Poaching has been part and parcel of rural life for centuries, usually carried out to procure food or as a means of making a slightly better living than other country…
Shooting Times
Coconut rabbit curry recipe
I love a good curry, especially a nice aromatic coconut one. I have written a handful of rabbit recipes over the past year, but this rabbit curry recipe is a…
Why the wild pheasant is the greatest test
’I remember the first time I was invited to a day of wild pheasants. It was a cold January morning and I stood on the edge of an old woodland…
My Labrador doesn’t like going into water. What can I do?
Q: I have a two-year-old Labrador bitch that is shy of going into water. What do you suggest I do to help her overcome this fear? Labradors and water A:…
What’s it like being hunted by a bloodhound?
I have lost count of the times random and faceless animal rights devotees have, on social media, offered a challenge for me to “get shot at and see how I…
Why do you miss when shooting?
You will probably have heard it at some point on a clay ground from the back of the cage: “You’re behind it, mate.” While it is meant well, there is…
Getting a first air rifle
My parents bought me a second-hand Diana Model 23 .177 air rifle in 1984 as my first air rifle. The bluing was well on its way out and the cheap…
William Powell Viscount sidelock ejector shotgun
Being of a certain age, I remember the William Powell catalogue arriving via Royal Mail as the harbinger of the coming season. Though it was full of all things new…
Why can some gundogs be averse to retrieving woodcock?
Have you ever stuffed your nose into the breast of a freshly killed woodcock? I doubt if you have, but if you did so you would almost certainly find the…
Sauer 100 Classic XT synthetic
The Sauer 100 Classic XT synthetic is designed as a no-nonsense practical sporting arm and the XT models are the entry-level rifles — offering value but with the Sauer quality.…
How will the new BBC guidelines on impartiality affect Chris Packham and Wild Justice?
Things are changing at the BBC. The new director-general, Tim Davie, recently issued strict guidelines about how ‘colleagues’ should avoid using social media in a manner that undermines the corporation’s…
Is a 20-bore better than a 12-bore for long, walked-up days?
The proposition was put to me recently that the ideal gun for walked-up shooting is a lightweight 20-bore side-by-side shotgun. It got me thinking, in these days where 20-bore mania…
Volvo XC90
I was surprised when I learned that the Volvo XC90 has been on our roads for 18 years. The overall silhouette hasn’t changed dramatically in two decades, but it is…
Why was the 2020 salmon season so good?
We’ll probably still be talking about the 2020 salmon season when we’re no longer able to get into our waders without some help from the gillie. “Aye, it was like…
Pigeon breasts with rock oysters
Here’s a pigeon breasts recipe with a difference because it features oysters giving a new twist. If you’re not a fan of raw oysters then don’t worry – they are…
Nothing tastes better than simple food eaten outdoors on a shoot day
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a person engaged in fieldsports must be in want of good sustenance. And it always seems to taste so much better when it…
Roast pheasant – simply delicious
Earlier on in the season roast pheasant is the best way to cook a young bird. The meat is tender and roasting it will bring out the flavour. Later on…
Husband and wife gun cabinets – do we really need one each?
We all know that as responsible shooters we need to store our firearms securely. But what’s the deal if two partners sharing a home both have guns? Does each individual…
How to bag rough shooting
On my desk as I write this is a rather yellowed and crumpled letter from the Forestry Commission offering an annual shooting lease over 1,003 acres at West Tofts, Norfolk,…
Bergara B-14R .22 rimfire
I really appreciate an accurate .22 rimfire. A popular rifle for vermin control, it deserves to have a bit of thought and money spent on it. Bergara makes superb barrels…