Why do we prepare and keep the heads of the deer that we shoot? Why do we measure deer heads and treasure them in the way that we do? Since…
Graham Downing
What’s my best gun for shooting clays and game?
Can you use a clay gun on a pheasant shoot? Yes. A lot of the differences between a clay and a game gun are subtle. Ventilated and wider ribs, manual…
What you need to know about renewing your shotgun and firearms certificates during the COVID pandemic
If you’re medically vulnerable or living with somebody who is, then you’ll have had to be particularly cautious during the COVID pandemic. But what’s the deal if you need to…
Cull before the storm
‘‘For at least 20 years, deer stalking has been one of the brightest stars in the shooting firmament. Its rise has tracked the steady growth in the range and population…
How to bag rough shooting
On my desk as I write this is a rather yellowed and crumpled letter from the Forestry Commission offering an annual shooting lease over 1,003 acres at West Tofts, Norfolk,…
What you need to know about wildfowling calls
For as long as we humans have hunted wild duck and geese, we have used decoys and calls to attract them within range of a gun, bow or sling, or…
Can I set up an air pistol target range in my garden?
Would an air pistol target range at home be legal? Q: I would like to set up a simple air pistol target range in my garage. It is a secure…
How do you transfer shotguns between certificates?
A reader asked for some advice regarding looking after his friends guns. Graham Downing advises on carrying out shotgun transfer between certificates.
Keeping an eye on you
Frost still clung to the grey carpet of oak leaves that clothed the forest floor. My breath hung around me in wreaths and you could cut the silence with a…
Will my shotgun be safe with steel shot cartridges?
I would like to try steel shot for wildfowling in my 2.5in chambered gun, but I have been told by some of my friends that I cannot do so unless…
Why thermal-imaging binoculars will change stalking forever
From time to time in the stalking world there comes along some advance or technical development that is a game changer. Usually it is roundly disapproved of until it becomes…
Gun lending rules
Q: When a person lends a shotgun to a non-certificate holder on a private shoot, must the gun be on their certificate? Loans of shotguns and gun lending on private…
How to call muntjac deer
Learning how to call muntjac deer can be a deadly tactic but you need a strategy, stealth and a good call, writes Graham Downing
Can you use a thermal-imaging device to shoot deer?
If deer numbers are becoming such a problem in parts of England and Wales why can't we get easy permission to shoot them (as they do in Scotland) with a…
Do I need white camouflage for stalking in snow?
Shooting consultant and sporting author
What’s the best first gun for a youngster? A .410 or a 28-bore?
Which is the best first gun? My son, who is 12, is keen to start shooting and I am considering buying a light side-by-side .410. However, one of my shooting…
Preparing game for the freezer – here’s what to do
Q: At this time of year I always end up with an abundance of game birds that I need to store until quieter periods in the year. How best should…
Should I buy these sporting rights?
When leasing a shoot find out your rights and where your legally stand
Can I take cartridges on a plane?
Can I take gun cartridges on a plane? Q: I have been invited to shoot in Northern Ireland and I will be travelling by air. What are the rules about…
Doing this will reduce the risk of Lyme disease
Q: I stalk frequently in a wood and heathland area where there is a lot of bracken and when I get home, I often find ticks both on the roe…