The experts
THE ULTIMATE SHOOTING QUIZ TEAM
BILL HARRIMAN
BASC’s head of firearms and global authority on guns
MAT MANNING
Airgunner and journalist from the West Country
DIGGORY HADOKE
Vintage gun expert, firearms dealer, author and journalist
BRUCE POTTS
Shooting Times rifle reviewer and stalker
MIKE SWAN
Conservation expert and head of education for the GWCT
DAVID TOMLINSON
Highly regarded writer and ornithologist
LIAM BELL
Shropshire gamekeeper, keen wildfowler and amateur naturalist
GRAHAM DOWNING
Shooting consultant and sporting author
TONY BUCKWELL
Veterinary surgeon with a special interest in gundogs
TOM PAYNE
Professional shooting instructor and avid pigeon shooter
ELLENA SWIFT
Award-winning gundog trainer and canine behaviour specialist
TIM MADDAMS
Former head chef at River Cottage and runs a shoot in Devon
SIMON WHITEHEAD
Author, professional ferreter and rabbit controller
IAIN WATSON
Keen stalker and senior CIC international trophy judge
CHRIS DALTON
Professional stalker and regular presenter on The Shooting Show
MARK RIPLEY
Well-known fox controller and long-range shooting expert
Contact the team
Email: ollie.harvey@futurenet.com
Post: Shooting Times, Future, 121-141 Westbourne Terrace, London W2 6JR
Thermal riflescope for deer
THERMAL OPTICS
Q I am thinking about getting a thermal sight for shooting deer. What are the legalities of using one, and would you recommend a standalone thermal riflescope or an add-on device?
A Firstly, the law in England and Wales does not prohibit thermal sights for shooting deer. You can use them provided you are shooting from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. They are not legal for deer under current Scottish law.
There are some very good thermal riflescopes on the market. If you want to use one, you can either dedicate one rifle to the thermal device or you could use detachable mounts to attach your thermal scope for shooting in very low light and your conventional scope when shooting in daylight. With good, reliable mounts, the system should work, but I advise regular checking of zero with both scopes if you want to try this approach.
Alternatively, a thermal add-on
