Drive down any lane in the heady days of summer and there will be a pheasant, rabbit or something less edible that has taken a knock from a car. It…
Shooting Times
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.
Have you seen a hen harrier?
The hen harrier has a huge global range, from Europe to Taiwan, with an estimated European population of 30,000 to 54,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International, 2015). However, at the last…
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…
Shooting must make friends, not enemies
For this challenging article, I asked the National Trust, the Countryside Alliance (CA), the RSPB, the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT), the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO), the Game & Wildlife…
Supervising a Young Shot
As the media continues in its condemnation of young Shots, Will Finch argues that shooting from an early age has a positive effect on young people
Should I get my son a junior-sized airgun or a full-size?
The importance of young people to shooting
How will the result of the General Election affect the countryside and rural issues?
I’d like to throw Jeremy Corbyn,” began one landowner and keen Shot who wished to remain nameless, “…off a cliff.” By the time you read this, the General Election will…
Why you should beware of early neutering
David Tomlinson recently wrote about the physical downsides of early neutering for dogs of either gender, but the behavioural effects are less well known. Many people who experience problems with…
The perfect recipe for rabbit pie
Ingredients: For the pastry: 200ml water 170g lard 450g PLAIN flour 1tsp salt For the filling: A little oil 1 onion, sliced 3 cloves of garlic, crushed 500g pork mince…
What’s going to happen to shooting after Brexit?
It is possible, if you have been hiding under a particularly large patch of heather, far, far away in the Scottish Highlands – maybe as far north as Ullapool –…
Interview with Sir Nicholas Soames, Conservative MP for Mid Sussex
Sir Nicholas Soames reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box of matches. I wait for the cigar to follow. It would suit him, sitting there, statesmanlike in a…
Beware the mangy fox
Q: We have foxes in our garden and one has a lot of bald, sore-looking patches, especially over its head. A friend suggested that the foxes have mange, which could…
Ratting with terriers
I’ve been to a meet or two in my time: beagle packs on village greens; minkhounds on crumbling stone bridges that look as old as the river which winds beneath…
Should I choose a spaniel or a Labrador?
I go rabbit and pigeon shooting, and now intend to get a gundog. I am not sure which breed to go for. A friend says Labradors are born half-trained and…
Help! My young springer ‘freezes’ on a shoot
Q: I have a problem which seems difficult to solve. My young springer has just turned two and started going shooting in January, which was fine, she hunted well. We…
What’s wrong with your pigeon shooting?
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…
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…