Shooting Times Country – 5 August 2026

Summary

A landmark six-year trial has linked brood management on English grouse moors to a strong surge in wild hen harrier numbers — the lead conservation news in Shooting Times & Country's August 5, 2026 issue, priced at £4.50. The cover also features the Sordin Supreme hearing protection at 309 grams with four audio profiles, and the Eat Wild auction. For readers who follow upland management, gamekeeping awards and shooting-sport politics, this issue delivers a strong news mix alongside gear coverage.

The hen harrier story reports that Natural England's six-year trial (2018-2024) took 15 broods, reared and re-released them, with Andrew Gilruth of the Moorland Association confirming that "brood management enabled more hen harriers to breed." Charlie Mellor, estate head gamekeeper of the Norfolk Estate at Arundel, was named BASC Gamekeeper of the Year for his work on the Peppering Partridge Project. Other news: BASC launched a Women in Shooting campaign on 25 July at The Game Fair at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire. Dairy farmer Rob Lomas, 52, of Mosley Hall Farm in Whaley Bridge, Peak District, who shot a suspected burglar dead at about 1.20am on 1 May 2024 with a legally held gun, faced no charges after more than two years of uncertainty.

Gear coverage includes the Sordin Supreme hearing protector at 309 grams with memory-foam cushions, a single AA battery, and four audio profiles (Hunting, Shooting, Comms modes). The HIKMICRO T16 trail camera is promoted at £199.99 with 24MP resolution, 50 free FHD photos monthly, and 600 free photo credits. Dog of the Week features Jura, an eight-year-old cocker spaniel who carries sticks three times her size.

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Content Guide

▸ Conservation / News

p. · Hen Harriers Thriving on Moors
A six-year trial (2018-2024) on English grouse moors has clearly linked brood management to a surge in wild hen harrier numbers. Fifteen broods were taken, reared and re-released. Andrew Gilruth of the Moorland Association says the trial licences have lapsed and a practical, multiyear conservation licence is needed. The research found that brood management enabled more hen harriers to breed while illegal killing remains a significant constraint.

▸ Awards / News

p. · Grey Partridge Work Earns Keeper Top Honour
Charlie Mellor, estate head gamekeeper of the Norfolk Estate at Arundel, has been named BASC Gamekeeper of the Year for his work on the Peppering Partridge Project. He joined the estate in 2009. BASC chairman Eoghan Cameron recognised the Norfolk Estate as an example of sustainable land management where game management and conservation work together on the same ground.

▸ Campaigns / News

p. · Women Urged to Share Their Shooting Stories
BASC launched a campaign on Saturday 25 July at The Game Fair at Ragley Hall, Warwickshire, inviting women to share how they came into the sport. Claire Sadler, BASC vice chair, said "we're not asking for a seat at the table anymore; we're helping to build it." Megan Borthwick, head gamekeeper at Charlton Shoot in Northumberland, received the BASC Women in Shooting Award as a trailblazer since taking on the shoot in 2025.

▸ Legal / News

p. · Farmer Who Shot an Intruder Dead Cleared
Dairy farmer Rob Lomas, 52, of Mosley Hall Farm, Whaley Bridge, Peak District, shot a suspected burglar dead at about 1.20am on 1 May 2024 with a legally held gun. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed no criminal charges will be brought, ending more than two years of uncertainty.

▸ Products / Hearing Protection

p. · Sordin Supreme — Embrace Noise
The Sordin Supreme hearing protector weighs 309 grams with silicone-gel memory-foam cushions, a waterproof compartment, and a single AA battery. Four audio profiles: Hunting, Shooting, Comms modes. Available with leather/textile headband or neckband. Shooters should try all four audio profiles at the range before selecting a default for field use.

▸ Products / Trail Camera

p. · HIKMICRO T16
The HIKMICRO T16 trail camera offers 24MP resolution with 50 free FHD photos monthly and 600 free photo credits. Priced at £199.99 with 24/7 support. The unlimited power bundle offer runs June 12 to December 31.

▸ Subscriptions

p. · Win Feature
Win four pegs on a Kent simulated day worth £1,000. Free subscriber gift: ShuttleSocks shooting socks worth £20, see page 47.

▸ Regulars

p. · Managing Editor's Leader — "Feeling the Heat"
p. · Game Fair Kit Launches — New Products
p. · Autumn Partridge Counts Open — GWCT
p. · Thimbleby Shooting Ground Investment
p. · Dog of the Week — Jura
p. · Eat Wild Auction

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Editor's Take

A conservation-driven issue that reports real data. The hen harrier brood-management trial is the standout — six-year duration, 15-brood sample, named sources from the Moorland Association and Natural England. The Charlie Mellor Gamekeeper of the Year award and Rob Lomas no-charge decision are both newsworthy and specific. Weaknesses: the Sordin Supreme and HIKMICRO T16 entries are effectively product promotions, and the Eat Wild auction coverage is title-only in the available material. Best for gamekeepers and moorland managers tracking hen harrier policy and the brood-management licence renewal.

Strengths
• Hen harrier trial gives six-year duration, 15-brood count and named Moorland Association source
• Rob Lomas case names exact time (1.20am), date (1 May 2024) and legal outcome
• Charlie Mellor award tied to specific Peppering Partridge Project and 2009 start date

Weaknesses
• Sordin and HIKMICRO entries are product advertisements, not independent reviews
• Eat Wild auction coverage lacks reported detail beyond the headline

Verdict: Recommended — Strong conservation reporting with specific trial data and named sources; essential for hen harrier policy watchers.