CATEGORIES
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