Praise be: the creed of horse and hound

The country parson can never properly preach to their flock unless they have joined in with their passions, says Fergus Butler-Gallie

Duck from dusk till dawn

The breathtaking moments spent in wild places where teal spring and wigeon rocket are the wildfowler’s reward for late nights and early starts — the bag is an added bonus

The price of popularity

Is British shooting in danger of selling itself short? Richard Negus asks the experts

Scent to try us: when dogs refuse woodcock

Most gundogs will happily pick these elusive waders, but there are some that find the task not to their liking.

Upland keeper

The introduction of new traps is proving to be troublesome, so is it time for our major shooting organisations to step in and help out?

Where there's a Will, there's a way

A teenager gets a taste of walking-up game across the marshes — and shows his father how it’s done

Rivers of dreams

The 2020 salmon season exceeded all expectations, much to anglers’ delight, but why was the fishing so good? Marcus Janssen investigates

Laying good foundations

Choosing ex-layers over poults proves to be a masterstroke for Jamie Tusting’s small shoot

Layers not to be trifled with

Ex-layers provide fine sport in Cumbria, on a shoot where every pheasant is hard won

Kennel Diary

Things may be different, but we who hunt should count our blessings that we are still able to do so

Country Diary

Farming rare-breed pigs is proving to be an unexpected source of pleasure, from battling piglets to exploring ancient rights of pannage

A sporting life in Africa

A rare return to Devon for three days of shooting near Exmoor is a safe bet for lifting spirits

Where there's muck...

Modern fowling is about sport and the joy of wild places but years ago, many gunners made a living from the marshes, says Graham Downing

The very best of us

British fieldsports are possibly the finest in the world and they ought to be celebrated, says Patrick Laurie

Never take it for granted

Whatever our sport, there will come a point when our focus shifts, says Will Pocklington

Let the devil take the hind most

Sometimes, the hardest part of selecting a cull beast is separating the stag from his harem of hinds, especially when he’s busy showing off to a young pretender

Gamekeeper

Conservation of wildlife and the environment is often overlooked in the blind pursuit of profit, but surely there is a way to achieve both

Spirits in the snow

Arctic weather brought with it the duck and other fowl, but too much of it and the smaller birds and waders starved to death, recalls Alan Savory

Doing it differently

Covid has seen walked-up days being offered on the Burghley estate, says Jamie Tusting

Turn up for the books

Gamebooks are a fascinating insight into an estate’s shooting past or a Gun’s sporting life. Richard Negus delves into the pages of history

Bigger picture of a mosaic

Focusing on habitat can ensure our countryside is a haven for snipe, lapwing, curlew and redshank

A moveable feast

To keep the drives full of birds, they must have food and water or they will wander — and they might not come back, warns Liam Bell

Right To Roam Keeps Deer On The Move

As if the financial hit from coronavirus isn’t enough to contend with, ramblers and sea eagles are posing a challenge, says Megan Rowland

Covering every inch

Shooting rabbits over spaniels is exciting but efficiency is key, says Nick Ridley

Hear the roar of the 4-bore

A 150-year-old piece of history is taken out to the saltmarshes for a dawn flight — but it proves too hot to handle for Simon Garnham

The cult of October

The early part of the season is the perfect time for hunting along thick old-fashioned hedgerows and all you need is a dog and a gun, says WC

Stamina is a Given trait

Restoring the working springer’s reputation for staying power is a labour of love for a couple in Ireland, as David Tomlinson discovers

Don't rock the boat...

An evening spent in the wake of 18th-century duck shooters highlights the timeless nature of our sport and serves as a reminder of the precariousness of small boats

Slow down and savour

Modern living is at hectic pace; we should take the example of our forebears and make the most of our leisure time, says Sam Carlisle

It'll come out in the wash

The alien landscape of the Cambridgeshire Fens nurtures all kinds of duck and Richard Negus falls in love with the wild west