Beretta Holdings has now significantly expanded its presence in the UK after signing an agreement to buy 100% of the prestigious Holland & Holland brand. The takeover took place on 1 February 2021. Beretta says that it has been seeking to acquire a premium luxury brand for a while now…
News
Big Farmland Bird Count back for 2021
Gamekeepers, farmers and land managers across the country are being asked to pledge their support to the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) Big Farmland Bird Count. The GWCT is asking you to spend 30 minutes spotting species on a patch of land between the 5 and 21 February 2021…
Natural England adds ‘screening’ to general licence applications
Natural England’s latest move will mean it takes longer to get permission to control birds not covered by the general licences, such as lesser black-backed gulls and herring gulls. The government body advises: “To apply for a licence to control wild birds for conservation or health and safety purposes that…
How will COVID affect the biggest shooting events in 2021?
The organisers of the Northern Shooting Show have announced that the show planned in May 2021 has had to be cancelled. The organisers explained: “We know that you, like us, will be hugely disappointed, but it was just not possible to deliver the show with the current government restrictions. “Any…
Brexit frees Britain from European laws limiting use of lead on and around wetlands
The free trade agreement between the UK and the EU will not bind the UK to European laws that limit the use of lead on and around wetlands. And in more good news, environmental regulations that have been used to attack shooting will come under the full control of the…
High Court rules Welsh general licences lawful
Essential pest control in Wales will be allowed to continue after Judge Jarman QC rejected the claims of Wild Justice on 18 January 2021. Wild Justice had asserted that general licences GL001, GL002 and GL004 were not lawful but in the High Court judgement all three of these claims were…
Who’ll win the Great British Shooting Awards this year 2021?
We proudly announce the third annual Great British Shooting Awards! The Awards give recognition to the products, organisations and people that make our industry tick. From cartridges to clothing, the Awards represent every corner of the market. Dedicated categories will showcase the achievements of the people who’ve really had a…
The rules on shooting for England’s latest lockdown
The latest national lockdown came into force in England on 6th January 2021. However wildfowling, deer stalking and rough shooting are now permitted as exercise, provided shooters comply with the strict conditions that existing around social distancing and travel. So what are the rules on shooting? BASC advises that outdoor…
40 reasons why we shoot
There’s plenty of misinformation about shooting. So here’s a list, with facts published in Shooting Times, of the benefits shooting brings to the community. Why We Shoot Research has shown that going shooting boosts mental wellbeing and physical health. Shooting improves social contact for a variety of ages Shooting instils…
Raffle ticket winner wins big double – a custom fit Perazzi MX12 AND a day’s shooting at Chargot
Christmas came early this year for heating and plumber engineer Mark Lilly. He was amazed at his luck when £40 worth of raffle tickets won him a brand new Perazzi MX12, custom fitted to suit him plus the opportunity to put it through its paces on a free day’s shooting…
Bill calling for two-year phasing out of all lead shot defeated
A proposed amendment to an Environment Bill calling for a two-year phase out of all lead shot has been voted out by Defra. The amendment was led by Labour MP Fleur Anderson but Defra minister Rebecca Pow said that it was unnecessary, due to positive action by shooting organisations to…
Grouse shooting in Scotland to be licensed
The Scottish Government has announced that it is to start licensing grouse shooting. The decision follows assessment of the findings of the independent Grouse Moor Management Group who produced the Werritty Report, which was commissioned by the Scottish Government. Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon announced…
Contestants on I’m A Celebrity become pheasant-eating fans
Great British Game Week got a real publicity boost this week when ITV’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here put pheasant on the menu. To earn the delicious meal for the whole team two contestants had to drink some fairly revolting sounding smoothies (one was made from a…
Air rifle law in England looks set to change
A new government consultation proposes to strengthen air rifle law to keep air guns from being used by unsupervised under-18s. In addition, owners of small gun ranges will have to have a licence and inform the police before buying weapons. Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said: “Our gun laws are among…
Prince William’s working cocker spaniel Lupo dies age 9
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…
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…