Shooting advice, country and field sports Q&A | Sporting Gun

Shotgun licence: Can I bring a gun over from the USA on my shotgun licence?

I am a relatively new shotgun licence holder and shoot clays. I get on okay with my Browning but I have a shotgun at my brother’s house in the USA that I shoot really well with.

Would bouncers improve my pigeon shooting success?

I can't afford to buy a rotary decoy machine for pigeon shooting, relying instead on 'bouncers' to add movement to the pattern.

Pigeon shooting: Should I not shoot at big groups of pigeons?

When pigeon shooting my mate says to leave big groups of pigeons when they come to the decoys, so they will return at some point during the day.

My gundog has been lame on and off!

I have a giant young black lab who is only eight months but already bigger than his Mum. He has been lame on and off on his front legs for weeks.

Can I have a gun cabinet in a static caravan?

Is there any way you are allowed to have a gun cabinet in a static caravan?

Shotgun certificate: My late father's shotgun certificate has expired!

Some months after my father passed away the police told my mother that because his shotgun certificate had lapsed she should hand his gun to the local gun shop.

How do I make my own long net for ferreting?

I would like to make my own long net for ferreting and wondered if you could recommend a book that shows how to do it?

Deer stalking: What method is best for assessing deer numbers?

I'm an avid deer stalker and have seen all sorts of methods for assessing the number of deer on a piece of ground. Do any of them work?

Pigeon shooting: Pigeon shooting has started to give me headaches!

I have never suffered headaches before when pigeon shooting, until now. If I have a good day over the decoys my head really throbs for several hours afterwards.

Ferreting: What trap can I set overnight to catch a lost ferret?

Can you recommend a make of live cage trap to leave set overnight to catch a lost ferret? How's it best used?

How do I change the balance of my shotgun?

Is it possible to change the balance of a shotgun by adding weight to the stock? If so, how is it done?

Deer stalking: Do deer scent 'attractants' work in the UK?

I’m going on holiday to America and plan to visit a couple of hunting megastores for deer stalking stuff you can’t get here.

Pigeon shooting: What dictates how far the nearest decoy is from the hide?

What should dictate how far the nearest pigeon decoy is placed from the hide – wind strength, barrel choke or the cartridge being used?

How do I challenge the referee when clay shooting?

When clay shooting, how do you question a referee’s decision if he has called a clay ‘missed’ when you’re sure you chipped it?

Collared dove shooting: Can I shoot collared doves near my friend's boundary?

My friend has asked me to remove some collared doves from her property with my air rifle (12ft lbs).

Will my cheap deer stalking be worth the money?

I've been offered some unaccompanied red deer stalking in January 2013 at an incredibly low price.

Firearms certificate: How much land do I need for the rifle on my certificate?

I have a .22/250 rifle for fox shooting. I have let a lot of my land go and I only have 200 acres left.

Is it ok to start clay shooting with a 20-bore?

I am new to clay shooting and see that everybody at a nearby gun club where I’ve been having lessons use 12-bores.

My gundog ignores me when working in sugarbeet!

After training my gundog I worked it for the first time last season – and noticed he was less responsive to the whistle when working in sugar beet than at other times. Any idea why?

How should you hang shot game birds?

I've heard you should hang shot game birds by the neck, and make sure they don't come into contact with one another.

How do I stop my dog retrieveing my pigeon decoys?

How do I get my dog to stop bringing back my dead pigeon decoys instead of freshly shot birds?

Is it illegal to remove a dead deer from the roadside?

I've been told it is illegal to remove a dead pheasant from the roadside and drive off with it. Does this law also apply to deer?

What should I put in my ferrets' exercise yard?

My son has been ferreting several times with an uncle and now wants ferrets of his own.

How can I maintain my clay shooting scores?

I can’t afford to go clay shooting as often as I used to just now and I’m finding it hard to maintain my Sporting average.

How should I clean plastic fouling from my shotgun barrel?

When shotgun cleaning, what are the signs of plastic fouling in a shotgun barrel, and how should it be removed?

Deer stalking: How can deer differentiate stalkers from walkers?

Why is it that some roe deer tend to ignore groups of noisy walkers as they pass but leg it the moment they spot or wind me on my own?

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Why doesn't my gundog like picking up woodcock?

Why is my four year-old Labrador reluctant to pick up woodcock? She’s okay on all other game, so any advice would much appreciated.

My Labrador killed a neighbour's cat!

Two days ago my Labrador killed a neighbour’s objectionable tom-cat when it strayed onto my smallholding and the owners now say they are going to sue and want my soft old dog – which has never shown any aggression in the past - destroyed.

How much would a gundog stud fee be?

How much would you expect to pay as a gundog stud fee for a well-bred working Labrador?

How do I stop my glasses fogging up while deer stalking?

Is there anything I can do to stop my scope and glasses fogging up while deer stalking, and particularly after just leaving the car and walking into cold air?

Can you train young ferrets to get through purse nets?

Is it possible to train ferrets to get through purse nets when they’re fairly young, or is it something they learn to do with experience?

When rabbiting, they always go for the unnetted hole!

Why is it just about every rabbit in a burrow always seems to find the same unnetted hole?

Are titanium moderators better than normal ones?

Have you tried moderators made from lightweight titanium? Are these titanium moderators as effective as heavier moderators - and as durable?

My gundog won't walk to heel off the lead!

My Labrador pup walks to heel on the lead but, if off, he keeps stopping to sniff the ground and ignores my command to ‘heel’. What should I do?

Am I wasting my money on barrel cleaning patches?

A pal tells me I am wasting my money buying shotgun barrel cleaning patches, and that any scraps of old rag will do. Is he right?

Is it legal to shoot a domestic pet to protect livestock?

I seem to remember you saying something to the effect it's unlawful to shoot someone else's domestic pet.

Pigeon shooting: What's the best seat for pigeon shooting from a hide?

What's the most useful seat for shooting from in a hide? I suffer a lot of lower back pain and want to take as much strain out of a day's decoying as possible.

Can you work ferrets from two different sources?

My shooting pal wants me to help him clear some really big burrows on his ground with my three ferrets, and his four.

Will seeing shot help me become a shooting instructor?

I want to become a shooting instructor when I leave college and would like to learn how to 'see shot' to help me determine where someone is missing. Can you give me any tips?