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The best stories often begin with a happy coincidence. A chance meeting on a street corner, an unexpected adventure, an idea that seemed to come out of nowhere. And when chance meets genius, the story often becomes History with a capital ‘H’.

Duck shooting is an exciting experience, full of wonder and unpredictability. Just imagine that a duck could have travelled several hundred kilometres, flown over hundreds of waterholes, to come and land here, in front of you. Hunting this elegant, clever and ever-watchful creature is demanding, but worthwhile. Let’s take a look at the basics of a successful hunt, so you can bring this incredible waterfowl back home with you.

Continuation and end of our series of articles dedicated to shooting sports. The series “Objective 25/25 in ball shooting, a step by step strategy” aims to give you advices (in 3 articles) to help you improve your swing and your shots and to get 25/25 during your next competitions or ball shooting sessions.

An icon for wild boar hunters (and others), all over the world. And for more than fifty years it has been synonymous with the gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle.

Which calibre for a perfect wild boar driven hunt? This topic is really difficult. Because every hunter has their own theory and is swayed by his own experiences, and by what he has heard from those he considers expert. So, it’s all a bit of a minefield.

If the instructor stands in front of your rib or behind you, don’t worry! In the first case it is to observe if the dominant eye is aligned just above the rib, in the second to check your stance. The following tips are geared towards Olympic Trap, but can be adapted for other disciplines (see end of article).

It all depends on your level as a shooter and your natural talent. If you have never shot clay pigeon before, I recommend that you first go to the nearest shooting range to try it out. There might be an instructor and maybe they could even lend you a shotgun for your first attempt. With an instructor there, you won’t get discouraged if there are lots of “zeroes”; instead you will receive useful advice, get an understanding and have fun getting good results, with the goal of 25 out of 25. And, if you have talent, the instructor will recognise it immediately.

Oh, I know, the topic is a thorny one. But there is little to joke about. In all activities where guns are used, especially hunting, either you follow precise safety protocols, or you get hurt. How many times do you hear or read in the media of “accident” or “fatality”? There is no fatality: there are only behaviors, perhaps habitual, but potentially dangerous. The fact that the habits and customs adopted so far have not caused accidents does not mean that they are to be considered safe behaviors. First of all. Firearms should be loaded only when you are in the field or on the target range or shooting area, ready to shoot. When not in use, firearms and ammunition should be secured in a safe place, separate from each other. It is your responsibility to prevent children and unauthorized adults from gaining access to firearms or ammunition.

Gotcha! You’ve been taken in by another sensationalist headline. Obviously, the subject of this article isn’t about whether your BAR could challenge Gerard Depardieu to a drinking contest, or if your B725 Grade 5 gets hangovers too. The subject of this article is quite different. Now that the Covid crisis has meant that we have to wash our hands more often than usual, could hydro-alcoholic gel damage your gun? We checked out some possible answers. Before they are sent out to the hunting and shooting community across the world, Browning guns undergo a whole series of extremely strict tests, called the “B.A.C.O. tests“. These tests concern gun safety, reliability and accuracy. But none of them concern the ability of a weapon to stand up to a solution containing up to 70% alcohol. However, repeated contact between this solution and certain materials may well have consequences.

Ammunition weight is key. It impacts on the trajectory of the bullet and how well it penetrates the game. However, it can be problematic to work out, insofar as two measurement systems coexist: the European system and the American systems. In the United States, where distance is calculated in miles and temperature in degrees Fahrenheit, bullets are weighed in grains. In Europe, which uses the metric system, ammunition weight is given in grams. Here are the facts you need to know to express in grams ammunition given in grains, and vice versa. 1 grain = 0.0648 grams 1 gram = 15.4324 grains

In order to be successful, there are a number of factors a roedeer hunter has to take into consideration: the most obvious being wind and sun. When dealing with suspicious animals, your smell or your shadow could give you away; but it is just as important to know the right time of day to be effective.

When shooting in the summertime, you need to check your scope is adjusted before considering that first outing to hunt buck or fox. We’d like to show you how to zero your rifle with just four rounds.

Caw, caw, caw! A black shape emerges out of the morning gloom, circling above the bird decoys you have set up a few metres away from your hiding place. Quick as a flash, you stand, shoulder your Maxus and fire a Winchester Special Corneille. It falls to the ground. You’re happy, and so is the farmer. Shooting crows and rooks is becoming more and more popular with hunters. We’re going to explain why.

Let’s talk a bit about stalking or hunting equipment in general. I am not talking about things like rifles and scopes today, but rather the equipment you carry in your rucksacks, kit bags and all those pockets which nowadays adorn jackets and trousers. I know that everyone has their own personal preferences as to what they need and use, and every country has different regulations and traditions: therefore, what follows is perhaps not a complete list.

We consider the advantages of not going it alone into the hunting field when you’re a beginner hunter or even an experienced hunter.

We look at the dictates of pushing the 22 Long Rifle cartridge well out of its comfort zone.

Deer shooting in the UK tends to more longer distances, as we don’t drive them like wild boar as the European’s do, which is close up and usually standing shooting as they run by.

In 2011, I bagged my very first deer in the UK and that was when I made up my mind that I wanted hunting to be a full-time hobby. And what better way to do that than with a T-Bolt! Going back to my hunting roots wasn’t easy and there were a few obstacles on the way. But with the help of a good friend and a few other people I got there in the end, and I finally received all my licenses and qualifications. I began to be less of a recreational hunter and more a semi-professional wildlife manager.

Everyone has the time of their life on a hunt. There is no such thing as a bad time on a hunt: some are good, some are great and some are just bloody amazing. It doesn’t happen often but when it does, you will remember it for the rest of your life. These kinds of stories make the best memories.

Just a month after Sam Green and his Browning Ultra XS were crowned FITASC world sporting champions, one of Browning’s female shooters has also struck gold. Sam’s fellow British shooter Amy Easeman won the World Compak Sporting Ladies’ Championship in Hungary at the end of August. We invited Amy, 18, to tell us about her experience.

The success of our sponsored shooter Sam Green once again underlines Browning’s reputation for excellence. The Englishman with the easy smile took the top prize in FITASC sporting at the 2019 World FITASC Championship held at the prestigious EJ Churchill range. Here, Sam tells us what the experience was like.

Gunsmiths often say that “the bullet comes from the gun; the kill comes from the stock”. The stock is in direct contact with the shooter and has to nestle perfectly in the pit of the shoulder to guarantee a certain level of performance. Everyone has heard of straight stocks, swan-necks, the Monte-Carlo, pistol grips, and others, but what do these names actually mean? Here’s a quick overview of some of these terms.

I often listen to people talking about distances and how far they can shoot. Well, here is my take on it.

So, you’ve made a deal with the Devil Mrs: every second Sunday, you’ll leave your gun in the safe and chill out with her on a Netflix binge. Although I can’t agree with such a course of action personally, you can play it smart and stay a step ahead of your dearly beloved. How? you ask. With a list of films about hunting! And in another two articles, I’ll be writing about video games and platforms that are based on our passion for hunting.

There is a very common question people ask: “I am new to stalking/hunting, can someone suggest what type of scope I need for different kinds of hunting?”

The famous XIXth century Alpine hunter, Alpinus (real name Henry-Frédéric Faige-Blanc) used to say that dogs are “man’s better half“. It’s difficult to argue otherwise, especially when you’re a hunter! Hence, in our continuing look at our dear four-legged helpers in this blog, we have decided to talk about one of the most common breeds in this part of the world: the Brittany spaniel.

The Paleo diet is a return to the diet of our hunter-gatherer ancestors. The term Paleo refers to the prehistoric Palaeolithic period, when humans first appeared (3 million to 12,000 years BC). The diet really began trending in 2001, in the United States, with the publication of The Paleo Diet by Loren Cordain, a professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University.

While most hunters are hanging up their shotguns and rifles as the hunting season draws to a close, some are counting down the days to the 1st of June when, certain circumstances permitting, they will have ample opportunity to indulge in the wonderful solo hunting experience of fox stalking in summer. In times gone by, only government game wardens were allowed to shoot Vulpes vulpes in the close season; nowadays, hunters may apply to the prefecture for authorisation.

We consider the ability to predict where your shot will go and its ramifications.

Ever since I was very young, I’ve been fascinated by the mountains. I’ve always preferred silent hiking trails to beaches packed with ruddy bathers basted in lotion. I enjoy the physical challenge of the steep hillsides. I’m not the sporty type particularly, but what a great feeling when the blood starts racing through your temples, you’re trying to catch your breath and your legs are burning. For me, mountain stalking is the purest form of hunting there is. It’s the only time your quarry has a head start up a cliff side. The only hunt where I feel I’m on an extraordinary quest, beyond time. My great friend Dominique from Marseille, with the lilting accent to match, recently gave me a chance to hunt mouflon on Mont Caroux, near Béziers. This is the story of the intense, almost primitive, joy of that hunt.

Hunting is doubtless an adventure, whether you just drive a few miles to a small piece of land you have permission on or take the plunge and gear up for a trip overseas, the risks can be the same. So, an amount of pre-planning and preparedness will increase your chances of having a good time, or not having a bad one. What If? Are you prepared for your trip into the wild lands or at least the woods?

Ask an American which monuments symbolise his country and he’ll tell you about the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, the Golden Gate Bridge, or the Hollywood sign on the hills above Los Angeles. Talk to him about brands that symbolise the American Dream, and there’s a good chance that Browning will be one of the first names mentioned.

I was recently lucky enough to fly to Slovenia to organise a Browning event. Slovenia, for anyone who doesn’t know, is a small country, formerly part of the Republic of Yugoslavia, on the borders of Italy, Austria, Hungary, and Croatia. It is a one-of-a-kind model for Europe. Hunters and naturalists live peacefully side by side, the mountains are unspoiled by mass tourism, and it has an extremely diverse and rich wildlife. It was in this idyllic setting that I had the chance to bag my first chamois, with the help of my great friend Peter Matjasic, owner of YouTube channel WaffenlandTV. Read about my adventures below.

“ … over by La Lande, we had two lakes covered in reeds and floating grass. Between them, at the edge of a connecting stream, my husband had had a small hide built for shooting at wild ducks.” Maupassant, Tales and novels, v. 1, A Wife’s Confession., 1882, p. 800.

With many common and exotic cartridges around how do you make the right choice for your first calibre needs?

Game is part of our Christmas fare, and a chance to try a highly nutritional, protein-rich, low-fat meat. If your iron count is low, tuck in to a haunch of boar or a joint of deer and top up your potassium and phosphorus levels at the same time. It’s the ideal mid-winter pick-me-up for body and mind!

It’s a nice title, isn’t it? I could just as easily have written “Browning Maxus, the best gas-operated semi-auto shotgun on the market”. But that just doesn’t have the same ring to it. Still, you get the idea. This article is intended to show you that the Maxus is the best buy in its category, your most trusted friend, your best investment.

I am sure that every hunter has had one of those days when you get up in the morning and start getting ready for work; it’s just not working out for you, you just can’t get on with things. Everything takes so much effort and energy that you almost want to call in sick. Your workmates are not the same and it seems no-one cares about you and nobody understands you.

Wildlife management practice in the Geneva canton is seen as a template by some, absurd by others; but it does differ in one notable respect: the absence of so-called “traditional” hunting. The reason for this is a popular initiative put forward by a physiotherapist and a lawyer in 1974, which saw a 75% vote in favour of a hunting ban in the canton (with a turnout of only 21% of Genevans).

When I was 4 years old my father took me hunting for the very first time: indeed, it is the first memory I have of my father and I together; I guess the bond between us was made at that time. Then, when I was 7, I pulled the trigger of my father’s 12G for the first time, and the next thing I saw was blue skies, as the recoil knocked me off my feet. That was when I fell in love with shotgun shooting.

There are a few ways of hunting which spring to mind when you think about hunting with dogs. Now the reason I said ‘few’ is that here in the UK, driven hunting for animals like boar and deer is not common practice – in fact, it’s actually illegal.

In my opinion, small game starts with rabbits and stops with foxes: I’m sure it doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you, that both of the above populations require careful management across the country. I can say with confidence that almost every single hunter would pull the trigger if he saw a fox in front of him, in the right situation.

With lawmakers casting a foreboding shadow over the gun and hunting sectors, a gun safe is an increasingly recommended item of equipment. Some countries in Europe require all gun owners to have one, and others may soon follow suit. The problem is that most of us know nothing about safes. Is a 200 € safety chest the same as a 2,000 € safe? What about its fire-resistance rating? What interior layout options are available? Here are five reasons why you need a safe that has the Browning logo.

If we take a quick look back at the history of wild boar in the UK, we find out that the original native wild boar were extinct somewhere around the 13th century. Since then, there have been several attempts to reintroduce wild boar by royal personages or members of the aristocracy.

Hunters like to shop as much as the fashion victims you see strutting around city centres. What could be nicer than casually browsing around a gun store you’ve never been to before while your other half is buying a pair of shoes in the shop next door (using her own credit card, phew!)? What greater thrill than shouldering a gun you’ve had your eye on for years? Nothing much, probably, except the actual hunt. Unfortunately, hunting can be a money guzzler. I’m thinking of big-game hunters with different guns for blinds, driven shoots, stalking… The costs can soon stack up and turn relations between you and the missus into a powder keg. Then there are all those who have made the discerning decision to purchase the best performing straight-pull rifle on the market: the Maral. Here are five reasons to get a Maral! What are yours?

As we draw nearer to the roebuck rutting season (late July, early August in England) the thought of calling in that trophy buck becomes ever prominent. With long days of warm weather and the bucks chasing does, there’s plenty of action to be had if you know the right calls. Here are a few tips to help you along the way…

A bison-sized 4×4 cuts its way across Far West scenery. A vast, desert expanse spreads beyond view. The temperature is touching 40°C; not enough to deter a dozen or so antelopes from nibbling at the tufts of burnt grass. The turns in the road reveal the occasional village peering out of the dust like lunar colonies. As night falls, the scenery slowly changes. The powerful motor roars and pulls our vehicle to the top of a dirt track winding through the mountainside forest. A wapiti crosses through our headlights before disappearing into the thick darkness. Suddenly, a collection of cabins in a clearing ahead. This is where we’ll be spending the night, at an altitude of almost 2,500 metres. No light pierces the starry veil, save the faint halo of the moon. We are told that wolves and bears prowl the area. “Remember to shut your cabin doors!” We remember.

A lot of studies have been done about the social structure of deer by many great experts, doctors, and professors, who spent countless hours studying and writing PhD theses on the subject. So many different species, locations, areas and climates and everywhere the structure of deer society is different.

There is one disease in this overview of illnesses affecting game that is garnering a lot of attention – and, unfortunately, we probably haven’t heard the last of it: African swine fever.

Ah, the empty bag! Every hunter has come back with it, and no hunter looks forward to it! Empty, but usually with a bitter tinge of disappointment and a bitter feel; it can put you in a bad mood, even make you insufferable to friends and family… But what would hunting be without it? What pleasure would we get from the battue, the night in the hide, or the walk-up, if the possibility of the empty bag never loomed in our mind?

John Moses Browning, the man who gave his name to our brand, is often called “the father of modern guns”. This man who held 128 patents is also behind four of the five Browning guns that have each sold over one million.

At Browning, we are committed to promoting the world of hunting and sports shooting. To do so, we support associations, athletes, but also huntress and hunters. One of these huntress is Fiona Hopkins. She is one of our ambassadors on France with Margaux Huntress and Julien Carpentier. We asked her a few questions.

All hunters and shooters have the right to the “best there is”. Yet even if the very best over and under shotguns are called B25, B15, Heritage, B725, B525 or Cynergy, it does sometimes happen that a shooter cannot find a stock that fits his shoulder. The grip may be too wide, the stock may be too long, the fore-end may be ill-adapted, the trigger may be too far away etc. For some shooters who are smaller than average hunters, such as women or younger people, micro stocks are not always enough. The only solution is to take the shotgun to the gunsmith.

Not very big (30 to 60 cm long), not very heavy (400g to 2kg), this hunter’s companion is very efficient at flushing out rodents – and especially rabbits – from their burrows. They are enthusiastic sleepers, especially when their stomachs are full. For several decades now, ferrets have been considered as quirky pets: their appearance and behaviour are not without a certain charm. However, it just needs to pick up the scent of its favourite prey’s trail and this member of the Mustelidae family puts all its natural abilities on the alert, regaining its predatory instincts and efficiency.

We can learn a lot from our mistakes, so here are a few lessons that I have seen or heard that you will hopefully not be repeat

At this time of year we are enjoying stocking up the freezer during shooting season and I’m making the most of the variety! Investing in a mincer has opened up a whole new range of options for cooking game. One of those options being a delicious homemade burger!

I often get the chance to work at hunting fairs in Europe, but whether in France, Germany, Sweden or England, one question comes up time after time. “Hello, I shoot with a B25 purchased in the 1960s and I wanted to know why Browning shotguns stand out from the rest with their extraordinary longevity”? Well, here are some of the answers.

The Loch Ness monster: do you know the legend from the Highlands about the monster they call Nessie? No, it’s not about a marine animal with a long tail, but the first deer I stalked with such pride.

My first ladies’ driven shoot day has just been. After a fantastic day in the field with seven other lovely ladies, we ended up with a mixed bag of 91. We each took a brace or two home and I already knew what I was going to make, pheasant satay skewers – one of my favourite dinners!

Is the self-loading sporting rifle on the way out in Europe? We British lost the right to own self-loading, centrefire rifles (SLRs) in 1988. Which was the result of the Hungerford shootings where Michael Ryan went on a rampage with a legally owned, semi-automatic AK47 and other weapons. An act impossible to defend by any right-minded sports shooter! Unlike Europe, the majority of British SLRs were of the military-type and semi-automatic only and used for Practical Rifle competition, which is a dynamic or action sport. Few if any used the hunting-types typified by Browning’s Automatic Rifle (BAR) etc. Today we use manually-operated (mann-opp) straight-pull guns mainly based on the AR15 for competitive shooting.

Hunting is much more than just a sport or a hobby: it’s a true philosophy of life and we haven’t yet fully understood all the issues it raises. Since time immemorial, it has inspired the cultural world – in its widest sense – and particularly, pictorial art. Without going back to our ancestors’ rock paintings, and their representations of their own confrontations with beasts, in this short post we would like to turn the spotlight on Miguel Angel Moraleda, a contemporary artist who illuminates hunting and European wildlife with his canvasses.

This type of hunting, which is widespread in Europe and much appreciated for the excitement it arouses, generally requires a large number of participants. Obviously, this is a good thing as it allows more than one landless hunter to fully experience and share their passion. Beyond the popular and unifying dimensions, in this most individualistic of times, the driven hunt is a standardised exercise in hunting which requires discipline, self-control and strict attention to safety regulations. Fur, feather, small and big game: although it is more precise to talk about types of driven hunts given the variety of technique, according to the region, customs and regulations in force, the principle remains largely the same from one to another: beaters (most often accompanied by dogs) beat an enclosure or an area to drive the animals out and push them towards the guns waiting in their posts. The theory is simple, but …

It’s happened to all of us at least once. In the middle of a hunt, an enormous wild boar weighing about a hundred kilos takes off in front of you. Having checked he is in your angle of fire, you shoulder your weapon and pull the trigger. The shot fires, but the animal carries on! You are starting to doubt your marksmanship, even though it is well-established along the line of guns. So you fire a second bullet. The black beast continues his flight. “Missed again!” you curse to yourself, thoroughly disheartened. However, at the end of the drive, you find the glorious animal 200 metres further on, hit twice in the front flank. How is that possible?

It is likely that the art of falconry first appeared on the high plateaux of Central Asia 4,000 years ago. Falconry (or hunting on the wing) is the hunting of natural game in its environment using a specially-trained bird of prey. From a historical point of view, it is thought that the Kyrgyz people, who were nomadic hunters, were the first falconers. The Ancient Greeks and Romans seem not to have practiced the art, but over the centuries it progressively spread through the Arab, Celtic and Gallic cultures, and then throughout Europe: the Middle Ages saw the height of the popularity of falconry, particularly in France.

In Belgium, we’re used to making fun of our French neighbours, and especially their ability to find excuses whenever their national football team loses a match. “It was too windy,” “the pitch was as bad as the ref,” “the ball was flat,” etc. Fair game, I hear you say, since our French friends are past masters in the art of making fun of Belgians.

Dr. Jean-Louis LLombart is a physician and a writer, contributing to the magazine Jours de Chasse (“Hunting Days”). He is very well versed in big game hunting in Africa, with which he fell in love some twenty years ago. In his articles, he recounts in his elegant style his adventures on this vast continent where Nature reigns supreme and Animals, by their power and splendour, seem to require a capital A. Far from the usual clichés, this sensitive and lucid modern-day Nimrod is able to explain with rare precision the essence of this passion which mixes, inextricably and paroxysmally, the search for big game and the search for oneself. Dr. LLombart has agreed to answer our questions on this subject, for which we wish to thank him warmly.

So what might happen to shooters after the UK leaves the European community, here are some thoughts. First I’ll say I’m glad we are leaving Europe, but very sad it has come to this as I have made a lot of hunting and shooting friends in a lot of countries and still believe in the principles of the common market that I voted YES to in 1975. But I fail to see as an Englishman why bureaucrats in Brussels should be making laws on sporting firearms that affect my island; we have enough tyrants where I live doing that already! As a hunter I always take my guns abroad; why wouldn’t I? After all, that’s what I bought them for? And getting into Europe with firearms has never been that much hassle, in fact, I get more grief from UK customs. In over 15-years of travel abroad I have only had to show my EFP (European Firearms Pass) three times and that was more a cursory inspection and a friendly on your way.

During each period between hunting seasons, the same thing happens. You dismantle, clean and reassemble your weapons up to six times a day. You stockpile so much ammunition that you have to close off certain parts of your home. At night, you alternate between hunting and erotic dreams. Your Sundays punctuated with family meals and naps in front of Inspector Derrick are as joyful as a congress of forensic pathologists.

Think your rifle does not need a bit of tender love and care; then think again! When it comes to keeping your guns clean; rifled firearms need to be given the biggest consideration. Fouling will start to fill up the rifling groves that spin the bullet to stabilise it. Compounding this is the copper that comes off the jacket, which also has to go! Both will have a detrimental effect on accuracy! Also smaller calibres like .17” and .20” will foul faster and what was once a ½” rifle can turn into something that no longer shoots tight or consistently. Depending on the steel used for the barrel it can build-up at different rates.

OK there you are lined up on that Roe Buck and everything looks good, you squeeze the trigger and instead of dropping on the spot it runs usually into the woods. So what went wrong and more importantly what do you do? Shot placement might be out and a heart shot deer, despite being technically dead can run 100 yards more or less and will always try and go to ground and hide. Worse if it’s gut shot, it will hunch as it’s hit and also run, but further as the wound, though fatal is not instantly so.

Want to keep in practice or just have fun then try simulated game bird shooting I would be the first to admit that shotgunning of all types has more devotees than rifle shooting in the UK. There are many clay pigeon grounds, which are well attended as access is easy and of all our gun sports is also seen as the most acceptable by the general public. Plus bird hunting is massively popular be it decoying pigeons or going after the flying royalty of pheasants and grouse. The serious Brits love to get out with their tweets along with a matched pair of dogs and also traditional, side-by-side shotguns preferred by some. However, this form of shooting can be expensive and is seasonal, so what do you do to keep your eye in for the rest of the year? The answer is simulated game shoots.

The best scope in the world is no good unless it’s mounted correctly so what’s it all about? There are two mounting options; fixed, and quick detachable (QD), this last is normally found on switch barrel/calibre rifles or where iron sights are also required. The basic setup is a pair of fixed, dovetail bases that screw to the top of the rifle’s receiver (bridges). The rings (1” or 30mm diameter) hold the scope so providing the interface. They fit using a claw that clamps to the base. Rings are horizontally or vertically split so they can enclose the scope body tube and are fixed by opposed screws. A one-piece base (rail) can be substituted, which is more rigid and can be made to offer a degree of angle for longer range shooting if required, or extended for night vision optics.

Nine French hunters out of ten use a telescopic sight when hunting big game. A scope can be an indispensable help when seeking to ensure a maximum of precision. Red dots, scopes for driven hunts or scopes for stalking: with so much choice, it is sometimes difficult to know what to choose! This should help with your decision.

2016 has been a good year for ‘team Browning’ marksmen and women: 17 medals won at the European and World championships of Compak Sporting and Sporting! Just that! Browning sponsors many top rank athletes who excel in such disciplines as Compak Sporting and Sporting. This year, we’re proud to announce that our shooters have harvested no less than 17 medals at major international championships!

Opponents of hunting are often hermetically sealed against any arguments that hunters might advance. Regulation? They either do not believe in it or do not want to believe. The support it provides to farmers and breeders? An unacceptable rural conspiracy, and so on… Let it be; some people are simply impervious to reason. But another argument, this time one with numbers, lets us once again underline the indispensable character of hunting: its economic weight. The report presented to the European parliament is eloquent! Hunting in Europe represents more than 16 billion EUR! Yes, that’s a huge sum. Just to make a comparison, that sum corresponds roughly to the GDP of a country like Iceland or Bosnia. With 16 billion, a glutton could buy 2 billion Big Macs and probably get a few fries thrown in for good luck.

At least based on appearances, Snowy, famous canine companion to the even more famous Tintin, was certainly one… Indeed, it’s impossible not to think of this most celebrated and adorable ambassador of the breed, faithfully recreated even down to its faults – the most obvious of which is its highly ‘tenacious’ character – when calling to mind the Fox Terrier. For if Hergé – at least with regard to the standards drawn up by the ‘Société Centrale Canine’ (the Francophone equivalent of Crufts) – took certain liberties with the shape and, in particular, the colour of Snowy’s coat, Tintin’s author certainly made no mistake in attributing exceptional intelligence, a good ration of courage and a measure of fidelity above and beyond the call of duty to his inimitable, four-legged, wiry-haired hero.

After my Swedish hunt and the Italian Wild Boar hunt it was time to test the Maral in a more refined long range hunting. With Browning we decided to head to Spain for a Red Deed hunt. I arrived in Spain in early December. The temperatures were still mild and the Deer where still Routing. For this hunt I had used local contact Luis Jaure CEO of huntingspain.com. With Luis we had selected a hunting area managed by German and Pedro about 4 hours south of Madrid. I want to thank Luis for the great organisation and professionalism now because in this article I am going to spend more time describing my experience with the Browning Maral Monte Carlo 30-06.

Though most British hunters feel that Africa, Europe etc are exotic locations for their sport, few perhaps know that the UK is in fact a highly desirable location for shooters from around the world. Our game birds cover most species including that Holly Grail of flying quarry the grouse, possibly one of the most demanding creatures to shoot with a shotgun. Likewise Scottish Red Stags are highly sought after, and the pinnacle of many a trophy hunter’s career. On any decent Scottish estate going down to breakfast is like the League of Nations as to the many nationalities getting ready for a day of quintessentially British shooting!

Over a year ago Browning gave my Team and me the trust to organize 5 European Hunts. We selected together different types of hunts in Europe. Today I am here to talk to you about Sweden and its beautiful hunting areas.

Often out hunting the action either kicks off almost right away or when you are just thinking of going home; this tale really explains it. I was out with my daughter Chloe in October for some Roebuck and an evening’s lamping on rabbits. We were in a big high seat called the scaffold that takes two shooters. We set in at 15.00 and waited, and waited, by 17.00 I got the feeling nothing would happen so decided to sack it at 17.30.

In late last November was Wild Boar season in Italy and it was time for me to fly to Tuscany, a region in central Italy with an area of about 23.000 square kilometers of beauty. Tuscany is known for its landscapes, traditions, history and artistic legacy. Having a strong linguistic and cultural identity, it is sometimes considered as “a nation within a nation”.

Now it’s my turn to tell you a “hunting tale”, or rather my experience as a guide-and-daughter-of-a-Belgian-hunter in a stag hunting party in the Scottish mountains. Follow me deep into the Highlands and to the Glenfinnan Estate.

The idea of luring animals and birds in to be shot is not a new one and examples of carved and painted wooden waterfowl placed to attract those bird species is a practice that goes back hundreds of years. For this purpose we have decoys or as we Brits call them ‘deeks’! Hunting consists of two simple requirements. Firstly the hunter has to get near enough to their quarry to kill it, secondly and if that is not possible they have to entice it closer! Obviously camouflage can be useful in keeping the shooter and their equipment hidden. But the modern decoy industry is more far reaching and innovative than that and is not just restricted to bird hunting.

Lefties make up about 10 to 15% of the population. When it comes to guns it is only natural that they have specific needs. Browning wants to address this issue by launching a range that will certainly be expanded.

Varmint is an American word and we Brits tend say vermin to cover the various pest species that prey on crops, forestry and livestock in the UK. The list of quarry is a long one; rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, hares, mink, foxes and even Muntjac deer who are the only species that has no off seasons and can be shot all year round; male or female! There is also selective culling of badgers due to their potential to spread the disease Brucellosis in cattle. On the bird list we have pigeons (ferals and woody) doves, all the corvids – crows, rooks, jackdaws, jays and magpies etc.

Deer shooting is a popular sport in the UK and is undertaken at many levels. From the novice stalking their first beast, professional hunters who shoot for the pleasure and challenge of the hunt and or venison. Others are all about trophies wanting the biggest, best and even unusual in their pursuit of glory. However all have one thing in common : they require suitable land to shoot over and more important a healthy deer population. To this end management is paramount.

Bang! Bang! Bang! You’ve just emptied your magazine at a particularly imposing boar. Unfortunately, you missed the big pig because of the wind, the sun in your eyes, or any number of other reasons (beyond your control, of course: we wouldn’t cast doubt on your shooting skills). The thing is… the dark beast doesn’t look happy at being shot at! And now you’ve got over 175 lb of hairy muscle tearing towards you. What do you do?

What?! Hunting boars getting you down? No, not those blues! The Small Gascony Blue – the Petit Bleu de Gascogne, the loyal, talented and best hog-hunting hound there is!

No, waterfowl is not a synonym for a wicked move during water polo, as I thought at first. This expression is used to describe all wild birds, both sedentary and migrant, mainly found in and around water such as ducks, waders, swans, geese, … To make things simpler, small game in an aquatic environment.

As the days wane, the nights close in and the trees don their vibrant hues, a chill creeps into the air. Not the bite of wintry blusters, but just a nip to let us know a new season is at hand. As autumn approaches, my mind switches from the highs of summer deer stalking to the buzz of getting stuck into our local duck haven.

Full-time Scottish deer stalker, Brent Norbury, puts our XPO Pro set through its paces in the Scottish highlands!

Ticks are present in many parts of the UK and across Europe and the number of reported cases of Lyme, though small, is rising each year. Lyme disease is the most common disease spread by ticks in the Northern Hemisphere. It is estimated to affect around 65,000 people a year in Europe. Infections are most common in the spring and early summer. The aim of this blog post is to raise awareness of lyme’s disease and to offer tips on how to avoid being bitten by ticks.

Fox control does it work and what’s the best way to do it? Fox hunting with dogs and horses has been banned in the UK for a number of years now, much to the delight of the antis. Personally, I could never really see how a bunch of guys out for what is in effect a pleasant morning’s gallop could have any real affect on Britain’s alpha predator! For make no mistake Charlie is one smart animal and serious threat to game shoots, domestic fowl and even young livestock like lambs. Plus their urban incursions are not good either. So we turn to the gun as foxing has become a big industry with various calls, lamps and all sorts of night vision optics along with specialised rifles.

While every sportsman’s list will be different, we’ve gathered together some of the best hunting and shooting destinations from across the globe that pair great game and beautiful country. While the majority of us will start our “ultimate’s” on home soil, and rightly so, we will inevitably cast our minds further a field into the realms of “if money didn’t exist…”. With great thought and frustration we’ve tried to prize together a bucket list of 10 destinations to wet your appetite for the future…

Browning Outdoor Ambassador, Alexandra Hellström, takes us on the journey of a lifetime – the hunt for the endemic Beceite Ibex, in the Spanish mountains.

Are you recently new to shooting? Wondering whether to start? Or even wanting to iron out those bad habits to avoid frustration in the field? Well, we’re here to help… We’ve collected together the most popular advice from our professionals experience to give you Browning’s Top 5 Shooting Tips!

A legend is reborn. As we head into 2016 with open arms, we can proudly announce Browning’s iconic Custom Shop has evolved into the John M. Browning Collection. This is a new generation, but what can you expect? A new chapter in the Browning story has begun, one that will carry the legend of the Buck Mark brand forward. The Custom Shop, home of the legendary B25, has become the John Moses Browning Collection. The JMB Collection represents everything we know about making hand-crafted guns. A new name certifies an evolutionary development. A new generation.

So the legend exists?! Vampire’s are real?! Well, I wouldn’t get too ahead of yourself just yet…

We catch up with Alberto Rizzini, professional hunter and Browning Outdoor Ambassador, to find out what really motivates him to get up and go and how important hunting is to him.

Widely used, it’s now almost impossible to find a hunting or sporting shotgun that’s not equipped with a choke. Let’s learn more.

Biased or not, having grown up involved in shooting sports and seeing all of its values, especially in hunting, I am committed to doing all I can to ensure the sustainable management of not only our surrounding wildlife but further a field too. It’s time to discover the facts of hunting conservation on the plains of Africa.

It’s a pretty well known fact that we’re not aging backwards, but what does it mean to live with a passion so strong that everything must be done to keep it alive and well? When does it start and does it ever stop? Here are a few thoughts about it…

For our friends in Germany: will you be attending the 35th instalment of JAGD & HUND 2016? Browning will be there as “The Best There Is”, as usual.

We discover a world hidden within the Swedish pine forests, an organisation committed to training dogs for the toughest of hunting conditions and the meanest of game, wild boar…

We’ve culminated together some of the rarest, most coveted species from all four corners of the earth to give you a ‘Fascinating Five’ list…

Ever wondered what it`s like to get inside the mind of a shooting professional? Meet Sam Green, a UK Browning International Sport shooter, who gives us the inside secrets to shooting success.

For centuries man has always fared better in his pursuit of game when aided by a canine. But which breed suits you? Our choices range from the likes of Retrievers to Pointers, Bloodhounds to Terriers. But with hundreds of different sporting breeds to choose from, you really can’t go wrong. To obtain a winning combination, find the canine that best describes you… Before you buy your perfect pup, be it part or fully trained, it must be stressed that taking on this responsibility should never be taken lightly. A dog will need the utmost of attention, training, commitment, veterinary treatment and care for the next 10–15 years of your daily life. Scary huh? Of course not, let’s take a look…

Understanding foreign hunting permit laws will certainly help you out if you’re looking at hunting abroad – Our first feature on Sport Abroad looks at the Belgian hunting laws, whether you’re moving to Belgium or simply interested in hunting in the country, here is what you should know… In Wallonia, holding a hunting license is subject to passing a practical/theory examination upon joining, organized by the Walloon administration once a year (usually on the first Saturday following the first Sunday in March) . It is imperative to be 16+ on the date of the examination.

Catherine Delaunay takes the reader into the mind of a hunter’s wife – she shares her thoughts and opinions on the matter, and how her understanding of such certain lifestyle has changed for the better!

Discover the inspirations of a renowned French hunting illustrator, Thibault de Witte in just 4 questions !

I have always felt comfortable with the Maxus. It is a highly reliable and robust gas operated semi-automatic, that is precise and easy to handle. Browning certainly has some experience in this argument. And has done for a few years now… It was time to introduce new developments with the Maxus 2.

As with walk-up hunting, stalking large game demands patience, acute observation and absolute silence. Originating in Germany, this practice is inspired – like the majority of hunting methods let us not forget – by the ruses used by some animals of prey in their natural surroundings to find food (from polar bear to pike, including big cats and snakes). Over and above the pleasure it gives the hunter, it has the double advantage of providing a selective shot – much more difficult to achieve in a driven hunt, for example – and making it easier to manage populations in a responsible way. In our latitudes, the main species stalked are fox, roe deer, boar and red deer. Let’s be clear that for the time being, we are not talking about small game – since just as the hunting blind, to name but one, is certainly more appropriate to this kind of hunting where stealth reigns supreme.

Duck shooting is an exciting experience, full of wonder and unpredictability. Just imagine that a duck could have travelled several hundred kilometres, flown over hundreds of waterholes, to come and land here, in front of you. Hunting this elegant, clever and ever-watchful creature is demanding, but worthwhile. Let’s take a look at the basics of a successful hunt, so you can bring this incredible waterfowl back home with you.

Continuation and end of our series of articles dedicated to shooting sports. The series “Objective 25/25 in ball shooting, a step by step strategy” aims to give you advices (in 3 articles) to help you improve your swing and your shots and to get 25/25 during your next competitions or ball shooting sessions.

If the instructor stands in front of your rib or behind you, don’t worry! In the first case it is to observe if the dominant eye is aligned just above the rib, in the second to check your stance. The following tips are geared towards Olympic Trap, but can be adapted for other disciplines (see end of article).

It all depends on your level as a shooter and your natural talent. If you have never shot clay pigeon before, I recommend that you first go to the nearest shooting range to try it out. There might be an instructor and maybe they could even lend you a shotgun for your first attempt. With an instructor there, you won’t get discouraged if there are lots of “zeroes”; instead you will receive useful advice, get an understanding and have fun getting good results, with the goal of 25 out of 25. And, if you have talent, the instructor will recognise it immediately.

Oh, I know, the topic is a thorny one. But there is little to joke about. In all activities where guns are used, especially hunting, either you follow precise safety protocols, or you get hurt. How many times do you hear or read in the media of “accident” or “fatality”? There is no fatality: there are only behaviors, perhaps habitual, but potentially dangerous. The fact that the habits and customs adopted so far have not caused accidents does not mean that they are to be considered safe behaviors. First of all. Firearms should be loaded only when you are in the field or on the target range or shooting area, ready to shoot. When not in use, firearms and ammunition should be secured in a safe place, separate from each other. It is your responsibility to prevent children and unauthorized adults from gaining access to firearms or ammunition.

When shooting in the summertime, you need to check your scope is adjusted before considering that first outing to hunt buck or fox. We’d like to show you how to zero your rifle with just four rounds.

Caw, caw, caw! A black shape emerges out of the morning gloom, circling above the bird decoys you have set up a few metres away from your hiding place. Quick as a flash, you stand, shoulder your Maxus and fire a Winchester Special Corneille. It falls to the ground. You’re happy, and so is the farmer. Shooting crows and rooks is becoming more and more popular with hunters. We’re going to explain why.

We consider the advantages of not going it alone into the hunting field when you’re a beginner hunter or even an experienced hunter.

In 2011, I bagged my very first deer in the UK and that was when I made up my mind that I wanted hunting to be a full-time hobby. And what better way to do that than with a T-Bolt! Going back to my hunting roots wasn’t easy and there were a few obstacles on the way. But with the help of a good friend and a few other people I got there in the end, and I finally received all my licenses and qualifications. I began to be less of a recreational hunter and more a semi-professional wildlife manager.

In my opinion, small game starts with rabbits and stops with foxes: I’m sure it doesn’t come as a surprise to most of you, that both of the above populations require careful management across the country. I can say with confidence that almost every single hunter would pull the trigger if he saw a fox in front of him, in the right situation.

Varmint is an American word and we Brits tend say vermin to cover the various pest species that prey on crops, forestry and livestock in the UK. The list of quarry is a long one; rats, mice, squirrels, rabbits, hares, mink, foxes and even Muntjac deer who are the only species that has no off seasons and can be shot all year round; male or female! There is also selective culling of badgers due to their potential to spread the disease Brucellosis in cattle. On the bird list we have pigeons (ferals and woody) doves, all the corvids – crows, rooks, jackdaws, jays and magpies etc.

Ever wondered what it`s like to get inside the mind of a shooting professional? Meet Sam Green, a UK Browning International Sport shooter, who gives us the inside secrets to shooting success.