What is the current shotgun certificate renewal time? The British Association for Shooting & Conservation (BASC) has just published research which shows that shotgun certificate (SGC) renewals are taking longer, an average of 49 days in 2020 (compared with 43 days in 2019) and firearms certificate (FAC) renewals 56 days,…
News
Extinction Rebellion plans mass trespass of the countryside for Saturday 24th April
Environmental activist group Extinction Rebellion is mobilising supporters to trespass on private land to protest against being denied access to “92% of the land in England” which they claim “is being criminally misused.” It is scheduled for Saturday 24th April and participants are being encouraged to: “Peacefully climb over no…
Fieldsports organisations back move to end lead-shot game
The announcement by the The National Game Dealers Association (NGDA) that its members will not accept lead-shot game from next year has been welcomed by fieldsports bodies including the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), Countryside Alliance (CA), British Game Alliance (BGA) and Game Farmers’ Association (GFA). Retailers had…
HRH Prince Philip 1921-2021 – a true supporter of fieldsports and conservation
HRH Prince Phillip has died aged 99 this morning at Windsor Castle. He will be remembered as a true countryman with a love of fishing and fieldsports. He was patron of more than 800 organisations, including the World Wildlife Fund and the British Association for Shooting and Conservation and combined…
Priti Patel launches taskforce to combat dog theft
Dog owners will be relieved to hear that the Home Secretary has responded to public pressure and launched a dog theft government team to battle the rising number of stolen pets. Calling the pet crime “vile” Priti Patel discussed action on the issue last month with Robert Buckland, the Lord…
Government plans to phase out lead ammunition
The government is now considering a lead ammunition ban under the UK’s new chemical regulation system – UK REACH– and has requested an official review of the evidence to begin today with a public consultation in due course. Environment Minister Rebecca Pow said: “Addressing the impacts of lead ammunition will…
Shooting grounds open for business from 29th March 2021
Roll on 29th March 2021 when many shooting grounds will be open again. (Those opening a few days later are listed.) We’ve had a look around to see which you can visit and have listed some of the main ones around the country. Don’t just turn up and expect to…
Ban on brown hare shooting looms
Senior Government sources have told The Telegraph that a close season is to be introduced for brown hares. A complete ban on shooting mountain hares is also to be introduced in England. News of the forthcoming ban has sparked anger amongst fieldsports bodies, who argue that hare poaching is the…
Today thousands are protesting concerns over Scottish rural policy
The Rural Workers Protest had been planned to take place in Scotland’s capital, however COVID restrictions forced organisers to think creatively and the protest moved online. The event was jointly organised by the Scottish Gamekeepers association and Scotland’s regional moorland groups. However support is going far beyond gamekeepers. As well…
Holland & Holland launches new sporting course for 29th March opening
The Holland 100, a challenging sporting course over 12 stands, opens up for shooters from 29th-31st March and Tuesdays & Wednesdays until 14th April 2021. Situated at the stunning Holland & Holland shooting grounds in Northwood, the course has been designed by head instructors as an entertaining way for shooters…
Theoben airguns available again to UK shooters
Around thirty years ago, Theoben airguns were a popular and sought-after brand in the UK. Yet in October 2012 Theoben went into receivership in the UK and Managing Director Martin Rutterford set the Theoben name up in the USA under the banner of Rapid Air Weapons (RAW). UK fans of…
High demand for shooting next season
What will the shooting season 2021 look like? We asked some keepers, sporting agents and fieldsports fans what they think the autumn of 2021 is going to look like. Here’s what they said. Alex Farrell, game and gamekeeping officer at BASC, said: “While Covid continues to impact our daily lives,…
Schöffel pledges 1% of new fly-fishing clothing sales to salmon conservation charity
Schöffel has pledged to donate one percent of turnover from the company’s new fly-fishing clothing range to the Atlantic Salmon Trust, a charity dedicated to the conservation of wild salmon and sea trout at sea and in fresh water environments. Says Marcus Janssen, Brand Director at Schoffel: “The Atlantic Salmon’s…
UK gun trade in Brexit turmoil
A remarkable seven out of ten businesses surveyed at the end of February 2021 have reported having difficulties trading abroad since Brexit, with four in ten calling trading conditions ‘very difficult’, according to an exclusive Gun Trade News survey. The survey, which includes responses from major manufacturers, distributors and retailers…
More to look forward to in Shooting Times, Sporting Gun and The Field
Shooting and fieldsports enthusiasts will be pleased to hear that their favourite magazines will be offering even better value for money. In a move to strengthen the brands and simply its offering, the publisher will blend Sporting Rifle into weekly Shooting Times. Clay Shooting magazine will be a section in…
What’s the news in Shooting Times this week?
Here’s a brief summary of what Shooting Times subscribers will be reading about in the news this week. Guns and ammo theft spate Police have moved quickly to make arrests and recover stolen goods after more than 300,000 rounds of .22 LR ammunition were stolen from a lorry that was…
Shooting groups defend progress on lead transition
Non-toxic shot progress Shooting organisations have defended the progress of the five-year transition away from the use of lead and single-use plastics in shotgun ammunition. The plan to make shooting more sustainable and to head off Government regulation has come under attack for not making enough progress after a study…
Scottish gamekeepers plan Holyrood protest on 19th March
The Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA) has announced The Rural Workers’ Protest 2021, #RWP21 and says it is: “… an opportunity for everyone across the countryside, on land and river, to unite and find their voice.” The event will take place on Friday 19th March 2021. The association is mindful of…
Stolen Webley Nemesis Combo air rifles reappearing
On the night of February 17th a shipment of Webley Nemesis X Combo Airguns was stolen from a lorry in Leicestershire whilst in transit to Webley importer Highland Outdoors. It is thought that the thieves have been using a What’s App group to sell on the stolen guns, some of…
National Gamekeepers’ Organisation calls for focus on gundog theft
The call comes after police officers recovered between 70 and 80 stolen dogs in a single raid in Carmarthenshire last week. Dog theft increasing Theft of dogs, including gundogs, is on the rise across the UK Stolen dogs are often transported over huge distances, with animals that were stolen in…