Taking the chair as guest editor for this issue is Robin Hurt, a legendary Professional Hunter who has been running safari hunts on the African continent for no fewer than 61 seasons. Tackling some of the complex issues that wildlife faces, Robin uses this issue of the Journal to demonstrate how hunting and conservation in Africa go hand in hand. We hear more about his wife Pauline Hurt’s conservation project Habitat for Rhino, and follow the story one local Zimbabwean who has created a new hunting area that benefits both the local village communities and the wildlife populations. Other experts that lend their voices to the debate include Charlie Mayhew OBE (co-founder of the Tusk Trust), Marc Newton (MD at John Rigby & Co.) and hunting enthusiast Katie Percy.
Closer to home, we look back at a visit to the Naval Gun Club’s DIY shoot, which provides driven bird shooting for Royal Navy and Marines personnel, before heading off to try out a brand-new simulated game shoot in Hampshire which really is setting a new standard for this burgeoning form of the sport.
As ever, the issue is also packed full of features from the fascinating world of fieldsports: interviews with British wildlife artists; recipes from chef royalty Michel Roux Jr and Jose Souto; where to fish regardless of the weather on the river Dee; and much more.