Airgun shooting is enjoying a huge surge in popularity and newcomers are spoilt for choice when it comes to accurate and reliable air rifle accessories. Unfortunately, though, too many air…
Shooting Times
Can a rescue make a top gundog?
Looking at rescue gundogs When clients approach me about getting a working dog, I have to admit that looking at rescue gundogs is not the first thing I’d suggest. But…
Jeep Renegade 4xe Trailhawk
Jeep’s baby SUV burst on to the scene in 2015 and has become a popular little runaround for town and country. So much so that I know of someone who’s…
What you need to know about renewing your shotgun and firearms certificates during the COVID pandemic
If you’re medically vulnerable or living with somebody who is, then you’ll have had to be particularly cautious during the COVID pandemic. But what’s the deal if you need to…
French gundogs – why don’t we see more of them here?
Some French gundogs L’épagneul Breton, the Brittany L’épagneul Français (French spaniel) Barbet Braque d’Auvergne L’épagneul de Pont-Audemer Braque de Bourbonnais Braque Français Why French shooting is different The French are…
Enjoy the delicious, fresh flavours of this venison tataki recipe
Pheasant, partridge and wild duck are ideal meats for stir-fry and venison is a perfect alternative to beef or fresh tuna in this venison fillet recipe, tataki. Fillet is extravagant,…
Partridge-like and high crossers
The pigeon have abandoned my favourite pigeon roost shooting wood of 10 years. Looking back through my records, 40 to 60 birds on an evening outing was not unusual. And…
ATA SP 20-bore Steel £599
Our verdict on the ATA SP 20-bore Steel Industry disruptors in the gun trade are few. In the past century only a handful have successfully taken market share and established…
How to avoid 2021’s corvid control trap
With the season all but over, my mind as usual turns to planning for the next. In just a few weeks, the pheasants will be setting up their territories, strutting…
What do you do with birds leftover at the season’s end?
With the ever-tightening COVID-19 restrictions in operation in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, there is little hope for those of us longing for a return to driven shooting. It…
Training gundogs during COVID
It might seem like I have plenty of time to plan, lots of equipment and endless ground to train on. While I am lucky to have access to more ground,…
When the king shot thousands of rabbits
No other animal in the British countryside has played both hero and villain like the rabbit. The great warrens of the sandy Brecks in East Anglia were constructed to serve…
How to spot the difference between a Jack Russell terrier and a Parson Russell
The most striking difference between a Jack Russell terrier and a Parson Russell terrier is their size. Jack Russells are slightly smaller. The breed should measure 10-15″ on their shoulders…
Can a local registered firearms dealer ‘confiscate’ an air rifle?
All responsible airgunners should know their airgun law correctly so that their activities don’t put the sport into disrepute. But what happens if an air rifle is confiscated by a…
Airgunning in the cold
It might be cold out there but many of the pest species we can control with airguns are much easier to pinpoint during the winter – so airgunning in the…
Jamaican jerk pheasant recipe
I have always cooked some nice Caribbean foods, but jerk chicken, rice and peas is one of my top meals. This got me thinking about a Jamaican jerk pheasant recipe.…
How to choose a kennel set-up for your gundog
Outside kennels for gundogs Q: I am about to buy a new outside kennel set-up for my two cocker spaniels. Some systems that I have looked at have a kennel…
What size is the perfect gundog?
OK, I admit it. I have always been a fan of big, old-fashioned springers, chunky cockers and Labradors with substance, but I’m beginning to think that gundog size doesn’t really…
Can I find a steel-proofed English spec side-by-side?
Q: Much has been said about the steel shot debate and it looks inevitable that many old, and often hand-made, guns will be scrapped or become obsolete ornaments. While there…
Conservation projects to carry out during lockdown
If you are involved in shoot management in any way, do consider the following. Is there still a decent shrub layer, or has canopy closure started to starve out the…