Shooting Times & Country

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.

Folly over real fur

Controversial trophy ban moves on to the next stage • The bill received unanimous support in the House of Commons, but an amendment ensures the ban remains restricted to endangered species

Islanders vote to keep deer

New grant to help stalkers

To do this week

Rising deer numbers in political spotlight • While rural residents have been aware of the issue for some time, climate change has put a focus on the UK’s booming deer population

Key proposals of Scottish wildlife bill are revealed

‘A clear attack on shooting’

NEWS IN BRIEF

Shooting Times & Country

LETTERS

Country Diary • Chinese water deer and muntjac abound and the end of the season is an ideal time to fill up the freezer before the cover grows too high

Gamekeeper • You can learn a lot simply by watching the world go by; you certainly learn about irresponsible dog walkers and their unpleasant habits

Stalking Diary • As a ban on importing trophies is gaining traction, it’s a shame that its supporters don’t seem to value the wildlife on their own doorstep

JOTTINGS FOR WILDFOWLERS • The season might be over but there are plenty of important tasks for fowlers to carry out before 1 September rolls around again

Does a 100-year-old calibre have a place? • Launched in 1923, the .270 Win quickly gained a following — but as Will O’Meara seeks a new rifle, will the calibre stand the test of time?

The need for clarity • A predawn stalk in damp, murky conditions is the ultimate test of your equipment — particularly the optics. ZEISS’s latest riflescope and binoculars get top marks

Double the danger lurking for lambs • With the lambing season in full swing, foxes are on the prowl and a pair on his patch is proving particularly challenging for Mark Ripley

Quick, quick, sloe • Fruity, home-made sloe gin is a classic but there are plenty of options for something warming to fill your hip flask, suggests Tim Maddams

Can Spanish prize buck the trend? • Many dream of taking a gold-medal roebuck but for one hunter it is the pinnacle of all his stalking ambitions, says Thomas Nissen

A sporting life in Africa • A chance meeting brings back memories of an Englishman — and his dog — in Yemen

The pick of the litter • While choosing the perfect gundog puppy often comes down to luck, David Tomlinson is a strong believer in trusting your gut

FISHY THOUGHTS • Fish adds both variety and vitamins to a dog’s diet

Longthorne Berkley £69,161 plus VAT • This over-and-under is not only beautiful to look at, but its titanium barrels really make it something special to shoot, says Jonny Carter

For the love of the curlew • In making wader scrapes on his new field, Soldier Palmer unearths some interesting clues to a long-forgotten land

See you later, my ally Gator • Strong they may be but rabbits are no match for a big polecat hob, says Simon Whitehead

ABC OF FERRETING • THE WORST PART IS NOT KNOWING

Keep clam and carry on… • Hiding in the sand, clams make a tasty reward for the forager — but extracting them often requires some effort, says John Wright

The evolution of gamebird diseases • Poor...