Christmas Day means a welcome break for the keepering team, with hopes for snow and some thermal-imaging equipment on the wish list
Christmas marks the turning point in the season; most of the bigger let days are done and we begin to wind down for a more relaxed January. I love all the festivities, though fitting in shopping around a busy shooting schedule takes planning, so these days all my preparations tend to be done online and at the last minute. Perhaps I need a team of elves, not beaters?
Family, friends and a social life are often sidelined throughout the year because of work commitments, which is why Christmas Day is a special time to enjoy with my nearest and dearest. The birds are doubled on Christmas Eve — leaving only the barest of essentials to do on the day, such as tending to the dogs and horses — and a restful day in front of the fire with good company and a huge feast makes for a welcome break in the depths of winter.
Denne historien er fra December 13,2017-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
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Denne historien er fra December 13,2017-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
United we stand
Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors
Serious matters
An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning
They're not always as easy as they seem
While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort
Debutant gundogs
There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting
When the going gets rough
Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make
A step too far?
Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work
Two bucks before breakfast
A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem
Stalking Diary
Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill
Gamekeeper
Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside
