This is a problem that happens when people hide behind a net and then leap up at the last second to take the shot, often not getting their gun mount right.

Instead, focus on hiding yourself, with some of the best hides and camouflage gear to blend into your environment. Whether you’re on a chair with a tripod, crouching, or even lying flat for ultimate stealth, this hide has you covered. Shooting out of a pigeon hide or similar structure is straightforward so long as you take the time to set things up correctly. Without the hassle of a conventional hide, you’re free to stay onthe move and track wildlife, as long asyou’re traveling light. Includes four heavy-duty folding poles with foot plate and net hooks, 3D broadcut screen and carry case with shoulder strap.It is key that your seat is set at a height that ensures that your knees are below your hips when you are seated. Ensure you have a hide that allows you to shoot comfortably, offering good visibility of any approaching birds and maximising your shooting angles. There is a zipped opening in the groundsheet - that means that is is possible to move closer to your subject whilst hidden in the hide. The importance of your feet and good footwork is vital, so why leave yourself and your feet planted by shooting sitting?

Two tent poles also need to be inserted to prop up the roof, and there are optional pegs and guy lines, but you can still be inside in under two minutes. Wildlife photography requires the use of long telephoto lenses, and these large tubes can stick out in a forest environment. Even the fanciest hide won’t instantly inspire animals to strike the perfect pose, so pack plenty of provisions. It’s also a good job people are unlikely to spot you, as this ‘Special Forces’ look would probably raise a few eyebrows if you encounter passing ramblers! Fieldsports Press Limited, Epsilon House, Enterprise Road, Southampton Science Park, Southampton, SO16 7NS, United Kingdom.Both elements of a good ghillie suit are baggy enough to make a rapper’s attire look skin-tight, so they help break up your outline, and will fit over whatever clothing you’re already wearing. From there you’ll appreciate the largeopenings on all sides, three of which are set within even bigger 97cm-wide panoramic windows – ideal for video panning. Starting as a family business from a farm in Oxfordshire we’ve grown to be the trusted brand behind quality shooting and decoy products in the UK and abroad. At 60 x 25 x 14cm packed, it’s not themost compact cover, and the large assembled size could make it a struggle to slot into dense woodland. It may not be ideal in the wet or for longer stints, where the comfort of a self-supporting hide is hard to beat.

With a bale hide in the field I would use a net on the inside raised just 12 inches above the bales. I am certain these will be an improvement on the current set I have and look forward to putting them into action as as possible.It’s also a pity that a ground-level window costs extra, but we like the five realistic camouflage options, with those suited to wetter climates being rain-resistant. I don’t go over the top space but I like to be able to move comfortably and, most importantly, be able to move my feet. What you get here is a large yet light and breathable fabric bag, for you and your camera to nestle in or under. Comes complete with 10 pegs, a guy line, and the carrying bag has adjustable, rucksack style carrying straps.

and stowing in a bulky 70cm round pouch, but at least the pouch sports some rudimentary backpack straps to help lighten the load. Natural hides are great and if built correctly into a hedge (with permission from the landowner) they are tricky to beat with regards to blending in. There’s enough room to sit in a chair and easily swing your camera between the three windows, with the extra-large 55 x 28cm netted front opening large enough for panning. This whole set-up for a classical pigeon situation will allow you to mount the gun comfortably and pick the bird up correctly and make a successful shot. This beast boasts a 150cm-square footprint and the maximum height is165cm, so you’ll have no trouble getting comfy.Each quarry species requires differing skills but the principles of shooting from a hide, or something like it, are the same. Anyone who has mastered the art of pigeon shooting from a hide will find they are capable of taking on duck as they whiffle into a pond. With a net hide in the field I will use five to eight poles and try to make the hide octagonal rather than too square. Whether he's in the lab testing the sharpness of new lenses, the resolution of the latest image sensors, the zoom range of monster bridge cameras or even the latest camera phones, Ben is our go-to guy for technical insight.