’There was a time when shooting was a sport for the rich, or landowners. Or both. Perish the thought, but is it possible – in the short-term, at least – that history might repeat itself? Yes, shooting has undergone sea changes in the past 60 or so years thanks to…
Shooting
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.
Are you going to shoot game or focus on clayshooting?
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The best fox control kit: Mark Ripley shares the essentials
Early recon pays dividends when tracking Charlie, but reliable kit also makes the job much more effective. Here is the best fox control kit which I use regularly, essential for any foxer trying to protect game or livestock. Fox Pro Inferno £199.95 The Inferno from Fox Pro is an ideal…
Tracking tahr in the mountains of New Zealand
The two helicopters take off almost simultaneously, leaving us in pristine mountain wilderness on the far side of the world. We’re a full day’s hike from civilisation in one of New Zealand’s most remote regions, drawn here to hunt for wild tahr. Our survival for the next six days will…
What does the rising cost of feed mean for estate conservation budgets?
Deli-deli-deli-tak ye” goes the song of the male yellowhammer, albeit with a Scottish twang. Well, we are a border county here in Northumberland after all. The yellowhammer perched high on a roadside hawthorn hedge broke from his commanding position as my Polaris Ranger neared. This caused a chain reaction as…
Stalking fallow deer
The sea of bright yellow flowers appearing and the accompanying sweet smell of oilseed rape pollen surely signal a turning point in the year. The heat can finally be felt in the sun as it climbs higher in the sky and all around us the warmth of spring is evident.…
Best clay shooting caps – what to wear on the clay ground
Not everybody wears a cap when they’re out on the clay ground but a cap is a useful item to have on you. (For more on what to wear clay pigeon shooting read here.) Award-winning clayshooter, CPSA shooting instructor and Sporting Gun contributor Becky McKenzie says: “Caps are good for…
Best budget binoculars – what came out top in our field test?
There is no denying that you get what you pay for when it comes to optical performance, but very expensive optics can have their downfalls. Most of us know how it feels to own a piece of kit that almost seems too good to expose to the rough and tumble…
10 common mistakes people make when they start shooting (and how to correct them)
Do these common mistakes sound familiar? 1. Poor stance For a novice their instinct is to address where the target is coming from rather than having the body in a comfortable position where they intend to break the target / kill the bird. For a clay shooting they can address…
Using trail cams for deer management
Over here on the wetter side of the Irish Sea, April has the potential to be something of a gloomy month for deerstalkers. The seasons for our three deer species don’t reopen until September, so the action still seems a long way off and, as April Fool’s Day arrives and…
The importance of fitness on a shooting day
You know the feeling. You’re only two-thirds of the way through an enjoyable day’s shooting yet suddenly you feel wearier than a sleep-deprived dormouse. This morning you had all the exuberance of a freshly lit firework on New Year’s Day, but now your energy is plummeting. Not only does it…
Moleskin trousers: we’ve picked out the best for country style
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Moleskin has been around for centuries and moleskin trousers have long been a part of a country wardrobe, thanks to their warmth, comfort and durability. Despite the name, the…
How to stop a fox in its tracks
Now is a good time to organise a fox drive to reduce numbers. Foxes eat more pheasant and partridge poults than all the other predators put together. You don’t always see what they kill and eat, but they are continually chipping away at them; now, when the hen birds are…
Why location is crucial for setting up a hide
When I acquired my first shotgun, aged 14, I became obsessed with the pursuit of the few woodies that lived on our farm on Canvey Island. Though the farm was mainly arable, it was rare to see populations of more than 20 to 30 birds. My tactics, therefore, usually consisted…
Charles Smith-Jones discusses the problem with rewilding
It’s a fashionable word that you seem to hear everywhere these days, but if you ask 10 people to define what rewilding means, you’ll get 10 wildly different answers. To some it might be a matter of leaving nature to its own devices, while to others it suggests a more…
Foxing on the foreshore
In 1999 and 2000, I was fortunate to spend many months in the jungles of Brunei and Belize as part of my Royal Marine training. Both were wonderful environments in which to soldier. For the previous two years, I’d spent most of my time wet and cold — on Dartmoor,…
Should I shoot game birds with a side-by-side or over-and-under?
Side by side shotguns are loved by traditionalists. Many Guns start shooting with a side-by-side shotgun (which they have possibly inherited) and then switch to an over-and-under. But why? (More on switching from a side-by-side to an over-and-under.) Side-by-side or over-and-under? It is much easier shooting with an over-and-under. For…
Taking advantage of the longer days for roebuck culling
As the days are longer now, there’s more time to get stuff done in the middle of the day. Our estate rifle range is up and running again for use by private clubs or as hourly sessions overseen by yours truly. (Click here to get some ideas for the best…
Best hunting knives put to the test
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more There are few tools more central to fieldsports than a decent knife and, whether you are gralloching stags in the Highlands or divvying up the game pie at a…
Best shooting jackets: we pick out a selection to consider
Shooting coats vary more than any other kind of shooting kit, but this pick of the best shooting coats offers a variety of choices for different budgets and different purposes.
History of Skeet shooting: how it all began
The history of Skeet shooting Some 150 years ago, the shotguns that were putting a partridge or two in the pot for supper were using black powder explosive. It powered everything from the highwayman’s pistol to the Navy’s cannon. The flintlock-spark ignition system, with a cloud of smoke right in…