Every second counts
Shooting Times & Country|February 12, 2020
Mat Manning heads out during the dying hours of daylight to enjoy some fine winter shooting — it’s worth it even for a couple of hours
Every second counts

Any airgunners who stay indoors when the weather turns cold and gloomy are missing out on some fantastic sport. Winter evenings are a wonderful time to head out into the woods with an air rifle.

Woodpigeons and grey squirrels are prime woodland quarry at this time of year and if you get it right you can make some great bags. Apart from helping landowners with vital pest control, you can also provide some excellent meat for the table.

With the pheasant shooting season wrapped up, I now have free range of most of my woodland permissions and during the coming weeks I will take full advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some exceptional shooting until warmer weather arrives.

Of course, I’ll still be heading out in the spring but it’s not easy targeting pests in the woods when they are hidden among a flush of new foliage.

Another thing I really like about winter outings is that the best of the action is usually to be had during the last couple of hours before nightfall. Grey squirrels usually embark on a dusk feeding frenzy in readiness for the night ahead and woodpigeons flight to sheltered areas as the light starts to fade. That means you still stand a good chance of making a decent bag even if you don’t have a lot of time to spare.

Prime time

My latest outing was a short session grabbed between Sunday lunch and supper. I don’t often get a weekend pass from family duties and I only had about two hours of light, but that’s usually enough time to take advantage of.

First port of call put me about 25m from a pheasant feeder that I felt confident would attract a squirrel or two but the area also looked good for a few pigeons. It is sheltered by a wide gully and has plenty of ivy-clad trees, which offer birds a cosy place to roost when winter has stripped the broadleaf trees of their foliage.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRYView all
United we stand
Shooting Times & Country

United we stand

Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors

time-read
5 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Serious matters
Shooting Times & Country

Serious matters

An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning

time-read
3 mins  |
August 02, 2023
They're not always as easy as they seem
Shooting Times & Country

They're not always as easy as they seem

While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort

time-read
5 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Debutant gundogs
Shooting Times & Country

Debutant gundogs

There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting

time-read
4 mins  |
August 02, 2023
When the going gets rough
Shooting Times & Country

When the going gets rough

Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique

time-read
5 mins  |
August 02, 2023
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
Shooting Times & Country

The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition

In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make

time-read
4 mins  |
August 02, 2023
A step too far?
Shooting Times & Country

A step too far?

Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work

time-read
6 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Two bucks before breakfast
Shooting Times & Country

Two bucks before breakfast

A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem

time-read
6 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Stalking Diary
Shooting Times & Country

Stalking Diary

Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill

time-read
2 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Gamekeeper
Shooting Times & Country

Gamekeeper

Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside

time-read
3 mins  |
August 02, 2023