CATEGORIES

Birds in the back garden

There's nothing as quintessentially English as the woodpigeon, says Graham Lorne, but their behaviour has changed markedly

Serious matters

A simple bird call crystallises the problems of the countryside

Non-lead shot for the small but mighty

They might be lacking clout in the marketplace, says Simon Reinhold, but fans of the 16-bore are a committed group and there is a demand

Is 'cocker rage' real?

New research on the health of cocker spaniels resulted in a flurry of headlines, but David Tomlinson looks deeper into the science

Wildfire could be UK's largest

A wildfire warning was extended across many parts of Scotland last week as a major fire near Cannich, south of Inverness, blazed. Forestry and Land Scotland suspects the fire, measuring approximately 8km by 8km, was started by wild campers

Stalking Diary

The quarry is the only familiar sight and sound during a stalking trip in South America, as a red stag leads the group on a three-day epic

Gamekeeper

Many landowners are once again taking a more regenerative approach to farming, and there are great lessons to be learned from the past

Conservation is a three-legged stool

The 'balance of nature' isn't always as it seems, says David Whitby, and predator control must work alongside habitat and food supply

Pulling in the birds

After running out of luck with whirlers and flappers, Blue Zulu goes back to decoying basics and ponders on recycling his claret bottles

Red grouse on the decline, while red kites are booming

The newly released 2022 Breeding Birds Survey gives an accurate insight into the UK bird population, with some interesting figures

Reinhold beside-by-side himself

Over 1,130 competitors took part in the English Open Sporting Clays Championship at the end of May, at Eriswell Lodge, Suffolk

Country Diary

A visit to Finland, where black grouse and capercaillie are plentiful, highlights just how shooting and conservation can go hand in hand

JOTTINGS FOR WILDFOWLERS

A blank fishing excursion is a reminder of other outings that didn't quite go to plan, including a four-hour round trip to the estuary

Racecourse rabbiting

With the crafty coney damaging turf and crops, a change of tactics is needed to keep reducing the local population over the warmer months

The true cost of a part-trained puppy

As more owners seek to buy a dog with the basics already in place, Ellena Swift investigates the work that goes in behind the scenes

The ruffians of the avian world

An impressive pattern of decoys is just the ticket to lure in those wily crows feasting on maize seeds

My first deer

For Charlie Blance, two species in one day was enough to push her to pursue a stalking career

A taste of what we do

Intrigue often leads to understanding, says Will Pocklington, who finds that food is just the way to get the conversation started

Keep up with these creatures of habit

Don't leave fox control until it's too late - learn their behaviour and use it to your advantage to gain the upper hand

Gunroom

Introduced in 1896, the semi-automatic Mauser 96 became a favourite of officers across Europe and dominated the market for nearly 40 years

Train of thought

Malcolm Plant asks what use is a coach to both clay and game shooters?

Hides and seek

Peter Theobald reflects on how decoying has evolved over the years, as well as his approach, the equipment at his disposal and the behaviour of the birds

One year in

Tony Bracci finds things to carp about and enjoy as the many elements of his shoot in its first year take shape

Asian hornet - Vespa velutina

Charles Smith-Jones says we should be on our guard for this large member of the wasp family that has settled in many parts of Europe and poses a serious threat to pollinators

Dot the i's and cross the t's

In the third instalment of his series on stalking, Charles Smith-Jones talks about applying for a firearms certificate

Electric collars: punishment or positive reinforcement?

Nick Ridley delves into the controversial use of electronic training collars in gundog training

Redefining deerstalking

Tom Cackett reviews the Pulsar Axion 2 XQ35, a compact thermal unit that is enhancing his stalking experience

Falling shot: A GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE SHOOTING

Black Lab explains the legal and ethical responsibilities of shotgun users when it comes to falling shot

Eat your way to success

Jasper Fellows talks to nutrition expert David Dunne and discusses how your diet can improve your shooting, especially on competition days

Tradition & technology

Jasper Fellows visits the cinema to discover the history and targets offered at Holland & Holland’s Shooting Ground