Shooting Times & Country - July 12, 2023

In this issue

Finding quarry in high cover
A thermal spotter is just the tool as the deer try to stay sheltered.

Learning from our Nordic neighbours
Patrick Laurie investigates what our uplands can take away from other countries..

Gamekeeper found guilty for dumping goshawks

The shooting community is in uproar after an appalling wildlife crime has once again cast a shadow over the country’s gamekeepers

1 min

English gunmakers continue to thrive across the pond

US sales of shotguns from English gunmakers continue to soar. James Purdey & Sons Ltd, whose shotguns can easily exceed £150,000, do much of their business overseas, with most of this in the USA.

1 min

Sadness at disappearance of lapwings on Dartmoor

When nature writer and occasional ST contributor Mary Colwell tweeted there were no lapwings nesting on Dartmoor this year, it created a major stir.

1 min

Sandringham Estate comes under fire

The Guardian claims a number of crimes against wildlife, including rare birds of prey, have taken place on the royal estate since 2003

1 min

Land access 'putting the boot into ecosystems'

Wildlife could suffer under a proposed new countryside access act, leading conservationists warn. News that a future Labour government would legislate for a “default of access” to the British countryside, has troubled leading practical conservationists.

1 min

Are clay grounds struggling?

Orston Shooting Ground has been placed on the market, prompting questions about the rising costs of running clay shooting businesses.

1 min

Country Diary

Nesting swallows have become watchful guardians over the farm, and their unmistakable call alerts Patrick Laurie to the threat of a vixen

3 mins

Upland keeper

Recent wildfires are a great example of why policymakers must not lose sight of the importance of traditional skills, says Lindsay Waddell

3 mins

Stalking Diary

As Chris Dalton looks forward to the upcoming spectacle of the roe rut, he advises patience and self-control when it comes to using calls

3 mins

BEAT PROFILE - West Learmouth

Don't pass up the opportunity to fish the finest pools of the Tweed, with some of the best catch-per-rod ratios in the UK, says Sam Carlisle

2 mins

Bound to get back on the bucks

Miles Malone finds a gap in his usual stalking season, but nature's bounty provides the perfect opportunity to try for a roebuck in the high cover

6 mins

Spotting muntjac in high cover

Tackling the deer population at Grimsthorpe Castle is no small task, but ZEISS's new thermal monocular can help stalkers cut through the cover to find their quarry

5 mins

Time to take action

Bill Harriman reflects on the most important consultation on gun ownership for three decades and urges us all to respond

4 mins

The Scandi approach

Patrick Laurie returns from Finland with great respect for Nordic curlew conservation, but what can we learn from them?

6 mins

Why the best dogs are a master of all trades

Rather than training for specific tasks, Ellena Swift explains why it is important to equip your dogs for a range of jobs on a shoot day

6 mins

Make your own luck

Different attitudes lead to very different outcomes for Jim Old in this tale of two stalks, as he learns to take every opportunity as it comes

4 mins

Putting ex-layers to the test

Laurence Catlow hopes that his new stock of ex-layers will provide good sport while freeing up time for some much-needed fishing

4 mins

Round-the-clock reconnaissance

Mat Manning puts the HikMicro M15 4G Trail Camera to the test

4 mins

Growing up fast

Richard Negus learns Charlie is definitely no longer 'The Boy' while fishing for chub on the Broads

5 mins

The stalker's best breakfast

When he goes to help a local keeper, Leon Challis-Davies also has a crack at muntjac

5 mins

A sporting life in Africa

Aidan Hartley recalls the thrill of fighting back against armed cattle rustlers

3 mins

Kennel Diary

Harry Beeby spends an enjoyable but hot day judging at the Mendip Farmers' Hunt puppy show

2 mins

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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.