Don't stand in the firing line

Rural crime is on the increase but don’t be tempted to take on the culprits yourself — get wildlife police involved, urges Liam Bell

Country Diary

People seem to obsess about fashionable upland issues but what about the problems that desperately need addressing on their own doorstep?

A must for mudlarks

Rising before the sun to crouch in a water-filled ditch and wait for geese might not be everyone’s idea of a fun morning, but to the wildfowler it’s utter bliss

Those last stubbles are worth the trouble

A final or cultivated stubble may not ooze potential but if you’re lucky it can produce some exciting shooting, says Tom Payne

Volvo XC40 £38,865

The Swedish giant’s urban SUV is an understated all-rounder and offers a value-for-money alternative to its competitors, says Ed Coles

Trolling in the deep

You need a stout heart and patience aplenty to land the Tyson Fury of the sea, as Nick Fisher discovers when he trolls the depths for big bass

The sky's no limit

Few field sports are more impressive than falconry as practised by the Northumberland Crow Falconers

The evolution of an Italian design classic

The Silver Pigeon is one of the best selling guns of all time. Simon Reinhold looks at its enduring appeal

The secrets of successful duck flighting

Shooting a flightpond can be a hit and-miss affair, but Mike Swan has some tips to boost your chances

Woodland wandering

Mat Manning ditches his feeding stations and adopts a mobile approach as grey squirrels tuck into nature’s autumn banquet

The hounds of heaven

Even after 30 years of pursuing wild geese, the thrill to get under these magical birds remains as strong as ever for Simon Garnham

Enjoying mist opportunities

Disappointment turns to elation for Ed Wills on his first grouse shoot of the season

Close-up and personal

Pulling off the perfect shot at a deer that is only yards away is quite a challenge. Graham Downing explains how to improve your chances

That old chestnut

Made into flour, roasted with ceps or turned into a cheesecake, there is much to love about the versatile sweet chestnut

Myth busting and numbers booming

While wildfowling and walked-up days might be in slight decline, our sport in general has more participants than ever

Wriggle room for the eel

The common eel is now a protected species after a decline caused by overfishing, pollution and parasites — but this year is different

Local butchers game for a new experience

Banging the drum for field sports is now more important than ever, so Simon Garnham offers three newcomers a day of pigeon shooting

The final countdown

The siren call of raw and windswept places that wildfowl love intensifies as 1 September rolls round and an expansive estuary promises early duck

Leaving the lurchers and going lead free

Simon Whitehead enjoys a day of shooting bolting rabbits with his ferrets around his new home in prime Yorkshire grouse country

Gold standard for gamebirds

Golden plover are often overlooked but they offer excellent sport

Clear case for glasses

Is expensive eyewear a waste of money or should we all invest in the best, asks Simon Reinhold

Fastest grouse going

Our biggest gamebird is facing extinction for a second time but not so long ago it was considered a fine sporting quarry

All is safely gathered in

In the second part of our series on bringing youngsters into fieldsports, Richard Negus takes his son to harvest some pesky pigeon

Four Steps To Shooting Partridges Like A Pro

When faced with a sporting challenge that demands sound technique and the right attitude, preparation is everything, says Simon Reinhold

Trials and tribulation

The Kennel Club has issued extensive guidance for staging field trials during the pandemic. David Tomlinson wades through the protocol

An everlasting call

Wildfowlers yearn for 1 September, even though they know they’ll likely blank, but heading out is a fine tradition worth upholding

The past is a grey area

The wild English partridge was once abundant and had a complex relationship with man that remains to this day, says Patrick Laurie

Meet the Euro stars

Europe is home to a mind-boggling number of gundog breeds. Here David Tomlinson sorts the braque d’Auvergne from the pudelpointer

Greys' anatomy

Perdix perdix provided great sport but the redleg has taken over — it’s a different quarry and should be treated as such, believes Alex Keeble

The Royal revolution

Holland & Holland is renowned for its classically elegant Royal guns, which are much coveted and much copied, reveals Diggory Hadoke