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Section 2 focuses on the "Quarry and Their Pursuit".
Pheasants, Partridges, Woodcock, Snipe, Rabbits and
Hares, Wildfowl and Pigeons are each featured in
separate chapters. Each chapter talks about the game
and then some of the various manners in which to hunt
them. Keep in mind that some of the methods are only
suited - or legal - for those in the UK. By the way,
the "pigeon" discussed is not the rock dove, columba
livia, but is a much larger wood pigeon, columba
palumbus, which may be sixteen inches in length.
I found the third section, "Managing the Shoot", the
most interesting. Swan discusses the issues of
artificially stocking hunting grounds, and talks
about Habitat Management. Also discussed are the
topics of predator control and winter (post-season)
feeding.
"In most people's minds the first choice is a spaniel,
of which the English springer is the most popular. The
best spaniels are eternal optimists in even the most
barren country, hunting the roughest cover all day
long, remaining close so that game is flushed in shot
and retrieving the spoils to hand beautifully."
The book has some delightful photographs. Of importance to me
is the clean typesetting and paper quality - which is among the best I have seen. I get annoyed
with books that are hard to read in the evening when my eyes get tired.
As a spaniel fanatic, naturally, I wish the book spent
more times on dog topics, but as this column is
evidence, there are many books on training and dog
work. This is a book about rough shooting - and more
specifically, rough shooting in the UK. As such, it is
quite an enjoyable read.
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