Sporting Rifle October 2020

family values

As long-term readers will know, I take a yearly sporting sojourn to Scotland and have done since what feels like time immemorial. Traditionally it has been in September, but the combination of the Covid circumstances and the War Office’s available leave necessitated bringing it forward this year, and I am just a week back from an August sporting holiday as I sit down to write this. It was much needed. Spending the entire summer under national house arrest had left me climbing the walls with un-spent energy, so as soon as the lockdown was lifted sufficiently I saw to the roebucks on my own patch as a priority and then immediately started looking northwards. A week in the hills and among the lochs was an absolutely perfect antidote to the long…

basc rejected during judicial review

BASC has formally requested that the High Court reconsider its refusal to recognise the association as an interested party in the judicial review on the Welsh general licences. The decision was taken after receiving legal advice. As an interested party, BASC would have a greater involvement in the proceedings – a worthwhile cause for the UK’s largest shooting organisation. A successful application will allow BASC to follow the same path as achieved in the judicial review into the release of gamebirds near to designated sites. Steve Griffiths, BASC Wales director, said: “BASC was understandably disappointed with the original decision of the court. We strongly believe that the users of the Welsh general licences should be represented by their organisation within the proceedings, so it is only right that we make use of…

nrw general licences at risk

GL001 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds to prevent serious damage to livestock. Species covered: carrion crow, magpie, jackdaw, feral pigeon, wood pigeon and Canada geese GL002 – License to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of preserving public health and preventing the spread of disease to humans. Species covered: feral pigeon GL004 – Licence to kill or take certain wild birds for the purpose of conserving wild birds. Species covered: carrion crow, magpie, jackdaw, jay GL016 – Licence to take and release alive certain birds from food premises to preserve public health and safety. Species covered: blackbird, dunnock, robin, house sparrow, starling, song thrush, blue tit, great tit, pied wagtail…

harkila launch ‘trade up’ campaign

Outfit International, the parent company behind Harkila and Seeland, have launched a new ‘trade in to trade up’ campaign, that will allow customers to upgrade their shooting jackets and provide warm clothing for the homeless. The Pro Hunter Endure Campaign will run for the month of October at all participating Harkila Authorised Dealers in the UK. A statement explained: “2020 has been a difficult year for us all, so we decided to come up with a way that we could help our retailers increase sales and drive customers to their shops at a time when retail really needs a helping hand.” Customers can trade in any Harkila Pro Hunter style – Original Pro Hunter, Pro Hunter Short, Pro Hunter X or Pro Hunter Move – and it doesn’t matter how old or what…

shooting and countryman show cancelled

With Manchester on lockdown, The Shooting and Countryman Show have made the decision to cancel their 2020 event, which was set to take place from 19-20 September. The show was relocated to EventCity in Manchester earlier this year, following a disagreement with Liverpool City Council. All exhibitors and visitors will be refunded. The organisers – who also run the Great British Shooting Show at the NEC – say the aim of the September show is to present products for sale that manufacturers launch at the February show. The new show will see manufacturers and retailers exhibiting, plus a 30-lane indoor airgun range, 24 practical pistol ranges and demonstration areas. New dates are already set for 18-19 September 2021. Go to www.shootingshow.co.uk for more information.…

defra respond to rural campaign

The government has responded to a joint project entitled ‘Wildlife Licencing in England: Chaos, Crisis and Cure’ published by the Countryside Alliance, National Gamekeepers’ Association and the Moorland Association. The paper calls for a feasibility study into Defra taking back control of individual licensing from Natural England (NE). Defra Under-Secretary, Rebecca Pow, responded: “Defra and NE are committed to achieving a licensing regime for wild birds which is both robust and workable for users. Our review is seeking to achieve this based on extensive evidence review and consultation with stakeholders.”…