A country-based VW Tiguan review Since its introduction in 2007, the Tiguan has proven a popular vehicle for the modern 2.4-children family.Normally associated with the school run or a weekend…
Shooting Times
The definition of sporting – what does sporting really mean?
Definition of sporting “I’d rather be sporting than just put stuff on the ground,” the end Gun muttered as the horn sounded and his neighbour’s old cocker bumbled over to…
Schultz & Larsen Victory synthetic thumbhole £2,950
Verdict on the Schultz & Larsen Victory synthetic thumbhole version In this world of fast food and high-tech gadgetry, it is nice to see that some firearms manufacturers still move…
Steel shot vs lead – why I switched a while ago
Steel shot vs lead I suspect that most shooters realise that lead is dead. It’s only a matter of when. I am not going to reiterate the arguments for steel…
Venison shanks recipe
Now that the start of the roebuck season is here, I wanted to take the opportunity to share possibly my favourite venison shanks recipe. It’s one that fits firmly in…
Air rifle case – does an air rifle have to be kept in one when you’re on a public footpath?
Q: My son has permission to shoot air rifles on a large estate to control squirrels and rabbits. The estate has a number of public footpaths running through it. He…
Spaniel ears – what a new owner needs to know
Q: I’ve acquired a spaniel, a breed I believe that is prone to ear infection. Should I clean his ears regularly or how else can I best prevent problems with…
Travelling with guns – here’s what you need to know
Whilst shooting locally is companionable and familiar, from time to time keen Shots will be keen to get travelling with guns. Whether to investigate shooting in a different type of…
Miroku MK11 Game sideplate £6,199
The MK11 sideplate leads the Miroku brand to a much higher quality level than its previous over-and-unders. The gun is a true hybrid from the Miroku/Browning stable, taking a lower…
Sprocker or cocker spaniel? How can you tell them apart?
Should you get a sprocker or cocker spaniel? I admit to being a fan of sprockers as I like their hybrid vigour. They are not a designer cross-breed like a…
Braque du bourbonnais – a dog with a genuine sporting pedigree
What’s a braque du Bourbonnais? It’s a question that braque owners are frequently asked and most will tell you that it’s a type of French gundog, one of a group…
Waterproof shooting boots – we put some pairs to the test
When spring arrives, most of us are equipped with clothing suited to the change in weather. The heavy-duty Gore-Tex coats and leggings that shrugged off sleet and gales now hang…
Is this the end of high birds?
Could the ruling on lead mean the end of high birds? In the early 1990s, when we had a voluntary phase-out of lead for shooting over wetlands, my old mate…
Trout recipe for croquettes (or trout fish fingers by another name)
Trout recipe that’s a little bit different There are undoubtedly finer things in life than a fish finger sandwich, but few are more comforting. You can always reach for the…
How to build the perfect high seat
High seats feature in some of my most enduring stalking memories. With the safety of a permanent earthen backstop and the comfort and concealment that a high seat for shooting…
Spring drillings and pigeons
Pigeon shooting on spring drillings makes a big difference from shooting over winter crops. In the colder months you have to compete with chilly weather and the scarers set up…
Which breed would suit you better – a springer or a cocker spaniel?
So you’re looking for a spaniel, rather than a Labrador. But that’s just where the decision starts. What sort of spaniel would suit you best? What are you considering in…
Why do we use gun slips and cases?
Gun cases that catch the wind Are we overly protective of our rifles? Are we over-using padded slips out in the field? Rifles are designed to be used outdoors, in…
Why do we keep deer heads?
Why do we prepare and keep the heads of the deer that we shoot? Why do we measure deer heads and treasure them in the way that we do? Since…
How can you pick the right cover crop for your shoot?
What are cover crops? By definition, a game cover is any crop grown with the intention of feeding and/or holding gamebirds in the shooting season. It was at a very…