The accusations from the Countryside Alliance came after it emerged that much of the information used by the RSPB was provided by a convicted animal rights extremist, some was demonstrably…
Matt Cross
Features writer
Anti-shooting activism is taking a toll on the mental health of rural people, according to enquiry
The increasing pressure of online and real world activism on those involved in country sports has created an increasing challenge to the mental health of those in the rural sector…
Battle lines drawn as BASC rejects proposed lead restrictions
The association has set out a mixed position strongly opposing some elements of the proposals and less strongly opposing others. The HSE has proposed a phased withdrawal of lead ammunition…
Damage to biodiversity and wildlife likely outcome of law changes in Scotland, say Parliament committee
The warnings of serious unintended consequences came in submissions to the Parliament’s Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment committee, which is shortly to begin scrutinising the legislation. Among those slamming…
‘Fake’ Welsh ban claims, Brexit headaches, and more – this week in fieldsports
Park suspends trail hunting The Lake District National Park Authority has become the latest UK public body to suspend trail hunting on land it owns after the trial of Mark…
Experts slam Labour Party Animal Welfare Society’s report on release of gamebirds
The report was written by the controversial academic, Professor Steven Harris, whose now largely discredited work was significant in the campaign to have fox hunting banned. Harris made little attempt…
Significant number of shoots cancelling days, according to reports
An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in France has led to restrictions on the export of chicks and eggs to UK shoots and game farms, which has greatly reduced…
Legal battle over lead, good start for grouse chicks and bird flu – this week in fieldsports
EU legal wrangle over lead A legal fight has broken out over the proposed EU lead ammunition restrictions. FACE, the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation, requested a dossier of…
Fresh questions around ‘Green Laird’ buyouts of sporting estates
In recent years, prices for sporting estates and hill farms in Scotland have skyrocketed in response to the emergence of a new breed of estate owner looking to ‘rewild’ while…
Police Scotland climbdown over ‘deliberately shot’ buzzard
The bird was reported to police after being discovered in woodland near Ladybank in Fife in April. The discovery of the bird’s remains was accompanied by a press release from…
WhatsApp poacher avoids jail for illegally killing fallow deer
A poacher who was convicted after police read a ‘WhatsApp’ chat has avoided jail. Earlier Shooting Times reported the conviction of Mark Bond of Maidstone in Kent. Bond was found…
Gamekeepers launch campaign to avert disastrous season
In an email to Shooting Times DEFRA explained that the 90 day restriction to movements came from the bird flu regulations which were transferred into UK law as part of…
Unwanted guns, wheat export ban and wildfire risks – this week in shooting
Amnesty for unwanted guns A firearm surrender programme run by all the UK’s police forces is under way. The scheme, which began on 12 May and runs until 29 May,…
No poults, chicks or eggs will come from France to the UK for this rearing season
Shooting Times understands that meetings between French and UK authorities, as well as representatives of the shooting and game farming industries, have been trying to find a way forward; however…
Gamekeeper tells court of how he caught police officer’s killer
A video shown in court recorded the moment that gamekeeper Gavin Tucker challenged 22 year-old Callum Wheeler after finding him behaving suspiciously on private land near where the body of…
Countryside citizens express anger over mass trespass
Justifying the event, author and land reform campaigner Guy Shrubsole told The Big Issue: “Regular access to nature is vital to people’s physical and mental health, yet so much of…
HSE announces plan to effectively ban lead ammunition
The sweeping restrictions have been proposed in a ‘restriction dossier’ from the agency. Announcing the proposal, the agency said: “An unacceptable risk has been identified for both hunting with lead…
Ed Coles’s hare coursing law changes pass final hurdle
The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill received Royal Assent on the 28th of April and now is law. The Act amends some existing legislation by increasing the maximum penalty…
BGA launches new associate membership scheme
Joining the scheme will allow shoots to advertise as ‘associated with British Game Assurance’. This allows shoots to explore accreditation without the financial outlay or requirement for audit visits. A…
Bird flu outbreak tails off, but challenges still remain
New cases are still being reported in France, however the rate of increase in the crucial Pays de la Loire region has continued to slow. Only three new cases were…