Sporting Gun

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.

Calling the shots

It’s finally here, open season for wildfowling and partridge.

BASC to challenge exclusion from Welsh licences review

Purdey Cup up for grabs

Lead ban stymied by Czechs

Ned & Ted

NEWS IN BRIEF

Looking good • Shoots are responding well to the COVID challenge, says vet Dr Kenny Nutting

Dr Kenny Nutting

The only game in town • The angling ‘Stasi’ and their increasing intolerance means there really would be no choice for Robin Scott if he had to choose whether to ditch his gun or his rod

An historical romance • Rachel Draper talks about her love of English guns, gunmaking and how lucky she feels to be involved with these things on a daily basis

Family business • Tom Sykes reminisces about a 1 September fowling trip with his father and brother as they looked to kick the new season off with a bang – and a full bag

Introducing Barney

The paths to conflict • Peter Theobald talks about his increased number of encounters with the public, who do not always understand what goes on in the countryside

Why patience is always a virtue • Jon Snowdon and his team encountered more than they bargained for on a recent stalking excursion

Tasks in hand

Savoury venison with rice • A hearty risotto for the autumn

That’s your Lotte

A worthy opponent • Piecemeal control will not work with the redoubtable rabbit, says EdCook

Gadwall Mareca strepera (formerly Anas strepera) • Charles Smith-Jones considers this occasional guest in our gamebags, understated but utterly delicious

GADWALL

The attraction of decoys • Geoff Garrod rediscovers the joys of some useful aids to help him with his job

Right on target • Patrick Hook goes ballistic with a group of friends down on ‘his’ farm

Patricks’s top tips

A touch of class • Graham Brown of the Purbeck Shooting School explains to Paul Quagliana the difference between shooters who have class and those who have form

The restart

The right gun for you • Tony Bracci looks at some things to consider when choosing a gun, be it new or second-hand, expensive or cheap

Lighten your load • David Turner gets a weight off his mind by talking about appropriate shot for a day in the field with a 20-bore

For more information

20-BORE LOADS FOR DIFFERING QUARRIES

Pen friend • Fran Ardley outlines the methods she employs to get a dog used to the scent of game

The problem: How to deal with diabetes • “My labrador bitch has recently been diagnosed as being diabetic. Despite injecting her twice daily, I am struggling to control her voracious thirst and appetite. What do you suggest?”

Insulin resistance

A nose for the job • Nick Ridley tries to get a whiff of why dogs are so good at following scent

Adventures of Nick & Ted • So far, says Nick as he heads to Cumbria, so good, as Percy shows signs of promise

Dogs that cut a dash • Keith Edmunds did not quite know what he was letting himself in for when he imported two German teckel bitches

Letters • Send us your pictures, letters and pigeon hauls

Letter of the month...