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…
News
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…
Wildfowlers report favourable prospects for the season ahead
Wildfowlers can expect a mixed start to the season, with many early broods hit by the poor weather, but second clutches likely offering strong sport. Taking a view of the national picture in late August, BASC reported that bird numbers were lower than would normally be expected at that time of year and noted that Canada and greylag geese were…
Outstanding gamekeeping student wins NGO trophy
Will Hetherington of Shooting Gazette interviews Cormac The award goes to the best gamekeeping student of the academic year. Cormac completed his game and countryside management course at Harpury College, Gloucester, this summer and now runs the college’s commercial gameshoot. He said: “I am delighted to have won the Frank Jenkins. It is…
The Pigeon Shooter’s Diary by Tom Payne launches at Midland Game Fair
Regular readers of Tom Payne’s pigeon shooting articles in this magazine will no doubt be delighted to learn that the tips, hints, teaching and technical advice that Tom gives each month can now also be found in a new book, The Pigeon Shooter’s Diary, published later this month. Based on Tom’s writing for Shooting Times, it covers every aspect…
Shoot Benchmarking Survey highlights conservation benefits of shooting
The important contribution of shooting to wildlife conservation and the increasing profitability of shoots has been highlighted in the Shoot Benchmarking Survey 2015-2016, recently published by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and estate agent Savills. The survey looked at the average salaries, costs, shoot performance and conservation work…
National Parks survey highlights public support for shooting
The recent Campaign for National Parks (CNP) survey has highlighted the public support for shooting, with the sport voted by as the third most popular recreational activity out of a list of 23 among those who live and work within the parks. Shooting was also named as the second most…
British Shooting poised to build on Olympic success
British Shooting, the national governing body for Olympic shooting in the UK, will build upon its Rio 2016 success by seeking new funding to improve and enhance its talent pathway and working to create a new centre of excellence dedicated to training future Olympic competitors. Team GB shooters Ed Ling…
Charity clay pigeon shoot hosted by the Earl & Countess Scarbrough raises £11,000
Twenty-seven teams of game and clayshooters came together for the event which was sponsored by Torne Valley Farm and Country Stores, BASC , Eley Hawk, Guy Salmon Land Rover and JF Nevilles. In addition to excellent clayshooting guests enjoyed good food, a gun dog display, sporting air rifles, archery and…
Help gunmaking to become an official apprenticeship
The Burrard Academy has been created by Drew Boxall, of Boxall & Edmiston gunmakers, in a project that has seen BASC, the GTA and the Worshipful Company of gunmakers come together to offer their skills and knowledge to ensure the future of the trade is further secured. The survey will…
Charity clay shoot raises over £1000 for The Royal Marines
With 16 teams, including entries from Ladds Guns, Castle Hill, North Molton, Buttery Shoot, Temple, Luscombe, Devon Plant Services and the Marines, all Guns were put through their paces on a challenging course in the grounds of the house. ‘Ladds Slackers’ from Ladds Guns were in top position, with the Marines team placing second and ‘The…
Shooters welcome chance to debate driven grouse shooting
Shooting organisations say the public has been misled, but welcome the chance to state their case and debate driven grouse shooting, after a Government petition to ban driven grouse shooting passed the 100,000 signatures required to be considered for a Parliamentary debate. The petition was launched by former RSPB conservation…
Team GB win again! Bronze for double trap champion Steve Scott!
In a British head-to-head final against fellow Team GB shooter Tim Kneale, Steve Scott will be coming home with a bronze medal after his success in the double trap. The pair had taken third and fourth positions in the semi-finals a few minutes before. However Steve Scott claimed victory scoring…
British Medical Association makes U-turn on licence fees
The British Medical Association (BMA) has advised GPs not to provide shooters’ medical information to the police without a fee and suggested that it is acceptable to withhold the service on ethical grounds. The new encoded reminder system was introduced in April. It requires GPs to provide the police with any information suggesting an applicant should not be in…
19 things to know about Ed Ling, bronze medal winner at Rio 2016
Ed is a farmer from Taunton in Somerset He won’t be hanging around in Rio to celebrate, he’s got to get back home to the West Country to help his father bring the harvest in He said: “It’ll be all hands in when I get back. It’s a mixed farm. We’ve…
Team GB shooters – updates from Twitter Rio 2016
LOOKING GOOD: Our #Rio2016 lads suit up for the @TeamGB reception last night. #igobeyond #bringonthegreat pic.twitter.com/s0WH66n2zT — British Shooting (@GBShooting) August 4, 2016 Today Joe Neville MBE travels to his 8th Olympics coaching @Amberjohill – what a great team for @GBShooting @TeamGB pic.twitter.com/NvwQDi6nV7 — Caroline Povey (@cazpovey) August 4, 2016…
Team GB shooters at the Olympics – how to keep up with what’s happening
Read profiles of the Team GB shooters here Friday 5 August Opening ceremony: 11.30pm (7.30pm) Saturday 6 August Women’s 10m air rifle (qualifiers and final) Men’s 10m air pistol (qualifiers and final Sunday 7 August Women’s 10 m air pistol (qualifiers and final) Men’s trap (qualifiers) Women’s trap (qualifiers and…
RSPB calls for grouse moor licensing
The RSPB has called for grouse moor licensing after withdrawing its support for the Government’s Hen Harrier Joint Action Plan, claiming that the project has failed due to the continued illegal killing of the endangered birds. The Hen Harrier Joint Action Plan makes several recommendations to help restore the population…