Barbour Berwick Tweed shooting vest is an excellent fit for me (size L) and is the epitome of high-quality simplicty.
Shooting
What you need to know BEFORE replying to a shooting invitation
An invitation to shoot is a highlight in any gameshooter’s calendar. The host has three methods at their disposal when inviting a guest to shoot: telephone, written missive sent by post or email. An oral invitation via telephone is the easiest and most practical method, not least because the guest…
Things I’d wish I’d known when I started shooting
Advice and novice shooting tips from those who had to learn the hard way … Lessons are key “I started game shooting when I was around 14 years of age, cocky and confident I didn’t need ‘lessons’… I simply mounted the gun, squeezed the trigger – and it worked (to…
What really is ‘essential’ kit for deer stalking?
Deer stalking: I have attended a Deer Management Qualification where I noticed people coming along with all sorts of 'essential' gadgets. What would you say is really essential for someone new to stalking?
Ammunition for wildfowlers
Before we start, I should point out that cartridge choice is personal preference and you need to do your research to find one that suits your needs, gun and quarry. You should also be aware of what your gun is capable of firing and seek advice from a firearms dealer…
How to deal with teal targets – a step by step guide
Would you suggest shooting teal on the way up, or on the way down? I don't hit many as they rise, but other shooters make it look really easy. Can you give me any tips please?
Ladies in the field – some advice on what to wear
Hicks & Brown was set up by designer sisters Alice and Rosie, who were brought up on a farm and have excellent fieldsports credentials. We asked them for their tips on what ladies should wear in the field (and not wear) and what’s good to wear on a warm autumnal…
Essential pigeon shooting kit
I believe in keeping it simple. I’m not one for having loads of kit and gadgets (though I have nothing against anybody who does), I just prefer to rely on my 40 years of knowledge and fieldcraft to fill the bag. That’s what gives me a buzz, though on some…
Shooting deer near houses. Is it legal?
Deer have moved into my area and are coming into the garden, damaging plants and vegetables. How high a fence will I need to keep the little ******* out?
Grouse shooting lessons – practise on clays
Coach Mark Russell of Grimsthorpe Shooting Ground gives us a guide to shooting grouse targets.
I want to become a loader. Should I do a course?
I have loaded for some years, and although competent, I decided it was time to get a qualification in the subject. Why is a loading course a good idea? One of the significant reasons for picking up a loading qualification is for health and safety purposes. Shoots and estates have…
Get that grouse – nailing those low, fast targets
A low driven target catches more shooters out than you would expect. A fast target simulating grouse, the wild moorland bird, is not only low and fast but, to add to your difficulties, you might find yourself down in a pit or in a grouse butt. This means the target…
Wild boar shooting in the UK
Wild boar shooting in the UK: Over the past few decades, reports of wild boar sightings have steadily filtered in to both police and media across Scotland.
How to pass your DSC1
Charles Smith-Jones tells you how to prepare yourself to pass your DSC1 and face the assessments with confidence
How to be a deer stalker
I have just passed my DSC Level 1 and want to progress and learn more about deer. Would it help if I joined one of the specialist groups and, if so, which should it be – the British Deer Society or the St. Hubert Club?
Buying a first shotgun – how to get the best for you
Any busy shooting coach will see a continuous stream of newcomers to clayshooting or gameshooting coming through his ground. Having enjoyed their encounters with moving targets, they’re now thinking of buying a first shotgun of their own I have met newcomers aged 12, 22 or even 72, all asking: “What…
Top techniques for different clays
Interception technique The first method that Graham looked at was the interception technique, which is a simple method. Graham took Giacomo to a simple slow teal target. Graham says, “Interception here is working on one plane, taking the gun to the point of the shot and with very little…
Which clay pigeon shooting discipline is easiest?
A gun club near my home does DTL and Automatic Ball Trap shooting. I’m in the process of buying my first gun and would like to know which of these games is easiest to master?
Manual or automatic clay pigeon trap. Which should you choose?
So you’ve got a piece of land and you’re wanting to break some clays. You’ve got a sensible budget. You’re not going completely wild but you’ve set aside £1,500. What do you need to know and which clay target thrower is best for you? First, you need to make sure…
Is a deadly rabbit virus affecting fox numbers?
Q: Four years or so ago the local rabbit population crashed. We have had myxomatosis previously but the population always seemed to recover to some extent — this time it has not. Could rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) be causing this? Since foxes that prey on rabbits also seem fewer…