Shooting Times & Country

A fortnight ago, on my way to decoy pigeon in the Cotswolds, I stopped in to visit Stephen Booth, who is a keeper on a classic Oxfordshire shoot. Stephen is a keen Shooting Times reader and has some favourite old covers pinned up in his shed, which i

BASC has announced that it is launching a seven-figure fighting fund to take on legal challenges to shooting. In an interview with Shooting Times’ digital editor, BASC chair Eoghan Cameron said: “As campaigners shift increasingly toward use of the la

Which do you have the happiest memories of? ■

Take advantage of early mornings and light evenings for some daytime foxing. Smart foxes can learn that they are likely to be hunted at night and can switch to daytime hunting. A quiet stakeout in an upwind position during daylight can catch out a wa

BASC has published its COVID-19 guidelines for shoots in England in a booklet, available for download on the BASC website. Dan Reynolds, BASC director of England, said: “BASC has been working intensively on creating guidance for shoots to help them a

The GWCT is seeking to recruit 500 new members before Christmas to help boost its lobbying power and to fill a projected hole in its funds caused by COVID-19. Any new member who makes a lump-sum payment for membership will receive a GWCT 500 Club bad

It is coming up to the height of the harvest season, when thousands of woodpigeon will be shot over standing crops and stubbles. This also coincides with the height of the pigeon-racing season. In lots of shooting magazines there are photos of bags o

The winner of Letter of the Week will receive a Browning Powerfleece. Warm and practical, it is ideal for both the peg and the pub and is available in sizes S-5XL. For more information, visit: browning.eu. Colour dependent on availability. Please not

Editor Patrick Galbraith Deputy editor Ed Wills edward.wills@futurenet.com Brand assistant Sarah Pratley 01252 555220 Group art director Kevin Eason Art editor Rob Farmer Picture editor Max Tremlett Group chief sub-editor Di Cross Chief sub-editor

Why terriers are essential for the conservation of game and waders. The right way to give your children a love of fieldsports. Has the decline of the rabbit been much exaggerated? What makes a perfect deer stalking rifle? ... AND MUCH MORE! LETT

I have never quite recovered from the scene in The African Queen when Humphrey Bogart clambers back onboard to find himself covered in leeches. It had a deep impact on my 14-year-old self and may explain my lifelong avoidance of immersion in any wate

Have you ever discovered that you have become fashionable by accident? Wildfowlers shared this experience a few years ago when metropolitan young men intentionally started sporting beards and looking unkempt. A game shooter’s garb, no longer ancient

We hear a lot these days about fake news, but while some of the stories we read in newspapers may not be fake, they often state the obvious. I recently read that, in the opinion of a nutritional expert, it’s not good to feed dogs a vegan diet. I’m no

BASC’s head of firearms and global authority on guns Airgunner and journalist from the West Country Vintage gun expert, firearms dealer, author and journalist Shooting Times rifle reviewer and stalker Highly regarded writer and ornithologist NGO

The White Park’s claim to being a truly ancient breed is among the strongest of any native breed. Its place in our heritage is such that the government shipped a small unit to the USA for safe-keeping during World War II, and its image was chosen by

We call it, simply, the .303 but internationally the name ‘British’ is added for clarity. It started life in 1888 as a black-powder cartridge for the Lee-Metford rifle. It transitioned to Cordite smokeless powder in 1891 and, once adopted by the Brit

Cockling was an annual family outing back in 1960s Portsmouth. So, when I moved to West Dorset 20 years later, I looked to rekindle those happy memories. Sure enough, I found cockles, buried in the sandy seabed with their siphons and shells just show

This is the original fly upon which the Sunray Shadow series of flies was based. It has a reassuringly humble heritage and is one of the most classic of all British salmon flies. Border collie dogs were popular among British farmers and local gillies

Richard Gould is one of the most highly regarded wild bird keepers of his generation. Described by the judges of the Purdey Awards as a “one-man dynamo”, they created a special award by which to recognise his great vision and outstanding success in c

The term ‘overtourism’ is coming into regular use in the media. Concerns about the adverse impacts of uncontrolled mass-market tourism have been brewing for some time. Now, in the pandemic era, they are becoming mainstream. The photos of the horrendo