Our two most popular breeds of spaniel Choosing between a cocker spaniel and a springer spaniel has never been more difficult. According to the Kennel Club’s (KC) figures, cockers are…
Shooting Times
The Code of Good Shooting Practice – why you should read it again
If you’re a responsible shooter, then you need to know the standards the shooting code sets … The Code of Good Shooting Practice — a summary Shooting behaviour: individuals must…
We took a cavalier King Charles spaniel to a game fair. What happened next?
Some years ago we had a friend’s cavalier staying with us in July, so she accompanied us, with our springers, to the Game Fair. The fact that the fair was…
This is why more than 23,000 new shotgun licences have been issued in the past year
The number of people enjoying shooting is growing, with more than 23,000 new shotgun certificates issued by police forces in England and Wales in the past year. There were 23,718…
Caesar Guerini 12-bore Invictus I Sporting M-Spec
One of Italy’s newer gunmaking companies, Caesar Guerini has progressed quickly. Started in 2000 by brothers Giorgio and Antonio Guerini, the company moved in 2002 into purpose-built premises in the…
Win! Seeland Ragley Tweed in Shooting Times
The new for Autumn/Winter 2017 Seeland Ragley family tweed in Moss Check is traditional yet hard-wearing, fully waterproof and stylish. Available in Men’s, Ladies and Kids, this suit has something…
How to reduce stress for your dog at the vet
It is always amusing sitting in the waiting room of a veterinary surgery and seeing the various customers come in. Many gundogs, of course, are petrified of visiting the vet…
Is your gundog a fussy eater?
One of the remarkable things about dogs is that they will apparently happily eat the same thing every day, every week, throughout the year. A skinny spaniel stayed with us recently while its owners were…
Retriever makes a noise
Q: My three-year-old flatcoated retriever has been a joy to train, is a really keen retriever and has been a good worker out on the shoot for the past two…
Exclusive: Footballer turned movie star Vinnie Jones talks smoking barrels and his love for fieldsports
Vinnie Jones, the former footballer turned actor, is famous for his tough- man image, but his love for fieldsports is less well known. Shooting Times: What are you up to at…
Lowland birds breeding well
Gamekeepers across the UK are reporting strong broods and quality eggs, despite a period of bad weather, with the breeding season under way. Persistent rain has been an issue, but…
Is the side-by-side shotgun history?
“Snobbery and inheritance are the only reasons why people use a side-by-side.” So said one keen Shot, once described as the best of his generation. “But I’m not that bothered. I…
How gundogs scent
A gundog's sense of smell is one of its most valuable tools, but to take full advantage of this capability, it is important to understand how scent works.
Trendy dogs are not always the most healthy
I am a diligent reader of dog stories, but one I missed earlier this year was a regional map of dog-breed popularity, based on Kennel Club registrations in 2016. As…
Scotland ends tail docking ban
The Scottish Government this week voted in favour of allowing vets to shorten the tails of spaniels and hunt, point, retrievers (HPR) if they will be used as working dogs.…
Will new police text alert system speed up firearms licensing?
Thames Valley Police is pioneering a new text alert scheme to improve and speed up its firearms and shotgun licensing process. The three-stage system will send a text to applicants…
Lincoln Premier Compact reviewed by Shooting Times
Among the cluster of gunmakers nestled along the valley of the Mella river above Brescia in Italy is a company called Fabbrica Armi Isidoro Rizzini, otherwise known as FAIR. Since…
Pheasant lands on school menus
School pupils across the UK are to learn about the benefits of game meat after BASC’s Taste of Game campaign teamed up with teachers to get pheasant cooking lessons added…
Scottish shooters condemn illegal killing of raptors
The shooting community has condemned the illegal killing of birds of prey after a new report into the disappearance of golden eagles provided strong evidence of raptor persecution over Scottish…
Police get tougher on gun ownership
The police are overcautious and too quick to revoke shotgun and firearm certificates, according to a firearms legal specialist. Earlier this month, Shooting Times reported on prosecutions launched by South…