ROUGH SHOOTING

Most of Scotland consists of rural land without urban development or large population; its reputation for wildness and beauty comes from a combination of mountain and loch where the hand of man is hardly recognisable. There is little pollution of water or air and, as a result, wildlife flourishes.

Rough shooting takes place on most of this land and the quarry species include woodcock, snipe, golden plover as well as pheasant and partridge. The habitat will determine the species to be hunted but the technique is the same for most in that the use of dogs is central to the success of the venture as is the accurate and rapid reaction of the gun. This form of shooting cultivates knowledge of fieldcraft and dog handling like no other and, as considerable distances are covered in a day's rough shooting, a measure of fitness is required.

The rewards are many: not for the rough shooter are there large bags at the end of the day - half a dozen birds to his gun is average - but the memory of a good day's walking with the joy of hardworking spaniel at his side and the satisfaction of a woodcock taken with a snap shot as it burst from a patch of briars away from the gun.  Or the tension as a silent approach is made upwind to snipe bog in the hope of getting a shot as they rise just on the edge of range. This is wild bird shooting at its best and it requires skill and speed of reaction.

And who can blame the rough shooter for the time he spends in the bar after a long and weary bath, recounting the stories of failed campaigns over glasses of malt, and planning the tactics of tomorrow!