CATEGORIES

Country Diary

Changes to snaring laws have made predator control tricky but there are now five badgers for every fox, which adds another complication

Birds in their splendour

The magnificent sight of more than 400 birds, most of them quarry species, proves a temptation too far for Simon Garnham

No mountain too high for top springer Heidi

A total of 64 dogs took part in the 90th AV spaniel championship and the stunning setting made it a day to remember, says Ellena Swift

Gamekeeper

In my end is my beginning — for some the season might be over but for keepers it’s time to clean pens, control predators and order poults

Law and out of order

David Frost says numerous police forces in England and Wales are flouting the law when it comes to firearms licensing and a robust response is required

Notes from a small island

Ed Cook recounts his latest ‘adventure’ with his friends, furry and otherwise, on Canna

Heavy metal blues

The initiative by the shooting groups to phase out lead shot has raised more questions than it has given answers, says Robin Scott

Soldier arms

Charles Smith-Jones admires the rugged capability of the Mossberg 590 Persuader, a model favoured by the US military

Game theory

Wild Justice has turned its attention to the release of gamebirds. Patrick Hook addresses the salient issues with regard to predators

Velvet glove approach

Jon Snowdon addresses sustainable culling and how this affects woodland management

Gear test

Adam Cope gives his verdict on the Sologne Skintane Optimum hunting trousers and Grand Nord hunting jacket from Percussion

Alpine rifle reaches the heights

Tom Cackett says the Haenel Jaeger 9 proves that good things come in small packages

A cheap shot

After facing controversy, Nick Ridley considers what is an ‘unsporting’ bird

The problem: Protein in diets

It seems to me that protein levels in diets obsess people. I admit to being confused as to how much dogs need. So, how much? Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert

Ready for action

Having finally emerged from the wettest of winters, it is time to step up crucial preparations for the stalking season, says Richard Hardy

No guarantees with this most wily foe

Over the years, fox shooting kit has become very hi-tech but many of the basic principles for success remain the same, says Liam Bell

When it comes to the crunch

Finding the right diet for your gundog is tricky; do you go gluten-free or dry, or should you try raw only? Ellena Swift looks at the options

Ford Raptor Ranger

The versatile Ranger has been given a Ford Performance upgrade and the impressive new Raptor can handle anything Ed Coles throws at it

Taking it on the chin

High winds add spice to an afternoon in a beech and fir wood, where Tom Payne gets his eye in

Citizen science: why the bird count matters

This year’s Big Farmland Bird Count smashes previous records and red-listed species appear to be benefiting from conservation work

Porche versus Polo

The cost of insuring your dog should be linked to the healthiness of the breed, says David Tomlinson, who advocates a ‘group’ system

Ammo, amas, amat

There is nothing Britain’s best-known ferreter loves more than a day in the North Yorkshire hills and he decides it is time to put steel shot to the test

Turning tables on the greedy greys

A test to find out which bait has top pulling power when trying to lure grey squirrels out of the trees confirms Mat Manning’s suspicions

A memento — or a lifesaver?

Charles Smith-Jones argues trophy hunting is vital for wildlife and local communities

Resurrecting a Purdey rook rifle

After searching for a decade, the writer finally acquired a now-obsolete rook rifle. But could the Purdey, formerly the property of a 19th-century playboy, be adapted for muntjac?

Letting our oldest vertebrate back in

Glaciers and waterwheels have blocked the path of the salmon, our oldest native vertebrate. Can it, yet again, stage a comeback?

Rage against the machine

Do those ‘Buy’ buttons really conspire against you, wonders Roger Field. Or is it just that too many of us have the same impeccably good taste?

Of love and lettuces

As we hand over Easter eggs and chocolate bunnies, it’s timely to consider the worship of fertility throughout the ages

FAIR Iside 20-bore

This lightweight, Italian side-by-side won’t break the bank – but it had no trouble breaking clays. Michael Yardley is impressed

Battle for the uplands

The cessation of grouse-moor management will end a way of life – and perhaps call time for a number of our iconic species, too