As current Government COVID rules stand, you won’t be able to go out driven gameshooting in England until 3 December 2020. In addition target shooting ranges and clay grounds are also closed until then. However BASC advice states that: “Rough shooting, wildfowling and deer management may continue during the lockdown…
Lockdown
Five game cookery projects to take on during lockdown
So you’ve cleaned your gun, waxed your jacket, practised your gun mount in front of a mirror. What next to keep you busy during Lockdown II? Improving your game cookery. 1. Make a hot smoker It’s a delicious way and time-honoured way to cook game, venison and fish outdoors in…
It’s Gundog Theft Awareness week – here’s how to keep yours safe and what to do if they are stolen
Gone are the days when you could safely leave your dog tied up outside the local village post office. Do that now and you’re inviting gundog theft. We’ve written about it in detail before but this week is Gundog Theft Awareness Week which highlights the dangers and heartbreak of having…
Covid: Welsh ‘firebreak’ disaster for shooting, say locals
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a time-limited ‘firebreak’ lockdown this week saying it would be: “A short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and buy us more time”. From 6pm Friday 23 October to 9 November people in Wales have been ordered to stay…
How can I find the right Labrador puppy these days?
Q: I have been struggling to find a Labrador puppy because there seems to have been a big demand for them as pets during lockdown. I have been advised to wait a while because it’s expected that a lot of young dogs will need to be rehomed in the…
What your puppy will need to get used to when lockdown ends
This has been an unusual time for all of us in pretty much every aspect of our lives and dog training is no exception. In some ways lockdown has helped in that people now have more time to spend with their dogs. However, given that most were unable to leave…
“People have sallied forth into whatever piece of the countryside they can access”
You’ve seen a poo tree, haven’t you? The poo tree is an increasingly common invasive species, typically found in the vicinity of car parks near public green spaces. The chief identifying feature of the poo tree is the plethora of little plastic bags, all tightly knotted, that festoon its lower…
COVID-19 making gundog puppies pricier and harder to come by
Gundog puppies from traditional breeds such as spaniels and Labradors are becoming more expensive and harder to find due to raised demand following lockdown. Shooting Times contributor and gundog breeder Jeremy Hunt of Fenway Labradors remarked: “The demand for Labrador puppies, and not just working ones, has gone crazy. The…
Things you can and can’t do when clayshooting after lockdown
Now clay grounds are reopening, here's a list of things you can and can't do on the clay ground at the moment
Interested in country pursuits? Now you’re working from home perhaps it’s time to get started
Shooting may be a country sport, but most shooters don’t live in the countryside. Depending on your definition, about 83 per cent of the UK population lives in built-up areas. The majority travel daily to and from their workplace. Recently, many have worked from home during the lockdown. But will…
Clayshooting grounds in England that are open for business again
Clayshooters in England are celebrating the re-opening of their sport after the COVID-19 shutdown. We’ve had a look around to see which clay grounds are open again in which regions (or are about to open). If there are any to add which you think should be included, please let us…
What you need to know about coronavirus and going out into the field in England from 13th May 2020
On Wednesday 13th May coronavirus guidance for shooters in England changed. You can now undertake both live quarry shooting and deer stalking in England, following the usual legal process. (The law is different in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.) Clay grounds are also permitted to reopen. The situation in England…
Clay grounds in England get the green light
The Clay Pigeon Shooting Association (CPSA) has announced that clay grounds in England can reopen in a phased return. Iain Parker, CEO, has declared that the CPSA has now received governmental confirmation to recommend the re-opening of clayshooting grounds. He explains: “Over the past 48 hours we have been working…
How to practice your shooting during lockdown
Many of us have a lot of time on our hands at the moment so why not get some shooting practice in at home, suggests Simon Reinhold
Gundog puppies and Covid-19. Some guidance.
Here’s some guidance on gundog puppies and COVID-19 during lockdown. It is only guidance so depending on your situation, you should contact the Kennel Club or your local vet who will have definitive advice. Viewing of a potential puppy and its litter mates should be done electronically. If you have…
Can you train a gundog inside?
We are living in unprecedented times. The situation with COVID-19, and the resultant social distancing and isolation, is stressful for the vast majority of us. But how is it affecting our canine friends? Some may actually be enjoying having their owners around all the time, particularly if they are used…
Conservation in the age of coronavirus
I write this at a time of uncertainty and trepidation for all. COVID-19 has utterly changed our lives in a few short weeks. What the ramifications will be, both financial and physical, in the medium to long-term are topics of much concern and speculation. Those of us who live and…
This evening’s entertainment sorted. The Shooting Times Lockdown Pub Quiz takes place at 7pm.
So you’ve watched basically all of Netflix and you’re wondering how to spend lockdown this evening. Well, here’s the answer for all you fieldsports fans. Join in the Shooting Times Virtual Pub Quiz at 7pm and test your knowledge of shooting, gundogs and country matters. The quiz is free and…
COVID-19 makes shooting season ‘a huge gamble’
Shoots around the country have been wrestling with decisions about how many birds to put down, how many days to offer and whether to shoot at all. One gamekeeper told Shooting Times: “It is an enormous gamble. Potentially we are paying thousands of pounds to buy birds, then paying thousands…