THE OLD KIT BAG

I like to travel as light as possible when I go hunting and work on the principle that the more stuff I have in my pockets, hung around my neck or slung in a backpack, the more things there are to jangle or knock together and scare my quarry away.

In fact, I truly begrudge taking anything with me other than my rifle and some pellets. As a result, every accessory has to earn its keep. Some I carry, while others stay in the truck. Some are expensive and others cost only a few quid. But what they all have in common is the ability to make my shooting more successful, productive and enjoyable. When I write it out like this, the amount of kit I take with me seems enormous. Of course, some of it stays in the truck and I only carry items that are relevant to the session I am planning – for example, I’ll take some string with me if planning to shoot from a hide that might need some sort of repair.

But the guiding principle is to be ruthless; every piece of kit you take has to serve a vital purpose and if it doesn’t make you more efficient and successful as a hunter then you should