Fight for the future of game shooting - have you had your say?

[enfieldspares]

The in-laws ,(townies) cannot get the idea behind catch and release fishing. We were talking about salmon at the time.

One accepted that it was a hobby and just dropped it. The other, (Mr) basically thought either kill the fish or don’t do it at all.


Thin end of the wedge and all that

I agree. I can't also get my head around it with game fish. Either catch it and kill it or leave the thing alone entirely. With coarse fish it's different. I've no issue at all with catching and releasing. Or putting in a keep net for a count up or weigh in.

 

[kes]

Most people on here are competent and capable, solid supporters of shooting the above BASC post is at best patronising at worst out of touch. What are the orgs doing about ensuring all their members submit suggestions/ responses - nothing ?

 

[John Gryphon]

If and IF Game Shooting is banned there will simply be a proliferation in snaring and trapping, whether legal or not.
These pharkin` green antis have no idea that you cant cut the hunting out of a hunter like a splinter.

One of Victoria's legendary hounds men (sambar deer) answered my question "what are you gonna do George if the hound ban comes in?"

"I will head back into the mountains pick a nice gully head and release the hounds, I`m not stopping for any ****"

 

[Greenmist]

I did it and shared it with a dozen other syndicate members plus other friends. The apathy is what will kill the sport. Packham et Al are MUCH better supported (& funded)

I wouldn't say better funded, but they certainly have a better media presence and are a lot more organised, which is strange when there are just three of them

 

[sikamalc]

Most people on here are competent and capable, solid supporters of shooting the above BASC post is at best patronising at worst out of touch. What are the orgs doing about ensuring all their members submit suggestions/ responses - nothing ?

Ok let's give all of this a break. We, as in the site owners have worked long and hard to encourage major shooting organisations to join the site. If you have an issue with them, contact them direct.
And before anyone says, oh its a public forum. No its not. Its a private forum, public can read it, but cant contribute unless they join.

And to add to this, frankly my patience with some on here is wearing thin. Make of that what you will.

 

[Stalker62]

Most people on here are competent and capable, solid supporters of shooting the above BASC post is at best patronising at worst out of touch. What are the orgs doing about ensuring all their members submit suggestions/ responses - nothing ?

You have no idea who or how many people on here, are 'competent and capable' (no one does).

Once again you are running the risk of presenting yourself as the 'voice' of others. You are not.

Speak for yourself when you post (literally yourself - although at a push you could speak for @Triton).

 

[muddy42]

Done. I have to say some of the questions were a bit strange. It always makes me think what are they getting at here, how are the responses going to be spun.

I think a blanket licensing system isn't right. I have ethical issues with large scale factory shooting but would rather it was self-governed in a better way.

 

[kes]

My response to the consultation elicited 2 e-mails from Welsh Conservative MP's who have argued their view and confirmed they will fight the proposed introduction of licensing for releases as they know it will be the first stage of a complete ban which the SYNOD majority is committed to. The majority in the SYNOD is labour. My own MP is also strongly against the proposal as well as selective increases in Council tax for areas with large 'incoming' populations (usually from England).

 

[Utectok]

In Scotland there is licensing for the release of stocked trout and it is a well run and simple process. In theory the same could be possible for releasing pheasants and it would actually work quite well….. Only problem is this probably politically driven and there is an agenda around restricting shooting so it will almost certainly be restrictive , expensive and difficult to obtain. It’s a shame because licensing, as such, might not be all bad…..

 

[griff]

I'm having a difficult time with this, on one hand I find the commercial shoots totally indefensible, but on the other know that it will only be the start of a slippery slope to a total ban if we do not back it..

 

[Seaview]

Once shooting gets baned in Wales the next step the Packam Brigade will be aming for will be England. So just answer NO to all questions.

 

[Apthorpe]

I share plenty of people's distaste for large commercial shooting. However:
1. The Welsh proposals appear not to distinguish between small and large shoots. Once you create an avenue to empower a group of antis at NRW to effectively close down shoots, whatever assurances are given, the fact is that they will use it to close all shoots in time.
2. How many small shoots would survive without the benefits they enjoy from large shoots? Supplies of gamekeepers equipment, poults, feed pellets etc. are all dependent on the existence of the large shoots that form a large part of the market.
3. The best argument in defence of shooting is that of liberty. We may not care for an activity or find it repulsive, but that is no argument for banning it. Arguments about what size bag is justified are not persuasive to people who think that no killing of any animal is acceptable.

 

[Steyer 6.5]

Done.

 

[Liveonce]

Once shooting gets baned in Wales the next step the Packam Brigade will be aming for will be England. So just answer NO to all questions.

Yet not a word about this on WJ blog, conclude what you like from that, but surprised they have not asked their supporters to take part.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Ok let's give all of this a break. We, as in the site owners have worked long and hard to encourage major shooting organisations to join the site. If you have an issue with them, contact them direct.
And before anyone says, oh its a public forum. No its not. Its a private forum, public can read it, but cant contribute unless they join.

And to add to this, frankly my patience with some on here is wearing thin. Make of that what you will.

I understand it’s a private site and you have the final say ,but that’s a thin edge of a rather unpleasant wedge.

It’s no different to folk giving bad feedback to a bad retailer and being censored because they pay to advertise on the site.
I would hope that whilst you want to encourage basc ( I don’t see SGA etc on here btw) I would hope their skin is thick enough to deal with criticism.

As you said though , your ball so I’ll say no more .

 

[Bubbsyboy]

Done

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Most people on here are competent and capable, solid supporters of shooting the above BASC post is at best patronising at worst out of touch. What are the orgs doing about ensuring all their members submit suggestions/ responses - nothing ?

My response to the consultation elicited 2 e-mails from Welsh Conservative MP's who have argued their view and confirmed they will fight the proposed introduction of licensing for releases as they know it will be the first stage of a complete ban which the SYNOD majority is committed to. The majority in the SYNOD is labour. My own MP is also strongly against the proposal as well as selective increases in Council tax for areas with large 'incoming' populations (usually from England).

BASC, CA, GWCT and NGO are amongst the organisations that have been raising awareness of the proposals and encouraging their members and the wider shooting and rural community to get involved. Responses to the consultation are via a Natural Resources Wales online survey and the feedback I have had and read online so far is that people have found guidance, short or long, helpful on how to answer the many leading questions in that survey. Yours is the first criticism I have read as regards providing guidance and thank you for sharing that. That said, essentially you have had two thinly veiled pops at BASC on SD since the consultation launched, and may I respectfully suggest that now is the time to unite and fight, whatever our shooting interests, wherever we live, and whenever our axes to grind first arose, and your support would be great moving forward.

Basic guidance is as follows:

Q1: Give your name. Q2: Give your email address (optional). Q3: Ignore. Q4: Say no, because that is a ban on gamebird releasing. Qs 5-8 Say no, because these are leading questions. Qs 9-12: you can skip these questions, unless you have comments to make on whether the proposals could in any way affect opportunities for people to use the Welsh language.

A more detailed guide is here:

BASC guidance for answering Welsh gamebird releasing consultation - BASC

Natural Resources Wales wants your view on proposals to introduce a licensing system for the release of pheasants and red-legged partridges in Wales. You can respond and say no to the proposals by completing a Read more…

basc.org.uk

Even more detailed guidance and background is here:

Welsh gamebird releasing consultation - guidance and background

Game shooting in Wales is under attack. Read our guidance and background information and complete the consultation today.

basc.org.uk

For greater insights you can listen to a podcast here (April 2023):

Podcast

Each episode includes the latest news and views relating to shooting with expert analysis of shooting-related affairs and interviews.

basc.org.uk

I think you have mentioned on here before that you are a landowner in Wales and do some shooting and conservation on that land - maybe release some pheasants etc - if so, it's really important that your concerns are heard in your response to the consultation.

You mention that you have engaged with your local MPs and had positive responses which is great and if you could also respond to the consultation as a landowner and shooter in Wales whose rights will be directly impacted that would be great.

Also, it would be fantastic if you could email everyone you know, put up posters, give out leaflets and spread the word on Facebook etc. There are resources to download to do all of that and more here:

Act Now campaign toolkit - BASC

Download our digital toolkit and help us fight back against proposals to ban gamebird releasing in Wales.

basc.org.uk

 

[Mike L]

Very magnanimous Conor, considering everybody on here knows Kes’s/Triton’s agenda

 

[kes]

Naturally I have responded as a landowner and replied to a consultation request from another shooter who is a friend and is covering all the people we know involved with shooting, including other landowners with bigger holdings. I also have a friend in the GWCT who advises local shoots so from this end all has already been covered.
Perhaps you might create a letter, much like CA has, which provides the MP contact for your area and automatically sends an e-mail to all your members England and Wales, possibly Scotland with a request to press 'the response button'.
This is the first stage of another, far more serious attack on shooting - coming soon probably to England and Scotland . I agree that we should all do all we can. I am comfortable with all that I have done if not that the responses will actually mean anything as consultations have been ignored previously.

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Naturally I have responded as a landowner and replied to a consultation request from another shooter who is a friend and is covering all the people we know involved with shooting, including other landowners with bigger holdings. I also have a friend in the GWCT who advises local shoots so from this end all has already been covered.
Perhaps you might create a letter, much like CA has, which provides the MP contact for your area and automatically sends an e-mail to all your members England and Wales, possibly Scotland with a request to press 'the response button'.
This is the first stage of another, far more serious attack on shooting - coming soon probably to England and Scotland . I agree that we should all do all we can. I am comfortable with all that I have done if not that the responses will actually mean anything as consultations have been ignored previously.

That's great, thank you.

BASC, CA, GWCT and NGO are using various means to encourage responses to the consultation. There is not a one-size-fits-all approach, if that makes sense.

People can visit the CA webpage below to fill in their details and send a template message to Natural Resources Wales which will become their response to the consultation, and for those living in Wales, an additional email will be sent to their elected members in the Senedd.

Protect the future of shooting | Take action now

Take action now to protect the future of shooting across the United Kingdom. Sign our e-lobby to make your voice heard.

countryside-alliance.ac-page.com

The NGO has published an in-depth guidance video on responding to the consultation here:



The GWCT guidance on responding to the consultation is here:

GWCT Guidance for responding to Welsh gamebird releasing consultation - Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust

www.gwct.org.uk

BASC is encouraging people to complete a short survey on the Natural Resources Wales website to SAY NO to the proposals.

Act now - BASC

Game shooting in Wales under attack. The Welsh government have launched proposals to ban gamebird releasing in Wales.

basc.org.uk

Whatever anyone does in getting their views registered in response to the consultation I am sure we will agree its better than doing nothing at all.