Respond to the quarry species consultation today

The Government is reviewing quarry species and seasons (News, 8 April) and if we don’t take action there could be a ban or a reduced shooting season for nine quarry species. The table (right) outlines the species-specific proposals being consulted on.

BASC supports a self-regulatory approach and is opposed to all the restriction proposals. These threats need to be challenged. We support the proposal to add woodpigeon to the quarry lists in England, Wales and Scotland with an open season that could be from 1 September to 31 January – or perhaps until 31 March – while it remains on the General Licences for all-year-round control. Based on our sustainable shooting framework that underpins our sustainable shooting code, BASC will be recommending the addition of at least a further 18 species to the quarry lists.

I appreciate that there are diverse views on the proposals and below are some options for you to consider when having your say.

Option 1 – Respond to the consultation by 17 May by emailing wildlife managementandcrime@defra.gov.uk with the subject title “My response to the quarry species consultation”.

In your email, you could consider using the following text.

“Please drop all the restriction proposals and instead endorse BASC’s Sustainable Shooting Code of Practice.

“Please consider adding the following species to the quarry lists in England, Wales and Scotland: brent goose, carrion crow, cormorant, Egyptian goose, goosander, great black-backed gull, herring gull, jack snipe, jackdaw, jay, lesser black-backed gull, magpie, mandarin duck, monk parakeet, raven, ring-necked parakeet, ruddy duck, stock dove and woodpigeon.

“The evidence supporting the inclusion of these species is being provided by BASC.”

Feel free to pick and choose from the above text and add details from a personal viewpoint on the proposed restrictions and our suggested species additions as you wish.

Option 2 – Put pen to paper today and post your response to the consultation, drawing on the above text as you wish. Your response can be handwritten or printed, it’s up to you.

The address to use is:

Wildlife Crime & Management Team, Defra, Seacole Building, 2 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DF

Option 3 – BASC has provided detailed advice and background evidence on its website on responding to the consultation in more detail, whether by email or using the 23-page online response form. Visit basc.org.uk or scan the QR code to go direct to the guidance.

I hope you will act on this and I would also urge you to tell everyone you know about the consultation and inform them that there is guidance on how to respond to it in this issue of Shooting Times.