NatureScot opens Scotland general licences review for 2027

NatureScot has opened a public consultation on the general licences that underpin everyday pest and predator control across Scotland’s shooting ground. The first phase of the review runs until 31 August and asks shooters, land managers and the wider public for their views on the 16 general licences proposed for 2027.

What are general licences and why do they matter to shooters?

General licences allow gamekeepers, farmers, pest controllers and shooters to control corvids, woodpigeons and certain other birds to protect crops, livestock, public health and vulnerable wild birds, without applying for an individual licence for each situation. They cover routine work that would otherwise need a separate application every time, which makes them one of the most heavily relied-on tools in day-to-day wildlife management.

Any change to how a general licence is worded or conditioned is therefore felt directly on shooting ground, which is why the review matters to the community.

What is NatureScot consulting on?

The first phase of the review invites comment on the 16 general licences proposed for 2027, with a short survey for each individual licence and a broader survey covering general licensing as a whole. NatureScot has confirmed there are no changes to the species listed in the proposed 2027 licences.

The individual surveys ask whether users agree with each licence, the species listed, the permitted methods, and the general terms and conditions. For some licences, feedback is also invited on adding other species.

What is the row over mandatory reporting?

The broader survey asks whether every general licence should carry a condition requiring annual returns. BASC (basc.org.uk), the official partner of Shooting Times, has said it will oppose mandatory reporting as a blanket condition, arguing it would create additional administrative burden without necessarily producing reliable or meaningful data. The association supports the continuation of general licensing in Scotland and says it will use its response to call for the addition of species and clearer terms and conditions.

How can shooters respond?

BASC is urging those who rely on general licences to complete the specific surveys for the licences they use, as well as the broader survey. The association will launch its own practitioners’ survey to Scottish members towards the end of July to gather evidence for its formal response, and has asked members to watch for it via BASC Scotland and the weekly BASC Live newsletter.

What happens next?

The consultation is open at generallicensingreview.commonplace.is until 31 August 2026. NatureScot will consider the responses before finalising the general licences for 2027. Shooters wanting to feed into BASC’s response can contact the BASC Scotland team at scotland@basc.org.uk. Full details of the review are on the NatureScot licensing pages at nature.scot.