How to clay pigeon shoot, deer stalking advice, gun dog training | Sporting Gun

How to keep you gun dog under control

A little too much 'knowledge' can be a dangerous thing for a gundog to possess and they can often become a bit too independent of the handler.

Gun-dog changes retrieves?

How to solve the problem when your gun dog changes retrieves.

Shooting gun-up is sometimes best

Coach Mark Russell, of Grimsthorpe SG, explains when and why it's often best to shoot gun-up.

Are you buying a new dog?

So you've decided to get a new gun dog? Read this checklist of things to consider before parting with your cash.

Playtime is important for puppies

Tony reveals how 'play time' is an essential part of a gun dog's training.

Problems with high birds?Are you having problems with high targets?

Love 'em or hate 'em - high birds can always pose a problem if your technique isn't up to scratch.

Shooting those tricky wildfowling targets

It's that time of year again, so it's time for the duck and goose shooters among us to look at wildfowling targets and the way they're presented on the shooting ground.

How do you stop a gundog from dropping short?

How do you stop a gun dog dropping the retrieve short of the handler or, alternatively, circling the handler on its return?

How do I shoot a slow incomer?

Stalwart of every shooting ground, these clay targets come either as singles or as a pair.

How do you shoot ground game?

At this time of year the same old topic of conversation crops up at shoots far and wide - namely the shooting of ground game and/or low birds.

How do you shoot low flying birds?

Low flying birds, such as snipe or woodcock, can be as difficult as the tallest pheasants.

Got a little cocker that can't cope with big retrieves?

Here's how to overcome a small dog's retrieving problems!

TOP tips for shooting vermin!

Here we look at how a variety of vermin species can be simulated with clay targets. All you've got to do is practice hitting them!

Can you explain what 'maintained lead' is?

Can you explain in beginners' terms what 'maintained lead' is and what are the benefits of this style of shooting? Are there any disadvantages?

Beginners' guide to FITASC clay pigeon shooting

FITASC sporting is a great leveller. If there's any weakness in your clay shooting technique, be it with your gun mounting or swing, this discipline will find it!

Problems with shooting simultaneous pairs?

Mark looks at some of the trickiest simultaneous pairs you're likely to encounter.

How to plan your puppy training

Nobody said puppy training is easy - just make sure you don't make it unnecessarily hard for yourself.

Readers' shooting questions

Sporting Gun's shooting coach dips into his mailbag to sort out some more readers' enquiries.

Learn the maintained lead style of shooting

Sporting Gun's shooting instructor shows how the maintained lead style of shooting could increase your scores and give you the 'X' factor.

How to hit your worst targets

Every shooter has a bad target they always miss, so here we try and give a little advice on shooting those bogey birds.

What you should know before buying a gun dog

Thinking of getting a new gundog?

We reveal a few things you definitely ought to know before taking the puppy plunge.

Importance of the stop whistle

The stop whistle is often the only sure-fire way to curb an over enthusiastic return from your dog.

What to do if your gun-dog won't retrieve

How to deal with a gun dog that's a reluctant retriever, one step at a time.

How to hit the hardest clay ground targets

Here the shooting coach explains how to tackle those clay ground favourites: sneaky little midis, minis and battues.

Don't train a young dog too soon!

There are many dangers when it comes to training a young gun dog. Surprisingly, being enthusiastic can be one of them.

How to shoot more targets and get results

Developing an instinctive 'feel' for a bird can pay dividends for your shooting, especially on those fast, half-seen targets.

Are your dog's teeth healthy?

Even if the season's ended, it's vital to keep an eye on your gun dog's health and condition.

How to hit low incomers

Here we explain how to nail those low and super-fast incomers; ideal practice for early season grouse and driven partridge.

How to get your dog to jump

Getting to grips with gun dogs that can't, or won't, jump.

The shooting safety rules

When going back to basics, the first rule of good shooting must always be safety.

How to care for your dog on a shoot day

Tony looks at ways of keeping a hard-working gun dog happy during the season.

How to perfect your shooting swing

Swing to win. Mark explains why perfecting this basic requirement can help you hit more targets!

Switching from over-under to side-by-side shooting

Here we offer some shooting advice on maintaining your scores in the event that you have to borrow a gun.