The sweltering heat of summer provides the backdrop for our seventh episode, where we pause to reflect on recent adventures and look ahead to the sporting calendar now unfolding before us. The timing couldn't be more significant—just four days after the Glorious Twelfth has ushered in the grouse season, with partridge and pheasant seasons standing ready in the wings for their September and October debuts.

Against this seasonal transition, I'm celebrating a personal milestone: harvesting my first fallow deer during a whistle-stop tour to southern England. Though the stalk itself was straightforward—more about patience in a high seat than challenging terrain—it represents another step toward completing my collection of British deer species. With only Chinese water deer remaining unchecked, plans are already forming for that final pursuit. This exchange of hunting opportunities extends both ways, as I prepare to host several visitors eager to experience their first Scottish deer stalks, embodying the belief that shared adventures create stronger bonds than solitary pursuits.

The countryside pulses with summer activity—the Scottish roebuck rut is tapering off after an active period, while harvest operations clear fields to create perfect conditions for predator control. Our pheasant rearing fields remain busy as birds move to their new homes, thankfully unaffected by the bird flu challenges plaguing many game farms. Our foresight in maintaining a closed flock with on-site incubation capabilities has proven invaluable, allowing us to continue operations while others dependent on French imports have struggled. Join us as we navigate this rich period between seasons, where every day brings new opportunities for those connected to the land and its rhythms.

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