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Sporting Gun, Future PLC, Unit 415, Eskdale Road, Winnersh RG41 5RA
WILDFOWLING Shells on the shoreline
I am curious to know how many shells you carry when wildfowling. I never really know how many I should carry.
Tom says: I typically carry a box worth of around 25 duck shells for a good tide flight. This should result in ample shots for a great flight, and if I haven’t got a good bag of ducks for the table by the time I run out, then my shooting is not up to scratch. I occasionally have a few 3in shells in my bag if I need extra ‘oomph’ to stop any birds on the water to aid with the retrieve and to despatch birds as efficiently as possible. When it comes to geese, I typically carry 15 to 20 shells for similar reasons. I would hope to have more than enough geese in the bag for 20 shots, as I only shoot enough geese to carry under my own steam across rough terrain. If out for a mixed flight of ducks and geese, I will carry similar numbers in each cartridge as I would for each species. Alternatively, I will carry 20 or so No 3s, which should be ample for close geese or good-ranged ducks.
VETERINARY Risk factor
How safe are caesarean sections?
There are so many variables that it is not possible to give a straight answer. A study of 808 dams and 3,410 puppies (of which 58% were emergency sections) showed a maternal mortality of 1% (about half of which were caused by inhalation pneumonia) and a pup survival at two hours old of 87% (though this fell to 80% at seven days). Numerous factors have to be taken into account. The health and breed of the
