Where do you go wrong with woodies and what can you do to put things right? Build your hide right Over the years, I have come across countless people who…
Shooting Times
Browning 725 Pro Sport Adjustable
An evolution rather than an all-new design, the 725 moves on from its 1970s development with tweaks and improvements bringing it right up to date. For more than 40 years,…
3 things pigeon shooters get wrong (and how to make them right)
If you’re a keen pigeon shooter, you’ll know that these birds are canny and not that easy to outwit. Obviously much of the success you’ll enjoy lies in your shooting…
Elbow dysplasia in gundogs
Q: I have just retired my Labrador after he went lame with elbow dysplasia (ED). I want to get another dog and was planning on buying a puppy from a…
The lurcher – a designer cross-breed dog
A gamekeeper once said to me that a lurcher was “any calibre of gun you require”. The lean, light “silent assassin” is a most versatile field dog and probably the…
Should you insure your gundog?
It all comes down to your ability to pay vet bills if you don't insure your gundog
Do I need a qualification to stalk?
A: The straightforward answer is that you do not require a formal qualification to go stalking. While many people who stalk have undertaken training and successfully completed the DSC at level 1 and level 2, there…
UK other species review 2016
There is often debate among the UK hunting fraternity about the status of introduced species and the application of the CIC formulae to them. This comes from the concern as…
What makes a gun a magnum?
A: With regard to the proofing of shotguns, “magnum” is a legacy term that is no longer current. Under the 1954 Rules of Proof, 3in 12-bore shotguns were proofed at either 3½ton or 4ton per…
The woodcock – so elusive
As both a challenge of shooting skill and a delicacy for the table, the woodcock is regarded by many shooters as an elusive and highly prized trophy. It is certainly one of the most mysterious birds…
A useful day out with some Plummer terriers
By their very name, terriers are dogs of the earth. In the past, before certain legislation was implemented, this varied and extremely valiant family of dogs did exactly that, going to…
The size of the bag is not the point
As shooters we are often guilty of making sweeping assertions as to what the wider public love or hate about what we do. We base our beliefs on what we or our friends think,…
Who shoots geese with a Remington .45?
“I spent most of my childhood shooting geese with a Remington .45” announced the moustachioed Texan. I took another sip of my damson gin, which a jolly girl selling tweed…
Why the nuthatch is a sight to behold
One of the distinguishing features of nuthatches is that they can climb down trees — the only British bird that can do this. Woodpeckers and treecreepers work their way up the trunk, hunting for insects under…
Can woodcock tell the time?
Fascinated by the woodcock’s punctuality, Leri takes the time to observe and record the accuracy of these birds’ inner clocks
English and Welsh roe review 2016
One of the things that I enjoy about measuring trophies for the CIC is when a hunter, either because he’s just shot something bigger than normal or has been encouraged…
Roast pheasant – simply delicious
Sometimes the most simple way to cook a gamebird is the best — here is a mouthwatering recipe for roast pheasant – whole pheasants are seared in a pan before…
Scottish roe review 2016
Roebuck seasons come and go, remembered by stalkers for many reasons — a first buck, a trophy scored, an atypical animal, a new rifle or permission or, for very few, the…
Benelli 828U 12-bore
With this series of guns, Benelli has cast aside convention. A newcomer to over-and-under guns, the company has previously been more concerned with the manufacture of semi-automatic shotguns, an area where it also broke the mould with…