ADVICE FROM A GAMEKEEPER. By John Cowan.

(2009) 2012 reprint. 8vo (160 x 240mm). Pp288. B/w illustrations by C.F. Tunnicliffe and Roger Penwill.

The author is head keeper of a 6,000 acre estate in Scotland. "In this new book he passes on everything he knows about the profession...". Besides the chapters on the day to day work of the keeper, the author (perhaps uniquely) gives a lot of extremely hard-headed advice about the true position and prospects of a gamekeeper. All those readers lacking first-hand experience of life on an estate would be well advised to read this book. Chapters include: The first step on the ladder; Unpaid keepering work; The fox; Birds of prey; Various vermin; Traps and trapping; Rearing and releasing; Shoot day management; Poaching; Dogs; Guns, grouse and deer.