Adventure on the school run

Pigeon will feed wherever they like — which is all part of the challenge, says Tom Payne

Add crows for luck

With maize stubbles attracting all kinds of avian pests and a shotgun ambush out of the question, Mat Manning opts for a subtle approach

Taste Of Fowling Fit For A King

Wildfowling by its nature is largely practised in dreadful conditions at ungodly hours and Richard Negus doesn’t want to put his son off

Joining the Dots and planning a Budget

Tawny takes a back seat as her off spring are taken out for their first lesson — but sometimes you need experience, says Simon Whitehead

Giving the very high birds your best shot

Barrel length has changed over the years, and preferences differ but is longer always better for reaching tall birds, asks Simon Reinhold

Forget rats and eels, this is the creel thing

Various DIY efforts have brought ridicule but not much else, so the next project seems doomed to fail — but Soldier Palmer strikes gold

Food for thought on shooting day feasts

Feeding hungry Guns and beaters is a central part of the shoot day ritual. Rose Prince explains how to make lunch a fitting celebration

Don't give antis ammo — follow COVID precautions

Shooting groups have stressed the importance of obeying virus control measures after a photo appeared to show fowlers not social distancing

Testing times for labs

The diminishing labrador gene pool means the UK’s favourite breed is open to a host of hereditary diseases, as David Tomlinson explains

The dale of plenty

Botanists from across the world descend on Teesdale to study a unique mix of plant species found only in this corner of England

Come one, come all

The small but friendly Highfield shoot in West Yorkshire prides itself on both its inclusivity and its ability to produce spectacular sport for visiting Guns

Where the land screams ‘snipe'

Assorted dogs and a shared passion makes a day spent on the marshes paradise for Richard Negus

Pride, but no prejudice

In the heart of Jane Austen country, a partridge shoot proves the Government right in allowing our sport to go-ahead

The best watering hole in Essex

Simon Garnham heads out for his evening on a flight pond that he dug after returning to civilian life following a career in the Marines

The sad beauty of September

The privilege of flanking, the peace of High Park, the contentment of the river… all bring their own joy

When the wheels come off

For youngsters, the excitement and distractions of a shoot day can make all they’ve learned go out of the window, warns Ellena Swift

Let's not lose our inbetweeners

Fewer of us are taking our dogs shooting for fear they might play up, but Will Pocklington is concerned we are doing them a disservice

Kennel Diary

COVID-19 has made every aspect of our lives difficult but the hunt has risen admirably to the challenge

Do we sing as a choir — or several soloists?

Though the idea has always met with resistance, the merging of our organisations could have mutual benefits, suggests Alasdair Mitchell

A sporting life in Africa

A terrifying ordeal on the plain is a reminder that injured animals are even more unpredictable

A mountain to climb

Stalking sika in the Kerry wilds is a birthday treat for Barry Stoffell, but will he bag his stag before Mother Nature unleashes her wrath?

A divine punctuation

Elevenses provides a special kind of nourishment, says Rose Prince, and even if it takes preparation, it’s always worth doing it properly

High On The Drug Of The Tug

Sportsmen and women will argue about the finest quarry forever but for Marcus Janssen there is no contest — it has to be the salmon

Tweaking The Rules In Search Of Success

With one failed Macnab attempt behind him, a determined Patrick Laurie modifies the quarry demands and sets offin high spirits

Once in a blue moon

After years of decline, the mighty bluefin tuna is again being seen in our waters, so Jamie Tusting travels to Cornwall to watch the show

Gunroom

A rare Hall carbine rifle with links to the American Civil War is a fascinating collector’s item, though sadly its shooting days are over

Two days chasing the English ‘rocket ships'

We should no longer view grey partridges as quaint enigmas, says Richard Hardy, but as the result of positive nature-friendly farming

Savage 110 Ultralite £1,990

With its new carbon fibre-wrapped stainless-steel barrel and Melonite finished skeletonised action, this lightweight offering from Savage Arms is anything but lightweight in performance, says Bruce Potts

Bringing dishonour

Birds of prey can and do thrive on keepered land but the criminal few drag us all down with them

Criminals in their sights

As rural crime is on the increase, Matt Cross joins a police force that is tackling the problem head on using local intelligence