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…
News
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…
Prince William’s new patronage of British Trust for Ornithology ruffles feathers
The British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has appointed HRH The Duke of Cambridge as its new patron, in a move that has sparked disquiet in some quarters. Prince William is a keen shooter and attracted criticism in August for taking his son Prince George on a Scottish grouse shoot. However,…
Sainsbury’s shoppers can now buy BGA-approved partridge, pheasant and venison
Sainsbury’s customers can now buy pheasant, venison and partridge that has been approved by the British Game Alliance (BGA). Assured products will feature the BGA kitemark which guarantees the provenance of the game meat. Pheasant Breast Fillets and Diced Game Casserole Mix produced by North Yorkshire-based Holme Farmed Venison are…
Covid: Welsh ‘firebreak’ disaster for shooting, say locals
Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford announced a time-limited ‘firebreak’ lockdown this week saying it would be: “A short, sharp, shock to turn back the clock, slow down the virus and buy us more time”. From 6pm Friday 23 October to 9 November people in Wales have been ordered to stay…
Pheasant releases ‘could wipe out adders in most of Britain’
A recent article in The Guardian stating that adders are endangered due to “uncontrolled release of millions of game birds” is incorrect say the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and the National Gamekeepers Organisation (NGO). The piece highlights the claim of Nigel Hand, a trustee of Amphibian and Reptile…
GWCT launches 12 gamebird management principles
Responsible shooters should always support conservation and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) has now published 12 clear principles for sustainable gamebird management. Extensive research by the GWCT shows that good game management will deliver a net biodiversity gain, a goal for all shoots. “Biodiversity net gain is embedded…
Surrey Police state killing any wild bird is “an offence”
It has come to our attention that wild birds are being attacked and killed using catapults.Under Section 1 of the… Posted by Surrey Police on Saturday, September 26, 2020 Shooters in the Surrey area were shocked to see their county police force announce that shooting parakeets, crows and pigeons was illegal. …