'A wonderfully fluent account of how the strange magic of water and the beings that inhabit it can enchant and intoxicate' Chris Yates '[Will Millard] writes with a genuine sense of humility (...) humour and reflection' Kevin Parr, Countryfile *** Growing up on the Cambridgeshire Fens, Will Millard never felt more at home than when he was out with his granddad on the riverbank, whiling away the day catching fish. As he grew older his competitive urge to catch more and bigger fish led him away from that natural connection between him, his grandfather and the rivers of his home. That is, until the fateful day he let a record-breaking sand eel slip through his fingers and he knew that he had lost the magic of those days down by the river, and that something had to change. The Old Man and the Sand Eel is at its heart the story of three generations of men trying to figure out what it is to be a man, a father and a fisherman. It plots Will's scaly stepping stones back to his childhood innocence, when anything was possible and the wild was everywhere. *** 'Delightful and informative (...) beautifully drawn' The Spectator '[Will Millard] is a master wordsmith and his first book is a joyful testament to that' Isabelle Broom, Heat 'The writing is sharp and clever (...) I loved all of it and would as happily read it again as I would sit beside the river waiting for the evening rise of trout to begin' Tom Fort, Literary Review 'This is post-modern nature writing that embraces beauty where it finds it and marvels at nature's tenacity (...) But there's more here than just fish. This is also a book about growing up, about how to retain a connection with those who raised you while forging your own identity - what to keep and what to discard. And it's about men. The strong surges of emotion that both draw them together and keep them apart, and the shared pastimes which recognise that intimacy and meaning aren't always accompanied by words' Olivia Edward, Geographical

Welcome to the world of the AR-15

Without a doubt, the AR-15 and AR-10 rifles are two of America's most popular semi-auto long guns. Every day, new shooters are exploring these durable, reliable, and accurate rifles and finding new and fun ways to use them. Now, in the "Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to the AR-15," author Richard Mann examines what has truly become the most versatile rifle in America.

Inside you'll find:

• Gas impingement vs. piston systems--which one's right for you?
• Competition, security and hunting--how the AR does it all.
• Optics and sights, uppers and lowers, handguards and stocks.
• A full breakdown of AR-15 and AR-10 cartridges.
• Plus how to build your own AR and much, much more

"Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Handgun Marksmanship" provides an in-depth look at the foundations of solid and accurate handgun skills. Author Peter Lessler has constructed a user-friendly guide to getting on target and making the shot right away, every time you put your hand on the grip of your handgun.

Inside you'll find information on:

• Understanding your sights and the flash sight picture.
• Fool-proof ways to get the proper grip on revolvers and semi-autos.
• Triggering perfection--getting it right in double-action and single-action.
• Drills that take you from being a "plinker" to an expert marksman.
• Hundreds of supporting action photos.

Now in its third, revised and extended edition, this book - a landmark on the subject - shows how you can consistently catch specimen pike when fishing rivers, lakes, gravel pits and lochs throughout the northern hemisphere. Distinguished pike fisherman Paul Gustafson, an experienced biologist as well as a gifted angler and researcher, shows how you can develop techniques that will catch bigger pike when fishing any location. He describes how to locate the biggest fish in a fishery, the best way of catching it, and how to apply various clever techniques and the most effective tackle to achieve greater success. His full-colour new edition includes new photographs and new, specially commissioned artwork. It covers the very latest scientific discoveries about how pike detect their prey through dedicated olfactory organs; how they use their specialised sense of smell; and what it is exactly that pike see - with obvious relevance to choice of lures. The author has also included new material on the fishing of loughs, lakes and rivers in Ireland; on fly fishing for pike; and on how to locate record pike in a new chapter written by Fred Buller.

'I envy no body but him, and him only, that catches more fish than I do.' A unique celebration of the English countryside and the most famous book on angling ever published, Walton's Compleat Angler first appeared in 1653. In 1676, at Walton's invitation, his friend Charles Cotton contributed his pioneering exploration of fly-fishing. The book is both a manual of instruction and a vision of society in harmony with nature. It guides the novice fisherman on how to catch and cook a variety of fish, on how to select and prepare the best bait and make artificial flies, and on the habits of freshwater fish. It also promotes angling as a communal activity in which the bonds of friendship are forged through shared experience of the natural world. Anecdotes, poetry, music, and song intersperse the rural descriptions, which promote conservation as well as sport. This new edition highlights the book's continuing relevance to our relationship with the environment, and explores the turbulent history from which it came. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

This guide to air rifle hunting skills and techniques is a must-have for anyone who wants to get the most from their airgun shooting and stay one step ahead of their quarry. The book covers the vast array of hunting techniques used by one of the country's leading shooting writers. Whether controlling pests on the farm or hunting meat for the pot, the airgun shooter has to pit his wits against the finely tuned senses of wild creatures that run the gauntlet of survival on a daily basis. Through this book, Mathew Manning shares his wealth of experience to help you tip the odds in your favour. The title covers in detail the skills of fieldcraft - the hunter's deadliest weapon. Join Mathew for a year in the countryside and learn how to read the signs provided by nature and then make the right decisions to enjoy consistent success in the field. Mathew describes more than thirty hunting scenarios encountered through the year, from decoying crows and magpies and hide shooting for pigeons to long-range rabbiting and woodland squirrel control.He offers easy-to-follow guidance on how to pre-empt the habits of quarry species along with the various techniques and tactics he uses to exploit hunting opportunities throughout the year. There are also helpful notes on game preparation and a selection of favourite recipes, including Pigeon Pasties and Rabbit with Apple and Cider.

Whether you're a first-time rifle buyer or an experienced rifle owner looking for formal, comprehensive training, "Gun Digest Shooter's Guide to Rifle Marksmanship" delivers the foundational marksmanship training you need.

In this information-packed volume, you will find:

• Complete and simple explanations that teach the fundamental skills and techniques required to perform well.
• Practice drills with step-by-step instructions that show you how to perform the techniques properly, and help you to analyze and correct your performance.
• Hundreds of clear, detailed photos to illustrate the techniques.

This book is for children who are beginning to practice one of the many shooting sport disciplines, such as crossbow, archery, rifle, pistol, target shooting, etc. You have your target in your sights, you breathe calmly and then...the shot! Whether you shoot at cans or at targets, with balls, arrows, lasers or, later on, with actual sport ammunition - you want to be able to hit your target. We would like this book to be your practice companion. We will give you important information about equipment, techniques and your physical fitness. You will get tips for practicing at home and we will tell you how to recognize and avoid mistakes. The little stork will accompany you throughout the book. He is very skilled at using his long, pointy beak and almost always hits his target. He will tell you a lot about the shooting sport, and will give you tips on safety and a healthy lifestyle. In addition, the little stork offers you many opportunities for recording, filling in, coloring and doing brain teasers and he even wants to give you an award at the end. Have fun!

A straightforward guide to being smart with your firearm With gun sales at an all-time high in the U.S., easy-to-understand advice on storing and possessing guns safely is at an all-time premium. Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies paves the way for new and novice gun owners to learn the basics of firearm ownership in a non-partisan tone. This book helps gun owners thoroughly explore the rules of gun safety and adopt the habits of savvy firearm aficionados. Written by a firearms expert and analyst who has reviewed hundreds of firearms along with gun safety and storage options, this guide helps you develop a safety mindset and apply practices to assure you and your family avoid harm. Learn, internalize, and apply the rules of gun safety Understand federal, state, and local gun laws Find a good gun safety course for hands-on practice Store and transport your firearm securely When it's time to start training on your new firearm and the safety rules of gun ownership, Safe Gun Ownership For Dummies is at the ready with everything you need to know to make safety your aim.

This compact guide to both salt- and fresh-weather fishing will help you to:

· Identify the principal sport fishes of North America

· Select baits and tackle

· Hook and land a fish

A basic guide for the novice and a handy reference for the experienced fisher, it includes useful information and helpful tips on when, where, and how to fish most successfully.

Using clear text and detailed illustrations, Golden Guides from St. Martin's Press present accurate information in a handy format for the beginner to the expert. These guides focus on what your students are really going to see. They are easy to use: detailed, full-color illustrations, text, and maps are all in one place. They are easy to understand: accurate, accessible information is simplified without being misrepresented. They are authoritative, containing up-to-date information written experts and checked by specialists. And they are portable: handy and lightweight, designed to fit in a pocket and be carried anywhere.

One of the most studied yet intimidating aspects of fly fishing for trout is an understanding of insect hatches. This unique book teaches fly fishers enough entomology to be successful, and instead of focusing on insect identification, it stresses learning how to approach trout, how to find where they feed, and how to present the fly so it is accepted as natural food without hesitation. It helps fly fishers catch more fish on dry flies, streamers, and nymphs, and teaches the angler more about trout than the life history of insects. Published in association with The Orvis Company.