CATEGORIES

Finding order in the chaos

As lockdown eases, Megan Rowland gets back out on the hill to be greeted by a thriving world, and a happy, unexpected sight

Back to basics

In a bid to boost his shoot-to-kill ratios, Simon Garnham goes back to school to reacquaint himself with the basic principles of shooting

Anti-shooting outfit wins judicial review

Wild Justice will get its day in court this October, causing concern for rural communities already struggling in the wake of the lockdown

Trappings of success in rat-catching quest

Designing and making your own rat traps can be a puzzling game of ‘cat and mouse’, but Soldier Palmer relishes the lockdown challenge

The cherry plum on top

These early-blooming edibles are a surprisingly common find and are delicious on their own or in a cherry vodka, notes John Wright

Suits you, sir

Forget love at first sight, buying a new gun should be a slow process, says Tom Payne

The fair and the foul

The fulmar is a kind-looking bird with an interesting history – and some unusual traits

Saving the Englishmen

In a bid to protect his linseed crop and a cherished pair of grey partridges, Simon Garnham sets out his decoys and gets to work

Country Diary

Nature is said to work in peaks and troughs, and 2020 is looking like being a bumper year for curlews. Now all they have to do is survive...

In search of your ferret's true colours

There is no truth in the idea that a ferret’s colour affects how it works, says Simon Whitehead, but it may have an impact on you

Muntjac Manoeuvres

Muntjac are much more likely to respond to the cry of a distressed family member than a potential mate

Give a little whistle

Calling in roe can be very effective but it takes time to get good at it, says Henry Tegner, and the prettiest calls aren’t always the bestw

A Plague Of Spiders

Delicious spider crabs are found in abundance off the coast of the UK, so why does nobody eat them any more?

Where there's smoke

Meat has long been preserved and flavoured by curing and smoking, and it’s surprisingly easy to do it in your garden, says Tim Maddams

Ticking all the boxes

Dealing with the scourge of ticks comes with the territory for dog owners — but it’s a battle that can be won, insists David Tomlinson

Salvation in County Durham

Emerging, slowly, from the deprivations of lockdown, now is the time to savour the beauty we are lucky to have all around us

Rural craft

In the 21st century, many old skills are no longer needed; we celebrate those that part of our rich rural culture

Money well spent

Paying a guide to put you under geese lacks the joy of finding birds yourself but it can still be a fine experience, writes Jamie Tusting

Love thine enemy

It is a strange irony of pest control that the more time you spend out in the field shooting vermin, the more you come to respect your target species as remarkable foe

Life after lockdown

The COVID-19 crisis may have strengthened the bond between you and your dogs, writes Ellena Swift, but now’s the time to plan ahead

Grouse — the ifs and butts

With the virus still lingering, there’s a huge question mark over the season ahead but it could still be glorious, says Patrick Laurie

A famous five

A gun that’s been owned by a hero of the shooting world can be worth a lot of money. Diggory Hadoke looks at five of the best

What A Load Of Pollacks!

A beautiful afternoon, a deserted harbour and a little boat — all you need to catch a pollack for supper is a bit of luck, says Barry Stoffell

Eggsacting research

The eggs of wild birds were once considered expensive delicacies — but did their flavour really justify their price, muses John Wright

Gunroom

A Webley & Scott Model 100 proves to be the perfect choice for a first foray post-lockdown — it’s not a grand gun but it has a fascinating story

What the Romans did for us

In the mid-20th century the humble rabbit fell from grace as both food and sporting quarry, but people are starting to realise what they’ve been missing

Getting even with the crays

Richard Hardy issues a call to crustacean arms against the invasive signal crayfish

Country Diary

When almost half of turtle dove nests fail due to predators, surely the last great hope lies in the pragmatic hands of farmers and landowners

Don't ask, don't get

It can seem impossible to get permission to shoot over a farm but sometimes you just need to ask the right things.

Coast with the most

A young vizsla takes the show world by storm, achieving rare dual champion status with talent and good looks, says David Tomlinson