Lupo, the working cocker spaniel belonging to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has died aged nine. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@kensingtonroyal) Lupo was a wedding present to the couple from the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother, James Middleton. Not long…
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Game-themed takeaways, virtual game cookery sessions and places to buy game online: Great British Game Week 23-29 November
Great British Game Week celebrates all that is great about game meat and this year, because of the COVID restrictions, there are many more virtual ways to get involved. Here’s how. Learn to cook a game curry (with all the ingredients supplied) The Cook School is holding a Virtual Curry…
Jackdaws and rooks protected by new general licences
Commenting on new general licences which come into effect on 1 January 2021, Environment Secretary George Eustice commented: “Jackdaws and rooks will no longer be able to be controlled for conservation purposes because the evidence does not demonstrate that predation has a population-level effect on wild birds.” However jackdaws and…
Reports of extent to which game bird releases will be reduced are exaggerated, say shooting bodies
Wild Justice commented: ‘Thanks to our legal challenge, the shooting industry faces its largest dose of regulation since a ban on the use of lead ammunition in wildfowling in England in 1999.” However figures from the shooting community were quick to refute Wild Justice’s claims. NGO chairman Liam Bell commented:…
DEFRA Review – the facts not the fiction
What does the DEFRA review mean for the here and now, what changes are going to take place and who do they affect? (JM) Reading through the Witness statements published by DEFRA, their legal correspondence with Leigh Day Solicitors and their summary statement, it initially seems that very little has…
It’s Gundog Theft Awareness week – here’s how to keep yours safe and what to do if they are stolen
Gone are the days when you could safely leave your dog tied up outside the local village post office. Do that now and you’re inviting gundog theft. We’ve written about it in detail before but this week is Gundog Theft Awareness Week which highlights the dangers and heartbreak of having…
Prince William’s new patronage of British Trust for Ornithology ruffles feathers
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has appointed HRH The Duke of Cambridge as its new patron, in a move that has sparked disquiet in some quarters. Prince William is a keen shooter and attracted criticism in August for taking his son Prince George on a Scottish grouse shoot. However,…
Sainsbury’s shoppers can now buy BGA-approved partridge, pheasant and venison
Sainsbury’s customers can now buy pheasant, venison and partridge that has been approved by the British Game Alliance (BGA). Assured products will feature the BGA kitemark which guarantees the provenance of the game meat. Pheasant Breast Fillets and Diced Game Casserole Mix produced by North Yorkshire-based Holme Farmed Venison are…
Covid: Welsh ‘firebreak’ disaster for shooting, say locals
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a time-limited ‘firebreak’ lockdown this week saying it would be: “A short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and buy us more time”. From 6pm Friday 23 October to 9 November people in Wales have been ordered to stay…
Pheasant releases ‘could wipe out adders in most of Britain’
A recent article in The Guardian stating that adders are endangered due to “uncontrolled release of millions of game birds” is incorrect say the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the National Gamekeepers Organisation (NGO). The piece highlights the claim of Nigel Hand, a trustee of Amphibian and Reptile…
GWCT launches 12 gamebird management principles
Responsible shooters should always support conservation and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has now published 12 clear principles for sustainable gamebird management. Extensive research by the GWCT shows that good game management will deliver a net biodiversity gain, a goal for all shoots. “Biodiversity net gain is embedded…
Surrey Police state killing any wild bird is “an offence”
It has come to our attention that wild birds are being attacked and killed using catapults.Under Section 1 of the… Posted by Surrey Police on Saturday, September 26, 2020 Shooters in the Surrey area were shocked to see their county police force announce that shooting parakeets, crows and pigeons was illegal. …
How Northumbria Police are tackling rural crime
Dealing with illegally coursing hares and deer If tables could tell stories, the one in the Northumbria Police rural crime team office would have some extraordinary tales. In the days when the Duke of Northumberland sat on the bench, the brown oak and red leather table was where the Alnwick…
PhD on driven shooting Chris Packham tried to stop is now published
A research paper “Understanding the social impact of participation in driven game shooting in the UK” has given an evidence-based picture of shooting which indicates that shooting creates strong social networks, offers support and reduces loneliness, provides regular exercise and positively impacts mental health. Impartial The author, Dr Tracey Latham-Green,…
Shooting exempt from latest COVID-19 restrictions
Fieldsports fans will be relieved to learn that shooting has been included on a list of sports that are exempt from the latest COVID-19 restrictions in England. The ‘rule of six’ restrictions brought in today (14 September) in England could have disrupted gameshooting which usually includes eight or more people. However,…
One of the most expensive-ever Scottish estates goes on the market
The Stobo Estate in the Upper Tweed valley is for sale for offers over £12 million and comes with its own herd of Sika deer. John Buchan said of the river: “I asked for nothing better than to spend my life by the Tweed” and his adventure stories such as…
Social gatherings above six banned in England from 14 September – will this affect shooting?
Sporting agents and shooting bodies were hoping that the Government press conference on 9 September would give greater clarity on how the ruling would affect shooting. However it is still not clear how and if shooting sports will be affected. Shooting UK spoke to a few individuals from the shooting…
EU votes to restrict lead shot from 2023
The proposed EU REACH committee restrictions against lead shot voted through on 3 September will be ratified by early 2021 and become law in 2023 in EU member states. The UK government may decide then to adopt the regulation depending on how it decides to legislate for REACH related laws.…
Venison market to get new boost
The domestic venison market has suffered a decline in recent months due to mass closure of restaurants and hospitality venues as well as the market being well supplied with European carcasses. However this crisis situation is now being addressed by a new body – the Wild Venison Working Group –…
New Natural History GCSE to help young understand natural world
Cambridge Assessment has confirmed that its UK exam board OCR is developing a new GCSE in Natural History, following a consultation open to all parties. The idea was proposed by conservationist Mary Colwell, who wants “to make nature part of British society again”. She was concerned that young people were…