Sporting Gun is the leading monthly magazine for clay, game and rough shooters. With editorial offices in the Lincolnshire countryside, it can justifiably claim to be at the heart of the shooting community. Monthly features range from gundog training to pigeon shooting, game shooting to wildfowling – along with sound, practical, advice on equipment and techniques to help the beginner, intermediate or experienced shot get more enjoyment from their sport. Sporting Gun is a must for anyone who invests time in and money on their shooting.

Family day

Snapshots • All the month’s news, pictures & more

I am sure many of us will be glad that we have kicked 2020 out of the door.

NEWS IN BRIEF

Ned & Ted

New general licences for England • David Frost, Sporting Gun’s legal expert, takes you through the salient changes and what you can and cannot do to control pest bird species

THE DETAILS

Animal welfare

Watch the world go by • Robin Scott finds time to reflect by his pond. Or should that be lake?

The family way • Richard Faulks has a fantastic day all round at the estimable Moscow Farm shoot, an exemplar for shooting if fieldsports are to continue to prosper

In the thick of it • Tom Sykes says he and his partner, Charlie Wearden, have never seen so many geese as when they set an ambush in the middle of a grass field one foggy morning

A bird in the hand… • Nick Ridley recalls some of his fondest days shooting with his dogs and friends

Mind games • Peter Theobald warns that decoyers need to use their heads when dealing with pigeon on the birds’ staple winter diet of oilseed rape

Gone with the wind • No matter how carefully you plan, if the wind changes direction it can leave your strategy in tatters warns Jon Snowdon

Tasks in hand

Venison meatballs in a tomato sauce • After Christmas I always need to eat something simple but tasty. This is one of those.

That’s your Lotte

Bolt action! • Ed Cook hedges his bets when it comes to a certain type of rabbit work

Pipe team

Red deer Cervus elaphus • Charles Smith-Jones runs the rule over this most magnificent of beasts that has captured the attention of sportsmen and artists over the centuries

RED DEER FACTS

Breaking bad habits • Patrick Hook says that repetition plays to the advantage of his wily adversaries

Patrick’s top tips

Top of the hit parade • Geoff Garrod gives you his 10 must-do tips for a successful day on the pigeon

Suits you, sir! • We live in an era of adjustable shotguns. Tony Bracci sizes up the options

Stocks

Beating then and now • Paul Quagliana reflects on his memories as a beater and shares some tips for those who fancy giving it a go

Board appointment • Fran Ardley was sceptical about the merits of using a place board for training, but then everything changed

FIRST STEPS

GOOD DOG

HOLD ON

EYE CONTACT

The problem: It’s mange — or is it? • Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert

Adventures of Nick & Ted • Autumn has borne fruit for the Ridley family, both two-and four-legged, as Ted has had time to recover from an injury, Percy’s training has clicked and a young trainer of promise has surfaced, as Nick explains

SPICED PIGEON BREASTS WITH SWEET POTATO AND PARSNIP MASH AND WILD MUSHROOMS • This recipe has been developed by West London Shooting School for its very own Stanbury’s Restaurant

Letter of the month • Send us your pictures, letters and pigeon hauls

Letter of the month

Sporting Gun

Meet the team

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