture rifles with “premium materials and outstanding quality”. Today, classic materials and modern technology are brought together in the new hunting division based in Isny. I was keen to see how the old-school workmanship had been infused into their modern rifles.

I have to admit that my first thought on shouldering the Sauer 202 Classic was: “Man, this is   heavy!” I certainly wouldn’t have been keen to traipse it across a hill for red deer. However, the receiver is available in both solid steel and a much lighter alloy, and the benefits of the alloy were confirmed shortly after I borrowed an Outback model from Nick Latus. It was like lifting a rifle impregnated with helium by comparison (the fluted barrel also contributed a bit).

Half and half: One part of the unique safety, located inside the trigger guard

There was no question about the ingenuity and precision engineering that had gone into the build. Even without an insight into the quirks of the design, it felt like the kind of tool you would be happy conquering an undiscovered planet with. Functionally and aesthetically, the synthetic stock was by far the nicest production offering I had encountered. The swelled and rubberised grips are firm and robust, ensuring a concrete grasp of the rifle on even the greasiest drizzle-laden days. Even in the synthetic options Sauer has gone to the trouble of moulding the stock with a semi-Schnabel tip, finishing the eloquent European lines with an end mounted sling swivel. This did, however, mean that standard bipod mounting is forgone.

A switch barrel by design, it is not the swiftest offering on the market, requiring three separate hex screws to be loosened in order to remove the barrel. That said, this particular model is not sold with this intention, and indeed Sauer offers a purpose-made ‘switch barrel’, which offers a rapid and beautifully designed barrel exchange. The ability to switch calibres in the standard 202 models is really an added bonus, allowing multiple calibres to be shot with the same rifle, as well as providing easy replacement once barrels become shot out.

One downside is that a whole new bolt needs to be acquired for calibres with differing case head diameters. Other manufacturers only require a new bolt head. On the upside, a number of barrel makers – including the excellent Border Barrels – offer drop-in barrels for Sauer rifles, allowing owners to negate the cost of a gunsmith.

Removal and refitting is an uncomplicated affair, merely requiring a twist and pull to part the receiver from the chamber. Replacement is guided via a barrel groove, inserted back into the action up to a shoulder stop, then re-securing by torqueing up the hex screws on the locking collar to 7Nm. Since the bolt’s locking lugs locate inside the barrel, exacting and repeatable head spacing is ensured. Of course, the barrel is also fully free-floating.

Red line: The firing indicator, located behind the bolt shroud, completes the two-part safety

The action itself exposes the striking difference between Sauer’s out-of-the-box thinking and age-old rifle design. Uniquely, the solid machined receiver actually forms part of the stock, with the rest of the rifle built in a modular fashion around the main chassis. This would allow the synthetic model I was reviewing to be swapped for an elegant wood stock with no change in zero point. Indeed, components can be bought separately, and Sauer allows customising of bolt style and the type of trigger unit at no extra cost. The standard round bolt seen here can be replaced with a Mannlicher-style flat, spoon-type handle, and the trigger unit can be switched between shotgun, set or match models. This chassis approach also means that the rifle requires no bedding, and is less likely to be affected by weather conditions even with a wooden stock.

The rifle comes with a set trigger as standard, and in keeping with the fine engineering of the rifle, it functioned flawlessly. The break on the non-set trigger was not quite as crisp as the custom trigger jobs I have, but from a factory rifle standpoint, it is on par with anything else on the market. A small hex screw at the rear of the trigger guard allows full adjustment of the set-trigger pull weight to the desired level. As is standard, the trigger is set by pushing forward on the blade; for safety this will revert back if the bolt is opened. Although I have never been a massive fan of set-triggers for hunting, it is perfect when working up loads on the range.

Cycling the rifle is positive and effortless, and the design is tried and tested, sporting three evenly spaced locking lugs at the front of the bolt and a spring plunger type ejector with a stout Sako-type claw. Depressing a small, flat lever beside the magazine allows the bolt to be removed, while the magazine itself is dropped with a counter-sunk push button in front. My only complaint with the rifle was loading rounds into the single-stack magazine, which was not as slick as it ought to have been.

The safety is uniquely located in two places: exposed behind the bolt shroud when live with a red band, and protruding inside the trigger guard when safe. I have always despised safeties near the trigger, but not this set-up. Since the action to put the rifle ‘on safe’ is at the back of the bolt, safety concerns are illuminated. It’s also by far the quietest safety of any rifle I have ever used.

The .223 I had on test was a very sweet-shooting rifle and it took no time to settle down on the range. With minimal effort I returned one-inch groups with 55-grain Geco ammo, clustering three shots into two touching holes on my fourth try. Impressive considering this is cheap ammo to source. My averages pulled in further running Federals down range, with the rifle proving it would happily eat a number of different brands. Handloads printed sub-one inch groups across a number of different powders.

There is no question that I would dearly love to have this rifle grace my cabinet. At prices in excess of £2,000 it is a good deal more expensive than a Remington, or even a Sako. However, I think this is one of those occasions where I would be happy to part with the extra cash. This is an old-world rifle with modern-day benefits.

Thanks to Garlands (01827 383300, www.garlands.uk.com) for supplying the rifle, and to RUAG (01579 362319, www.ruag.co.uk) for the ammunition.

The survey asked 1,055 people for their views on species, habitats and wildlife management, and 73 per cent of those who responded chose deer as Scotland’s most iconic animal.

The next highest ranking creatures were golden eagles, grouse and red squirrels, which were named on 27, 26 and 25 per cent of survey responses respectively.

It wasn’t all positive feedback, however: the survey asked respondents what their principal concern was for the future of deer, and 28 per cent said it was “hunting”.

Alex Hogg, chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, said: “It is great to see deer once again inspiring a sense of nationhood in people when it comes to wildlife. The deer population is not, in any way, threatened in this country because it has been managed for over 150 years by the keepers on the hills, who have a wealth of knowledge.

“Scotland has a healthy deer population, and there needs to be more awareness of that and the role individuals such as gamekeepers play.

“Stalking is a valuable resource for the rural economy, keeping fragile communities alive.”

Red alert: The filtered HID lamp had the rabbits rooted to the spot

I have been using a CZ 452 American .22 rimfire for many years specifically for vermin control and had been impressed from day one with its accuracy. Once I learned the trajectory of the 40-grain hollowpoint loads, head shots on rabbits and hares became second nature. But with all the hype the .17 HMR has been receiving in recent years, it was only a matter of time before I added one to my arsenal.

I trawled the local gun emporiums, and the one rifle that really impressed me was the CZ 455 Thumbhole Varmint. My first impression was of how well the laminated thumbhole stock fitted, with a large, scalloped-out section behind the pistol grip. It suited my build perfectly, and coupled with the thin rubber butt pad, it meant the rifle didn’t feel anything like its 3.4kg weight. The 16in cold hammer forged varmint barrel is threaded for the obligatory moderator, and for the first time CZ has made this interchangeable between the three calibres on offer.

The trigger is CZ’s traditional curved blade and fully adjustable, though this procedure requires the stock to be removed. I think this rifle would benefit from one of the aftermarket trigger sets on offer – fitting one would further enhance its performance. Nevertheless, I was more than impressed with this lovely rimfire set-up from the Czech Republic. Although the rifle comes with a five-round magazine as standard, a 10-round mag is available and would bring it in line capacity-wise with some of the other popular rimfire makes.

On top of the receiver, which is incidentally made from a single billet of steel, sits an 11mm dovetail ready to accept all manner of bases and rings. I fitted a rail as I had a spare from another outfit, and married a Zeiss Duralyt illuminated scope to this little lovely. With a magnification of 2-8×42, this model was perhaps not an ideal match for a small varmint rifle, but with its fine crosshair and minute illuminated dot reticle, coupled with Zeiss’s excellent glass, I couldn’t see any problems shooting vermin out to 150 metres.

With its short barrel, the CZ is tailored to vermin shooting

Down on the range I was even more impressed with the 455’s inherent accuracy, using a diet of 17-grain Hornady V-Max the outfit was printing 0.75in groups at 100 metres – more than acceptable for head shooting rabbits. With the zeroing completed, I couldn’t wait to see how the rifle performed against live quarry compared to my old faithful .22 American.

However, as frequently happens at this time of year, the fog came along to dampen my enthusiasm, and owing to its stubbornness, night after night was cancelled. After four days had passed, things looked more promising, and a chance conversation with my neighbour Mark saw him tell me a story about a fox bothering a local lady with a bantam coop. Apparently she kept seeing the fox in her garden, and fearing the worst for her resident egg layers, she was keen to see its demise. Furthermore, she was becoming increasingly concerned about the rising rabbit population that lived in the exercise paddocks next to her substantial stables.

“Would it also be possible to thin out their numbers as well as sorting out the fox?” she had asked. Mark had answered in the affirmative, and the rabbit problem would be the ideal test arena for the CZ. Arrangements were soon made for the following evening; first we would try and cull the troublesome fox, then as we would be on foot anyway, we would cull as many rabbits as possible on the return journey back to the vehicle.

The knock on my front door at 9.30pm meant Mark was home from work and raring to go. The night sky was clear – a complete contrast to the previous week – and the air was still. Not exactly ideal conditions for a lamping foray, but we were not going to let that put us off after missing a week already. If you aren’t out trying, you ain’t going to shoot anything – simple as that. Taking the CZ out of its slip, I slid the bolt in but left it open. The magazine was still in my pocket, and easily at hand. With the rifle over my shoulder and stalking sticks extended, we soon set off, with me following Mark’s footsteps.

We reached the entrance gate to the exercise paddocks. The owner, aware of our excursion, had been kind enough to stable her horses for the evening. This would provide peace of mind for all concerned. For a reason unknown to me, a moderated shot seems to be as unnerving to horses as a standard muzzle crack. I certainly didn’t want a stampede situation should they bolt at the sound of a shot, so it was a welcome relief that a bit of forethought had been applied.

A quick sweep with the lamp revealed only minor rabbit movement as they scurried back to their warrens. Whatever quarry we were after tonight, it would certainly be hard work in the current conditions. The slightest snap of a twig underfoot on the stillest of nights would carry for far more distance than was comfortable, alerting every creature around to our presence.

Great results: A bumper bag shot with an excellent rifle

It took some 15 minutes walking clockwise around the paddock to reach a large beech tree from where we would have a good view of the grass field. Upon reaching this position, Mark got the Mini Colibri caller going, giving it a minute before making another sweep with the lamp in hope of picking up the fox’s eyes. After an hour of seeing nothing but rabbits and an occasional hare, we both agreed that if the meddlesome fox had been in the vicinity it would have shown itself, so turning off the caller, I snapped the magazine into the action of the CZ and chambered a round. Time for a bit of bunny bashing.

Bringing the rifle onto the sticks, I activated the illuminated reticle of the Zeiss and shouldered the nifty rimmy. Mark powered up the lamp and immediately caught a coney some 70 metres in front of our position. I placed the illuminated dot on its computer room, and squeezed away the diminutive round. The almost inaudible ‘phuft’ of the moderated shot was drowned by the sound of 17 grains of V-Max striking the coney’s skull. Reloading immediately, I swung on to another rabbit sitting mesmerised in the red beam. It too met its maker.

No doubt because of the sound of shattering bone, the other field inhabitants made a run for the far hedge. Upping sticks, we carefully made off around the headlands towards a new position. Once we were in place, Mark picked up a distant rabbit in the high-performance beam. If I’d been using my .22LR I would have thought he was having a laugh. But it was time to see what the .17 HMR was capable of. Drawing a bead on the tips of its ears, I sent away another round. The resulting smack lifted the rabbit right off its feet.

Dropping out the magazine for a refill, I acknowledged that the 10-round mag would definitely be the better option if night-time shooting is your preferred discipline. Over the next half an hour we systematically worked our way through the veg patch and back to the car. I was regularly making shots at ranges out to 150 metres, which in my eyes proves that the CZ 455 is a great out-of-the-box accurate varmint rifle. The stock fitted me like the clichéd glove, which no doubt contributed to the achievable accuracy.

By the time we completed the circuit we had 20 rabbits in the bag – that’s 20 rabbits that won’t be digging potentially lethal holes for the horses, not forgetting the increased longevity of the cabbage patch.

I had high expectations of this little Czech varminter, which were all realised and then some. We didn’t get the fox this time, but I have no doubt this rifle is up to the job in the right conditions and at sensible ranges. Indeed, close to a homestead it is absolutely the perfect tool for foxing.

This represents just over half of the calculated cost of a licence, which is £189 – whereas when fees were set at the current level in 2001, shooters paid only a third of the calculated cost.

Under the new fee structure a certficate renewal would cost £66, while a Registered Firearms Dealer grant would rise to £274.

The paper acknowledged that there are “existing inefficiencies within firearms licensing”, and said that shooters should not bear the cost of these. It proposed a number of measures to improve efficiency, including online completion of application forms, the ability to pay fees online, the ability to automate renewals online and the ability to keep applicants up to date with the progress of their application.

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation reacted angrily to the news, drawing attention to the fact that the fee rise was three times the rate of inflation since the fees were set at the current level.

Money matters: Shooters would pay £93.80 for a shotgun or firearm licence under the new structure

An NGO spokesperson said: “In recent months the licensing process in many police force areas has become shambolic. Certificate renewals are running more than six months behind and some forces are developing their own licensing policies contrary to Home Office and ACPO guidance.

“Others have been telling our members not to worry that their certificates are late, despite it being an offence to be in possession of firearms without a certificate.

“Firearms licensing is woefully inefficient in some force areas and savings could easily be made. This is what ACPO FELWG should be addressing, looking to cut costs rather than passing them on to hard-pressed gun users.”

David Taylor of the Countryside Alliance recently said: “Full cost recovery in the licensing system is unfair to gun owners. The shooting community accepts that it must pay its part for the licensing system, but as it is imposed to protect the public, then it is only right that the public purse should share the cost.

“It must also be noted that many inefficiencies exist in the current licensing process. Any rise in fees will only be acceptable if these are addressed and matched with a subsequent increase in the quality of service provided.”