A horse moving with a line of beaters isn’t a sight you’re going to see much these days. In fact Frank Shellard says he is probably the last person riding on the beating line in the UK. (If you know anybody else, please get in touch.) I asked him what…
News
Shooting groups unite to condemn law-breaking shoots
Countryside organisations have condemned inland shoots that are breaking the law by using lead shot for wildfowl, and have appealed to DEFRA to help identify and prosecute those responsible. Representatives from eight groups, including BASC and the Countryside Alliance, signed a letter to DEFRA secretary of state Elizabeth Truss MP. Some inland…
Endangered birds thriving on Scottish grouse moors
There are 81 species of bird — many red-listed as being of conservation concern — thriving on Scottish grouse moors, according to a new report, published last month by the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association. Many species of bird faring better on managed moors The study conducted wildlife audits on three “key”…
Shooters dismiss claims eating game lowers IQ
Countryside organisations have hit back at claims that eating game meat can lower a child’s IQ level. The claims relating to the negative impact of lead consumption on human health were made in a recently published report detailing the findings of last year’s Oxford Lead Symposium. The section, Risks of health…
Beating the black dog
You may remember me, or rather you may dimly recall the monthly pieces that I wrote for Shooting Times, about fishing (occasionally) and shooting (mostly) and (in particular) running my own small shoot at High Park in Cumbria. I did this for around 10 years and then, three or four years ago, there was suddenly…
Campaign calls for country coats to help Syria
It is hoped that shoots over the Christmas period will collect unwanted coats for the CountryCoats2Syria appeal to relieve the humanitarian crisis in Syria. CountryCoats2Syria organiser George Bowyer said: “The harsh winter is a reality for people who fled their homes in Syria with only the clothes they were wearing.…
Law Commission recommends ‘overhaul’ of firearms law
The Law Commission report, published today, aims to make recommendations to solve the problems that undermine the effectiveness of the law governing the acquisition and possession of firearms. The existing law is ‘confused, unclear and difficult to apply’, according to the Law Commission, who review laws and recommend reforms. Currently…
Venison donated to food banks in South Lanarkshire
Venison has been donated to food banks by The South Lanarkshire Deer Group, members of the Scottish Gamekeepers Association, to provide a Christmas dinner for those in need. The group teamed up with Calderwood Baptist Church in East Kilbride. The group plans to prepare food parcels of venison steaks, sausages and…
‘Major upturn’ in women shooters this grouse season
This year’s grouse shooting season has seen an ‘major upturn’ in demand from women shooters and the increasingly popular all women shooting clubs according to reports from The Gift of Grouse campaign and Scottish Moorland Group. Estates such as Leys Estate and Castle Fraser Farms in Aberdeenshire have tailored days to suit…
Time Inc. UK launches the Field & Country Fair
Time Inc. UK, the publisher of The Field, Shooting Gazette, Shooting Times, Sporting Gun, Country Life and Horse & Hound further expands its portfolio of events with the launch of the Field & Country Fair, celebrating the British countryside and field sports. The Field & Country Fair will take place…
Nine of the UK’s top game restaurants
London Rules Just around the corner from Covent Garden, London’s oldest restaurant, which opened in 1798, is the place to go if you have a budget to throw out of the window and an appetite for game to satisfy. With links to an estate in the Pennines, where staff go to…
Fancy having a Gun from the Royal Gurkha Rifles on your shooting team?
On Friday 11 December there will be an open day and charity shoot in aid of the Gurkha Welfare Trust’s Nepal Earthquake Fund at the Highland Shooting Centre, by Lairg, Sutherland. The 2nd Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles will be in attendance Events taking place on the open day will include rifle…
Is your gundog ready for Crufts 2016?
The gamekeepers’ classes at Crufts 2016 are open to gamekeepers, owners of working gundogs, gundog teams and young handlers. Once again the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) -the UK’s largest shooting organisation – will host these particular classes which will be held on Gundog Day, Friday 11 March 2016,…
Warning by Scottish Land & Estates over Land Reform Bill
Mr Johnstone commented: “The Land Reform Bill, as it stands, will have far-reaching and detrimental consequences for land-based businesses across Scotland, which employ many thousands of people and make a major social, economic and environmental contribution to rural communities.” He also raised concerns about “any attempt to make the Bill even more…
Charity urges shooters to give grouse to the homeless
An initial batch of 1,300 birds, shot at the start of this year’s grouse season, was distributed to food banks and other charitable causes in September. The organisers now hope to expand the charity scheme to include shoots for pheasants and other game. The meat is being distributed by Fareshare,…
It’s game on for Britain’s oldest family butcher – RJ Balson and Son
If 16th-century butcher Robert Balson could step into a time machine and walk into his descendant’s shop today, he’d be recognise much of the meat and game on offer; locally sourced venison, partridge, pheasant, and rabbit,with wild boar from nearby Hampshire. But he’d be astounded to see exotic meats such…
Watch the best young Guns in the country compete to win a £15,000 car
The Schools Challenge is the largest Young Shots organisation in the UK for 12-21 year olds and the exciting final will show the high standards that are being achieved. Everyone is welcome to come along and watch from 12-6pm and have a go at clayshooting, axe-throwing and archery. The event…
BASC strongly refutes renewed claims of lead ammunition risks
Researchers attending the Oxford Symposium on Lead ammunition have published a report stating that evidence now supports a ban. Several conclusions were drawn from the report, which used findings from studies carried out by conservation groups including the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT) and the RSPB. The WWT says that…
EU to review gun laws after Paris attacks
EU ministers met at a crisis meeting on Friday and, at the time of writing, were expected to suggest new rules making it more difficult to acquire weapons and to track them more easily. The European Commission has been working since 2013 to create common minimum standards across the EU…
Olympic shooting team announced for Rio 2016
The Team GB Olympic shooting squad for Rio 2016 was announced last week. The chosen six are: Elena Allen, Amber Hill, Tim Kneale, Ed Ling, Jennifer McIntosh and Steve Scott. The British Olympic Association revealed the identities of the squad at a press conference at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre in Berkshire. The newly minted Olympians will travel to…