I like my dogs to have an annual health check and realised that they hadn’t seen a vet for nearly two years. My previous vet was a delightful and helpful…
Shooting Times
Venison bourguignon pie recipe: slow and steady does it
Neck, shoulder or shank work well for this venison bourguignon pie recipe, cooked low and slow for maximum tenderness. I used puff pastry, but shortcrust will work equally well. The…
New data shows catastrophic wader collapses
The results of the British Birds Survey for 2021 were published earlier this month and they highlight again the importance of shooting for maintaining biodiversity in the British countryside. The…
‘Disastrous’ Welsh general licenses come into effect
The licenses which were described by BASC as ‘a retrograde step for conservation’ have been altered to remove magpies, jays and jackdaws from the conservation licence (GL004) and to restrict…
Stalking boots: what makes the perfect pair?
Stalking boots matter. Because nothing ruins a fine day on the hill like a blistered heel. We’ve all been there. Add to this the misery of wet feet or cold…
Long hair, short hair or wire hair?
Most of us have a favourite gundog breed regardless of what sort of coat it has, but the length and nature of a dog’s hair does make quite a difference…
Afternoon naps by the water and my thoughts on them
At this time of year I travel to Hampshire for a spot of trout fishing, which invariably involves afternoon naps by the water. You might think sleeping is a criminal…
British guns proofed for steel: it’s time to buy a bit of history
The late Cyril Adams, who made a fortune selling restored British guns to eager American buyers, recalled walking into Purdey’s one afternoon in search of old guns and being told…
Why a stalking syndicate is so important
Some would have you think stalking permissions are to be guarded like bank details. Accounts of falling out and “never again” attempts to manage deer collaboratively are easy to come…
The Game Fair 2022: the perfect place for us to flock together
As the first swallows appear in our skies, our thoughts naturally turn towards summer activities and spending time outdoors. Plans are made, with dates scribbled in the diary for family…
Crackdown on illegal coursing, hunt trial failure and support for deer managers – this week in fieldsports
Another hunt trial collapses The case against a member of the Quorn Hunt has been dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence. John Finnegan had been due…
Wading birds under increasing pressure from predators
I have always had an affinity with the wading birds that kept me company during the summer when I was working on the moor. I now oversee one of two…
The growing deer population: its impact and the options open to us
I have been thinking about the future of deer and their impact in England. With the COVID-19 pandemic and near-annihilation of the venison market, what lies in store for the…
Are curlew numbers declining? The suggests they are
Where I farm in Galloway, curlew numbers seem to be declining every year. There are a number of drivers for this collapse, not least the rapid expansion of commercial forestry…
Are cats and dogs killing off our gamebirds?
Across more than 5,000 acres of rural Galloway, you’d expect there to be plenty of good spots to have a seat, but there is one particular heather-clad knoll on the…
RSPB accused of sensationalism and misinformation over report
The accusations from the Countryside Alliance came after it emerged that much of the information used by the RSPB was provided by a convicted animal rights extremist, some was demonstrably…
Anti-shooting activism is taking a toll on the mental health of rural people, according to enquiry
The increasing pressure of online and real world activism on those involved in country sports has created an increasing challenge to the mental health of those in the rural sector…
Break-barrel air rifles: they’re for the grown-ups too
Modern airguns have come a long way over the past couple of decades. Yet despite all their technological advancements, it is still hard to beat the simple pleasure of shooting…
Running a shoot: how to make the numbers add up
It has often been said that the only way to make a small fortune from shooting is to start with a big one. There are so many variables, and so…
What constitutes a big bag in shooting? 150, 200, 300
What constitutes a ‘big bag’ in shooting. Is it 150, 200, 300 birds? A big bag in shooting For all the talk, what counts as a big bag in shooting?…