There aren’t many shortcuts in this game — shooting high pheasants takes practice. The only way to become really good at taking on those tall birds is to spend hours…
Tom Payne
How to use a hide for pigeon shooting
Almost all of us, at some point over the course of a season, will end up shooting from a hide of some sort, be it a duck hide, grouse butt…
What to look for when buying a gun
It always amazes me how many people are seduced by the aesthetic of a gun before they’ve even analysed how well it’s built and given some serious thought to how…
How to get permission for pigeon shooting
Permission for pigeon shooting can be hard to get. A lot of the time it’s about getting to know people before you’ll get anywhere. Think of it from the farmer’s…
How to choose the right shotgun and cartridge for pigeon shooting
Shotguns and cartridges for pigeon shooting First off, what sort of gun would be best for you out in the pigeon field? Invest in the best gun you can afford.…
Our experts test out four different calibres pigeon shooting
I usually go off shooting pigeons with a Perazzi MX12. So when Patrick Galbraith called me with an idea of trying some different guns in different calibres for pigeon shooting…
Travelling light to flight
Pigeon flighting – reliable Enough is enough. I had the eighth person come up to me in the pub asking: “When do you think we will be shooting over the…
How to tackle common species when walked-up shooting
Successfully walking-up any quarry and making the most of your opportunities is not as as straightforward as people often think. Here I will go into specific details about how to…
How to prepare and dress a woodpigeon
Woodpigeon shooting provides fantastic, healthy meat and is a sustainable food source. The pigeon is an agricultural pest but it is only ethical that the shot birds are put to…
Fibre wads – it’s time to ditch the plastic
Shooting advice: Can you tell me whether a fibre-wad cartridge in 28g No.5 gives a better pattern than a plastic one in the same size?
Footwork and how it affects your success when shooting
Most Guns don’t understand how footwork helps them, and when asked will probably answer along the lines of killing the bird wherever your front foot is, or something to that…
I’d like to start gameshooting but I’m a student on a budget …
Q: I am in my mid-40s and have never shot before, but I would love to have a go at gameshooting and possibly get my shotgun licence if I then…
Why you should try to keep both eyes open when shooting
I recently wrote about how an average Shot can improve out of season. We established that Patrick, the pupil, mounts his gun reasonably well and can kill birds consistently when…
A lesson on gun fit
The season was drawing to an end when I received a call from Shooting Times Editor Patrick Galbraith. Patrick mentioned that he wasn’t entirely happy with his shooting over the…
4 tips for more consistent shooting
It is at this point in the season that some Shots start to question their shooting technique. If you want to make major changes you’ve missed the boat by about…
Should you shoot pigeons with a semi-auto?
The gun you choose to shoot pigeons — whether decoyed, flighting or roosting — should always be given maximum thought if you are to shoot to the best of your…
How to improve your pheasant shooting technique
Here are some pheasant shooting techniques to help you in the field Footwork and balance In all forms of driven shooting, good footwork is the building block for any shot,…
Practise on clays for the partridge season
If you have a day on partridge in your diary, you should at least try to go to a good clay ground a few times before or book a lesson…
Where to spot the pigeon
May and early June can often be the slowest period for pigeon shooting. But I’m very fond of this time of year as a pigeon shooter because you really have…
Spring drillings and pigeon
It’s been an interesting start to pigeon shooting on spring drillings this year. Many counties seemed like they would never get going but then, with an abrupt change in weather…