May 01, 2024
For nearly 200 years, the industry-leading manufacturer of fine shotgun cartridges for game and clay shooters, Eley Hawk, has been a market leader in modern shotgun cartridge innovation. Such experience has enabled the brand to develop a wide range of product innovations designed to meet the demands of game shooters worldwide becoming the benchmark for…
May 01, 2024
I tend to develop a Zen-like focus when fishing lochs and llyns for wild trout that excludes everything that is not relevant to flies and fish. This can lead to heart-stopping moments when interruptions appear from outside my zone of concentration. I can still feel the shock of the moment the water exploded in front…
May 01, 2024
A ban on sandeel fishing could boost kittiwake and puffin numbers on the East Yorkshire coast, say conservationists. A ban on trawlers from the UK, EU and other nations from fishing for the small fish in the North Sea has come into force. Officials at RSPB Bempton Cliffs said sandeels are a vital source of…
May 01, 2024
The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation this month awarded its Long Service Awards to Keith Wooldridge, Terry Oscroft, David Barnes and Stewart Lomas for 50 years of service, and to David Nokes, Jeffrey Powell, Steve Carter, John Pickard and Glynn Smith for 40 years of service. One group of three keepers, all of whom had worked at…
May 01, 2024
Record numbers of groups and individuals joined the GWCT’s spring grey partridge count, covering some of the largest areas ever. The Partridge Count Scheme (PCS) is a free and voluntary scheme run by the GWCT since 1933 to collect information on the annual abundance and breeding success of grey partridges. The grey partridge is a…
May 01, 2024
The Countryside Alliance is backing the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) proposed investigation into the UK veterinary sector, further to its market review in September 2023. The review, which received an “unprecedented response from the public and veterinary professionals”, identified five key areas that warrant further investigation. These areas include: the information given to pet…
May 01, 2024
Bonhams, one of the oldest auction houses in the country, has closed its modern sporting guns department, bringing an end to dedicated sporting gun sales in London. The move has come as a surprise to many in the industry; Bonhams was established in 1793 and has been selling arms since the mid-1800s. However, the company…
May 01, 2024
Scotland’s Net Zero Secretary Màiri McAllan says the Scottish government “will build on the current Cairngorms Deer Pilot to develop a national scheme which incentivises increased management and investment in the venison supply chain”. The pilot started in 2023 and offers local residents the opportunity to learn vital skills. When locals are fully trained and…
April 25, 2024
WRITTEN & PHOTOGRAPHED BY SIMON K BARR A few years ago, Steve Hornady and I booked to hunt for mid-Caucasian tur in Russia. It had longbeen an ambition of mine to hunt with Steve. I’d known him for many years, but this would be my first trip with him, having to previously postpone. As Steve…
April 24, 2024
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY SIMON K BARR Having stealthily crawled to within 30 yards of the group, our faint scent was carried on swirling winds to the herd, which then revealed itself to be far bigger than we had thought. Some 130 Nile buffalo hurtled off with drama and speed, mercifully in the other direction…
Sponsored by Skinner’s, this week’s dog of the week is Betty. At three months old, Betty is described as a “wonderful, crazy, happy girl, full of fun”, and she will be joining rough shoots next season. She loves to chase everything but hasn’t quite grasped the “leave” command yet… For your dog to be included, email [email protected] a picture and tell us all about them. Featured dogs receive a 15kg bag of food, via Skinner’s.