Shooting

New Beretta Silver Pigeon 1

Here are articles to help and inform all aspects of your shooting, whether you’re a novice shooter or somebody who has been out in the field every season for years. You will find pieces on how you can improve, learn new skills and hone your technique.

We also keep a keen eye out for changes to gun laws and Government legislation.

You might be a gameshooter or clays might be much more your bag.

Then there are the pigeon shooting fans and those who love nothing better than being out on the foreshore, wildfowling. 

Rabbiting has a section too.

If you’re looking to see how a particular ground performed than check out our shoot reports.

Our contributors frequently write about deer stalking with guidance on different species, locations and equipment.

Finally we encourage the next generation of shooters, informing and educating Young Shots.

Is a 20-bore shotgun best for women

Are you going to shoot game or focus on clayshooting?

Driven  |  Walked-up/Rough | Improve your shooting |

Lamping | Improve your clayshooting | Improve your pigeon shooting 

Pest control 

Deer stalkers scanning the hill

14 popular rifles for deer stalking

Our experts have reviewed 14 rifles for deer stalking that have proven popular and ranked highly with our reviewers. Choosing a calibre Consider the calibre that will fit your deer species  — for example, 
if you only have muntjac and Chinese water deer, a .22 centrefire, a .222, 
a .223…

Shooter with single-barrelled shotgun

One barrel is all you need

A single-shot, single-barrelled shotgun is not popular these days. The guns are looked down upon as somehow ‘less than’. When I began my shooting life under my father’s instruction, I was as excited as any 14-year-old could be. I had completed my three-year apprenticeship of various gun-, dog- and bird-related…

buying a first gun

A guide to buying your first gun

It's never too soon to start looking at guns with a view to buying your first and any dealer will be happy to reserve a gun until your certificate arrives

red deer

Deer seasons

The deer shooting season If you’re a keen stalker, then you’ll need to know which is the deer shooting season for the different species, and the different dates for stags and hinds. It’s also crucial to have the right rifle for deer stalking in the right calibre.  A few thoughts…

Shooting on beaters day

Beaters’ day – time to get back to basics

Top tips to do yourself proud on beaters’ day Get your shooting kit ready the night before Practise mounting in the mirror 10 times Count 10 breaths in and out before the drive starts Point your leading foot where you’re going to shoot the bird Don’t lift your head off…

stags

Staggering ignorance

Deer management, 
an activity undertaken quietly and in solitude, enjoyed — or perhaps more accurately endured — a brief moment of national attention here in Ireland. An incident in Kerry raised questions regarding the management of red deer in the county. In late October a red stag was observed by…

duck breeds

Can you id that duck?

Identifying different duck breeds The question “What’s that one then?” should never be heard from the person who shot a bird, so knowing what the odd unusual duck looks and sounds like is a real benefit at flight. So, too, is knowing what to expect, so you don’t pass up…

shooting in January

Is January the finest month?

January, for most of the nation, is the cruellest month. From Stornoway to the Scillies people are in credit card debt doldrums, their clothes no longer fit and family relations — after all that lovely time together at Christmas — are invariably fraught. For those like you and me, however,…

best ear defenders

6 of the best ear defenders from just £15

There’s no excuse not to protect your hearing when you’re out in the field, particularly when we’ve found some of the best ear defenders which come in at under £40. Ear defenders are comfortable to wear and a crucial bit of kit. We’ve all met people in the field with…