Over here on the wetter side of the Irish Sea, April has the potential to be something of a gloomy month for deerstalkers. The seasons for our three deer species…
Barry Stoffell

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Best hunting knives put to the test
We are supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more There are few tools more central to fieldsports than…
Toxic ammunition: the truth about lead
The move to phase out lead ammunition is one of the most divisive and inflammatory issues in modern fieldsports. Yet, despite the wealth of coverage and the emotion the topic…
The best gun oil: Why you shouldn’t skimp on cleaning your gun
Choosing gun oil I have been asked on numerous occasions by those new to the world of shooting whether gun oil is any better than any other oil you’d pick…
Hunting lamps: we pick out the best around
The vast majority of us still rely on trusty hunting lamps to get the job done and ‘traditional’ lamping remains by far the most cost-effective way of dealing with nocturnal…
When do deer shed their antlers? Now is a good time to be looking.
Despite being in the depths of the close season, this time of the year offers deerstalkers something for nothing. By the end of April, most of our sika and red…
How to build the perfect high seat
High seats feature in some of my most enduring stalking memories. With the safety of a permanent earthen backstop and the comfort and concealment that a high seat for shooting…
How to make an antler stick
The stick. The fact that you’re reading this suggests you probably have one — quite possibly several — and for hundreds of years a stout wooden pole has been the…
How to make an antler handle knife
Every stalker I know has an “antler box” — a collection of cervine debris that has gathered dust for some time, awaiting the rainy day when they would be turned…
A simple recipe for venison sausages
Venison sausages by Barry Stoffell. Making sausages at home requires little specialist knowledge or equipment. As a minimum, you will need a way of mincing the ingredients and a means…