Poultry keepers must now house their flocks indoors where practicable, or keep them separate from wild birds. In the case of captive gamebirds – as well as geese and other captive birds where housing is recognised by the authorities as being less practicable – steps must be taken to keep…
News
Increased risk of bird flu in the UK
The DEFRA-affiliated Animal and Plant Health Agency made the announcement earlier this month following an increase in reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 (which is more commonly referred to as “bird flu”) in mainland Europe, with dead wild birds reported in Hungary, Poland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Switzerland and the Netherlands. However, the risk of the disease spreading to UK game premises and…
Purdey Awards celebrate the best of game conservation
Portloughan Shoot in Strangford, County Down, has won the 2016 Purdey Gold Award for Game and Conservation. The Purdey awards have been held annually since 1999 and each year the judges seek to celebrate the best game conservation projects to be found across the country. “They show what a well-run shoot can do to preserve and develop nature and wildlife,”…
GPs “must co-operate with firearms licensing process”
The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued new guidance instructing GPs that they ” must engage in the process of firearms licensing when requested to do so”. Following discussions with BASC and the Home Office, and taking legal advice, the BMA has also told GPs who refuse to deal with…
Send us your Boxing Day shoot photographs
Come Boxing Day, shooters all over the country will be looking forward to a day out in the fresh air, walking off the excesses of Christmas Day feasting. The Boxing Day shoot is very much a family day, when participants of all ages get together on local shoots to meet…
Bovine TB and the nuisance of urban foxes – the backlash against the John Lewis Christmas ad
If you haven’t seen the ad yet, then you can watch it right now. Those who don’t see badgers and foxes as quite so cuddly certainly had something to say about it. Leave a comment and let us know what you thought! John Lewis ad reminds me of time fox…
Shooting community raises over £162,000 for Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Originally the aim was to raise enough funds to buy Whitby RNLI a new inshore lifeboat, but this target was exceeded within the first day and enough money for two more was raised during the fundraising event. The money will be used to buy a lifeboat for the RNLI relief fleet and another lifeboat for a station…
Why we’re fans of the new Netflix TV series ‘The Crown’
Settling down to a relaxing evening watching TV, I decided to watch the well-reviewed new drama ‘The Crown’ which is now showing on Neflix. It depicts the Queen’s life, from a young princess climbing trees with her sister, through to the Coronation, her life with the Duke of Edinburgh and…
In memory of fieldsports enthusiasts and employees who served in the Great War
Richard Walton and John Cavana (pictured above) were part of a walking group which completed the 100km walk – known as the Frontline Walk – in three days, raising an impressive £180,000 for the Army Benevolent Fund. Further donations can be made here.
How the grey partridge can survive and thrive
If I did a straw poll of those who have worked with the selection of winged game we have in the UK, the grey partridge, Perdix perdix, would come top of the list. This little bird’s tenacity, endearing charm and ability as a parent raises it above almost all the rest, with the red grouse being my…
Countryside Alliance welcomes new social media laws
Earlier this month, director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders announced: “Social media can be used to educate, entertain and enlighten but there are also people who use it to bully, intimidate and harass. “Ignorance is not a defence and perceived anonymity is not an escape. Those who commit these acts, or encourage others to do the same, can and will be prosecuted,”…
Rural groups share their trick-or-treats
While the queue of trick-or- treaters at your door might cause a restless evening on Halloween, leading countryside representatives say there are bigger issues to lose sleep over. Shooting Times asked them what their own trick-or-treats would be and what issues are currently keeping them up in the middle of…
DEFRA denies Guardian claim that taxpayer’s money subsidises grouse shooting
In response, a DEFRA spokesman told the Countryside Alliance that they were surprised at the content and said it did not reflect the department’s policy towards payments to landowners. The reality is that only agricultural land is eligible for Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payments as determined by Defra’s Rural Payments…
Rural groups take lead on new fox snaring code
Leading rural organisations last week launched a new code of practice on the use of snares for fox control in England. The newly published 12-page code is a collaboration between BASC, the Countryside Alliance, the Moorland Association, the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO), the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the CLA,…
GWCT gives advice to help grey partridges
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is calling on farmers, landowners and the fieldsports community to help ensure that wild grey partridges survive the coming winter. In contrast to reports of optimistic partridge prospects, the early results of the GWCT 2016 Partridge Count Scheme (PCS) have caused the organisation concern, particularly regarding chicks’ chances of survival over the colder months.…
Brian May criticises David Beckham for partridge shooting
Last week countrysports fans were delighted to see photographs published of England footballing legend David Beckham enjoying some time out partridge shooting with his friend Guy Ritchie. However, Brian May tweeted his disappointment. 'Stick to shooting balls!' @DrBrianMay says of David Beckham over partridge hunt https://t.co/4ayXyByAtp — Blue Fox (@BlueFoxCAFH)…
Anti-shooting proposals would be “disaster” for the countryside
A new series of animal welfare proposals, commissioned and “welcomed” by the Labour Party, has called for the licensing of shooting estates, a four-fold rise in the price of shotgun certificates and an end to snare use. The proposals, presented during the Labour Party conference, seek to “end cruel practices…
Now Packham sets sights on woodcock
BBC presenter Chris Packham is misleading the public and threatening the future of woodcock conservation in the UK with his latest attack on shooting, BASC has warned. The Springwatch presenter has accused those who shoot of pushing woodcock on to the red list of endangered species, implying that 17 per cent of…
New law on using rodenticide
Farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers are reminded that from Saturday, 1 October, they will not be able to buy professional rodenticide packs for use outdoors without first showing an approved certificate of competence or proof of membership of an approved farm assurance scheme. Dr Alan Buckle, chairman of the Campaign for Responsible Rodenticide Use, said that the way…
TV stars raise £40k at charity shoot
Television star Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie have raised more than £40,000 for children’s hospice charity Shooting Star Chase at a clay pigeon shoot at The Royal Berkshire Shooting School (RBSS) earlier this month. Mr Schofield has been a patron of the charity, which cares for babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions, and their families, for…