SSW001 onthemooch.indd 36 20/07/2018 16:14 S S 1 6 : 1 4 SS 16:14 HUNTING 036 SlingshotWorld I n the Glossary it says, MOOCHING is “Going forth with a catapult, hoping to come home with one for the pot.” So we did…. Mooching as we call it, is the unique term for catapult hunting. And before we go on, I want to repeat this from the editorial. “Do please be aware that this magazine is also about hunting and might upset vegans and moral- issue vegetarians. We take a humane and respectful approach to harvesting small game and pest control alike.” That means a profound level of competence (Pete’s Airgun Farm allows hunting - only after he sees your accuracy, for example.) and a respect for your quarry as well as your surroundings. Nothing is ever wasted. squirrels, (as sold by the Wild Meat Company, by the way) genuinely taste nutty and their tails are used by local fly tyers. Also the feathers of magpies and crows alike, are in demand in country circles. But most of all, it is about one for the pot. The oldest restaurant in London, Rules Chop House (1798) is part of Lartington Estate, that provides game all year round season by season. Their website says, “In today’s health- conscious climate, game is increasingly considered a wholesome alternative to intensively bred domestic animals. It comes from lean, healthy, free- range animals which are low in fat and cholesterol. Most wild game has 5% to 7% fat, whereas lamb has 25% and a piece of prime beef can contain as much as 45%… And whereas domestic meat and poultry tend to have a rather predictable taste, game offers a huge range of subtle flavours, reflecting the varied diet of animals in the wild.” So the case for eating what you shoot is strong, in season and by permission. It does seem hard to find land with permission to mooch but it can be done OntheMooch SlingshotHunter Take aim Hedgerow Hunter and 10mm leads Matt Redding SSW001 onthemooch.indd 36 20/07/2018 16:14