Q: As an older Gun I sometimes struggle with my eyesight. I shoot off my right shoulder but my left eye is strong and my right eye is getting weaker. I have always shot with both eyes open but I am wondering whether I should start to close one eye…
Shooting Gazette
What makes a good gamekeeper?
For those of us who shoot, it is the nature of the sport that you come into contact with that unique and special brand of individual, the gamekeeper. But what do we really know about the men or women who have devoted themselves to the job? With the increase in…
Skoda Superb
What happens if you need a big car to transport people and clobber around? What if you do a lot of miles and so want it to be comfortable and economical? What if you want it to have four-wheel drive so that (yes, yes, with the right tyres also fitted)…
Beretta 687 EELL Classic
Beretta 687 EELL Classic gun The Beretta 687 EELL is a gun that has been around in the shooting world for some years now. The action is tried and tested to infinity and beyond and it’s as well built as any action can be. There are thousands of 687EELLs in…
Where should I keep my gun cabinet keys safely?
I have recently acquired my shotgun certificate and become the owner of a Silver Pigeon shotgun. I have set up a gun cabinet in my home according to the law but I was wondering about gun cabinet keys. Where should I keep the main set and the spare set? What…
How to dress and pluck a pheasant
If you have never attempted plucking a pheasant before, let me suggest that you start outdoors. You’ll want a chair for the purpose, and a bin liner for the feathers – tucked into a bin is best – a bit of time to yourself and a complete absence of dogs,…
Crispy chilli duck recipe
This crispy chilli duck recipe is great for using up the breasts from the duck or goose that you waited for in the dwindling light of September or October. It is also good as a step away from the roast, perhaps for some friends who don’t often eat wild food.…
Under the coverts with Alex Hogg, Chairman of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association
SG: Firstly, many congratulations on your MBE. How does it feel to have those three letters after your name, Alex Hogg? Alex Hogg: I feel very proud to have been given the MBE but, at the same time, very humbled. This has been a huge team effort from all the…
How can I reload my shotgun swiftly with cold, frozen fingers?
Q: Can you recommend a way to reload a shotgun quickly that does not compromise safety? I’m all thumbs when the weather gets colder and was wondering if a stuffer or a reloading aid would be a good idea? A: This is a question I am asked time and time…
How to address pheasants at different heights
Q: Can you give me any tips about how to avoid addressing straight driven pheasants too early? Whenever I saw a bird flying towards my peg last season, I mounted too early, took forever to get beyond the bird and then missed behind. A: The timing of shooting driven pheasants…
Six of the best pheasant shoots
Every shoot is different in its own way. We asked our contributors for their nominations for their best pheasant shoots from seasons gone by and here is what they came up with, in no particular order… 1. Hornby shoot, Cumbria “The best syndicate shoot I have ever visited” is how…
Leon Davies of the BGA on why he’d like to see a pheasant sausage roll in Greggs
You only have to listen to Leon Davies talking about game meat to appreciate just how much he loves using it in his recipes. As the BGA’s chef ambassador — and a keen Shot — he is perfectly placed to give readers a professional’s take on game’s place in the…
What’s the best cartridge load for standard driven pheasants?
How should you tackle standard driven pheasants when you’re out in the field? The sort you’re likely to come across earlier in the season. What would be the best cartridge load for driven pheasants? Speaking from my experience as a shooting instructor I think that the cartridges a shooter uses…
10 top tips for women shooters
Shooting is becoming more popular with women every year. The most recent Home Office figures in 2019 showed an increase on the previous year of more than 1000 female shotgun certificate holders. So if you’re interested in joining the growing number of females going out into the field, how should…
How LOUD should your shooting tweeds be?
Shooting tweeds should shout for joy, says Ben Samuelson There are a few fibs that we allow ourselves in shooting. The first is that we need big 4x4s. I spent many years driving to shoots in a TVR that only ever went off-road when I slid into a ditch. We…
The Subaru Forester e-Boxer – Forester fans will love it
There has always been something appealingly honest about the Subaru Forester. While the rest of the motor industry has rushed into the sort-of-SUV market like a pack of ill-trained spaniels, frightening the pheasants with cars that are basically five-door hatchbacks with a few off-roader bits stuck on for good measure,…
Pine martens are thriving – which poses some interesting dilemmas
Pine martens are making a comeback in Galloway. Driven to extinction in the 19th century, these enthusiastic predators were released into the Galloway Forest Park as part of a reintroduction project in the mid-1980s. The success of the project seemed uncertain at first, largely because the Forest Park sprawls across…
The new Land Rover Defender
I’ve been writing about cars for Shooting Gazette for a fair few years now and no car has been even vaguely as eagerly anticipated as this – the new Land Rover Defender. After the old one was starved of development funding and eventually retired, and the boys and girls from…
What is the best shotgun cartridge and choke combination for pheasant shooting?
The right shotgun cartridge and choke combination for pheasant shooting could transform your days this coming season. There have been some major advances in shotgun cartridge technology in the past couple of years. To protect the environment shooters should use fibre wads. The Eley Hawk VIP Game cartridge comes in 28,…