Conservative MEP Vicky Ford says she is making “good progress” in her discussions to agree revisions to the EU Firearms Directive. Following the third round of discussions between the European Parliament, Commission and Council, Mrs Ford said the…
Mark Layton
News Editor Shooting Times
Countryside Alliance blasts BBC over “smear”
The Countryside Alliance has lodged a formal complaint about the BBC and accused the broadcaster of failing to adhere to its own guidelines following an episode of Inside Out London last month that explored pheasant and partridge…
Increased risk of bird flu in the UK
The DEFRA-affiliated Animal and Plant Health Agency made the announcement earlier this month following an increase in reports of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N8 (which is more commonly referred to as “bird flu”) in mainland Europe, with dead…
Purdey Awards celebrate the best of game conservation
Portloughan Shoot in Strangford, County Down, has won the 2016 Purdey Gold Award for Game and Conservation. The Purdey awards have been held annually since 1999 and each year the judges seek to celebrate the best game…
Lords pass “very helpful” changes to firearms laws
Shooting organisations have welcomed two improvements to firearms law passed last week by the House of Lords and adopted by the Government as amendments to the Policing and Crime Bill. The first of these changes permits an…
Firearms licensing – still waiting for a certificate
I read with particular interest David Frost’s article about the terrible state of the UK firearms licensing process. I am unfortunate enough to fall under the catchment of the Essex firearms team, despite being a…
GPs “must co-operate with firearms licensing process”
The British Medical Association (BMA) has issued new guidance instructing GPs that they ” must engage in the process of firearms licensing when requested to do so”. Following discussions with…
Countryside Alliance welcomes new social media laws
Earlier this month, director of public prosecutions Alison Saunders announced: “Social media can be used to educate, entertain and enlighten but there are also people who use it to bully, intimidate and harass. “Ignorance is not…
Highlights from yesterday’s Parliamentary grouse shooting debate
1/2 IN CONCLUSION: #GrouseShooting debate – @theresecoffey “Gov has no intention of banning DGS…” — Shooting Times (@ShootingTimes) October 31, 2016 2/2 IN CONCLUSION: #GrouseShooting debate – @theresecoffey “But every…
Rural groups share their trick-or-treats
While the queue of trick-or- treaters at your door might cause a restless evening on Halloween, leading countryside representatives say there are bigger issues to lose sleep over. Shooting Times…
Scotland drops its ban on tail docking
Holyrood has announced plans to change tail docking legislation to allow the tails of spaniel and hunt, point, retrieve (HPR) puppies to be shortened wherever a vet believes they are likely to be used as…
Rural groups take lead on new fox snaring code
Leading rural organisations last week launched a new code of practice on the use of snares for fox control in England. The newly published 12-page code is a collaboration between…
GWCT gives advice to help grey partridges
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) is calling on farmers, landowners and the fieldsports community to help ensure that wild grey partridges survive the coming winter. In contrast to reports of optimistic partridge prospects, the early…
Anti-shooting proposals would be “disaster” for the countryside
A new series of animal welfare proposals, commissioned and “welcomed” by the Labour Party, has called for the licensing of shooting estates, a four-fold rise in the price of shotgun…
Now Packham sets sights on woodcock
BBC presenter Chris Packham is misleading the public and threatening the future of woodcock conservation in the UK with his latest attack on shooting, BASC has warned. The Springwatch presenter has…
Countryside Alliance welcomes improvements to Firearms Act
The Countryside Alliance (CA) has welcomed two amendments to the Firearms Act, describing them as “significant improvements”. The changes to firearms licensing, which the CA called for in March, have…
New law on using rodenticide
Farmers, gamekeepers and pest controllers are reminded that from Saturday, 1 October, they will not be able to buy professional rodenticide packs for use outdoors without first showing an approved certificate of competence or proof…
Ministers debate airgun safety
The comments were made by CA head of shooting Liam Stokes following a debate about the use of airguns by under-18s that took place in Parliament earlier this month. The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill…
TV stars raise £40k at charity shoot
Television star Phillip Schofield and his wife Stephanie have raised more than £40,000 for children’s hospice charity Shooting Star Chase at a clay pigeon shoot at The Royal Berkshire Shooting School (RBSS) earlier this month.…
Wildfowlers report favourable prospects for the season ahead
Wildfowlers can expect a mixed start to the season, with many early broods hit by the poor weather, but second clutches likely offering strong sport. Taking a view of the national picture in late August, BASC…