Where do trout lie? If you want to catch a trout it helps to know where they are. Fish the right water and maximise your chances
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Tips for shotgun restoration
Is your cherished old gun really worth restoring? Are you being overly sentimental about it? Would the money be better spent elsewhere? If you have decided to press ahead then my tips for shotgun restoration will help you to make the most of the process and hopefully save you money…
Pigeon shooting: top ten tips for decoying
Use these top ten wheezes from Eric Prior to secure a bigger bag, and save time and money
How can you encourage little owls to nest?
A reader writes: “Last year we were lucky enough to have little owls nesting in our barn. Do they return to the same place each year and is there anything we can do to encourage them, as they were delightful.” The Field replies: Little owls regularly return to the same…
The rules of being a modern pigeon Shot
A few simple rules for the modern pigeon Shot: Reconnaissance is still vital Learn to be flexible with your decoys and pattern Don’t be afraid to experiment if the pigeon aren’t playing Don’t over-rely on a whirly Wear a mask, especially on a sunny day Keep as still as…
How to shoot pheasants like George Digweed
What are “high” pheasants? That’s a question often asked in the game-shooting world. Geographical position within the UK plays a massive part, as do weather conditions. In Scotland, Wales, Yorkshire and the West Country, the guns can be placed in valleys and the birds streamed over them. In that sense,…
How to be the perfect house-party guest
There is a scene in AG Macdonell’s classic post-First World War comedy novel England, Their England when the protagonist, a Fleet Street journalist, is invited to a grand Kent house-party weekend. To impress his hosts, he primes a colleague to ring during dinner, pretending to be the Prime Minister and…
Stopping the gun – he who hesitates is lost
To think too much at the wrong moment and stop mid-swing or as you pull the trigger, may be noted as amongst the cardinal sins in shooting (breaches of safety apart). The Marquess of Ripon, arguably the greatest game shot of all (and a man who had despatched half-a million…
How to make a brash pile and why you should
Early one evening in late July I found a struggling stag beetle in a bowl that had filled up with water, on an apron in front of our open woodshed. I was so excited that I photographed it in my hand, then carefully carried it to the nearest of our…
How to create your own nature reserve
Rare plants, exotic trees, stunning sculptures – money can purchase all these things but it can’t buy wildlife. This is what makes creating your own private nature reserve so special. You don’t need a fortune to do it, nor do you require countless acres. What you do need is land…