Well worth the cost?

At the season’s end, giving a gun a cursory clean rather than getting it stripped and cleaned properly is a bad idea, warns Diggory Hadoke

The season ends with Mob rule

A surprise invitation and a fast hen mean the season closes on a remarkable high

The new revolution

The stalking community is preparing to stop using lead — but how do the alternatives compare? Megan Rowland trials them on the hill

The beast coming to a wood near you

The rougher hills of Galloway are being rootled by hairy snouts but the spread of wild boar is cause for celebration, says Patrick Laurie

The aristo-ratters

It was once a celebrity accessory but, through the hard work of Harry Parsons, the Sealyham has become a formidable rat hunter again

The age-old dilemma

Retirement is something that comes to every gundog and a survey is aiming to shed more light on the subject, reveals David Tomlinson

Pond project takes flight

Richard Negus returns to Lodge Farm to find the Barkers’ new pond turning into a real haven for wildlife

Law of the jungle

There is nothing like pigeon roosting to sharpen up your shooting, says Simon Reinhold, and North Vietnamese Army tactics help to build a bag

End of lead shot in sight

The industry’s organisations join forces to ban the use of lead and single-use plastic in ammunition

Why this fine sport needs our support

With leases being terminated, fewer new recruits and the 21st desire for instant gratification, is wildfowling in trouble, asks Mike Swan

Left up the creek

An Essex saltmarsh splash look like a great spot for a last-gasp outing on teal but they prefer one to the other, as Simon Garnham discovers

Keepers slam shake-up to Scottish general licences

Fury as greater protection is given to rooks and gulls in major changes to general licences in Scotland, with restrictions in many upland areas

Gamekeeper

Hedgerows are vital to the ecology of the countryside, providing a haven for wildlife, and we should be doing more to regenerate them

Don't skimp on cleaning your gun

When it comes to gun care, it pays to spend a little extra on the right product, says Barry Stoffell

Country Diary

Deer managers have a difficult enough job to do as it is — without meddling suits in warm, dry offices trying to mess with the seasons

Anger at £90,000 cost of ‘stoat dogs'

Orkney project to protect ground-nesting birds racked up £90,000 bill to buy six dogs and train handlers

All is not yet lost

Our licensing system means that it is easy to check provenance of a firearm but a new database will be even better, says Diggory Hadoke

Working for every bird

With no wind to speak of and wary game at the end of the season, an HPR day on a Norfolk shoot provides great sport for David Tomlinson

The right raw material

Training your own gundog can be enormously rewarding — but only if you choose the right puppy in the first place, warns Jeremy Hunt

Tackling the problem

The end of the game season provides the chance to get among the pigeons but you must be ready to adapt to succeed, says Tom Payne

Knock down ginger

Forget the poor old muntjac, it is the gingery little Chinese water deer that is rapidly colonizing our countryside, reveals Graham Downing

Gamekeeper

The camaraderie at shoots at the end of the season underlines how important our country sports are in binding communities together

Force for the good

A visit to RAF Cranwell shoot reminds Simon Garnham that Battle of Britain pilots might well have learned early discipline in field sports

For Queen and country

There is a close relationship between the Army and fieldsports, with soldiers using their countryside skills in combat, says Richard Negus

Exam for life

A new GCSE in natural history will teach children about wildlife — and they want to learn, says Mary Colwell

Every second counts

Mat Manning heads out during the dying hours of daylight to enjoy some fine winter shooting — it’s worth it even for a couple of hours

A gun to last forever

Buying a gun is a major investment; get a good one, look after it, and it could well see you out, says Diggory Hadoke

Time to raise a glass

A flick through his game book prompts Laurence to reflect on the past decade and the days of superb sport that made it so memorable

One hundred per cent spaniel

Not everyone loves a sprocker — but evidence suggests all working cockers may have some springer blood, reveals David Tomlinson

One barrel is all you need

Using a single-barrelled shotgun focuses the mind and is the perfect firearm on a farm where con servation is key, says Simon Reinhold