This Christmas it’s going to be hard for many of us to go out Christmas shopping due to Covid restrictions and so we’ve put together a long list of Christmas gifts for shooters that you can buy online which can be delivered directly. As well as products we’ve also included…
Advice
Conflicts with the public in the countryside
Many of my shooting permissions border large urban towns and while I reap the benefit of pigeon flying out to feed in the fields surrounding them, I inevitably come into contact with the residents of the towns too. Public in the countryside By and large, people who enjoy walking in…
Tips for freezing game
There are a few rules to freezing game to make sure you have a good supply throughout the spring and summer months and they apply whether you have a chest freezer or something smaller. Label everything Always clearly label your game even if you tell yourself confidently: “Oh, I’ll remember…
Are dog coats really necessary?
Have you got any experience of neoprene coats for gundog training? Do they work?
What’s the most humane way to despatch a pricked bird?
Never leave an injured bird Every sportsman should keep unnecessary suffering to a minimum. The prime objective of shooting live quarry is to ensure an instant death for the bird but inevitably there are occasions when birds are pricked (wounded) and need to be quickly despatched. Our quarry deserves respect…
Why you shouldn’t tackle rural crime by yourself
As sure as day follows night, hare coursing and the poaching of gamebirds and deer become more prevalent after harvest. The seasonal increase in poaching and rural crime generally isn’t for any noble reason or observation of a season of any sort, it is simply due to the fact that…
Why you should always pattern your shotgun
Shotguns and cartridges are, ballistically speaking, highly inefficient.
Is it legal to borrow or lend a gun?
At the start of the shooting season you may be shooting with friends who have recently ventured into fieldsports and don’t yet own a shotgun. So what’s the law if you are going shooting with a friend on a formal shoot and the friend, who doesn’t have a shotgun certificate,…
What is the max killing range for a 100 grain .243 bullet?
Deer stalking: What do you reckon is the ethical max killing range for a 100 grain .243 bullet for a heart/lung shot on Roe?
10 of the best – guns, clothes, ammo and kit for shooters
We’ve reviewed guns, clothes, accessories and ammunition to give shooters the most informed choice when they’re looking to buy kit. So here’s a guide to our best lists for shooters, so that you can browse through the best guns for clayshooting, the best breeks for shooting, the best airguns for…
What happens to my gun when I’m at the shoot lunch?
Err on the side of caution when it comes to gun security
Am I allowed to shoot my airgun in local woods open to the public?
So you’re a keen airgunner and you’ve set up a safe range at home for a spot of garden airgunning. But now you’re keen to expand your horizons. Maybe carry out a bit of pest control for a local farmer. But how do you go about getting a formal airgun…
How to zero your own rifle
How to zero your own rifle: Set up your rifle on a proper bench rest, making sure it is stable and secure so it will not move.
Should I choose a fixed or variable scope for roe stalking?
Q: I am a keen deer stalker but can’t decide whether I should opt for a fixed-power rifle scope or a variable one. In your opinion, which is the better option for roe stalking? Fixed-power rifle scopes vs variable rifle scopes A: It depends entirely on what you are comfortable…
Moving house and your gun certificates – what you need to know
When you’re moving house you want everything to run as smoothly as possible. But what should you do if you’re a gun owner? What are the legalities to obey with a firearms or shotgun certificate when you’re moving house? Well, you must tell the local police about your forthcoming move…
Just how deep do rabbits burrow down?
When you’re out walking near a rabbit warren, have you ever wondered just how far the tunnels go down? Just how deep is the average rabbit burrow? A rabbit warren is basically a home for a large colony of rabbits, that interconnects the different tunnels. The answer to how deep…
Here’s what you need to know about laser rangefinders for shooting
People who hunt with air rifles often seem to talk about carrying laser rangefinders for shooting . Are they really an essential item of kit? Are laser rangefinders for shooting air rifles necessary? Matt Manning replies: Laser rangefinders are not essential kitbag items for air rifle hunting, but they play…
Social media and fieldsports
In times of fairly recent memory, the mainstream media (MSM) talked about the goings-on in the countryside in a markedly different way to what we see today. Phil Drabble appeared weekly on our screens, twinkling on about sheep and dogs, fell hounds and uplands. Jack Hargreaves sat in his shed…
The skill of caring for pheasant poults successfully
My pheasant poults came yesterday, so by the time you read this they will have been here for a few weeks. The birds look good, all well-feathered and around seven weeks old. They are caught the night before from the rearing sheds and are delivered to me at around 4am,…