CATEGORIES
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