Finding Purpose in Winter: How Picking Up on Shoots Banished my Blues

The mental health journey of a picker-upper…

The Truth About Extreme Pheasant Shooting: Ballistics and Ethical Considerations

Some remarks on the misguided idea that shooting birds at extreme heights is a good idea. A few technical remarks to debunk some myths are added and an appeal to take the ethical aspects of shooting live animals seriously.

The State of Nature: Are we really that bad?

Failing 'State of Nature', bottom of the biodiversity league, most biodiversity depleted, failing 30x30. Open any paper and someone from the conservation industry is saying how bad we are. What on earth does it all mean?

Savour the Shot: Woodcock Hunting, Cooking, and Conservation

In this episode Patrick Galbraith goes out in search of the mysterious woodcock, a beloved bird of hunters, chefs and nature lovers the world over.

Cold, spotted and beautiful

If fly fishing is art, then surely no medium has more delicate brush strokes, more subtle nuance and greater mastery of light than trout fishing, and it is surely the trout that takes pride of place above the mantelpiece in the great fishing gallery.

Caring for Gundogs: Time to Change the Narrative?

Can we do more for our gundogs?

Stressed Farmers vs Overheated Civil Servants: Who Has It Worse?

News that the Forestry Commission are hiring a 'Wellbeing Adviser' makes me wonder whether DEFRA have their priorities straight

Hungary Unleashed: Guns, Game, and the Spirit of Adventure

An unexpected invitation to shoot in Hungary resulted in new friends, cherished memories, and an extra inch on my waistline, along with the determination to initiate something special here in the UK.

Farming without subsidies: Lessons from New Zealand

The removal of subsidies in New Zealand marked a pivotal moment in reshaping the agricultural landscape. The greatest lesson to be learnt from the New Zealand experience is how adaptable and resilient farmers can be, when confronted with change.

The Lead Elephant

We can justifiably be proud of the socio/economic and biodiversity benefits derived from well run shoots. Although some still fight against it unless we embrace the science on lead ammunition this remains an elephant in the room.

Episode 8: Wrapping Up Another Season.

Read about the last month of the season here on our small DIY syndicate here in Wiltshire. High birds and even higher cartridge counts.

Decontaminating the Car After Shooting Season: Decanting the Barouche

The end of the shooting season heralds the annual Cleaning Of The Car, a task that often has surprises in store