Do you have game cards or game books to share?

[Conor O'Gorman]

BASC’s research team are working with the University of Exeter to look into the changes in game bags over time. They are collecting game cards and game book records from across the country and are appealing to members to submit their records or bring them along to any events where BASC teams are present.

For more info and to get involved click the link below

Do you have game cards or game books to share?

BASC’s research team are working with the University of Exeter to look into the changes in our game bags over time.

basc.org.uk

 

[jall55]

What are they looking at / for and to what end please Conor ?

 

[arron]

I think more info is needed ,, it's rather vague , let's potentially give them info needed to go against us ??

 

[Basil H]

"More info" is evidently available. Check the link above.

 

[jall55]

"More info" is evidently available. Check the link above.

Yes but its not a lot of info is it ?

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

I have asked our research team for more info to that contained in the article.

 

[enfieldspares]

What are they looking at / for and to what end please Conor ?

This:

Do you have game cards or game books to share?

BASC’s research team are working with the University of Exeter to look into the changes in our game bags over time.

basc.org.uk

We are particularly interested in the occurrence or absence of woodcock shooting and if the bag sizes and timing of shooting has changed over time.

 

[jall55]

This:

Do you have game cards or game books to share?

BASC’s research team are working with the University of Exeter to look into the changes in our game bags over time.

basc.org.uk

We are particularly interested in the occurrence or absence of woodcock shooting and if the bag sizes and timing of shooting has changed over time.

Yes i saw that Enfieldspares - but i wondered to what aim - are they looking at defending / or changing the season so we dont shoot residents etc etc

Woodcock are my favourite bird and i am just really interested - i did the recent BTO survey on a couple of sites

It was interesting if only based on a tiny sample that we had more woodcock roding on our land during the survey than the other sites i visited. We have done lots of work to encourage them

 

[jall55]

I have asked our research team for more info to that contained in the article.

Thanks Conor

 

[Dunwaters]

Theres a move to take woodcock off the list here due to their red list status according to our local conservation groups.
IUCN lists them as being “ of least concern”.
Reported woodcock numbers are definitely down here, how much of that is down to reduced shooter input isn’t clear.

 

[Pelyma]

There is a chap in County Durham who is part of a larger group of interested parties that have tracked woodcock nesting habits. They have found that they are nesting more out in the open on moorland and the like. It has been a massive effort from Gamekeepers, land owners and bird watchers; their survey has gone on longer than the BTO/GWCT one, you can read about them on Twitter @Woodcock_2023 The area I surveyed, I used to shoot and it crawled with woodcock year round. The land was sold off in small parcels, the trees have grown up and disturbance increased massively with understandable poor results for the woodcock.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

More information on BASC’s position and research on woodcock shooting and conservation is here:

Woodcock - BASC

Woodcock Woodcock are traditionally viewed as one of the most sporting of birds and their appearance adds excitement to any day’s shooting. Their curious zig-zagging flight, and distinctive form make them instantly recognisable, but the numbers of breeding woodcock are declining and shooters can...

basc.org.uk

Woodcock shooting trends might vary in relation to changes in woodcock numbers, migration timing or shooter behaviour. They might also change in relation to what other quarry are in the game bag. Therefore, complete game books or game cards are desirable, rather than solely woodcock records. Old and new records are equally valuable. So if anyone has an interest in contributing to this study or would like more information specific to their game books or game cards before submitting information feel free to email the lead researcher.

Further details here:

Do you have game cards or game books to share?

BASC’s research team are working with the University of Exeter to look into the changes in our game bags over time.

basc.org.uk

 

[jall55]

More information on BASC’s position and research on woodcock shooting and conservation is here:

Woodcock - BASC

Woodcock Woodcock are traditionally viewed as one of the most sporting of birds and their appearance adds excitement to any day’s shooting. Their curious zig-zagging flight, and distinctive form make them instantly recognisable, but the numbers of breeding woodcock are declining and shooters can...

basc.org.uk

Woodcock shooting trends might vary in relation to changes in woodcock numbers, migration timing or shooter behaviour. They might also change in relation to what other quarry are in the game bag. Therefore, complete game books or game cards are desirable, rather than solely woodcock records. Old and new records are equally valuable. So if anyone has an interest in contributing to this study or would like more information specific to their game books or game cards before submitting information feel free to email the lead researcher.

Further details here:

Do you have game cards or game books to share?

BASC’s research team are working with the University of Exeter to look into the changes in our game bags over time.

basc.org.uk

I wonder if the researchers would be interested now in the number of shoots that dont shoot woodcock anymore too ?

We used to and have created some good habitat for them - but we now have them breeding and now simply prefer to doff our cap to them on shoot days - No issue with anyone who does shoot them but thats just our preference

 

[User00048]

Tons of woodcock in Sussex December through Feb every year. One farm I can usually count atleast 5 per field just sat in the grass of an evening..Hassocks based.