CATEGORIES

King of the hill

Patrick Hook describes the difficulties of shooting from high ground when he was on the trail of the scourge of some chickens

Flexitime

Jon Snowdon urges stalkers against fixed habits when it comes to the rut

Ignition source

Robert Morgan on the work of Rev Alexander Forsyth, ‘father of the modern shotgun’

Feats of clay

Geoff Garrod explains how days on clays will improve your tally from the hide

Clarity on night vision

Ed Cook compares night-vision and thermal-imaging equipment with more conventional methods

The cogs of nature

Philip Reynolds talks to Rob Collins about his life, his motivations and being a ‘countryside engineer’

Time and motion

Malcolm Plant looks at the technique and skills you will need to employ to ensure you hit your target

Adventures of Nick & Ted

With Ted finally able to flex his hunting muscles, Nick Ridley starts to address young Percy’s joie de vivre

A gun for all occasions

If you had to choose one gun for all your shooting, what functions would you need? Tony Bracci lists the essentials

Hare restorer

The stress of an ever-changing habitat is taking its toll on the hare population, but there are things we can do to boost their numbers

Sorting the wheat from the chaff

If you want to keep your birds close to home, provide good food and clean water, and never forget that foxes will be foxes, says Liam Bell

Elusive ptarmigan at the top of the world

Plentiful in Victorian times but now rarely shot, the ptarmigan offers a sporting challenge like no other gamebird, says David Tomlinson

Sako S20 Hunter in .308 Win £1,955

This innovative rifle can be reconfigured quickly to meet the needs of hunters and precision shooters alike. Bruce Potts is impressed

The perfect prep for those whistling wings

Simon Garnham thinks taking on corvids at sunset might be great practice for the fast-approaching challenges of wildfowling at dusk

Minor quarries, major quibbles

Richard Hardy airs his views on lesser-targeted game, and why their conservation is critical to the past and future of fieldsports

Don't jump the gun

A gun-shy puppy is a trainer’s worst nightmare so dogs should be carefully introduced to the sound of shot, says David Tomlinson

Dogger fisher

Every dog has its day but which breed catches the biggest trout? Armed with an array of dog fur flies, Richard Negus sets forth

There Never Is A Perfect Shot

No matter how many deer you shoot — they will always surprise you, says Patrick Laurie

A Turning Point For The Rabbit?

Across the country, there have been reports that rabbit numbers are bouncing back after decades of decline. But is it true, asks Jack Bell

When it's good to talk

Hounds are expected to speak but whining or barking is frowned upon in gundog circles. David Tomlinson asks whether silence really is golden

Sika you will find

As prolific breeders that are happy to hybridise, sika deer pose a real threat to our native red deer population, says Megan Rowland

Pumping up the power

Mat Manning heads to the range with a super-high-power air rifle to see how it compares with his usual fare — and the results are impressive

The good life

Putting fresh, locally sourced meat on your table may be easier than you think

Keying-In To Rat Reduction!

Russ Douglas becomes a key worker, starting by protecting a friend’s chickens!

Put Knowledge In The Bag …

… and the quarry will surely follow it – says lifetime hunter, Phil Hardman

Clocking on for the cull

On a balmy summer’s evening Richard Hardy considers the thorny topic of headshots

Curtailing the coypu

Now the subject of rare UFO-like ‘sightings’, coypu were commonplace in their 1950s heyday. G Lorne examines the rodent’s rise and fall

Bertie's back in the game

An evening of walked-up rabbits provides the perfect opportunity for testing an enthusiastic Clumber spaniel’s steadiness

School Assignment: Pest Pigeon Control

A GCSE project from decades ago is turned into a pigeon-shooting trailer – luxurious, yes, but would it be efficient, wonders Tom Payne

Let's Not Be Antisocial

Social media is the ideal platform for shooting to promote its positive influences — but we have to be smart about it, warns Richard Negus