As we head into a brand new shooting season George and Digby delve into the results of the 2024 Game Shooting and Shoot Owner Census to answer the biggest questions in shooting: How much does a pheasant cost this year, and how does it compare to last year? What is the average bag size that guns shoot, and has that number changed over time? And, perhaps most importantly, what is the most popular fine for shooting the white pheasant?
Does shooting etiquette, clothing and tradition matter? Giles Catchpole is a fieldsports journalist and humourist whose work has graced the pages of numerous magazines over the years. His Shooting Types books - collaborations with renowned sporting cartoonist Bryn Parry - are found in downstairs loos in the right sort of houses up and down the land, owing to his His unique combination of sharp-eyed observation and a witty style. Writing as 'Uncle Giles' in Shooting Gazette, he was a guide on mat...
Live from the Game Fair 2024! A special edition, in which Chris and George sift through the deluge of nominations for Shooting Heroes that they received, and highlight a handful who deserve particular recognition, either for outstanding efforts or because they represent a wider group of people who make a difference in the countryside day-in-day-out. At the end of the episode they choose a shortllst of two and ask the audience to help select a final winner for the day's shooting and the day's fis...
What does the new Labour Government mean for shooting and the countryside? The day after the King's Speech Tim Bonner, head honcho at the Countryside Alliance, joined us at GunsOnPegs HQ to give his take on this question and many others surrounding the change of government. Tim looks into his crystal ball and highlights a few potential storm clouds on the horizon, but also a few rays of hope as well. Tim gives us an overview on how organisations like the Alliance try to influence policy makers t...
What does it take to bring Grey Partridges back from the brink of local extinction? Our guest for this episode, Charlie Mellor, is Head Gamekeeper at the Norfolk Estate in Sussex, where he manages the Peppering Project, the Duke of Norfolk's widely lauded effort to do just that. Charlie was born to be a keeper, and is now responsible for one of the most important shooting projects in the country, demonstrating that well-managed shooting estates can have enormous biodiversity benefits, not just f...
Hugo Campbell Hill, AKA @thegameglutton joins us to talk about how life has led him to sharing his game cookery recipes and tips on Instagram, and his personal crusade to get more people - both inside and outside shooting - enjoying cooking and eating game. Hugo's breezy style and easy-to-follow recipes have seen him build a small yet loyal following since he started his project in February 2024, and we discover what his vision is for the future of his project. We also discuss the joys of mincin...
With George on holiday, GunsOnPegs MD Digby Taylor steps into the breach to take on hosting duties alongside Chris. Their guest is Duncan Clark, owner of Braxted Park, the Essex shoot famed for its powerful Kansas Thunder pheasants and testing partridge. Duncan, a former trustee of the Country Food Trust, helps Chris and Diggers to tackle listener correspondence on the topics of part-trained gundogs and ties on shoot days, before sharing his thoughts on the importance of family, community and fr...
Richard Negus - writer, hedgelayer, conservationist - joins Chris and George, for a chat about the important and oft-overlooked role that hedgerow management plays in conservation and shooting. The episode's theme is the concept of outreach, and as well as discussing Richard's own (not always hiccough-free) work in introducing primary school kids and young farmers to the intricacies of hedgelaying, we also help a listener to resolve the problem of dog walkers disturbing their pheasants and sugge...
Tom Opre, the director of the film The Last Keeper, joins Chris and George to share an outsider's perspective on the thorny topic of land use, ownership and management in Scotland. The theme is that of his new film, which recently premiered. Tom explains his journey of discovery as he tries to understand the perspectives of both traditional land managers - like gamekeepers, crofters and stalkers - and the rewilding organisations and businesses buying up huge tracts of Scotland. Is there any hope...
Jamie Horner, recipient of at Purdey Awards Special Commendation, shoot manager extra-ordinaire, game feed specialist and all-round good egg joins George and Chris to talk all about Iford Downs, the East Sussex shoot that will host the 3rd Order of the Garters shoot day. Jamie shares his enthusiasm for using the shoot to create a habitat that benefits not only his redleg partridges, but up to 84 different wild bird species including some vanishingly rare ones, as well as his passion for creating...
As we enter barbecue season, Cai Ap Bryn, AKA Game and Flames, joins Chris and George. We learn how Cai, a Welshman born and bred, found himself stalking deer in the Sussex countryside and cooking game over flame for a living. Having recently been crowned 'Best Influencer' in the 2024 Eat Game Awards, and included in the Shooting Conservation Power 100 list of the most influential and important people in the shooting world, Cai is better placed than most to inspire us to cook wild meat on live f...
New legislation in Scotland (The Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act means that Estates that wish to shoot grouse will require a license. Ross Ewing, Director of Mooland at Scottish Land and Estates joins Chris and George to explain what this all means for grouse shooting in Scotland. Seen by many as a catastrophe, is the new legislation as bad as all that, and are there any positives to be taken from the process, which saw pro-grouse shooting bodies secure several important amendmen...
Do you ever get nervous when you're on the peg, waiting for that first pheasant to break cover? Do you tense up, or worry about what other people might think of your shooting, or have a 'bogey bird'? Do you shoot badly when others are watching? How do you get back on form when the wheels have come off mid-drive? Oliver Spensley-Corfield is a professional sports psychologist who has worked with a wide variety of professional teams and individuals. He also happens to be an enthusiastic game shot w...
We have another classic episode from the archives for you! This episode was originally recorded in October 2022 and features the one and only George Digweed, arguably the greatest shot ever. One of the reasons that we have decided to put this episode out again is because later this week Chris and I are recording an episode all about the psychology of game shooting, and how getting your head game right could help improve your shooting. As we all know, I need all the help I can get on that score, ...
In this episode of The GunsOnPegs Podcast Chris and George are joined by Alex Smith, an independent gunsmith based in Winchester. Alex is an expert in old English Shotguns, a dyed-in-the-wool side-by-side fan and a former Helice (ZZ) champion. He answers all the questions you've ever wanted to ask a gunsmith but were too afraid to ask, questions like 'Is it OK to cut down the stock on an inherited Holland & Holland?', 'Will my old shotgun take steel?' and 'Whoops, I tried to 'improve' my sto...
In this episode we get a unique perspective on the UK shooting world. Liz and Sean Delaney own and operate Delaney and Sons, a US-based sporting agency running shooting trips to the UK, Spain and Morocco for their American clients. The pair have an immediately evident passion for shooting in the UK, and take obvious pleasure in sharing that with their guests. Liz and Sean share the things that enchant and baffle American game shots about our shooting culture, how they help visitors to these shor...
Here's a quick teaser for the latest episode of Beyond the Hedge. Savour the Shot: Woodcock Hunting, Cooking, and Conservation In this episode Patrick Galbraith goes out in search of the mysterious woodcock, a beloved bird of hunters, chefs and nature lovers the world over. Patrick's journey begins in Suffolk with farmer, conservationist and writer Sam Carlisle, and Sam's Hungarian Vizsla, Merlin. The trio head into the woods in an attempt to bag a couple of birds for their lunch. Later, Tim Mad...
In this episode of the GunsOnPegs Podcast hosts George Browne and Chris Horne are joined by special guest Jamie Blackett, a former soldier in the Coldstream Guards, renowned author, columnist, farmer, political activist, and Scribehounder. We delve into Jamie's passion for nature, his pursuit to preserve British countryside values through his books, and his son's award-winning rum-making venture. As the end of the shooting season approaches, in Whose Bird is it Anyway and Unpopular Opinions we t...
We're thrilled to share with you something that we have been working on for a few months now - a brand new podcast from Scribehound: Beyond the Hedge. Subscribe to Beyond the Hedge wherever you get your podcasts. Apple Podcasts Spotify The documentary-style podcast is hosted by Scribehounder, writer and former Shooting Times editor Patrick Galbraith, who will be going in search of the places, people, traditions and tales that make rural Britain extraordinary. Join Patrick as he heads out along t...
Master gundog trainer and breeder Ricky Moloney has been involved in fieldsports since an early age and has built a reputation as one of the nation's leading practitioners of the art of running a picking up team... though where Ricky is concerned it is more science than art. In this fascinating episode Ricky shares what he calls "The Procedure" - his foolproof way to pick every bird that should be picked, and none of those that should not. Ricky also shares the heartwarming story of how he came ...
Christmas is over, the weather is grim and we're all back at work, so we thought we would re-share a classic episode from the archives - one of the funniest and definitely one of our all-time favourite episodes - to bring a smile to everyone's faces. Featuring husband-and-wife duo Charlie and Clare Brownlow, the anarchic recording never fails to make us chuckle when we recall it, so hopefully it will liven up your week as well. In a chaotic episode, Chris and George are joined by artist Clare Br...
In this very special episode, Chris and George are joined by two members of the Most Noble Order of the Garters in George's sitting room ahead of a day's shooting on the Browne family farm. Over a bottle or something nice and a few of cans of something grim they get stuck into the inbox and answer some listener's queries. In the second half, George explores the history and future of the family shoot with his father, Simon, going right back to the early 20th century.
Steve Colmer was a grouse moor headkeeper for twenty years before retiring from full time keeping in 2020. He is widely regarded as one of the best grouse keepers of his generation. In this fascinating, touching, inspiring episode he joins Chris and George to share his passion for moorland management, some tales from his time on the moors, and his desire to share the wealth of knowledge that he amassed over two decades. If the tale of A1 Jockey doesn't make you laugh and cry, you're probably dea...
For this episode Chris and George are joined by a titan of the shooting community, Mark Osborne of William Powell, William Powell Sporting and JM Osborne Rural and Sporting. Over a long career in shooting Mark has been involved in everything from setting up and running shooting grounds, gunmaking, grouse moor management and more besides. In a wide ranging discussion Mark helps to solve a listener's urgent query, shares his take on what is needed to run a successful grouse moor, discusses the fut...
Louisa Clutterbuck is our special guest for this episode. She helps us to tackle an email from a listener who disagrees with some of the discourse of the last few episodes on the topic of the sustainability of shooting, and another on the rights and wrongs of double gunning. We also discuss Louisa's hard work with British Game Assurance and Eat Wild. We debate how to get more game onto restaurant menus and supermarket shelves, as well as the challenges, threats and opportunities that face the ga...
In this episode we delve in the GunsOnPegs Podcast Postbag to answer some listener queries that don't quite fit into the regular segments, with a bit of a focus on making your first steps into the game shooting world. Matt Kidd, fieldsports photographer and writer, former International Fly Fisherman and one-time First Class Cricketer joins us to share his wisdom and offer sensible(?) advice on those topics, plus tackle an HR question in Whose Bird is it Anyway and share his views on an Unpopular...
Vintage gun enthusiast and side-by-side clay shot extraordinaire Simon Reinhold joins the podcast to share his fondness for old guns, sticky drinks and why he thinks competition clay shooting is ripe for a shakeup. Simon is one of shooting's deep thinkers, and we explore how the worlds of mathematics, psychology and even Oriental philosophies can act as a lens through which to look at game shooting, as well as helping listeners with the challenges of having tough conversations with syndicate mem...
What's the right thing to wear for hot September partridge days? What would you do if your partner was sneaking off to shoot without you? Is shooting overpriced? Do shoots make money? Is Stella still a good beer? Why are there so many craft beers? How can we redefine what a great shoot looks like? Discover the answer to some of these questions in this rambling and chaotic episode of The GunsOnPegs Podcast, with special guest Jonny Carter of TGS Outdoors.
Renowned wildlife artist and woodcock aficionado Owen Williams joins us for a blather over a glass or two. He shares his theories on the link between the pre-historic people who painted animal figures and hunting scenes on cave walls and contemporary sporting artists, holds forth on the topic of his beloved woodcock. He also helps to offer some advice to a listener in need of a way to spice up a shoot day, and opines on the merits of pre- or post-shoot day dinners. PLUS, there's big news about t...
Chris and George venture into the Big Smoke to visit the hallowed and historic Long Room at James Purdey & Sons' Mayfair HQ, Audley House. Dan Jago, Purdey's Chairman, lets them fiddle with perhaps the most priceless gun in the entire Purdey collection, and explains why it is that so many people the world over desire a gun made in the company's London factory more than any other, and why so many dogs are named Purdey. Dan also sets a new bar for What's That You're Drinking, and helps the boy...
