Late afternoon brown, Hunter River, New Zealand.

Walking a river for trout is relaxing simply because the intense concentration involved – in navigating slick rocks, in spotting the lazy sway of a tail through a brief window in churning water, in the final moments of landing a difficult fish. This kind of focus drives everyday cares from the mind. The relaxation fishing brings is not a case of thinking about nothing, but about one thing and nothing else.

More here.

A fine combination – the first frosts, a Beretta double and big coveys of California quail.

Californians have a strong wild scent, as do all quail. It’s little wonder that dogs can pick them up a long way out.  There are times when you’d swear you could almost smell them yourself if you stuck you nose where they have recently hidden.

(Central Otago, New Zealand)

More here.

In the moment.

Close up with Cape buffalo.

I have a serious thing for nice doubles. This is a Churchill ‘Hercules’.

Blue case hardened finish, traditional tight scroll in the Churchill house style, scalloped box lock action with tear drop side panels. A lovely thing.

Hydrocynus vittatus, the river dog with stripes. The world of Africa’s tiger fish is so brutal that sudden and unremitting violence is the only survival strategy that works, and it’s reflected in every aspect of his being.  This photo is courtesy of Keith Clover, one of the most talented guides in Africa (or anywhere for that matter, and a hell of a nice guy to boot.) He runs the go-to outfit for big tigers - www.tourettefishing.com

Check out a recent article on tigers in the Featured page.

“We have lived in their skins, used their antlers for tools and bows, eaten their meat and trekked in their steps. Native Americans have their buffalo, but Europeans can also look to the red stag with the same feeling, the same deep roots in the dark earth of pre-history.  We grew up together. Men and stags and antlers go back to the cave, and beyond.

Deer and men are old partners – we try to catch them, they elude us. They know us from a thousand generations, and in our hearts we still long for them.”   (from Wild South)

This image is from talented New Zealand photographer Daniel Peat - peat@slingshot.co.nz

The eastern side of New Zealand’s Southern Alps is generally semi arid and open but the more accessible valleys have high hunting pressure as a result. It’s here that the legendary tahr hunting grounds are found—the Godley, Rakaia, Havelock, Dobson and Rangitata.

Like red stags, tahr bulls go through a bachelor period over summer followed by a move to nanny rangelands during the winter rut.  This image is courtesy of my friend Gerald Telford, a first class hunting and fishing outfitter operating in the heart of the South Island www.flyfishhunt.co.nz