'Have I remembered everything?'
'What shall I wear?'
'Who am I likely to be shooting alongside?'
'Will the dog behave?'
'Will the birds be there?'
These are all questions that might keep the Gun, the picker-up, the keeper and anyone else connected with a day's game shooting awake the night before a much anticipated day.
'Why did I say that?'
'Why did I do that?'
'Why did my dog do that?'
'Why did I think about the weather?'
'What was I thinking?'
These are all questions one might ask oneself the evening after!
Fortunately, you are not alone in your nightmares! If you've ever encountered a particular incident or experience on the shooting field, whether it be a formal day, or as a rough shoot with a couple of friends, it's a fairly safe bet that others will have it too.
The Imperfect Shot illustrates in words and cartoons, light-hearted errors and ill-judgment of those who have experienced minor faux pas and misdemeanours on the shooting field ― and also glorifies those who have got the better of a particular situation!
There are, among its pages, real pearls of wisdom; there is, though, much advice written somewhat 'tongue-in-cheek'. All immediately bring a mental picture to mind.
A mental picture is not, however, required. The illustrations, brought to life by renowned country and field sports artist, Oliver Preston ― himself a shooting man of no ill-repute ― has negated the need for the cry which otherwise might go out: 'Oh, if only I had a camera!' As if the situation was not clear enough, Oliver adds more.
Some tales might, of course be apocryphal ― and I'll leave it for the reader to decide which they might be!
Jeremy Hobson has been a professional freelance writer and author since 2004 but began writing long before that. He is a Member of the British Guild of Agricultural Journalists, with countless magazine articles and over 30 published book titles to his name. Jeremy’s subject matter is generally rural-based, on field sports; farming; smallholdings; chicken-keeping and working dogs.
Oliver Preston’s illustrations have been published in The Times, Punch, Cotswold Life and The Independent and he draws regularly for The Field magazine. Oliver’s work has been published in sixteen books, including compilations of his cartoons and he is the current chairman of The Cartoon Museum in London.