Sporting Rifle July 2020

This week, Britain will begin to take its first, controlled steps out of the lockdown that has been in place across the country for the last two months. That’s not to say we can all throw caution to the winds and risk a second spike in Covid-19 infections, but there will be more that we can start to do that we couldn’t before, and I am beyond happy to say that deer stalking appears to be included in that list. BASC understands the new guidance issued by the prime minister is that deer stalking can be undertaken in England from Wednesday 13 May – though Scotland and Wales’ premiers have issued slightly more reserved advice and don’t appear to have sanctioned it at the time of writing. It’s a much-needed step…

BASC is urging the police to be consistent in the Covid-19 advice given to the shooting community amid reports that some forces have blocked essential fox control during the lambing season. Government guidance says anyone can conduct essential pest control to protect crops or livestock with the landowner’s permission. However some BASC members have been warned not to undertake pest control by their local police force unless it is their ‘profession’. BASC believes that regional variances in police advice is damaging efforts to keep the countryside working during the lockdown. Duncan Thomas, regional director of BASC North, commented: “Some forces are getting this right and some are getting it wrong. But with lamb season in full flow, a refusal to allow essential fox and crow control is of significant concern to farmers’ livelihoods…

Shoots around the country have debating how many birds to put down, how many days to offer and whether to shoot at all. Some shooters have suggested that the game season would effectively be cancelled in 2020-21. Game farmers first expressed concern over the situation as shoots would typically be placing their orders for the season throughout April. The Game Farmers’ Association said: “The day after the UK lockdown game shoots were thinking hard but calmly about the implications for the 2020-2021 season. Game farms had experienced some cancelled or reduced orders but most will carry on with rearing pheasants and partridges this year. However, the importance of deposits to shoots was emphasised by BASC. Chief executive Ian Bell, who said: “The financial outlay of hatching, rearing and buying in chicks and…

BASC has announced it is holding subscriptions at the level set in 2020 until at least March 2022 in response to the coronavirus crisis. BASC chief executive Ian Bell said: “We know that many members will be facing financial challenges in the months ahead. A decision on subscription levels is usually taken in the autumn. But we felt it was important to bring that forward and move quickly to put the usual increase on hold while our members are having to face so much uncertainty. “Shooting faces many tough challenges, and BASC is only as strong as the membership. This crisis will see many hard decisions being taken; we hope that this move helps makes it easier for our members to continue shooting.” In addition, BASC is assisting full, club and syndicate members…

Scottish Land & Estates (SLE), the rural business organisation, announced Mark Tennant as their new chairman at the AGM in April. Mark and his family run the Innes Estate in Moray which has been an SLE member for over 40 years. He is a former chairman of Scottish Financial Enterprise and former deputy chairman of the Scottish Government’s financial services advisory board. On his appointment Mark commented: “It is with very great pleasure that I take on the role as SLE Chairman. It is a great honour and will present some very interesting challenges in the coming years. “I will be working on several key issues and top of the list is ensuring Scotland’s rural businesses and communities are provided with all the information and help they need, ensuring they climb out as…

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, a short-term fundraising initiative called Game Aid has been launched to deliver free game meat based meal bags to frontline NHS workers. Health workers have already been recognised by the fieldsports community; James Goodall and Tom Wilson – gamekeepers in the Scottish borders – showed their respect by mowing the letters ‘NHS’ into a hillside on Greenlaw Moor. However the British Game Alliance (BGA), Samworth Brothers, Wild & Game and Fieldsports Journal have joined forces to create Game Aid campaign, allowing more rural communites to actively support the NHS. Wild & Game’s founder Michael Cannon commented: “We’re very proud to be taking part in this excellent initiative which we hope will help to boost morale among the UK’s heroic NHS workers during this very difficult time. “I’m delighted…