Looking back on a shooting career that has now spanned more than half a century, the days that stand out in my memory are those when much time and effort was spent in pursuit of my quarry, yet the number of cartridges fired were few. The companionship of working dogs is a constant thread that runs through almost all these days.
A few years ago I decided to hang up my gun, as I found I was getting more fun working my dogs and shooting with a camera. Now, looking back, it’s clear that the days I enjoyed by far the most were those when the bag was in single figures.
By far my favourite shooting days — the ones I really looked forward to — were a very special treat, because they only happened once a year. How they’s sister title launched an award for the farmer who, in the opinion of the judges, had done most to combine wildlife conservation with efficient and profitable farming. I was working on the magazine at the time: my major contribution to the competition was suggesting the name for the award — the Silver Lapwing — and writing a follow-up article for the magazine on the winning farm.
