As we slide gently into 2026 George, Jake, Sam and Avian look back at the year just gone and forward to the one ahead.

They talk shooting-themed Christmas presents and take the chance to reward some members of the GunsOnPegs Podcast community for going above and beyond in 2025. They also take a look into the future and talk about the government's forthcoming consultation on shotgun licensing, and offer a listener some advice on how to build on their success in converting their friends and family to the joys of wild game.

Many years ago George made a guest appearance on A Break In The Action, a US podcast hosted by Ryan Doughty, all about his love for break action shotguns. Now it is our turn to repay the favour. Ryan is over for a shooting trip in the UK, so we took the chance to get him behind a mic and chat to him about everything from his love of 'double guns', his podcast, his impressions of shooting in the UK and his recommendations for Brits looking to try their hand at some US-style wingshooting.

We also settle a debate among a roving syndicate following a catastrophic piece of planning, and hear back from Oblamov on his work vs shooting conundrum!

Avian, Jake, Sam and George dive into the bulging email inbox and pick out a few gems - there's cider name ideas, peanut-flavoured pheasants, a heartwarming tale of childhood in the beating line, and a rather uncomfortable tale of one of our number...

Emily Graham has spent her life on the grouse moors of Weardale, but she's rarely - if ever- seen with a gun in hand. She's more likely to be out picking up with her trio of gundogs, or poking her long lens out of her car window as she snaps an award winning photo of a curlew brood. Now taking the helm of Conservation Communications, Emily is at the frontline of making the case for shooting in the wider world.

George, Avian, Sam and Jake are back behind the mics covering everything from cider-making to Great British Game Week and how to make a day out on the peg or in the beating line an unforgettable experience for the kids, and comparatively stress-free for you!

So much goes into a day's in the field, with a battalion of people working hard to put on the day - beaters, pickers up, and gamekeepers.

But all too often we overlook the people who quite literally put the icing on the cake - those who make sure that everyone is well-fed, that their glass is full, and that the conversation flows, manage the guestlist and keep the whole show on the road!

We should all persevere to grow and improve over time. To upskill. To optimise our individual performance trajectories, and proactively embrace transformative learning opportunities that amplify our personal potential.

Setting goals is the cornerstone of proactive engagement, a catalyst for measurable achievement, and a strategic enabler for aligning our individual growth trajectories with our overarching mission.
As the season gets into full flow, Jake, Avian, Sam and George set out their Smart Objectives for the coming quarter.

With this in mind, Jake, Avian, Sam and George lay out their personal goals and milestones for the season ahead.

Nick von Westenholz, who took over as CEO of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust earlier this year, joins Chris and George to share his thoughts on the challenges and opportunities for shooting, conservation and the countryside.

What are the ingredients for great team? Who are the characters you want to be standing next to on the peg? Jake, Avian and Sam pick their ideal shoot day guests, from all of history and the word of fiction.

With Chris away on holiday, Digby Taylor, MD of GunsOnPegs steps into his shoes to share the results of the 2025 Game Shooting and Shoot Owner Census. He reveals how the cost of shooting has changed over the last few years, how buying habits have evolved and provides some fascinating stats on the environment and habitat work carried out by shoots each year.

Taking inspiration from the Census, the chaps join forces to put together their dream shooting line, made up of characters living, dead and even fictional.