HAVING A BLAST

From royalty to sportsmen to TV presenters, everyone wants to go shooting. But why is it so popular, and why should you care about it?

Readers of this supplement are no fools; they know the stories propagated in the tabloid media screaming about ‘guns on our streets’ are a load of waffle. But still, if you’ve never shot before, you may think of it as mostly the preserve of either rich people bedecked in tweed, or stag parties and corporate dos having a (overly loud) laugh and smashing, or perhaps missing, a load of clay targets.

Think again, because even if you don’t shoot, you’re already enjoying the benefits of the shooting sports any time you go into the countryside. Shooting providers in the UK spend nearly £250 million a year on conservation work – to put it into context, that’s eight times as much as the RSPB spends on conservation on its reserves. In many cases installing a voluntary land management system to get shoots up to scratch, shoots have drummed up the equivalent of an army of 16,000 full-time workers for the conservation effort. The hedgerows, field edges, copses and ponds shoots cultivate become havens for wildlife. It’s not just about the quarry they shoot – everything benefits, from songbirds to butterflies. Furthermore, shooting reaches corners of the country that many mainstream industries miss – in Scotland, for example, shooting is what keeps Highland estates ticking.

Those already in love with shooting will tell misty-eyed stories of monarchs on the hill, or cock pheasants screaming overhead. But there is more to it than that. It is hard to appreciate at first. Some old hands spread the notion that either you’re a shooter or you aren’t, leading to the misconception that all forms of shooting are the same. But shooters are as diverse a group as you’ll find anywhere. Big-bag commercial game shoots steal the headlines, but rough shooters, taking maybe two birds per outing, look askance at this. Deer stalkers, with their system of tests and certificates, see themselves as the custodians of the countryside. Wildfowlers, braving the elements for a slim chance at a duck or goose at 5am on the foreshore, know they are the only true hunters. Then there’s airguning, target rifle, sporting clays…

Yes, it can be confusing. But if you want to see shooting’s accessible side, look for your local club – either clays or airguns. Populated by trained staff who see attracting new shooters as the single most important part of their job, they’ll give you a warm welcome. Before long, you’ll be hooked.

THE BLAGGER’S GUIDE…

Want to fit in among shooters? Here’s what you need to know for every discipline…

Airguns

Shooting pests around the farmyard, or knockdown targets on a Field Target layout

■ Bring: Little equipment is needed for this accessible sport

■ Say: “How many shots per fill do you get with that PCP?”

■ How much for a day? At a club with gun hire, you’ll get by on pocket change

Clay shooting

The biggest leisure aspect of the sport, clay-busting can nevertheless propel you to Olympic stardom (just ask 2012 Double Trap gold medallist Peter Wilson)

■ Bring: A skeet vest to save your shoulder from unwanted punishment

■ Say: “How much lead do I need to give this crosser?”

■ How much for a day? An hour’s tuition with gun hire, cartridges and clays will set you back £60-£70

Target shooting

Another Olympic sport, target shooting will have you aiming at a piece of paper at anywhere from 10 to 1,200 metres

■ Bring: Heavy, leather-based clothing if you’re indoors. If you’re outdoors, a wind meter – and a spotting scope if you want to be able to see the target

■ Say: “That fishtailing wind is a demon!”

■ How much for a day? The National Rifle Association (nra.org.uk) offers guest days for around £35 per session a few times a year

Rough shooting

Wandering the estate with a shotgun, clearing up stray pest species

■ Bring: Sturdy footwear. A dog

■ Say: “Over!” to alert your neighbouring gun to the chance of a shot

■ How much for a day? Much cheaper than a driven day, this is the affordable form of game shooting

Deer stalking

Ascending the Scottish hill for a red stag if you’re fit (and rich). If you’re not, lowground roebucks are no less magical

■ Bring: Waterproof jacket and trousers. Sturdy hill boots. Expensive bincoulars

■ Say: Hushed whispers. Deer are spookier than a re-run of the Friday the 13th series

■ How much for a day? You can shoot a deer for £150, though once you get into buying the kit, the sky’s the limit

Take A Mate Shooting

As spring turns to summer and evenings grow longer, it’s the perfect time to take a friend or two shooting. Even old hands may want to try something different as the clay shooting season gets into full flow – and it is simple to find where to take a friend shooting for the first time or to locate a venue for sampling a new aspect of the sport.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has been running the GoShooting project for over 10 years. BASC’s free online directory at goshooting.org.uk provides extensive details of what’s on offer and where. If you want to introduce your friends to shooting – or you’ve never shot before but want to try it – it provides the perfect opportunity.

In addition to free access to the directory, if a BASC member introduces a new person to shooting and you let us know about it, then both will be entered into a prize draw to win a day’s simulated game shooting. Simply go to basc.org.uk/shooting/take-a-mate-shooting and complete the online form.

BASC’s David Ilsley said, “Shooting brings together all sorts of people. Old, young, male, female, able-bodied and disabled. It’s a sport that can be enjoyed by all. So why not give it a go?”

Wildfowling

Wading through the foreshore, trying to call geese in, enduring gales and sub-zero temperatures without a flicker of complaint

■ Bring: A chart of the tides. Someone who knows what they’re doing more than you

■ Say: Nothing for hours on end.

■ How much for a day? It’s inexpensive –don’t skimp on warm clothing though

Driven pheasant

The classic estate sport, available up and down the country

■ Bring: Smart clothing. In Britain, we treat driven game with reverence

■ Say: “Is it lunch after this drive?”

■ How much for a day? A few hundred pounds. Join a syndicate and it’s cheaper

Driven grouse

The ultimate scenic sport on the moors. An expensive habit.

■ Bring: Money, and lots of it

■ Say: “I say, which of you chaps is loading for me today?”

■ How much for a day? You’ll be paying £2,000 including tips and accommodation