CATEGORIES

Scraping a living on sheer brazen cheek

Life was hard for the poor in the 19th and 20th centuries, with many living on their wits — and other people’s game, says David S D Jones

Why all the very best Shots rough it at first

What is it that makes the best stand out from the rest on a shoot day? Simon Reinhold explains how to become the best possible Shot

Surprise on a surreal caper

A ‘hybrid hunt’ in Scotland results in an extraordinary encounter for Soldier Palmer

Seek him here, seek him Yair

In the UK, it is possible to cast for salmon in every month of the year, so Sam Carlisle heads to Scotland for the last day on the Tweed

Jumping jack flash

No longer on the quarry list, the smaller relative of the common snipe is a colourful addition to our countryside

Check mate

Tawny is the queen of the ferreting game and knows all the right moves, allowing Simon Whitehead to harvest the bunnies

A last mad dash in the dying day

When the migrants arrive to boost our homegrown birds, woodcock abound in Galloway and are ripe for the taking in the ‘blue dark’

A double dose of pest control

Dealing with unwelcome visitors is top of the agenda as Simon Garnham encounters a lone predator and a gang of barley thieves

A bit of a knees-up

Why do we shoot better some days than others? Is it pure luck, mental confidence — or simply the lack of a hangover, wonders Colin Willock

Stolen hours with the gun

Enchanting woodland and abundant wildlife create a perfect afternoon for Jamie Tusting

Thanks for all the memories

Even in a year of frustrating restrictions, there is some consolation in reflecting on glorious shooting days

Fleeing from a baying pack

How does it feel to be the hunted, rather than the hunter? Richard Negus takes to his heels in front of bloodhounds to find out

Sporting smorgasbord is the luck of the Irish

The fieldsports paradise of Ireland offers something for everyone, making it a match for anywhere in the world, argues Barry Stoffell

Upland keeper

A timely study has confirmed what many of us already knew — a sense of belonging to the countryside community is good for our well-being

Country Diary

December days may be all too brief, but an early morning riverside excursion with the rifle is a rewarding way to keep winter blues at bay

A golden age

The arrival of the railways made fieldsports more accessible, writes Graham Downing

A Sporting Life In Africa

A trip to Britain serves as a reminder of the many uses for a really good, stout stick

Are You Being Too Forward?

We’ve all heard some well-meaning amateur shout ‘you’re behind them, mate’ — but they may be entirely wrong, says Simon Reinhold

Locked, stock and barrel!

Robin Scott bemoans a lack quick access to his gun for some impromptu pest control, and the pesky Wild Justice

Turn-up for the books

Peter Theobald tells how he and his shooting partner, Paul, have fared on the pigeon during the past, mostly very strange 12 months

Selection criteria

Jon Snowdon recalls two memorable outings in the coronavirus-curtailed season

Behind the scenes

Geoff Garrod says you can never do enough reconnaissance for your day, especially at this time of year when pigeon can be elusive

Never had it so good

Tom Sykes recounts a flight to remember, an epic morning chasing pinkfooted geese on the foreshore with his dad and brother

Bring me my bow…

Patrick Hook has a flight of fancy about his Christmas wish list

Power struggle

Ed Cook warms to the task of dealing with rabbits in and around solar farms

On manoeuvres

Nick Ridley hails the foot soldiers of the beating line, who go into battle with military precision to make every drive a success

A Gun to inspire

Richard Faulks speaks to Jean-Paul Gaudin, who has overcome adversity to become a trailblazer for wheelchair shooters

Dead Cats And Monkey Business

Charles Smith-Jones ponders the rhetorical devices and distractive tactics employed by those with an agenda

Nature's silver lining

Not only is the silver birch one of our most beautiful woodland trees, it also provides a home and food for hundreds of insects and birds

How fares the fox?

Far from benefiting our vulpine population, the hunting ban has seen a sharp decline in both fox numbers and health, says Adrian Dangar