The announcement on 8 September 2022 of the death of HM Queen Elizabeth II came as deeply sad, if not entirely unexpected, news. Born on 21 April 1926, she ascended…
Richard Negus
In the HPAI bird flu battle, this is how wildfowlers can help
Right about now, wildfowlers up and down the land will be avidly checking their waders for holes, re-hitching plumb lines on decoys and throwing a few dummies about for the…
Are fieldsports diverse?
Why fieldsports are inclusive The towpath of the Waveney was chest high with dusty stinging nettle and magenta-coloured loosestrife. This floral barrier added to the challenge of finding a chubby-looking…
Predator control means wild birds are thriving
The cautious questions have started: “Seen many about?” and “How are you doing?” The interest in wild broods has taken on a greater intensity this season. Bird flu has banjaxed…
Breeding cocker spaniels: here’s what’s really involved
The reality of breeding cocker spaniels My phone buzzed in my pocket with an incoming WhatsApp from my wife, Clare. Her message simply read “Deed is done”. The short missive…
Grey partridge nesting: what makes the perfect habitat?
I parked the truck underneath a gnarled old oak that crookedly stands at the end of a hedge, a mix of elm sucker, maple and hawthorn. My eyes were on…
Best shooting jackets: we pick out a selection to consider
Shooting coats vary more than any other kind of shooting kit, but this pick of the best shooting coats offers a variety of choices for different budgets and different purposes.
Gunshop – Richard Negus talks about his favourite
In 1998, in a portable building on the outskirts of the small Suffolk town of Eye, a business opened selling cleaning products. We are not talking about the duck-shaped stuff…
Testing budget shotgun cartridges for pigeon shooting and corvid control
With the end of the game and wildfowling seasons, some may be putting away their guns. However, pigeons hereabouts are feeding voraciously on rape and the rooks are waiting for…
Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust: why it’s a vital lifeline
The decision that the awarded legal costs, following Wild Justice’s failed attempt to take forward a judicial review of English heather-burning regulations, should be donated to the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust…
Feeding puppies: top five tips for keeping them healthy
Feeding puppies and gundogs Taken from Charlie’s notebook, these are the top five tips from Skinner’s for keeping your gundog healthy: (Read more about feeding a dog here.) Feed a…
Ground game: should we be allowed to shoot it on driven days?
The morning briefings on the driven shoots to which I get invited tend to follow the same pattern. “Shoot what gives you pleasure, but be sparing with the hens —…
Best wildfowling jackets – we put them to the test
Why we need the best wildfowling jackets It is 4am in mid-January. The Shipping Forecast warns of meteorological Armageddon from Gibraltar Point to North Foreland. Sleet like spittle taps the…
The best lightweight jackets for shooting
While the summer sun cracks the flagstones and sensible dogs seek shade, choosing a coat is probably the last thing on your mind. However, as we all know, the British…
Finding your fields of sporting Elysium
On the rare occasion I tune my truck radio from the local station to a national broadcaster, I am struck by the length and magnitude of the traffic reports I…
Outwitting rats with scopes
Brown rats are prolific and resilient opportunists. This is in no small way due to their intelligence. Rat brains are remarkably similar to humans’ in both structure and function. They…
A good pair of binoculars is vital whether you’re a keeper, stalker or wildfowler. So we’ve put some to the test.
The Big Farmland Bird Count (BFBC) has, since its inception in 2014, captured the imagination of farmers and landowners. Testing binoculars Binoculars are obviously vital instruments for counting farmland birds.…
Duck-flighting and dining with a Masterchef semi-finalist
Freddie Innes is a man who, like the majority who shoot, clearly shares a love of good food. At 26, Freddie is a young chef, yet he already boasts an…
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…
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…