When going gets rough…

As controversial as it might be to say, I am almost at the point where I prefer a day of rough shooting. There will always be a place in my heart for a more formal day with all the traditional trimmings, but the freedom and exertion of a walked-up day appeal to me more and more as I get older. 

Being outside from dawn to dusk on a midwinter’s day always brings a sense of satisfaction when you are trying not to nod off over a mug of tea by the fire at 5pm. But I feel that sense of achievement is magnified if you have covered miles and miles of scenic countryside in pursuit of your quarry. 

On a walked-up day the stress is also dramatically reduced. Any opportunity of a shot on such a day is a bonus and there is no pressure to shoot only the most challenging birds. When I haven’t been shooting well on a driven day, I have felt a sense of anxiety that I’m not taking advantage of the wonderful birds the keeper is presenting, or an unspoken push from the host, keeper and beaters to achieve a specific bag. 

I fully appreciate the work that goes into a driven day, with a community pulling together to provide good sport, but it’s nice not to feel that you are letting anyone down if you don’t hit anything. 

A walked-up day also brings an invigorating sense of self-sufficiency and a feeling that you are hunting in a scenario where the odds are relatively even between bird and Gun. It has been a very long while since any true countrymen took pleasure in driven days where the numbers of birds were very high, but in a world where fieldsports are increasingly under scrutiny from the government and public, a rough day’s shooting is easier to justify to those outside the sector. 

There are various legitimate issues surrounding the release of large numbers of non-native birds in the UK for sporting purposes that the shooting community must continue to address to protect the future of our way of life. However, managing an ecosystem through excellent conservation so you can, in good conscience, harvest a reasonable surplus of birds, feels totally natural. And it is easy to defend to anyone who eats meat. 

Physical demands

I have a few walked-up days booked for this season and I can’t wait for the first one. Once or twice I have thoughtlessly thrown the same stack of kit in the car as for a driven day and that has been a mistake. The physical demands are different and your clothing and equipment need to reflect that. Clothing must be more breathable and a bit tougher, slips and cartridge bags can’t be so precious, and guns and ear defenders need to be less cumbersome. 

Here are a few recommendations to help you comfortably enjoy a rough day this winter. 

SEELAND FAHRENHEIT JACKET 

The Fahrenheit jacket combines packability and warmth with minimal weight. It’s terrific for layering or wearing as an outer garment in dry, cold conditions. The synthetic fibre insulation ensures warmth while the YKK zip means that throwing the jacket on is the work of a moment. The stretchy storm cuffs at the wrist and round the hood do a wonderful job of keeping hold of the warm air surrounding your body. 

The jacket is easily compressed thanks to the multitude of insulating air pockets and once bundled up it can be squeezed into its own Seeland branded bag. It’s entirely synthetic, so it dries easily and has zip pockets to keep your belongings secure while you are out and about. It comes in an olive-green colour that’s perfect for remaining unseen while slipping through undergrowth. 

RRP £89.99 seeland.com

ATA SP PRO 12 COMPETITION 

Turkish gunmakers are going from strength to strength. The ATA SP PRO 12 Competition shotgun features a comfortable butt-pad and adjustable comb to allow shooters to find their perfect stance and optimise their field of vision. That makes it ideal for rough shooting, when anything could spring from anywhere. Although primarily designed for competition shooting, it is extremely versatile. After all, accurate shooting is essential in any discipline.

The Grade 2.5 walnut stock looks beautiful but is still durable and affordable, while the tapered rib is terrific for sight alignment and target acquisition. With five adjustable trigger positions and a variety of quick-change chokes, this gun is amazingly customisable, as well as having 26.7% less recoil than previous models, keeping your shoulder unbruised throughout the day. There are lots of reasons that this ATA won Shotgun of the Year at the Great British Shooting Awards 2024.

RRP from £1,099.99 sportsmanguncentre.co.uk

WILLIAM POWELL SPEED LOADER ADJUSTABLE CARTRIDGE 

Lugging around a cartridge bag when covering serious distances can be a bit of a chore because it can rub, pinch or throw you off balance when you swing for a bird. This belt is a great antidote. It looks natty with its dark tobacco leather but will shrug off rain and dirt without the need to worry about it being damaged. 

Unlike most other cartridge belts, where you have to squeeze shells in and out of tight leather slots with cold fingers, this William Powell offering has ergonomically designed plastic clips that can accommodate 12- or 20- bore cartridges with no fiddling. This is a good item you will barely notice you are wearing and it can hold a whole box of shells with ease.

RRP £99 williampowell.com

CENS PROFLEX DX1 EAR DEFENDERS 

It is almost impossible to overstate the importance of effective ear protection when shooting. So many middle-aged and older shooters have to ask you to repeat yourself in conversation because they underestimated the importance of wearing ear defenders in their youth. With this in mind, despite being rather pricey, this offering from audio protection expert Cens is undoubtedly worth the extra cost. 

For years I used my big over-ear army-issue Peltor ear-defenders for shooting. They were entirely passive and consigned me to a world of silence as well as getting in the way of my cheek resting comfortably on the stock. 

When rough shooting you need to be particularly alert and require all your senses to quickly identify any target species that reveal themselves with the smallest rustle. It’s also wonderful to be able to hear the susurration of the trees when you are out on the ground. These ear defenders allow you to be part of your surroundings without forgoing protection. They are water resistant, moulded to your ear and, if you are willing to pay a bit more, you can even have features such as a mute function and wind-noise reduction included. 

RRP from £549 censdigital.com 

CRISPI HIGHLAND PRO BOOTS

Crispi Highland Pro Boots pioneer the in-built gaiter style that looks rather space age but keeps water out completely. The thermo-sealing is waterproof but is only the first line of defence against liquid ingress. The unique Boa Closing System is not dissimilar to that used by triathletes for speedy transitions and allows you to quickly and easily tighten your boots to your preferred fit. 

Highland Pro are simple to put on and take off and are crafted from durable water-repellent leather and Cordura. A Gore-Tex membrane is placed beneath this layer and the boot is further sealed by the adjustable Velcro fastening at the top, which prevents water from getting into the boot and also lowers the risk of ticks getting on to your skin. The boot’s structure provides excellent levels of support and protection when out on the hill, while the Vibram Megagrip compound sole is shock-absorbing and gives fantastic grip in all weather. 

RRP £545 outwear.co.uk 

FARLOWS L INED LODEN SHOOTING BREEKS 

Loden is a tightly woven, waterproof woollen fabric that originated in the Tyrolean region almost 1,000 years ago. These wonderful breeks are made from loden produced at the Leichtfried mill in Austria from 80% merino wool and 20% alpaca wool. This means they are warm and waterproof and, because of the wool blend, are not at all scratchy. 

Unlike some fabrics, the loden used in these breeks is almost impossible to tear, so there isn’t the worry of shredding them when you climb over a barbed-wire fence. They are cut by hand in the Midlands and have a lovely fit, which means that you have a full range of movement without odd folds of fabric catching on things as you wrestle your way through deep cover. The breeks come in a deep green colour that isn’t at all showy and blends well with the woods and forests of the UK. 

RRP £249 farlows.co.uk