When it comes to deerstalking, I am very much in the recreational camp. I shot my first roe when I was 18 and since then have probably put a couple…
Paul Quagliana
FUD pigeon decoys reviewed
Put two or more pigeon shooters in a room and you’ll soon have a lively discussion about which radical piece of kit works the best at drawing in the grey…
Gamekeeper Mike Appleby discusses how he tackles squirrel control
I grew up in rural north-west England and recall with great fondness sitting and observing red squirrels playing outside our house and gazing at them through the patio windows. Around the…
Poults and release pens – a guide to managing the transition
When it comes to putting your poults out in the release pens, the golden rule is preparation. Ensure that all hoppers and drinkers are filled and that your electric fencing…
Pheasant release pens: here’s what you need to know about them
Top tips for pheasant release pens If a pen gets seriously muddy during wet weather, it is better to let the birds out to prevent disease setting in Make pheasant…
Gun fit – are you persisting with an ill-fitting gun?
Each year a farmer friend of mine is kind enough to invite me on a driven day towards the end of the season. I look forward to it with great…
Helice shooting – what it is and how to start
Helice shooting, formerly referred to as ZZ, is relatively unknown in the UK, which is a pity and there is only a handful of grounds that have it on offer.…
Tips for night vision shooting
Night vision shooting has seen tremendous technological advances in recent years, such as equipment becoming smaller and lighter. Although the equipment works in any weather, cold nights give the best…
Choke options for shotguns – just what are they?
The issue of shotgun chokes and which combinations are winners raises its head regularly in the shooting world. For some, it is a subject worthy of hours of deliberation and…
Techniques for mastering a flightpond at dusk
Graham Brown’s student Giacomo Drax is lucky enough to have access to a flight pond that he occasionally shoots with his father Jeremy. Shooting ducks at dusk or in darkness…
Her Majesty The Queen attends Cocker Championship at Sandringham
An £800 pair of dummy launchers proved key in the training of young bitch Abiann Flawless, which landed the ultimate accolade at the 88th Cocker Spaniel Championship, held on the…
Maintain your airgun with this easy step-by-step guide
Learn how to maintain your airgun at home with this photographic step-by-step guide
A day with bracco Italiano and spinone Italiano gun dogs
The day had been arranged by the Bracco Italiano Club, which had invited its friends in the Spinone Club of Great Britain to come along, Mike Fellows, the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO)…
Pike fishing – or how to land a freshwater tiger
Pike fever rises to the surface unexpectedly, like a recurring illness, and there is no telling how long the bout will last. A pike was the first large fish I ever caught when I was…
Wild garlic pesto
Two recipes for wild garlic pesto – a simple version and an advanced method Wild garlic is one of the most prolific and easily identifiable free foods. It can carpet…
Welcome to the Bisley workout
I don’t know whether it is Bisley’s military associations, but it wouldn’t be the first time I have “enjoyed” some form of exercise when I have visited the place. I…
Hook, line and pincher: crab from pier to plate
For those without any shoot dates until October, Paul Quagliana's brief guide to UK spider crabs shows how to catch a crab
Shoot of the week: Aberan Fawr Shoot
Shooting duck and pheasant in rural Wales
Shoot of the Week: Vale Farm Shoot
A Dorset shoot run by a passionate student
Hedges: Heritage and habitat
The wonderful world of hedgelaying