CATEGORIES

It's all about the seductive wobble

Heading for the aptly named Pike Bay, Julian Schmechel sets out to tempt the fish to his line with the use of handmade copper spoons

The uphill struggle for Ireland's red grouse

The cackling of the ‘heather hen’ has become a rare sound on Irish moors, but people are battling for its survival, says Barry Stoffell

Autumn's no time to be sloe on the uptake

John Wright reveals that the fruit of the spiky blackthorn is only good for a single recipe, but it’s a one-hit wonder that foragers rate

Dawn of the season at dusk

Wildfowler and conservationist Richard Negus explains the reasons behind his alternative plans for the opening day of season this year

Freshwater molluscs flexing their mussels

Pollution and overharvesting are a major threat to our mussels, but Kielder’s hatchery is working to boost numbers on the North Tyne

A small taste of things to come

A foreshore foray on 1 September may not be every fowler’s idea of time well spent, but early-season flights certainly whet the appetite for the months of sport ahead

Quelling an attack of the munties

Greedy muntjac are raiding feeders and disturbing fragile flushing points, so it’s time for a little pre-season troubleshooting

Diamond dogs are on point

Richard Negus is a spellbound spectator as the Pointer Club marks its birthday in style

Out of sight and out of mind

Forget camouflage clothing and expensive equipment, follow Mike Swan’s tips on keeping a low profile when wildfowling

Can't buy fieldcraft

Mat Manning swaps hi-tech hardware for a basic break-barrel and fieldcraft during a refreshingly uncluttered walk through the woods

You're not going to need a bigger boat

The cool waters around the UK are increasingly populated by sharks, so Nick Fisher sets out with a trusted team to try to catch one. Just don’t mention Jaws…

A trailer for a Heston special

With the harvest spaced out like in years past, shooting over stubbles from a hide disguised as a bale helps Tom Payne build a decent bag

A long wait, then Stan's the man

It’s the first duck flight of the season and a young springer shows his mettle, to Jack Bell’s delight

Turning heritage fruit into eau-de-vie

HRH The Prince of Wales’s private orchard offers sanctuary to many heirloom fruit trees – which can now be enjoyed as a heritage brandy

The last of the English

It is 950 years since Hereward the Wake’s last stand against the Norman invasion, turning this Anglo-Saxon leader into a lowland hero

Early stags: a dead red redemption

With the roe rut over, Chris Dalton switches focus to the reds and sets out to cull a few young male deer — if he can find them

The changing years of J K Stanford

Ornithologist, sportsman and Field correspondent, he was also a conservationist, whose pragmatic approach is still relevant today

Lockdown leads to a few unlikely recruits

COVID-19 resulted in renewed interest in the countryside and lots of mess but it might not have all been a total disaster, says Gethin Jones

How the sport of trap shooting really took off

Diggory Hadoke charts the history of trapshooting from the days of top hats to the era of sophisticated machines

Choosing the right trainer

Ellena Swift explains how owners can ensure their aspiring gundogs learn the right skills

For love, not money

When a stubble comes under siege, Tom Payne jumps at the chance to do what he is passionate about, rather than simply what pays the bills

Scout's honour in the battlefield

A new permission offers Simon Garnham the perfect chance to hone his keen young labrador’s skills while protecting a farmer’s livelihood

The perfect dog for partridges

For wild greys and redlegs, you need a worker that’s keen, thorough and won’t mind the brambles. So which to go for?

Heading for higher ground

A traditional walk-about on the hill to mark the Glorious Twelfth yields little in the way of grouse but offers time and space to reflect on seasons past, present and future

The dawning of a new season

Autumn hunting’s smaller fields provide the perfect chance to get close to hounds – if you can stand the early starts

Marsh rite of passage

For the novice fowler, learning about tides and maintaining your kit can be the difference between life and death, warns Barry Lawson

Taking a shine to stock finishing

Stock-finisher Shane Scase has built a reputation for his oil finishes that belies his years – though his ‘recipe’ is a closely guarded secret

Making the most of it

With buildings and roads ruling out the use of a shotgun, Mat Manning sets up an airgun ambush to defend farmers’ fields from avian pests

A different coarse of action

Victorian gentlemen turned their noses up at coarse fish. But there is much excitement to be had fishing for pike, chub and dace on the fly

Stalking Diary

Summer storms hide much of the roe rut but the red stags are about to start and a cull is vital to keep the deer off vulnerable cover crops