On the Hunt – KG

This eel trap, used for catching eels, was made by Great Yarmouth Stores Ltd in Norfolk. It is made of buff willow and centre cane. It has a funnel-entrance, a single non-return valve and a cork bung. This type of eel trap was baited, weighted so that it would sink, and tethered to the bank of a river.

This is a copper horn crudely welded into a cone with a mouthpiece, also of a copper welded into the smaller end. It is believed to be a homemade hunting horn.

A cosh is flail-like clubbing weapon used by poachers for a killing game.

This large powder flask is made of a light-coloured horn. It has a brass cap at one end with a wooden screw in the opening through which it can be filled. A brass nozzle at the narrow end controls the flow of powder by means of a lever. The brass cap has the inscription ‘N: I:’

This is a probably a hawk trap, which would have been mounted on the end of a long pole and set up in the open. Hawks were caught because they attacked and killed young poultry. It has two serrated semi-circular jaws which are held open by a spring – the spring is released when the fork-like trigger on which bait would be placed is pressed. The donor found the trap on top of a pole in Medmenham, Buckinghamshire.

This mousetrap was made by the donor’s father, who lived in Sackers Green, Suffolk – his initials, ‘P.H.’, are carved one one side. It was a hobby of his to make deadfall mouse traps; this trap is also of the ‘deadfall’ type. It consists of a heavy horizontal block which falls when the trap is activated.

This is a rabbit trap, used for catching rabbits. This example is a single spring gin trap type.

This shotgun was used by the donor’s grandfather for hunting. The gun is a double barrelled muzzle loading shotgun, with a rod. It’s  case is made of leather and canvas.

This sticker is a car sticker produced by the Countryside Alliance to advertise the Countryside March protest against the 1998 Wild Mammals (Hunting with Dogs) Bill (also known as the Forster bill) which proposed a ban on hunting with hounds.

Approximately 250,000 people joined the march in London. The bill ran out of time during the report stage at the House of Commons and was ultimately withdrawn. The Countryside Alliance was formed in 1997 from three organisations: the British Field Sports Society, and the Countryside Business Group and the Countryside Movement, both of which were formed with help from the British Field Sports Society. The Countryside Alliance promotes issues relating to the countryside

The Countryside Alliance was formed in 1997 from three organisations: the British Field Sports Society, and the Countryside Business Group and the Countryside Movement, both of which were formed with help from the British Field Sports Society. The Countryside Alliance promotes issues relating to the countryside such as food, farming and country sports. To date the focus of its campaigning has been to defend hunting.

This is a small cast metal bird, painted in yellow and green. It is possibly a representation of a linnet or a lark. Decoy birds, either alive or dummies, were used to attract other birds into nets or within the range of guns.

This is an alarm gun. Alarm guns were used for disturbing poachers and alerting keepers to their presence. The museum holds very little information about its origins or place of use. General note: Alarm gun; for disturbing poachers and alerting keepers to their presence.

This ferret bell would be attached to the ferret’s neck by a collar to stimulate the ferret and give notice of its whereabouts in the rabbit burrow. It belonged to Arthur Humphries and had been his family in Gloucestershire for many years.

This is a partridge carrier, used for carrying partridges which have been shot. The main body is made of wood, with a slot running along the centre with a circular hole cut at on end. The bird’s head is put through the hole and then slid along the slot. The carrier is said to have been used in the Reading area.

This small pheasant trap, measuring 9 inches in height, originally came from Tolleshunt Major, in Essex, and was also previously part of the collections at the City Museum in Gloucester. The museum holds little other information about its origins or age.