Bushcraft Archives -

Mastering Vermin Control: Essential Preparations for Airgun Hunting

Introduction: Airgun hunting has gained popularity among outdoor enthusiasts as an effective and challenging way to control vermin populations. Whether you’re a seasoned shooter or a beginner, proper preparation is crucial to ensure a safe, ethical, and successful experience. In this blog post, we will guide you through essential steps to prepare before heading out for vermin controlling with an airgun. Discover the key factors to consider and equip yourself with the knowledge to make your airgun hunting trip a resounding success.

Know the Local Regulations: Before venturing out into the field, it is vital to familiarize yourself with the local regulations and laws concerning airgun hunting. Research the specific vermin species you intend to target, understand the permitted hunting seasons, bag limits, and any licensing requirements. Complying with legal guidelines not only ensures ethical hunting but also prevents potential legal repercussions.

Selecting the Right Airgun and Accessories: Choosing the appropriate airgun and accessories is crucial for a successful vermin control outing. Consider the specific vermin species you will be targeting and the environment in which you will be hunting. Opt for an airgun with sufficient power and accuracy to dispatch the vermin cleanly and humanely. Additionally, invest in quality optics, such as scopes or red dot sights, to enhance your aim and precision.

Practice Proper Marksmanship: Achieving accuracy with an airgun requires consistent practice. Familiarize yourself with the operation of your airgun and spend ample time practicing marksmanship skills. Set up targets at various distances and practice shooting from different positions, mimicking real-life hunting scenarios. Remember to focus on proper stance, breathing control, trigger discipline, and follow-through. Regular practice will increase your confidence and ensure accurate shots when it counts.

Research Vermin Habits and Patterns: Understanding the behavior and habits of the vermin you intend to control is crucial for a successful hunting trip. Study their feeding patterns, preferred habitats, and movement routines. This knowledge allows you to strategize your hunting approach, increasing your chances of encountering the vermin in the right place at the right time. Online resources, books, and local experts can provide valuable insights into vermin behaviour.

Plan Your Hunting Location: Identify suitable hunting locations where the vermin populations are known to be abundant. Consult with landowners, farmers, or local wildlife management authorities to gain permission and access to private or public hunting grounds. Ensure you have a clear understanding of the property boundaries and adhere to any specific rules or guidelines provided by the landowner.

Safety First: Safety should always be your top priority. Before heading out, familiarize yourself with basic firearm safety practices and protocols. Ensure you have appropriate safety gear, including ear protection, eye protection, and appropriate clothing for the hunting environment. Always be mindful of your surroundings, especially when shooting in areas with potential human activity. Adhere to safe shooting angles and never shoot at targets that may cause a ricochet.

Conclusion: By following these essential steps, you can maximize your chances of success and ensure a safe and responsible airgun hunting experience. Remember to research local regulations, select the right equipment, practice your marksmanship skills, study vermin behaviour, plan your hunting locations, and prioritize safety. With the right preparation, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a skilled vermin controller while enjoying the thrill of airgun hunting. Happy hunting!

Knives and Blades at Pellpax

Offensive Weapons Act 2019

As a result of new legislation relating to the sale and possession of blades, we’re now including knives in our unique face-to-face delivery service. The Offensive Weapons Act 2019 makes it more difficult to purchase bladed tools such as penknives and axes, as sellers are now restricted in what they are allowed to send out. At Pellpax, however, we already have a well-oiled delivery system in place, and purchasing a knife from us will be fairly straightforward.

If you have ever bought a gun from us, you’ll know the procedure.

First of all, you must be at least 18 years old. Once your purchase has been processed, we’ll contact you to arrange a delivery day and time. When the Pellpax driver delivers your item to your door, you’ll need to present ID that proves your identity, age, and address. A valid UK driving licence is ideal. Alternatively, a combination of documents, such as passport, birth certificate, utility bill etc can be used.

Let’s have a look at a few choice knives available from Pellpax.

Buck Knives at Pellpax

Buck knives have been around for more than 100 years. The American company was founded by the precocious innovation of blacksmith’s apprentice Hoyt H Buck. At just 13 years old, having learned to make knives, young Hoyt developed a method of heat-treating steel for his tools, so that they’d hold an edge for longer.

Today, Buck Knives is run by the fifth generation of the Buck family, and is one of the world’s best known and most highly respected brands of knife.

At Pellpax, we have a wide range of Buck knives to choose from. The Buck Folding Pursuit Knife, for example, with its strong, sharp stainless-steel blade, is available in Small, Large, and Large Guthook. The handle is made from VersaFlex, which is the world’s leading brand of polyurea materials.

Gerber Knives at Pellpax

In 1939, when Joseph Gerber was working for the family advertising firm, he had 24 sets of kitchen knives made and sent out as gifts. The knives were a hit, and very soon there was a demand for more. This first batch of high-quality knives marked the beginning of Gerber Legendary Blades, a US company that’s still going strong today.

There are lots of Gerber knives to choose from at Pellpax – like the Applegate-Fairbairn Combat Folder Outdoor Knife, designed by military officer Colonel Rex Applegate. The spear point blade has a semi-serrated edge, and the built-in thumb stud enables easy one-handed opening. This superb piece of kit is strong, resilient, and lightweight – the result of Colonel Applegate’s great expertise.

Cold Steel Knives at Pellpax

Cold Steel knives are among the elite in the world of blades. Always at the forefront of technological development, the brand is always in the lead as the industry pushes through boundaries. At Pellpax, we consider the Cold Steel knife a must-have accessory.

The Cold Steel Trail Master has a razor-sharp blade that’s super-resistant to breaking and bending. With a non-slip grip and a durable sheath, this lightweight knife is effective and safe.

The pistol grip of the good-looking Frontier Bowie is made from the finest rosewood and secured with steel rivets. The elegant S-shaped hand guard keeps your fingers protected, and the knife comes with a full-length leather scabbard.

Give Us a Call

For information about our delivery service, or about any of the products we sell, just give us a call on 01263 731 585. Our experts are always ready to help.

Brand Focus : Gerber Gear

Gerber Gear Logo

This month’s brand focus takes a closer look at US blade and multitool makers, Gerber.

Gerber were founded in 1939 in Portland, Oregon, on America’s west coast. Here, the frontier spirit called for a range of knives that were capable of roughing it in the wild, and although that’s what Gerber eventually became, it started off as something entirely different.

Joe Gerber’s family owned an advertising company, and, as an offshoot of their promotional business, began giving away kitchen knives to potential clients. The knives were of such good quality and so well received, that demand for the knives grew faster than the advertising work. And so Gerber Legendary Blades was born.

Now just operating under the Gerber name, the company has grown from strength to strength, and is now one of the most recognisable names in the industry.

Gerber have some truly prestigious names working for them at one time or another, including the late great Bob Loveless, one of the most innovative modern knife designers, who designed and popularised many modern knife-making methods. Loveless is famed for saying that he would not pay $3,000 for a knife “if it were autographed by Jesus Christ himself”, and so worked closely with Gerber to create blades that were both effective and affordable.

The partnership between the two was a huge success, and, in 1966, the company had to relocate to a much bigger factory to help keep up with demand. The company is now owned by Fiskars of Finland, and supplies a variety of products – not just knives – to suppliers throughout the world.

Lets have a look at some of their products below :

Gerber Zip Hex

Designed to be small and compact, but still extremely useful, the Zip Hex features five of the most common hex fittings used in all sorts of equipment. Bikes, boards, skis, ATV’s … they all need repairing from time to time; and when they do, the Zip Hex is your best friend.

What I really like about this little tool is the quick release clip that allows you to quickly grab the Hex when you need it. And when you don’t, you can just attach it back onto your belt loop or bag, and the tool is so light, you don’t notice it.

Gerber Paraframe II

lightweight, stainless steel design : the Gerber Paraframe 2 — The Gerber Paraframe II does not compromise

This is a slightly larger version of the classic Paraframe knife, and the name of the game here is lightness. Since the skeleton handle of the Gerber Paraframe II is made from steel, the lightness is not compromising strength.

The knife has a little stud on the blade, which is a fantastic little feature, as it means the knife can be opened and shut easily with one hand, even with thick winter gloves on. The knife is available in various sizes, and with either a straight edge or serrated/straight edge combo. I myself prefer the serrated version, because it’s more versatile, and with the larger knife, there’s more blade to fit in.

Gerber Gator Machete

The Gerber Gator Machete is an intimidating piece of kit that’s designed for clearing large swathes of land of any kind of vegetation. The Gator is well balanced in the hands, and features texturing on the handle that’s meant to be reminiscent of an alligator’s scales, hence the name; how much it does, I don’t know, but it does give a good grip in the hands for an assured swing.

The back of the blade is a serrated sawtooth, which means there is actually very little that the Gator can’t get through. Comes with a surprisingly nice sheath as well.

Gerber Fixed Blade DP – SE

One of my all-time favourite knives from Gerber, this little knife is just so tough. Again, it has the serrated/straight edge combo and features an incredible full tang construction; most of the knife is just one piece of metal. This makes it strong, rigid, and, most importantly, easily manoeuvrable.

The Gerber Fixed Blade DP – SE also has a large cut-out for the fore finger, aiding precision, whilst the yak hide texturing on the handle ensures a secure hold, even in wet conditions. The 3.3-inch blade is titanium nitride coated, which, after some Googling, is an extremely hard ceramic metal that’s over two-and-a-half times harder than steel itself, so you can expect that cutting edge to last.

Check out our full range of Gerber Gear here. And to experience more of the brand, head to our Gerber Knives & Multitools collections page.

Ten Top Bushcraft Survival & Supplies Tips

If you’re passionate about the outdoors and want to learn more about survival skills and bushcraft, then this short primer will help to give you a few pointers on how to fend for yourself, and enjoy those nights under the stars.

Corkscrew

The tighter the knot, the stronger it holds. But the tighter the knot, the harder it is to undo! The corkscrew on the Sportsman by Victorinox is the perfect tool for undoing tight knots. Weave the corkscrew into the knot and coax the threads apart.

Clamps

A useful component of a survival kit is a handful of heavy-duty tarpaulin clamps with metal eyelets. Taking a firm grip on fabric, these clamps add stability to a tent in bad weather or provide anchorage for a makeshift shelter.

Water Strainer

If there is no clear water to be found, use a tightly woven piece of cotton fabric, like a T-shirt or bandana, to strain mucky water. The cloth can be repeatedly rinsed and reused.

Honey

A gauze pad spread with honey is an excellent dressing for infections and burns. Honey is antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal. Dr Susan Meschwitz, who led research into the healing properties of honey, said, “The unique property of honey lies in its ability to fight infection on multiple levels.” In cold weather, though, honey will crystallise and will have to be warmed before use.

biolite-camp-stove — The Biolite CampStove has all kinds of uses.

Firelighters

Commercial firelighters take up quite a bit of space when you’re travelling light. Here are some superb ideas for homemade (and cheap) firelighters. Save remnants of wax candles and melt them over a BioLite CampStove, which is fuelled by twigs and pieces of wood. Coat some cotton pads or cardboard strips with the molten wax. When the wax has set, keep these firelighters in a watertight bag until they are needed.

Root cordage

When in need of emergency rope, excavate the thinner tree roots that are to be found near the surface of the soil. Strip off the bark, and the roots can be used straight away for binding. The Classic SD by Victorinox is a handy tool to carry with you for this type of work, along with the Blademedic Knife Sharpener. For tighter binding, the root will need to be dried out first, but wet it before use to make it more flexible.

Bark cordage

For finer, intricate binding, cut strips of willow bark, scrape off the outer bark, and keep these scrapings. Put the strips of inner bark into a pan of water with some wood ash and the saved scrapings of outer bark, and simmer for at least 45 minutes. The strips will now be flexible and durable.

Collecting dew

One of the simplest ways to collect water – when there is a shortage – is to lay a piece of cotton fabric (a tea shirt, for example) over dew-covered vegetation and squeeze the collected water into a container. It is advisable to boil the water before drinking it.

lineaeffe-11-tool-multitool — The Lineaeffe Multitool is an excellent piece of kit for survival in the outdoors.

Steamed fish

Make up a hot fire with a good bed of embers. Lay a piece of moss turf on the fire, green side up. Put your gutted and cleaned fish (the Lineaeffe Multitool is a superb bit of kit for this purpose) on the moss, and cover them with another lump of moss, green side down. Leave your fish to steam for about 30 minutes, sandwiched within the moss.

Treatment of diarrhoea

Ingest ground charcoal, which can absorb more than twice its own mass in toxins. To make charcoal, put soft wood into a closed tin. Punch a hole in the top of the tin and put it into a fire, allowing the wood to burn in an oxygen-free environment. When no more smoke is coming out of the hole, remove the tin from the fire and allow it to cool. Grind the charcoal, mix it with water, and drink it. It’s an effective (and by all accounts horrible) treatment of diarrhoea.

Subscribe to our email news letter for more top tips on airgunning, archery, bushcraft, and much more. For all of your survival supplies and equipment needs, check out our online bushcraft store.

Bushcraft – An Introduction

Here at Pellpax, a significant part of our range is given over to outdoor, wildness and bushcraft goods. Stuff to help you eat, sleep, and survive in the great outdoors. This area has developed over time, but has become a source of fascination here in the UK thanks to TV survivalists like Ray Mears and Bear Grylls.

Here at Pellpax, a significant part of our range is given over to outdoor wildness in our UK bushcraft supplies store. Stuff to help you eat, sleep, and survive in the great outdoors.

Bushcraft has developed as a movement and hobby over quite a time – arguably it goes back to the beginning of man’s earliest origins. However, in recent times, it’s become a source of fascination here in the UK, thanks to TV survivalists like Ray Mears and Bear Grylls.

This has led to the development of blogs, outdoor survival courses, festivals, and shows across the UK. There are several broad disciplines within bushcraft. What follows is a quick overview of each of these, with some products to illustrate what you’ll need to survive your next outdoor adventure.

1. Get Water: Stay Hydrated

Geigerrig Pressurized Hydration Engine - 3 Litre £39.95 Code: PGR3LTR — Geigerrig Pressurized Hydration Engine – 3 Litre £39.95 Code: PGR3LTR

Water is one of your essential bodily needs, and you won’t last long without hydrating, particularly when exposed to the elements and weather. It’s also important for hygiene, without which you’ll find yourself becoming ill and unable to survive. You can bring your own water with the appropriate storage, or collect it, or even dig a well.

You can bring your own with the appropriate storage, or collect or even dig a well. We’ve got some great water reservoirs like this one by Geigerrig (£39.95).

A pressurized hydration engine, with a capacity of 3 litres, it’s great for those early morning showers, if you’ve got the storage capacity.

leatherman-classic-steripen-8666 — SteriPEN Classic £66.99 Code: PSPPF-RP-EF

Alternatively, if you’ve decided to travel light and go for water capture and collection, then you’ll need to purify your water in order to drink it.

You could invest in this purification kit by Steripen (below).

The Steripen Classic uses UV light to kill bacteria. It’s just one of the range of Steripen water purifiers and accessories that we sell. Check out this section for more.

2. Bring, find or make shelter

military-wire-saw-5420 — Military Wire Saw £4.99 Code: p158

Any stay in the elements is going to require shelter, the most basic of human requirements. If you are going to be adventurous and go beyond the modern method of using a collapsible tent, then you may choose to make your own shelter from wood and undergrowth that you’ve been able to cut or claim from the forest or nature itself.

You could use one of our huge range of machetes for this purpose, or our range of axes to help you hack off a branch or two.If you’re taking your bushcraft seriously and travelling light, you might want to pack this light, versatile chain saw.

A tarp may be a lightweight alternative to carrying a full tent. You could take this one (below), and even use your bushcraft skills to make it into a tent.

3. Camping Lanterns

When you’re in the outback, countryside, or your backyard, you’re going to need to be able to see when the sun goes down. Our range of Ultimate Survival lanterns (£27.99) will let you do this in style, coming in a range of four colours, with two variants that are longer lasting, for 10 and 30 day periods respectively. They are water resistant, and have 3 modes: low, high and SOS flash.

The entry model offers a whopping 91 hours of continuous with 4 AA batteries, which should be enough for most campaign trips, or tricky corners of your house like attic or garage, where some extra light could come in handy.

So, there you have it. The range of goods and products for sale in our bushcraft range is growing all the time. We deliver across Great Britain, and our staff are on call to give you all the help, advice and assistance you need with loading up for your next adventure. Check out the Pellpax UK bushcraft store, and, if you need help, call us today!