Gundog owners are being warned to be particularly careful following a dramatic increase in gundog thefts, with spaniels seeming to be a particular target. Keeper Jon Gaunt had three springer spaniels stolen from his East Sussex home in early May. Despite an extensive publicity campaign and “brilliant” support from his…
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COVID-19 making gundog puppies pricier and harder to come by
Gundog puppies from traditional breeds such as spaniels and Labradors are becoming more expensive and harder to find due to raised demand following lockdown. Shooting Times contributor and gundog breeder Jeremy Hunt of Fenway Labradors remarked: “The demand for Labrador puppies, and not just working ones, has gone crazy. The…
What will the Scottish stalking season be like this year?
Usually at this time of year everyone involved in deer stalking in Scotland – ghillies, agents and guides – would be gearing up for the season ahead. However, thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, recreational stalking and sporting tourism have been hit hard. Scottish National Heritage (SNH) has ruled: “… Unaccompanied…
July launch for new Gamebore environmentally friendly cartridge
Environmentally minded Shots will be able to shore up their eco credentials with an exciting new cartridge being launched by Gamebore in July – the Dark Storm with Quad Seal – a new version of the famous Dark Storm cartridge. On its website Gamebore says that: “The benefits of the…
GWCT calls for vital funds to continue essential work
A letter to members of the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) from chief executive Teresa Dent CBE, has illustrated the extent of financial support urgently needed by the Trust. In spring the charity was forced to cancel its fund raising events and lost its paid work due to the…
Clayshooting grounds in England that are open for business again
Clayshooters in England are celebrating the re-opening of their sport after the COVID-19 shutdown. We’ve had a look around to see which clay grounds are open again in which regions (or are about to open). If there are any to add which you think should be included, please let us…
What will be the long-term effect of COVID-19 on shooting?
What will be the longterm effect of COVID-19 on shooting?
Clay grounds in England get the green light
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) has announced that clay grounds in England can reopen in a phased return. Iain Parker, CEO, has declared that the CPSA has now received governmental confirmation to recommend the re-opening of clayshooting grounds. He explains: “Over the past 48 hours we have been working…
Who has won in the Eat Game Awards this year?
The annual Eat Game Awards, in association with Taste of Game and Purdey, reward those who encourage the cooking and eating of game and wild British produce, whether they excel in retail or in impressive culinary achievement. The nominees are chosen by the public. The consumption of game is rising…
Support NHS heroes by funding a game-based meal bag
We know that medical staff have been under immense pressure during the COVID-19 crisis and for many it’s hard to find time to grab a bite to eat. So Game Aid is delivering free delicious meal bags to frontline NHS workers which contain a pheasant and pork pie, some fruit,…
Conservation in the age of coronavirus
I write this at a time of uncertainty and trepidation for all. COVID-19 has utterly changed our lives in a few short weeks. What the ramifications will be, both financial and physical, in the medium to long-term are topics of much concern and speculation. Those of us who live and…
This evening’s entertainment sorted. The Shooting Times Lockdown Pub Quiz takes place at 7pm.
So you’ve watched basically all of Netflix and you’re wondering how to spend lockdown this evening. Well, here’s the answer for all you fieldsports fans. Join in the Shooting Times Virtual Pub Quiz at 7pm and test your knowledge of shooting, gundogs and country matters. The quiz is free and…
Shoots press ahead despite uncertainty over COVID-19
The likely effect of COVID-19 on shooting in the UK is becoming clearer as the initial panic starts to subside and more shoots decide how they will approach the coming season. The majority of shoot operators who spoke to Shooting Times said they intended to go ahead with shooting this…
Support gamekeeping during these difficult times and you could win a knife worth £500
The National Gamekeepers Organisation (NGO) exists for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is to support gamekeepers who have fallen on difficult times. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic many shoots are facing an uncertain future and some estates have already cancelled next year’s shooting season. Support gamekeepers…
A message for subscribers of Shooting Times, Sporting Gun and Shooting Gazette
We wanted to take this opportunity to reassure you that we are working hard to ensure you continue to receive your issues of Shooting Times, Sporting Gun and Shooting Gazette as normal. Some regions overseas have experienced disruption to their service, however for the majority, there are currently no interruptions…
COVID-19 makes shooting season ‘a huge gamble’
Shoots around the country have been wrestling with decisions about how many birds to put down, how many days to offer and whether to shoot at all. One gamekeeper told Shooting Times: “It is an enormous gamble. Potentially we are paying thousands of pounds to buy birds, then paying thousands…
Seven days of game dinners for a family of four – £1.79 per person a day
We hope that our readers are managing this extraordinary period of coronavirus and staying well. Feeding a family isn’t always easy at the best of times, particularly when you can’t go out or are having to self-isolate. So we think this family food pack from not-for-profit company Wild and Game…
Amid national crisis, Wild Justice launches new legal campaign and requests funding
The day after the UK saw a 26% surge in coronavirus infections (17 March 2020) Wild Justice announced that its lawyers had filed an application for a judicial review of Natural Resources Wales’s (NRW’s) issuing of general licences on 1 January 2020. The group also announced that it is seeking…
Don’t fall foul of the new trapping laws
Trapping laws and predator control The first days of March have brought respite from the winter storms. Rain and wind seems to have lashed the estate for an eternity and the very thought of spring seems weeks away, but this can suddenly change. The days are stretching out and two…
How have other countries coped with the lead shot ban?
For advocates of lead ammunition, the arguments have become academic. The leaders of our major shooting and countryside organisations have signed a statement in support of the removal of lead — and single-use plastic — from all ammunition used for hunting game, within five years. Critics will not see this…