Scottish general licences review: have your say before 31 August

Scotland’s general licences are under review, and for once this is a consultation where the shooting community can shape the outcome rather than simply brace for it.

NatureScot, the Scottish Government’s nature agency, has opened the first phase of its review of the general licences that authorise the control of certain wild birds. These are the licences that allow gamekeepers, farmers, pest controllers and land managers to control species such as carrion crows and woodpigeons to protect crops, livestock, wild birds and public health, without applying for an individual licence every time.

The consultation is open now and closes on 31 August. It covers the 16 general licences proposed for 2027, and there is a broader survey running alongside it that asks how general licensing should work in the years ahead.

For anyone who relies on the general licences, this is the moment to have your say. NatureScot wants to hear whether the licences work in practice, whether the right species are covered, whether the permitted methods are right, and whether the terms and conditions are clear. If you have ever found a licence unclear or unworkable, this is your chance to say so.

Would annual returns become a condition of every general licence?

One question in the broader survey is likely to concern many readers. It asks whether every general licence should carry a condition requiring annual returns – in other words, a legal duty to report what you have shot under the licence. BASC will be opposing mandatory reporting as a blanket condition. We believe it would pile an administrative burden onto licence users without producing reliable or meaningful data, and could deter people from using the licences at all.

Why a low response rate puts the general licences at risk

BASC supports the continuation of general licensing in Scotland, and we will be pressing for additional species to be added and for clearer terms throughout. There are no changes proposed to the species currently listed, but that does not mean the review is without risk. Consultations of this kind set the direction for years to come, and a poor response rate is often taken as a sign that users are content.

We have seen what happens when the shooting community does not engage. Only 2,759 people responded to the HSE’s first consultation on restricting lead ammunition, a consultation that will end up affecting every shooter in the country. We cannot afford to make the same mistake in Scotland.

How to respond to the BASC and NatureScot surveys

To help gather evidence for our own response, BASC has launched a survey aimed at people who use general licences in Scotland. It takes only a few minutes and it will directly inform the case we make to NatureScot. This closes on Sunday 16 August, so please do complete it as soon as you can.

Responding to the NatureScot consultation is straightforward. You can complete the surveys for the specific licences you use, the broader survey, or both. Every response strengthens the case for a licensing system that works for shooting and conservation alike.

The general licences underpin everyday wildlife management across Scotland. They are worth protecting, and the best way to protect them is to make your voice heard before 31 August.

Dr Conor O’Gorman is BASC’s head of policy and campaigns. He has over 25 years of experience in conservation and land management and a keen interest in wild grey partridges. Contact him at conor.ogorman@basc.org.uk