Should I train my new cross-breed gun dog as a lab or a springer?
Shooting Times
Can a local registered firearms dealer ‘confiscate’ an air rifle?
Q: I have just taken my air rifle into my local registered firearms dealer (RFD) for some work. While he had it, he tested it over a chronoscope and said…
Whistles and working dogs – some frequently asked questions
Full-time gundog trainer and A-panel spaniel judge
Can you prevent arthritis in dogs?
Q: Is there anything that can be done to delay or prevent the onset of arthritis in older dogs? Controlling your dog’s weight by feeding a healthy diet and keeping…
The trick to training an HPR breed
Some traditionalists dismiss HPRs as unnecessary for British shooting, but David Tomlison finds out why owners of these dogs so passionately disagree
The truth about pigeon damage
Perhaps this is a good time to pause and ask a question: do we really need to shoot woodpigeons? If the general licence fiasco has reminded us of anything, it…
How do we list guns as ‘shared’ on our shotgun licences?
My wife and I share a gun cabinet and I’ve been told my shotguns should appear as 'shared' on my wife’s shotgun licence and hers shown similarly on mine.…
What’s the law on inheriting a shotgun?
Some months after my father passed away the police told my mother that because his shotgun certificate had lapsed she should hand his gun to the local gun shop.
Why do multi-shot airguns cost more?
Paying more for a pre-charged airgun with a magazine-fed firing cycle is probably justified if you intend to use it for hunting. When a fast second shot is required to…
Chapuis Armes Rols Elegance
In general, French manufacturer Chapuis Armes is associated more often with quality double rifles and shotguns than modern straight-pull rifles, but the Chapuis Armes Rols Elegance rifle is a refreshingly…
Turkish shotguns – definitely worthy of consideration and here is why
Buying your first gun is a genuinely exciting feeling and one of the great pleasures of taking up shooting as a new hobby. A first gun is almost always bought…
The Irish water spaniel
The joker in the spaniel pack. No, not my words, but those of an Irish water spaniel owner and enthusiast, talking about the foibles and idiosyncrasies of his favourite breed.…
AYA No 1 side-by-side shotgun reviewed by Shooting Times
AyA No.1 Sidelock shotgun: AyA shotguns are known to British sportsmen for their looks, reliability and competitive pricing. The No.1 sidelock side-by-side ticks all these boxes and more.
How to sell your game without going through a game dealer
Last year the game market was one of the best to date for game dealers selling into home and international markets. Across the south of England the three main dealers…
What is the closest to a public road you can legally use a shotgun?
Where a field is bordered by a public footpath, what is the minimum distance at which one can safely and legally shoot a shotgun?
The law on tail docking
Docked tails: I want to ask my new picking-up team about their dogs' docked tails.
Merkel K3 Extreme .308
Merkel, one of the oldest gunmakers in the Suhl district of Germany, is renowned for its fine shotguns, rifles and double- or triple-barrelled guns. The Merkel K3 Extreme .308 harks back…
How did traditional gundogs fare in Kennel Club registrations in 2018?
Has the dog-buying British public gone barking mad? Last year, as was widely predicted, the French bulldog became Britain’s most popular pedigree breed, ousting the Labrador from the top spot…
Threat to general licences
The general licences that allow for the shooting of pest bird species, including crows, feral pigeons, Canada geese and lesser black-backed gulls, are to be challenged in the courts by…
Recipe for deer liver with wild garlic and a fried egg
Super-fresh liver is among the sweetest, most irresistible pieces of meat you are ever likely to encounter. Leave it to go stale, though, and within 48 hours it will be…