CATEGORIES
فئات
Laying Down The Law Is Barking
Should walking your dog every day be compulsory? At least one German politician thinks so but while he sympathises, David Tomlinson says it would be impractical and impossible to enforce
A Good Game Deal
The market for game meat, once profitable, is now dysfunctional – and that was before the pandemic struck. What lies behind this collapse?
In tune with the moon
For the ancients, life revolved around lunar phases, which measured time, heralded the changing seasons – and even caused madness
Strong coffee and steelhead
With feisty fish and striking scenery, British Columbia’s Nass River has much to offer fl y-fishers – after that early-morning espresso
Lord Ripon The greatest shot of all t ime
Some personal reminiscences of a giant of the shooting field who was chiefly proud of his billiards
Land Rover Defender 110S
The iconic Land Rover Defender is a tough act to follow but Charlie Flindt seeks the original’s soul in the brilliant, all-new, high-tech version
Looking for aliens on Orkney
In the decade since its arrival, the stoat has wreaked havoc on the islands. Huge expense is now being incurred to remove it
Le weekend present, but not correct
You have been invited to the country. Should you take a thank-you gift for your host? And, if so, what?
Cocking Shoot West Sussex
We clatter along the road in the back of the shoot trailer, chains clanking loudly. Ahead, lies a day of high birds and good humour.
Beagling about
Minimal kit and maximum fresh air and entertainment are the order of the day when you follow beagles – on foot
Hunting Boots To Last A Lifetime
Bespoke boots are a significant investment, however, they offer protection, comfort and unsurpassable style
How to get your ‘back-sight' right
It’s almost impossible to shoot consistently well unless your gun fits and accommodates your eye dominance. So how do we ensure that all is correct?
Forging ahead
Few village forges exist outside racing country or the shires; however, the fires are still burning bright for blacksmithing and farriery
A vet is for life
Or, at least, this used to be the case. Today, many private practices are being bought up by corporate ventures. David Tomlinson bemoans the loss of the personal touch
Planting trees for profit and posterity
We all want more trees, that’s agreed; however, we must balance the competing interests of rewilding schemes and commercial forestry
Arthur's eight-bore returns to the marshes
Having inherited an old R Scott behemoth, there’s no better place to use it than on a wild day on the foreshore – its rightful home
The toughest part of the Macnab Challenge?
Grassing a salmon and bagging a brace require considerable fieldcraft but that third component of a Macnab, the stag, requires, in addition, physical fitness for the hill and rifle skills to satisfy a professional stalker
Why you should eat your greens
And so much more, for the wild cabbage – and its many descendants – is associated with health, wealth, romance and more
William Powell Viscount
So, the side-by-side has had its day, has it? Not if this bespoke model is anything to go by. Michael Yardley is happy to find a traditional gun that dares to be a bit different
A dazzling partridge day on Exmoor
The landscape at Molland would still be familiar to Lorna Doone, though now lively partridges soar over its V-shaped valleys
Watch this space
The ultimate face mask was bound to tempt post-lockdown buyers but will other luxury items fare as well without the events at which to flash them, wonders Roger Field
WHIPPING-IN THE RIGHT WORDS
A top hunting correspondent must master a strange horse, unknown country, and capture the colour of the day – while staying in the saddle
Manors fit for an Englishman
Restoring our grey partridges and the farmland ecology they depend on reaps conservation rewards far beyond just a shootable surplus of the gamebird, as work on four pioneering partridge manors proves
Grimsthorpe: new season, new shoot
The team who took on the Park Syndicate used the first day of the season to test its potential on friends and family
Rizzini BR550 side-by-side
Michael Yardley shoots a 16-bore in competitions, so is interested to see how this round bar side-by-side compares. Would it prove to be a sweet 16?
Art in the field
Theodore Gillick used lockdown to build his own foundry, providing him with new opportunities, as he explains to Janet Menzies
Building a fit and healthy working dog
All dogs need the correct nutrition, however, this is even more vital for a gundog, its needs changing with the season. Fortunately, help is at hand
A season for family dogs
With more shoots planning less formal days, the old-style mooching gundog will be in its element
A puppy for shoot or sofa
If you require a gundog, then pick a puppy from working lines, says David Tomlinson. However, some unlikely dogs prove themselves excellent shoot-day companions
A Borders day to remember
Enchanting Thirlestane Castle provides the perfect setting for a testing day facing Scotland’s iconic grouse