Supporting modern gamekeepers is key 

We recently held three well-attended gamekeeper conferences in England and Scotland (News, 9 April) and, as I mulled over and weighed them up after the last chair had been put away at the final event, something struck me. While each country or region involved has its own unique challenges, there was also a series of trends that transpired from the events that spanned from Scotland to Devon, with a conference in Yorkshire along the way. 

The most pertinent issue that came out of all three of these events was that it is becoming increasingly complex to be a gamekeeper. No longer does the keeper only require the tangible tools of the trade, it feels like the modern version also needs an additional skill set up their sleeve to help them navigate the ecological, political and legislative landscapes of shooting. 

Impact 

To be glib, a mix of PhDs and practical experience and everything in between is needed in the fight to secure sustainable shooting. And this came across loud and clear to the politicians who attended our conferences and saw for themselves the impact decisions and policies have in the real world on people and nature. 

I think they were taken aback by the vast amount of specialist knowledge and skills gamekeepers possess and left energised, as did we, feeling that the future of shooting is in safe hands. Nothing makes the penny drop with a politician or minister more than meeting a real gamekeeper, and this is a key part of each conference. 

BASC is the UK’s largest shooting and conservation organisation. We cover the whole of the UK and subsequently provide a unique perspective of, and to, the devolved governments and their impact on one another. While the contents of the Scottish Environment Bill have an impact north of the border, like an earthquake, the aftershocks will begin to appear across other parts of the UK. Gamekeepers across the UK need support for the challenges they face now, while being part of the pragmatic solution to a long-term approach. 

The topics discussed at the conferences included avian influenza, gamebird release licences on protected sites and firearms licensing. In taking a proactive approach and resisting doom-and-gloom updates, we aimed to show that we recognise the challenges gamekeepers face in these, and other, areas and that our specialists can provide solutions. Almost 300 gamekeepers raised issues, asked for support, and committed to being part of the long-term solution. Knowledge really is power, and the more informed and supported our gamekeepers are, the brighter the future looks for game shooting as a whole. 

Next year’s conferences will no doubt bear witness to more challenges, with our experts working away behind the scenes. But we must not become chained to our desks; good old-fashioned conversations are still extremely important. 

We will now further evaluate and work to improve our conferences for next year. Time is precious for our gamekeepers, a day away from the shoot is rare, so we must provide them with the right information and advice. But what remains clear, and key, is that well-equipped gamekeepers are part of the solution.