Earlier this year, the resignation of the honorary secretary of the Utility Gundog Society (UGS) Kent and East Sussex, Bernadette Restorick, not only caused ructions in the society, but also…
Shooting Times
Franchi Horizon stalking rifle
With the short days you have a only small window of opportunity before the fallow feeding on the fields disappear into the woods. Get there early, stumble to the field…
Why you should never feed your dogs chocolate
I have always been told that chocolate is poisonous to dogs. Is this really true because I have a friend who often uses choc drops to reward his dog and…
What happened on a ladies-only shoot day with an all-female keepering team?
Shooting is becoming ever more accessible to a greater audience, none more so than women. This increasing popularity has driven the creation of fantastic communities such as Femmes Fatales and…
AYA 16-bore No. 2
I am looking at the pros and cons of the 16-bore in the form of an AYA Model No.2. If you are thinking of buying one, what are the alternative…
If I give them my shotgun licence can somebody else buy me cartridges?
I went shooting on one of the extremely cold days in early December, and when I was cleaning my gun afterwards I noticed that the bores were much dirtier than…
The bigger the shoot, the less respect?
Picking-up is about one thing — finding shot birds. The joy I get from finding one bird that would otherwise be lost gives me more pleasure than shooting even the…
Bad habits in Labradors
I have a 14 month-old lab dog who will have to put him in kennels for two weeks while we are on holiday. I'm concerned he may pick up bad…
How to create an ideal habitat for snipe to thrive
Growing up in Surrey, snipe were rarely on my horizon. The heaths are mostly too dry for them and the arable farmlands were the wrong habitat. Clandon Park, where I…
What can I do to protect my dog against Alabama rot?
Q: Is it true that Alabama rot is most prevalent in the autumn and winter? If that is the case, is there anything I can do to protect my dog?…
Six popular air rifles for under £500
One of the greatest appeals of airgun shooting is its affordability. For a few hundred pounds — and sometimes significantly less — you can pick up an air rifle that…
Is the Kennel Club in crisis?
Though the existence of the Kennel Club may not appear to have much impact on those who enjoy the sport of gameshooting, it would be foolhardy to underestimate its importance,…
As a shooter, should I have told my GP about my depression?
Some time ago, I suffered a bout of depression. I had recently lost my father and an old injury had flared up, meaning that I was having to take strong…
Why does my dog drag its bottom?
Q: My dog drags its rear end along the ground frequently. I am told this is a sign that he needs his anal glands emptied by a vet. Why is…
Benelli Super Black Eagle 3
This month, we assess the Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 semi-automatic as a wildfowling gun. Fowling and pigeon shooting are probably the two most common uses in the UK, other…
How long should you hang shot game?
I've heard you should hang shot game birds by the neck, and make sure they don't come into contact with one another.
Which gundog breed would suit me best?
There are 34 different registered breeds of gundog, so how do you know which one is right for you?
How to stop your dog chasing livestock on a farm
If you are going to work your dog on a shoot, there is one thing of which you can be certain: sooner or later you will encounter livestock. As a…
Would your gun cabinet pass the test?
A muscular man in the middle of the room swung a large hammer up over his head and brought it crashing down on a metal cabinet. It was not an…
How long can I keep meat in the freezer for?
Freezing pigeons: I lost quite a few pigeons last summer because I didn’t get to the game dealer quickly enough so this year I’ve decided to buy a freezer.…