The Countryman's Weekly

Is the lurcher uniquely British? By Penny Taylor. THERE are hundreds of sighthound breeds throughout the world, their histories logged in art and literature. From the Chinese Xigou with its odd, downward curved muzzle, to the Indian Poligar hound which looks rather like a heavily-built Saluki, to the many lesser-known

Valuable hedgerow experience for young team members By Martin McKendry. THE morning was crisp and bright with a beautiful autumn sun just rising above the horizon as we entered the first field we were to ferret. ‘Meadow’, the little lurcher, was released from her lead to make her way along

The English Retriever – restoring the wavy coat By Colonel David Hancock. OUR native breeds of gundog have had mixed fortunes over the last century, with some minor spaniel breeds likely to disappear, but the pointer and the curly-coated retriever are also lacking numbers, if Kennel Club (KC) registrations are

Muntjac worth the stormy wait by Charles Smith-Jones. THE wind and rain were coming in horizontally as I huddled miserably in the portable high seat, moved into its new position only that morning, with almost two hours to go before shooting light was gone. Storm Atiyah (as the forecasters were

Simple and effective way to hunt… By Stuart Farr. SHOOTING and fishing are often reported to be the two most ‘popular’ sports in the UK in terms of active participants… and it’s hardly surprising. Their roots go back many years to an era when hunter gathering was a question of

Whisky, grouse and black game By Bill Beckett. I WISH I could say I was a regular grouse shooter as opposed to a very infrequent one but the numbers of the birds, once as numerous as the fleas on an old red setter’s back, are sadly now lacking in my