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Learn Ethical Air Rifle Hunting and Bushcraft in the UK
Interested in sustainable living and sourcing your own food? The Lightfoot Air Hunter Course from Howl Bushcraft is designed to teach you how to hunt small game ethically and legally in the UK using sub-12 ft lb air rifles. Combining practical bushcraft skills with field-tested hunting techniques, this weekend course gives you the confidence to take your first steps into the world of wild food and traditional woodland living.
Set in a stunning private woodland on the Harewood Estate near Harrogate, this immersive course is perfect for beginners and intermediate outdoor enthusiasts alike. With small group sizes and expert instruction, you’ll get hands-on training in both marksmanship and survival skills, helping you build a deeper connection with nature.
What You'll Learn
Air Rifle Hunting Skills
UK Air Rifle Law Understand current legislation, safe practice, and gaining permission to hunt
Safe Rifle Handling How to carry, store, and operate sub-12 ft lb rifles safely
Shooting Techniques Practice basic shooting positions and improve accuracy
Fieldcraft & Quarry ID Learn to identify, understand, and ethically pursue species like rabbit, squirrel, and pigeon
Stalking & Static Hunting Discover the difference between still hunting and stealthy movement in varied terrain
Marksmanship Practice Develop your aim through supervised range time and simulated woodland stalks
Range Estimation Judging distance effectively in natural environments
Reactions to Shot Understand animal behavior and appropriate follow-up
Please Note: We do not shoot live quarry on this course, in line with our ethical and educational focus.
Bushcraft & Woodland Living Skills
Stalking Techniques Move quietly through different habitats and understand animal movement
Nature Awareness Tune into your surroundings and read subtle environmental cues
Campcraft Learn tarp shelter setup, knot work, and how to stay warm and dry outdoors
Essential Fire Lighting Master dependable fire-making techniques for all weather conditions
Knife & Saw Use Safe handling and usage of cutting tools (tools provided, or bring your own)
Woodland Craft Skills Carve cooking rigs, pot hangers, feather sticks and more
Game Preparation & Cooking Learn how to skin, clean, and cook small game over a fire
Campfire Cooking Explore traditional methods for preparing meals outdoors, bushcraft-style
Course Details
Course Duration: Friday 3:00 PM to Sunday 4:30 PM
Accommodation: Optional wild camping (bring your own gear)
Meals: Fully catered from Friday evening to Sunday lunch
(Dietary needs catered for, please inform us in advance)Price: £300 per person
Group Size: Max 8 participants for a focused, low-impact experience
Location: Private woodland on the Harewood Estate near Harrogate
(Exact directions provided upon booking)
Legal Requirements
This course involves the use of air rifles, which are classed as firearms under UK law. To participate, you must:
Be legally allowed to use and possess an air rifle in the UK
Sign a declaration confirming your eligibility after booking
Failure to meet these requirements will mean you cannot attend. If unsure, please contact us before booking.
Minimum Age: 16+
Under-18s must be accompanied by a participating adult.
Course not suitable for under-16s due to the involved nature of the training.
Meet Your Instructors
Steven Pearson – Lead Airgun Instructor
BASC Airgun Instructor
BASC Advanced Airgun Hunting Award
Trained Hunter Status + FSA Approval (Small Game)
DSC1 Deer Stalking Certificate
First Aid at Work + Forestry Certified
£10 Million BASC Public Liability Insurance
Jamie Dakota – Lead Bushcraft Instructor
Founder of Howl Bushcraft
Specialist in traditional outdoor skills, ethical wild food, and sustainable living
Book Now
Join us on this unique journey into the world of ethical air rifle hunting and practical bushcraft. Whether you're looking to take your first steps into wild food or deepen your existing knowledge, the Lightfoot Air Hunter Courseoffers a supportive, expert-led environment to learn, grow, and reconnect with the land.
Reviews:
I traveled quite a long way to do this course and was not disappointed. I have some experience with air rifles and small game hunting but am self taught and wanted to get some instruction. JD and Steve proved to be excellent teachers with a breadth of knowledge regarding air rifles, hunting and fieldcraft. They took it in turns to deliver information packed lessons on rifle choice, ammunition selection, fieldcraft, shooting positions, marksmanship, shot placement, camouflage, concealment, hide building. What I didn't anticipate when I booked this course was how good the food would be, it was worth the price of the course itself. We had venison stew, a full cooked breakfast, pigeon fajitas, rabbit tom yum, bannock bread with maple syrup and partridge kebabs, all excellent dishes cooked as a group over an open fire. The cooking was a team effort which was fun and gave us all a chance to learn some open fire cooking methods that I'm looking forward to replicating. We even had a bit of time to go over other aspects of bushcraft such as tarp shelters for groups, willow bark weaving and fire lighting. The course location was great little woodland with plenty of space for camping, cooking and the many lessons that we had. If you enjoy wild camping and would like to learn about ethical hunting with air rifles I highly recommend this course. The only bad thing about this course is that it wasn't available five years ago! - Michael 2022.
One of the highlights for me - I haven't eaten so well on a campsite...ever! Great menus using the wild food we would be hunting. Getting delegates involved in all aspects of meal preparation was key. This was a well planned and well-executed course which was delivered in a laid-back but highly professional manner by two skilled and knowledgeable people (JD and Steve Pearson). I learned so much in a relatively short period of time and quickly gained confidence thanks to the small size of the group, enabling maximum supervision and a high level of practical experience. Seeing what's possible with the cooking of wild food was an eye-opener and prompted me to consider further training. Also, the practical advice on stalking and targetting prey from Steve P was excellent. Don't hesitate. This is quality training from people who not only thoroughly understand their brief but also how to deliver training quietly and effectively. - Rod 2022
Really picturesque little woodland close to the main roads and only five minutes from the motorway. When I visited the whole woods were absolutely covered with bluebells and it was just beautiful. The terrain was great as there was a mix of slopes, streams, open areas and thick brush which was perfect for trying the different aspects that were being taught such as camouflage and stalking. This is my 2nd course with Howl so I had high expectations around the food. Fortunately JD did not disappoint and once again I was blown away by the variety and quality of the food we were able to concoct using a just a fire and some cast iron. The theme of the course was obviously game and we incorporated rabbit, pigeon, squirrel, venison, pheasant and partridge into the meals. The rabbit, pigeon and squirrel dishes we prepared ourselves from absolute scratch including gutting, skinning and butchering which, although a little gruesome, was definitely a highlight for me. Its a real eye opener when your evening meal comes directly from forest to fork! I didn't bring a single bit of food with me and was left full to bursting after nearly every meal. You won't go hungry! Steve, who was responsible for the tuition around the rifles, was great and clearly a natural teacher. He, like JD, has a very laid back but supportive attitude to teaching but at the same time all handling of the rifles was carried out in a very safe and controlled way. Steve achieved a great balance in making sure everyone was safe without it feeling overbearing or "lecture like". He provided a great selection of rifles to have a go with, from basic spring propelled all the way up to expensive PCP magazine fed rifles. He talked through each model and demonstrated the differences and then handed over to us to feel out what we preferred. The learning was progressive, with varied targets and distances provided to practice on. JD was responsible for all the traditional bushcraft elements of the weekend such as animal prep and sleeping set ups. He was on hand for help if needed but generally after a quick demonstration he was hands-off and let you have a go yourself which I think is a great way to teach. Both Steve and JD had a wealth of experience to share and there were plenty of times, especially in the evening when everyone is just chilling out with a full belly, that the stories and anecdotes start pouring out. I think these are some of the best moments and it's great to just sit and chat around the fire with the light slipping away and the sounds of the woods all around you. They both do great job of breaking down the student/teacher barrier when the teaching is done for the day and it really does feel like you're just sharing the woods with friends. As with any of these weekend courses you come to the Sunday afternoon wishing you could stay another night or two but there's not much you can do about that! I had probably shot an air rifle just once or twice in my life prior to this course and although this a clearly a focus of the course it is not the only thing that is covered. One of the most satisfying aspects for me was the preparation of the game for meals. As someone trying to reduce my environmental impact and eat less meat it was really great to be able to cover the process of obtaining meat from start to finish in a "wild" environment. Following the course I will definitely be adding more game to my diet where I can be sure that the animal has led as natural a life as possible, been taken humanly and hopefully reduce my dependence on factory farmed produce. Another highlight was the structured stalk at the end of the course. This was one on one with Steve and was a close as it was possible to make it to a real stalk. I was great putting into practice the skills we'd learnt throughout the weekend. Even if you've never held a gun before in your life I would encourage anyone to have a go at this. An appreciation for where our food comes from is definitely something that we have lost as a people and this weekend was a great way to get back in touch with that side of our history. Even if you come away with the knowledge that guns and hunting are not for you, spending a weekend in the woods with two experienced outdoor instructors is an incredible experience and one that I would whole heartedly recommend. If you already have an interest in shooting, hunting and the outdoors in general then you will certainly not be disappointed. - Dan 2022
