Shooting Times & Country Magazine - April 19, 2023

In this issue

It’s a sport that transcends borders
A young German hunter shares his traditions on a muntjac stalk in Suffolk.

‘Easy’ shots and why you miss
Tom Payne looks at how to ensure you don’t miss those so-called sitters..

Household damage due to grey squirrels is on the rise

New figures reveal just how much of a nuisance the exploding grey population is becoming, with one insurance claim costing £30,000

1 min

Virus carried by ticks confirmed in the UK

The UK Health Security Agency has announced a case of tick-borne encephalitis in England for the first time, worrying deerstalkers

1 min

Country Diary

Our curlew need solutions today, not in the future, and focusing on what we can change instead of what we can't is the first step forwards

3 mins

Upland keeper

The onset of spring brings with it new arrivals and a feast for the senses on the ground and in the air throughout the day and night

2 mins

Stalking Diary

There's comfort to be had in passed-down stories of a bygone age as uncertainty continues to grow over the future of our rural way of life

3 mins

JOTTINGS FOR WILDFOWLERS

The curlew has become a conservation icon, but it's clear that legislating against shooting them has done nothing to help numbers

2 mins

Are pheasants really eating our adders?

With gamebird releasing in the firing line for the UK's decreasing adder population, Graham Lorne wonders if the claims stack up

4 mins

Hunting on a road less travelled

Stalking in an area of Botswana that has been closed off since the 1960s illustrates how much buffalo can offer to both hunters and the local community

5 mins

There's something primordial about it

Hunting is a sport that transcends borders, reveals Miles Malone as he guides a keen German visitor on a memorable muntjac stalk

5 mins

When the bird's not as easy as it looks

Tom Payne finds out why those simple 'sitters' are often the ones most frequently missed and advises on how to put things right

6 mins

A sporting life in Africa

It's a waiting game for some much-needed rain as the prolonged drought takes its toll

3 mins

Making all the wrong noises

While genetics can play a part, unwanted whining or barking is often due to mistakes made in training, explains Ellena Swift

6 mins

Crate expectations

Transporting your dog in a vehicle isn't merely a question of finding a comfortable bed, it must comply with the law too, says Jamie Tusting

5 mins

Outdoor education

Jim Old enjoys a rewarding early-morning stalk in Hampshire, but he discovers the hard work really starts after the trigger is pulled

5 mins

Like a sort of bereavement

We often grow fond of the things that share our sporting lives, says Laurence Catlow

5 mins

Settling the score on pests

With the greys causing damage and plenty of orders to fill, Leon Challis-Davies gets into the woods and whips up a Mexican treat

5 mins

At the front of the pack

Mat Manning tests Hikmicro's Raptor RQ50L binoculars, which offer full-colour daytime viewing with thermal, infrared and a rangefinder

4 mins

The basics matter

With competitions on the horizon, it could be the simplest picks that prove the hardest for even the most seasoned dogs, says Ellena Swift

6 mins

Statistically speaking

The Kennel Club's annual breed registration information paints an interesting picture of modern buyer behaviour, says David Tomlinson

3 mins

A polluted tideline

Peter White examines how changes in light and cleanliness are having troublesome effects on our marshlands and their cherished inhabitants

4 mins

Read all stories from Shooting Times & Country

Shooting Times & Country Magazine Description:

Since its launch in 1882, Shooting Times & Country Magazine has been at the forefront of the shooting scene. The magazine is the clear first choice for shooting sportsmen, with editorial covering all disciplines, including gameshooting, rough shooting, pigeon shooting, wildfowling and deer stalking. Additionally the magazine has a strong focus on the training and use of gundogs in the field and, because it is a weekly publication, the magazine keeps readers firmly up-to-date with the latest news in their world.