As both a challenge of shooting skill and a delicacy for the table, the woodcock is regarded by many shooters as an elusive and highly prized trophy. It is certainly one of the most mysterious birds…
Shooting Times
A useful day out with some Plummer terriers
By their very name, terriers are dogs of the earth. In the past, before certain legislation was implemented, this varied and extremely valiant family of dogs did exactly that, going to…
The size of the bag is not the point
As shooters we are often guilty of making sweeping assertions as to what the wider public love or hate about what we do. We base our beliefs on what we or our friends think,…
Who shoots geese with a Remington .45?
“I spent most of my childhood shooting geese with a Remington .45” announced the moustachioed Texan. I took another sip of my damson gin, which a jolly girl selling tweed…
Why the nuthatch is a sight to behold
One of the distinguishing features of nuthatches is that they can climb down trees — the only British bird that can do this. Woodpeckers and treecreepers work their way up the trunk, hunting for insects under…
Can woodcock tell the time?
Fascinated by the woodcock’s punctuality, Leri takes the time to observe and record the accuracy of these birds’ inner clocks
English and Welsh roe review 2016
One of the things that I enjoy about measuring trophies for the CIC is when a hunter, either because he’s just shot something bigger than normal or has been encouraged…
Roast pheasant – simply delicious
Sometimes the most simple way to cook a gamebird is the best — here is a mouthwatering recipe for roast pheasant – whole pheasants are seared in a pan before…
Scottish roe review 2016
Roebuck seasons come and go, remembered by stalkers for many reasons — a first buck, a trophy scored, an atypical animal, a new rifle or permission or, for very few, the…
Benelli 828U 12-bore
With this series of guns, Benelli has cast aside convention. A newcomer to over-and-under guns, the company has previously been more concerned with the manufacture of semi-automatic shotguns, an area where it also broke the mould with…
How to treat paw injuries in the field
A: It can affect a dog but tetanus is relatively uncommon, particularly if a wound bleeds to any extent. There is no equivalent vaccination available for dogs as there is for humans. Treatment for…
Are DNA tests required for breeding gun dogs?
A: The advantage of DNA testing is that not only does it indicate if a dog is affected by an inherited disease but it also determines the likelihood of the dog passing on the disease…
Why restrictions on grouse shooting would reduce rural tourism
It will come as no surprise that the inquiry and debate into driven grouse shooting, which was triggered by the online petition on Parliament’s website calling for the sport to be banned, has been…
Annual Woodcock Club dinner announced for 2017
The magnificent house at Crowcombe Court was built in the 1730s in the English regional baroque style by Thomas Parker and the interior features plasterwork by Grinling Gibbons. It was…
Are terriers born anarchists?
Terriers bring a smile to our faces, whether the smug condescension of the handler of well-trained gundogs or the rictus of embarrassment that comes from having thought your dog’s behaviour could not get any worse before…
Good days, bad days
I came off a dawn flight clad top to toe in camouflage, including a baseball cap given to me in the US, with my over-and-under magnum-chambered 12-bore and fowling cartridges in the boot. In the…
Five minutes talking gin with Nick Radclyffe
What is the history of Foxdenton estate? The estate is based in Lancashire and was acquired by my family through marriage in 1367. Our branch of the family lived at Foxdenton Hall until…
The danger of mixing cartridges
A: I once conducted an experiment in order to find out which calibres and cartridges this risk applies to. Of course, chamber and bore dimensions vary quite widely in large-bore guns, particularly older ones. However, an…
A visit to Hartpury College – where aspiring gamekeepers learn their craft
“Crack your flags on the right, boys…push on 20 yards… stand still… flags up on the left.” Familiar words to the ears of beaters on shoots throughout the land, but it is not often they…