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
We’ve launched a new campaign – “Why We Shoot” to dispel myths and stereotypes around shooting.
Our writers are turning the spotlight on conservation and ecology, inclusion and diversity, and mental and physical wellbeing.
You can follow Why We Shoot on social media using the hashtag #whyweshoot and we’ll be regularly posting images on Instagram.
Champion the shooting community
Partner with us and help champion Britain’s shooting communities.
Why We Shoot aims to raise awareness of the positive ripple effect and numerous benefits of shooting. Our editorial teams will cover stories too often overlooked in the news cycle. Our journalism looks at how new people can be attracted to the sport. We want to support Britain’s countryside and help people better understand the world of shooting, which contributes an estimated £2 billion a year to the UK economy.
Industry-renowned writers will be speaking to the likes of Olympic gold medalists, Michelin-starred chefs who celebrate the flavours of game meats, and charities helping military veterans secure jobs in rural trades.
Brands taking part in the Why We Shoot campaign include the UK’s top shooting weekly, Shooting Times Magazine, Sporting Gun, the No.1 UK brand for clay, game and rough shooters, and Gun Trade News, the only B2B title focused on the UK’s civilian shooting market.
Britain’s best-selling field sports magazine, The Field, will also be taking part, lending its authoritative, trusted voice to Why We Shoot.
Force for good
This year, more than ever, it feels important to stand back and take stock. When we are all so involved in shooting day-to-day, we often forget what a truly extraordinary force for good it can be. The reality that those who shoot, collectively spend 3.9million days a year working on conservation is staggering, as is the fact that it supports 74,000 diverse full time jobs, from journalists to grouse moor keepers.
At a time that is so difficult for rural communities, when there is seemingly growing opposition to fieldsports, and when the wild places we love are being disregarded by some, it is essential to shine a light on our sport, as part of the lifeblood of the countryside, and as something that protects the things that make it special and the creatures we share it with.
Why do you shoot? Take part in our poll and give your reasons
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…