The Field - October 2024

In this issue

Stand and deliver - The right stance for shooting success.

Sporting days in the South West - Brimming with challenging birds and signature drives.

Correctly kitted - Cordings in its 185th year, base layers, belts vs braces...

Why proper conduct is key

Game shooting is a force for good in the British countryside but shoots must consider how they can demonstrate this to those who would curtail our sport, says lan Coghill

3 mins

Sir Alexander McCall Smith

When he isn't busy penning bestselling novels, this prolific Scottish author is to be found on the water, indulging his passion for sport with rod and line, says Alec Marsh

4 mins

Attired for autumn

The changing of the seasons leads to an inevitable shift in the sporting wardrobe as flat caps, fore-and-afts and ratcatchers come out of hibernation, say Neil and Serena Cross

3 mins

Strength in Numbers -The success of Britain's growing band of Farmer Clusters shows the value in working together and engaging with the public in the name of conservation, says Gabriel Stone

In a world that leans into gloomy headlines, it's important to wave the flag for a refreshing success story. That's especially the case when it comes to our overburdened farming sector and the wider way in which we manage the landscape. Yes, we: everyone can play a role, not least through one inspirational initiative. Ever since a 2013 pilot project by the GWCT in association with Natural England, Farmer Clusters have mushroomed across Britain. Led by farmers with guidance from expert advisers, today's network of about 125 clusters encourages a cohesively managed, locally tailored, larger-scale approach to conservation work.

3 mins

A covey of partridges flushed high across the line, guns picking their birds as pheasants entered the fray. The last bird of the drive was a lone pheasant rocketing past two guns as the whistle sounded Sutton Parva Wiltshire

Challenging sport and plentiful hospitality are the order of the day on a relaxed family-run shoot where the ethos is 'less is more'

8 mins

Heaven is a High Four

A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners

7 mins

Stand and deliver

A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays

9 mins

Back to base-ics

Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer

6 mins

Don't play it by ear

Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit

4 mins

A place of tradition in the heart of town

Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes

6 mins

Unpicking the story of hunt buttons

These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex

7 mins

In it for the long haul

It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders

7 mins

Tagging the Cornish tunny

Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea

7 mins

Return of the natives

There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.

7 mins

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The Field Magazine Description:

The Field is published monthly and dedicated to those brave souls who shoot, fish and hunt way beyond the call of duty. Since 1853, its staff has selflessly brought its readers the cream of rural life, be it pheasant shooting, dry-fly fishing or the distinct merits of Cheval Blanc. If you love field sports, errant terriers and very foxy friends at hunt balls, The Field is for you.