The fascination, obsession and reward pigeon shooting gives the countryman is unrivalled, I believe. I have a good friend who speaks of the elusive silver salmon in the same way, but he has gillie-like skills. I’m a seriously passionate grouse shot, but the way I look at it is that it’s the gamekeeper who is the skilled one; he is the one who understands the birds’ behaviour, needs and habitat. This is how I think of myself with pigeons.
Am I the gamekeeper of the woodpigeon? I suppose, in a way, I am. I understand their habitat, behaviour, food sources, problems and breeding habits, and I control their numbers for crop protection too. But whether you are fishing for salmon, walking-up grouse or roosting pigeon, each requires a common
