Wonderful as he undoubtedly is, does your dog have more natural ability than manners? Do you value his nose more highly than his shaky steadiness? Is his ease of handling more of a feature than his drive? Cheer up, your dog’s day has come. The shooting season ahead will be one of make-do-and-mend. Versatility, ingenuity and all-round Blitz spirit will be the qualities we recognise and prize in our dogs if they are to get us through.
Forget those field trial champions who can be handled onto a sixpence and then bring back the bird to you presented on a silver platter. It’s time to get old Bertie out, who knows exactly where last year’s cock pheasant is hiding and will wait for you to get into position. So what if Bertie’s mouth isn’t quite as velvety as it might be – that cock bird will be so tough you couldn’t damage it with pliers. Rediscovering the fun and games of informal shooting on stand-one/beat-one days will save the season for many of us.
Rough shooting and its variants inevitably come to the fore during difficult times. The stand/beat shoot became popular in the years of post-war austerity during the 1950s. Andrew Middle and his brother, Paul, still run the shoot originally started by their father, Brian. Middle remembers: “Dad set the shoot up in the 1950s and it has a strong tradition locally. He joined up with another local farmer, Reg Wilkins, when myxomatosis came in. They had always shot rabbits up until then, so they reared 25 or 30 pheasants under broody hens. Their percentage was probably 4% and they didn’t know about stops or anything like that. My grandfather had done a lot of felling during the war, so it was all gorse and bramble and it was alive with foxes. That’s how it started off. It was a farmers’ shoot in those days and now there are no farmers in the syndicate any more.”
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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.
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays