Robin Scott, former Sporting Gun editor-at-large

The idea of club membership might not float everyone’s boat but if you’re short of shooting, struggling to find some and live within striking distance of club, join it!

Membership will open up new shooting experiences and introduce you to new friends. Which could lead to more shooting opportunities.

Helping out with working parties in the closed season and walking out to the marsh or washes for morning or evening flight a couple of times a week will work wonders for your fitness.

And if you don’t already own one, it will introduce you to the joy of owning a gundog. Unless you plan to swim for everything you shoot, a dog is essential. Never owned one? No worry

– most clubs (as well as running a member mentor programme) organise training courses, so help and advice is at hand.

Other benefits? Chances are the club will have a woodpigeon section so you can get involved in decoying and roost shooting, and some even provide walkedup game or small-scale driven days for members.

For me, the really priceless thing membership brings is being able to savour the indescribable experience of moonlight flighting. No other shooting comes close. It grips your soul.

Equally amazing is that membership costs way less than a decent day’s driven pheasant shooting.

Give it a go. I promise you won’t be disappointed.