CATEGORIES

A hell of a mesh

Simon Whitehead’s overworked long-nets need some TLC and who better to repair them than master net-maker Ian ‘Torchie’ Clayton?

Small wins and endless pleasure

A vintage season may not be on the cards but, in these post-pandemic days, we must take nothing for granted

Long delays as breeders try to register new litters

The Kennel Club has struggled during the pandemic and gundog owners have had to wait weeks to get pedigree puppies registered

Wild game bounces back after late spring

Despite this year’s weather conditions, wild birds and ground game seem to have recovered well, raising hopes for a good season ahead

When the bag doesn't matter

A 4 am start in a fiery dawn to whittle down wily wheat eating rabbits is worth every moment, if only for being part of the countryside while the rest of the world sleeps

The return of the native

Most people don’t realise that many of the roe deer here in the UK were introduced, says Graham Downing

The best possible taste

From muntjac to reds, the six species of British deer provide some of the highest-quality venison in the world, insists game chef Jose Souto

Decision taken for sake of good ‘elf'

Some stalks do not end with a kill — but that may be simply because we choose not to pull the trigger, says Chris Dalton

Kennel Diary

As restrictions are lifted hunts plan their puppy shows, held to thank vital walkers, says Harry Beeby

Country Diary

Faced with the possibility of losing the curlew as a breeding bird, the general public is becoming more pragmatic about predator control

A hundred years of quiet joy

Jamie Tusting casts on a sparkling stream winding through timeless countryside to mark the centenary of a progressive fishing club

One at a time

In lesson four of a series of six transforming a novice shooter into an expert shot, Tony Bracci looks at how to successfully deal with pairs of targets

Model agency

Robert Morgan looks at various Winchester rifles and, in particular, trains his sights on the 1873 and 1876

Single minded

Ed Cook considers reining in a rabbit population solely by using a gun

A tale of two fields

Geoff Garrod makes the most of a difficult situation but laments a missed opportunity

Copper bottomed!

Enterprise and the will to solve a problem, as well as do some good, has proved just the job in a part of the West Country, writes Philip Reynolds

Breda Zenith Sporter

Clay coach Becky McKenzie rates this attractive 12-bore

In the round

David Turner catches up with championship-winning Shot Matt Hance

Pumped for action

Tom Sykes tells of his love of pump action shotguns and how he learned to use them effectively

The problem: Lumps – benign and malign

“My dog has a small, round lump on her upper eyelid. Is this something I should worry about?”

Adventures Of Nick & Ted

Nick Ridley has some watersports planned to get Ted back to field fitness, as he dives in at the deep end with Percy in a working test

A bit of hide and sleek

Do we pay enough attention to our sense of touch? It is as vital in pigeon shooting as camo clothing and elaborate hides, believes Gough Thomas

Coming home to roost

When a fox finds its way into a chicken pen with the inevitable result, a plan is hatched to exact revenge and protect the survivors

Keeping it scruffy

Cutting back on mowing and adopting a ‘rough around the edges’ approach would be a major boost for wildlife

A great way to beef up a shoot

The sustainable future of our sport depends on rebuilding the old connections between farming and fieldsports, says Patrick Laurie

The day of the jackal — and pine marten

As long-absent predators return to our countryside, we can learn from how other nations deal with the conflicts that arise, says Matt Cross

A jewel, complete with a crown

A ‘malform’ spotted in the trail camera would make a perfect specimen to fill a hamper for Will Pocklington

Cold comfort on game crop

Bad weather is a major headache at this time of year, but all is not lost, advises Liam Bell

Standing the test of time

The vast array of fieldsports offers something for all ages, as sporting preferences evolve with advancing years, Barry Stoffell discovers

With Guns in the pink

Britain’s colonial territories opened up a host of opportunities for the sportsman; Diggory Hadoke looks back at the days of the Empire