Shooting tips, gun dog training and field sports queries | Shooting UK

Wild boar shooting: Do you need wild boar on your certificate to go shooting?

I have previously heard anyone wishing to go wild boar shooting would need to have this quarry identified on their firearms certificate. Is this true or not?

Do I need lessons before I get my shotgun certificate?

I’ve spent some time with a small shoot this season and love it, and I now fancy taking up shooting myself. How do I get started? Can I receive instruction before getting a shotgun certificate?

Why don't you wear camo gear for pigeon shooting?

Looking at the pictures of you in the magazine I notice you go pigeon shooting in everything from light coloured short-sleeved shirts to plain shooting jackets and, sometimes, camouflage gear.

Are 100 grain bullets enough for deer stalking at 300yrds?

You said that it is sometimes necessary to take shots of up to 300 yards while stalking deer in open country.

Clay shooting: Why have a bent front arm when clay shooting?

Why do clay shooters hold the fore-end of a gun with a bent front arm but quite a few game shooters I’ve come across hold their guns with a much straighter arm.

Is trigger finger position important when shooting?

Believe it or not the position of your forefinger on the trigger is very important for a smooth, gentle, minimalistic squeeze of the trigger.

What's the best foot position for game shooting?

I always seem to end up off-balance when game shooting. How should I go about correcting my foot position?

I'm going game shooting for the first time!

I'm going game shooting for the first time, and am nervous about making the transition from shooting clays. Do you have any easy tips I can take with me?

I want to go shooting over my ferrets!

I intend to have a shooting expedition over my ferrets and have invited some friends along. Do you have any tips that I can pass on for the day ahead?

How should I deal with a boar carcass after shooting?

I am keen to shoot a wild boar, but I am unsure as to what preparations I should make, and how I should deal with the carcass.

I'm not sure the fit is right on my new gun?

I've bought a Beretta for clay shooting as a spare, but I'm not sure the gun fit is right as I don’t shoot as well with it as I do my old workhorse.

I am really affected by the cold when shooting!

I suffer from Reynaud’s disease, which causes poor circulation to my hands, and I am particularly affected by the cold when shooting. Is there any practical answer?

My gundog won't focus on me when training!

I am training my first gundog, a nine-month-old Labrador, for wildfowling and pigeon shooting.

My firearms certificates were renewed recently!

My certificates were renewed recently and as part of the renewal process my wife was asked if she had any objection to me having firearms.

Pigeon shooting: Can I turn my quad bike into a pigeon shooting hide?

I've been toying with the idea of turning my quad bike into a mobile hide with ropes, nets and pegs so that I can pack and move more quickly if a flightline changes.

My game shooting is going down hill!

I’ve always been a fairly competent game shooter, but this season I’ve missed noticeably more birds than usual – and I haven’t got a clue why?

Air rifles: My air rifle is inaccurate since changing the spring!

I’ve been using a Weirauch HW80 air rifle for 15 years on my smallholding. Recently, the rifle lost power and it became very inaccurate.

My husband was recently on an unsafe shoot?

My husband and some friends recently attended a local pheasant and duck shoot. While on the shoot my husband was accidentally bruised by a shot from a Gun who was aiming low.

My rifle scope goes off-centre when I change magnification!

Every time I change the magnification on my scope, my rifle shoots 2in away from the cross-hairs. Can you explain what is happening?

Game shooting: What size shot for game shooting?

I have recently started to shoot and have had instruction over clays. Now I am hoping to turn to live game shooting and wonder what size shot is recommended for driven pheasants?

How do I clean my multichoke tubes?

What’s the best way of cleaning the threads on multichoke tubes? The threads are very fine, and I don’t want to damage them.

Shotgun licence: Can I email the police when I buy a new shotgun?

I am thinking of buying a new shotgun and understand I have to inform the police by special delivery or recorded post.

Would a .243 rifle be suitable for boar shooting?

As a pig farmer with sows that spend much of their time outside, I am concerned by reports that the population of wild boar is increasing fast and not too far from my farm.

What semi-auto would suit me best?

I am thinking of buying a semi-auto to cope with steel shot rather than keep using my Browning B2G, which I’m worried might eventually get damaged by these cartridges.

Can you now get hip replacements for dogs?

My friend, who winds me up too often, tells me you can now get hip replacements for dogs? What’s next? Botox?

Deer stalking: How do you carry a rifle when woodland stalking?

What is the best way to carry a rifle when woodland deer stalking?

How to: Safely dispose of deer gralloch

When stalking, always carry a decent spade in your vehicle so you can bury a deer gralloch at or near the scene of the kill.

Under what circumstances is tail docking allowed?

I hope you can help. I have a 20 month-old Springer bitch, which I have had from 10 weeks of age, and she has a full length tail.

Why gut rabbits straight away but not hares?

On the shoot where I beat the keeper always guts rabbits as soon as they are shot.

How high a high seat do you prefer and why?

I'm looking at building a high seat on my land for deer stalking, but am unsure what kind of height would be optimal?

At what range will my non-FAC air rifle kill cleanly?

I’ve got an off-the-shelf air rifle (non FAC). Can I shoot pigeons with it and what sort of a range can I expect that it will kill them cleanly?

Why can't I have my dog's hip dysplasia X-Rays?

I recently had my Labrador’s hips X-rayed at my vet so that they could be sent to the British Veterinary Association Hip Dysplasia Scheme.

Help! I've taken the finish off my gun's stock.

I have bought a shiny new Beretta Silver Pigeon 1, which is my new pride and joy. However, up at the clay lodge the other day, I noticed I had somehow sweated all over the stock.

What's a good second-hand rifle for deer stalking?

Can you recommend a good second-hand rifle for deer stalking? I have a limited budget and will also want to buy a scope and a moderator.

Should ALL medical conditions go on my shotgun certificate renewal?

Should all medical conditions be disclosed on one's shotgun certificate renewal form?

My dog has Addison’s Disease, is it hereditary?

My German Shorthaired Pointer’s litter sister has just been diagnosed with something called Addison’s Disease. What is it and is he likely to get it too?

Wildfowling: Can I use electric rotating wing decoys for wildfowling?

An American shooting friend uses electric rotating wing decoys for wildfowling in the US, and he tells me they are very effective.

Can we shoot a dog that's worrying our pheasants?

Our small shoot is suffering from the unwanted attentions of a marauding dog belonging to someone local.

Can my Miroku handle steel shot for duck shooting?

I have a Miroku with 1/2 and full fixed chokes. I would like to use it for duck shooting, so what sort of damage might I do if I fire steel shot through it?

Which type of fore-end is best on a shotgun?

I've got the choice of two identical secondhand Beretta O/Us, one with a schnabel fore-end, the other with a more rounded semi-beavertail. Which would you recommend?