Tom Sykes

Tom Sykes

Tom Sykes has been a keen Shot since a young age and has been fortunate to make a living from his hobby. He started his early career as a gamekeeper for some of the country’s most prestigious shoots. He then stepped away from keepering to start his own fieldsports-focused business, Sykes Media, with his wife Charlie.

Tom continues to conduct regular vermin control, primarily corvid shooting. He has always had a keen interest in wildfowling, which started when a young Shot and flourished into a passion. He is a big advocate for eating game and conducting conservation work, believing this is key to the longevity of shooting.

General qualifications

Tom is a qualified gamekeeper and holds a range of countryside qualifications, including deerstalking and countryside management certificates. He is also a qualified shotgun coach and loader.

Tom is a regular contributor to Sporting Gun after writing his first article at the age of 15. He is now in his thirties. Over the years, he has written for Shooting Times, BASC Magazine, Scottish Fieldsports and Gundog Journal. Tom’s photography has featured nationally and internationally in a range of shooting media.

Follow Tom Sykes

  • August 16, 2023

Summertime is typically when I receive phone calls regarding problem corvids that need to be dealt with. Despite these calls being few and far between since moving to Scotland, a…

  • May 25, 2023

I wrote a piece about trail cameras in the March issue of Sporting Gun and went through some of the benefits of using them. Judging from the questions I received following…

  • March 30, 2023

As the summer crow control is now underway, I decided to look at some of the tools and tactics that can help yield better bags. Crows have always fascinated me…

  • February 2, 2023

As I turned the engine off and stretched, I contemplated whether or not I wanted to get out of the car and gear up for wigeon decoying. I was feeling…

  • December 8, 2022

Wildfowling success is often determined by the weather Mother Nature throws our way. Some harsh conditions such as high winds and driving rain are often associated with being the optimal…

  • May 10, 2022

Fieldsports means so much to so many people. I never cease to find it amazing how diverse it can be. For many, it is a hobby that gives us something…

Crow shooting kit 3D leaf poncho

  • March 30, 2022

Crow shooting is a wonderful game of cat and mouse against a rather cunning adversary. The shooting provides excellent sporting opportunities and essential pest management, as crows will cause tremendous…

best waders for wildfowlers

  • January 25, 2022

Choosing footwear for any fieldsport is ultimately down to personal preference and affordability. This is true for wildfowlers too.  I have used a range of waders over the years and…

Wildfowling tips

  • October 6, 2021

Wildfowling is a wonderful sport, but not always the most productive in terms of action or shooting opportunities compared with other fieldsports. Making the most of the chances presented is…

wildfowler on foreshore

  • September 14, 2018

Before we start, I should point out that cartridge choice is personal preference and you need to do your research to find one that suits your needs, gun and quarry.…

Duck calls on foreshore

  • November 29, 2017

I don’t often leave the house during the wildfowling season without my trusty duck calls around my neck. I am a great believer in the use of calls on the…

  • March 30, 2017

I always try to keep my farmers happy and control their vermin to the best of my ability. Doing this can pay off in numerous ways – other than job…

Wildfowlers

  • November 3, 2016

A wild goose chase can be exactly what it says on the tin, so when  you get the birds in range you want the confidence that you are packing sufficient power to get…