CATEGORIES

RSPB gives mixed message on shooting

Having recently attended the RSPB’s virtual AGM, Conor O’Gorman discusses the outcome of the charity’s year-long review of game bird shooting

Causeway for concern

Alan Jarrett’s renewed interest in reading takes him down memory lane to an offshore island duck flight that very nearly ended in disaster

Through a purple patch

The Garrows Estate is taking a conservation-focused approach to restoring the wildlife populations and biodiversity on the Scottish heather moorland.

When the wheels fall off

Losing form on a day’s shooting can be infuriating, especially if you’ve been shooting like a god up to that point. Simon O’Leary looks at some common causes and how to remedy them

Beaches, books & bad behaviour!

The annual Kay family vacation to Northumberland offers a chance to give the cockers a blast on the beach – although they don’t always shower themselves in glory, as Ryan Kay recalls...

Using the Stop whistle

Now you’ve instilled the basics, it’s time to up the ante with some more tricky distance work. Howard Kirby explains how to take the core Stop whistle command to the next level

The humble teal

They may be tiny, but as far as Rupert Butler is concerned, the appeal of this little duck is huge. He recalls some of his most memorable nights in pursuit of these aerial acrobats

Fab all-rounder

Mike is impressed with the Fabarm Elos B2 Field Notte, which offers great value for money, is suited to fieldwork or clays and is future-proofed for use with steel in all choke constrictions

CALL OF THE WILD

Dom Holtam reconnects with one of the purest forms of shotgun shooting as he walks-up woodcock over pointing dogs in the Scottish Highlands

A yen for the Fens

Tony Jackson recounts a memorable duck flight over an area of Fenland in Norfolk with his friend and author, the late Alan Savory

Keeping Your Poults Happy

With the poults safely settled in their new home, Paul is busy trying to keep them happy and healthy – not helped by the biblical rain that set in just days after release

THE FOUR GROUSETIERS

The Rough Rovers get the season off to a glorious start with a walked-up grouse day in Cumbria that provides some truly memorable moments

People are the heart of conservation

A new GWCT campaign, Working for Wildlife, is putting the spotlight on Britain’s ‘working conservationists’, explains James Swyer

Northern firths

Since the first seed of interest was planted, Alan’s wildfowling passion has taken him to incredible places all over the world, but the northern firths stand out as particularly special

Lead shot ban on the horizon?

Conor O’Gorman runs through some of the new EU lead shot restrictions, which could be adopted by the UK government despite Brexit

Carted off to oblivion

Adam Smith recalls a short-lived and less than successful career move, after which he eventually and reluctantly admitted defeat to... a game cart

SMALL IS MIGHTY

The British Game Alliance’s vision for a healthy game market and sustainable shooting sector is one that even the smallest shoot can get on board with, says chief executive Liam Stokes

Uncovering a gem

Rupert Butler recalls an evening flight at a newly uncovered spot that nearly became memorable for all the wrong reasons!

Unsolved mystery

Diggory Hadoke works his magic to resurrect a ‘nice little wand’ that proves to be a mystery from start (as a supposed 28-bore) to finish (as a reworked .410)!

Birds over barley

As summer ebbs into autumn, Andy Crow is out protecting the winter drillings from the pigeons that have been attracted by a proliferation of barley stubbles

Steel Yourself For A Shock!

A day spent shooting steel through his old English side-by-side produces some surprising results for Sam, as he addresses some common misconceptions about this lead alternative

The heat is on

Deano gets out on some freshly cut rape stubble to take care of any unwelcome foxy visitors ahead of the arrival of the shoot’s birds – and takes a few tricks up his sleeve with him!

Bean and gone

Andy Crow and cousin Gary are out shooting over stubbles – standard for this time of year! It’s a slow start, but some lumpy ground and a bean bonanza leads to a fantastic result

Silver service!

Hot off the ‘bench’ comes the all-new Beretta 687 Silver Pigeon III – the latest gun from the Gardonne giant. Mike is one of the first to get his hands on it – and it doesn’t disappoint...

Perfect partridge

Your pre-season practice may have been limited, but that doesn’t mean your first shoot day needs to be too. Follow Simon O Leary’s advice to make the most of your September sessions

The cocker craze

Unscrupulous breeders cashing in on the demand for puppies during lockdown is bad news for cocker spaniels and their often mismatched new owners, says Ryan Kay

MIST OPPORTUNITIES

When the Rough Rovers follow a keeper friend to a new estate that’s in need of some TLC, they are treated to a brilliant walked-up day they didn’t expect

Man's best friend

...or man’s master? Rupert looks at the behaviour of our canine companions in the field and, with some examples of seriously questionable bidability, asks, who’s really in charge here?

Life's a breeze!

It might hamper fishing expeditions during the summer, but when it comes to evenings on the foreshore, even gale-force conditions can work in the wildfowler’s favour, says Alan Jarrett

A brief encounter

Mick Garvey explains how a chance meeting with a paddock owner on one rabbit permission led to the acquisition of another nearby – and a successful night’s shooting