Jean-Paul Gaudin, or JP, is a force of nature. He has a lust for life and a passion for game shooting. He follows his passions. A motorcycle accident in 1988, when he was in his twenties, resulted in devastating spinal injuries – he was dragged behind a horse box for…
Why we shoot
A sense of belonging to the countryside community is good for our well being
It’s ironic that two of those who contribute to Shooting Times, without any collusion I have to say, have chosen a similar theme for their pieces. I am referring to Laurence Catlow’s exceptional article on depression which will have struck a chord with many. I had decided to take a…
40 reasons why we shoot
There’s plenty of misinformation about shooting. So here’s a list, with facts published in Shooting Times, of the benefits shooting brings to the community. Why We Shoot Research has shown that going shooting boosts mental wellbeing and physical health. Shooting improves social contact for a variety of ages Shooting instils…
Why do you hunt?
I start this article with a request. We all need to engage more with defining what the future looks like. Do more than sit and critique, all too quick to suggest that someone else should be doing more. Doing more of what should be the first question. So my…
Nothing tastes better than simple food eaten outdoors on a shoot day
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person engaged in fieldsports must be in want of good sustenance. And it always seems to taste so much better when it is taken in the field. I am not exactly sure why the location is so important, but I suppose we…
How I dealt with my depression
The start of my depression It was a still, soft October morning. I was feeding my pheasants and enjoying every minute of it, because there were lots of birds on show and already they looked more or less ready for sport. There was still over a fortnight to go before…
“A love of the outdoors and a desire to be self-sufficient brought me to stalking”
Stevie was stuck; there was no getting around the soft ground so, to reach the deer, he had to go through it. The small hard composite pads on the end of his prosthetic legs sank in and the mud closed around them. Stevie gritted his teeth and pulled, pushing down…
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…