Tackling a pigeon infestation with an airgun
Shooting
Testing steel cartridges during roost shooting
I’m still having pigeon problems on the two rape fields on the estate. The gas guns and flags aren’t working any more, so the damage continues. At least I found where they are roosting and so decided to have a third go at thinning out the flock. One evening in…
A guide to improving decoy patterns
We’ve all been there. Our days of reconnaissance have suggested a field will produce a bumper bag. We constructed the ‘perfect’ hide and the decoys are out, and we await what will be the first of many arrivals. What could go wrong? Within minutes, the first pigeon appears on the…
How to get permission for pigeon shooting
Permission for pigeon shooting can be hard to get. Think about it from the farmer’s point of view. He or she needs to have complete confidence in the person asking and won’t give a permission to shoot their land to anybody they don’t know reasonably well. (You could also consider…
Roebuck stalking using non-toxic ammo
There are plenty of dates in the stalking calendar that I look forward to. I love stalking does during snowy Highland winters, calling roebucks during their rut in late July and listening to the eerie and haunting whistles of sika stags under an October moon. But if I had to…
Best shooting wellies: how to stay dry, comfortable and still look the part
When the rain comes down and the mud starts churning up you’ll be looking for the best shooting wellies you can find. Sturdy, robust footwear that won’t slip on wet ground, will let you walk dry footed through streams and over ploughed fields. Footwear you can just hose off after…
Scopes on test: two of the best for around £1000 and under
While some shooters are happy to spend thousands of pounds on high-end optics, you can still buy an extremely good telescopic sight for around £1,000. In fact, once you pass through that price barrier, improvements in optical performance and features only go up by small increments in relation to the…
Thinking of joining a shooting syndicate? Here’s what you need to know
The most cost-effective way of shooting through the season is to join a syndicate. Robin Scott explains how to seperate the wheat from the chaff
Chris Dalton talks about living in the golden age of roebuck
Heading into April, the thoughts of many stalkers turn towards roebucks. It’s one of the most eagerly awaited times of the year, akin to the Glorious Twelfth for keen Shots, and there is very little that can beat the excitement of heading out at first light on 1 April. The…
Hanging woodpigeon – how to handle the birds after you’ve shot them
Hanging woodpigeon Eating woodpigeon you’ve shot yourself is wonderfully satisfying but keeping them in the best condition before cooking is key. Once pigeons have been successfully shot and picked-up, they must be treated with respect; they are a food source and should be handled as such. (Find our pigeon recipes…
Choosing the right hat for shooting
Headwear is one of the few areas of the sporting wardrobe where you can make your mark (so choosing the right hat for shooting is key). The cap is a generic term that defines a soft hat with a brim that, instead of circling the entire form, protrudes only at…
Grey squirrels – the science behind the impact of the invasive species
I imagine most people reading this will agree that grey squirrels are a wholly unwelcome addition to our national fauna. However, the majority of Britons aren’t rustics or readers of Shooting Times. More than 80% of the UK population lives in towns and cities and for the majority of them…
How the British stalking community is changing
The changing of the clocks brings much-needed longer days for those with ‘normal’ jobs, but spare a thought for full-time stalkers and managers, whose days and stalking times are about to stretch out, sometimes making the whole thing pretty exhausting through the summer months. The end of the season is…
The drawbacks of the back-gun
I have a confession: wandering with the beaters is one of my favourite places to be on a game shoot. I say that even as a member of the gun trade who, when asked to go with the beaters, invariably ends up with a performance review committee of customers past…
How to find affordable rough shooting
Robin Scott investigates how to find affordable roughshooting and what it costs
Shooting glasses: how to choose them and why you should wear them
Most clay shooters adopted shooting glasses as an essential piece of kit many years ago, and they’re now mandatory at many clubs and competitions. However, they’re still far less popular in other forms of shooting, which is a shame because they have many benefits to offer. So, even if clays…
Best anti-itch cream for hunters – our top picks
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more When it comes to kit you need when venturing out for a stalking session, you think of obvious things like rifle (goes without saying I’d imagine), as well as…
Best shooting smocks: we asked some stalkers what they rate and this is what they said
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more The best shooting smocks should be tough, resistant to thorns and brambles and quiet. They need to be breathable, lightweight, windproof and waterproof of course. In addition they should…
Clay Shooting Classic 2022: a closer look at Orston Shooting Ground
The 2022 Clay Shooting Classic is fast approaching, but there is still time to register. To do so, just follow this link: https://www.orston.com/thursday-26th-sunday-29th-may-2022-clay-shooting-classic/ In 2016 Emily and Dan Martin moved to Nottinghamshire with a plan to take an already established shooting ground and make it even better. Since then they’ve…
Biodegradable shotgun cartridges – questions still loom
The move towards biodegradable shotgun cartridges, and wads and steel shot gets closer and closer by the day, but there are still some questions that need answering on the ramifications of the transition. I’ve been using the stuff on and off for years on shooting grounds that allow its use.…