Good Service from BASC Wrexham

[CarlW]

@CarlW the GWTC are affiliated with the SGA, if I'm not mistaken the SGA has funded some research they were doing (I think it was regarding ticks and their relation with deer, grouse and sheep on the hill, but may be wrong).

They had a representative at the SGA AGM as well who spoke and got a bottle given to him, then again so did the guy from SNH discussing best practise

Maybe a good thing you could not make it!

TBH no single org is going to represent anyone's views 1 for 1. Whilst I hold the opinion that all UK sport shooting of game birds should be done on only wild birds and not hand reared and fed till the shooting season, and walked up only with no driven days, it is not for me to promote or enforce this position on anyone. I think would remove a lot of the criticism of the anti-mob, increase welfare and wild bird numbers if done correctly, not to mention get rid of the terrible trend of 'big bag' days where anything less than 1000 birds shot is a failure.

However, if such an idea came with the pretence of a ban on all other types of game bird shoots, it would not only be bad for the industry but also the people and families who rely on it for income. Hence, that is why I don't support initiatives or organisations that push for bans. As has been said, whole non-lead thing stinks as there is very questionable reasoning and evidence behind why BASC U-turned from their circa 2015 position of seeing lead shot as an acceptable risk.

The hallmark of good reasoning is changing your views if credible new information arises which makes your old view obsolete. As far as I am aware, no new info came up regarding the harmful effects of lead ( this I don't dispute, but I don't believe they have done their homework on exposure levels) but maybe an idea of making money out of marketing new cartridges did (although these already exist), who knows?

Listen to this podcast from 6:00 onwards, it is worthwhile.

I'd have snatched the f'kin' bottle back off him.

More seriously, I have no doubt that at some point the SGA will also roll over. Until then, they're doing no harm.

The only problem with clubs of any kind is that generally they are populated by kunts! Perhaps Jimmy has the right idea and we should all just take out individual insurance.

 

[finnbear270]

Had to look that one up...

I shall add it to my Onomasticon.

I had to check my double take there for a mo'

 

[User00040]

The only problem with clubs of any kind is that generally they are populated by kunts! Perhaps Jimmy has the right idea and we should all just take out individual insurance.

I would agree with the latter point if everyone owned their own ground (perhaps a lord/laird/lady), had a sizeable fortune and held sway within the political class.

Whilst a scant few do fall within this category, most do not. Most shooting/field sports orgs have their members in mind when speaking on their behalf, so they are doing their best to protect your interests.

Some might be willing to put their faith in the idea that everything will remain the same forever (or at least within their lifetime) so they can carry on without worry as they are doing no wrong. Unfortunately, even good and just laws can be changed and unless you are an individual who fits the description of my first sentence you will be powerless to do anything about it.

As reflected by recent comments from the RSPB:


To them, the countryside and its people are enemies of all bird species and wildlife in general, ignoring any and all evidence to the contrary. Any work done by orgs like the RSPB is important (like hush-hush deer and fox control) but any other actions from any other party should be overseen and monitored, especially if it involves the legal control of other species. Their way is the only way and this involves laws and licensing from people sitting in city offices with fancy degrees and big money.

It's a lose-lose situation without our own orgs to counter them.

 

[CarlW]

I would agree with the latter point if everyone owned their own ground (perhaps a lord/laird/lady), had a sizeable fortune and held sway within the political class.

Whilst a scant few do fall within this category, most do not. Most shooting/field sports orgs have their members in mind when speaking on their behalf, so they are doing their best to protect your interests.

Some might be willing to put their faith in the idea that everything will remain the same forever (or at least within their lifetime) so they can carry on without worry as they are doing no wrong. Unfortunately, even good and just laws can be changed and unless you are an individual who fits the description of my first sentence you will be powerless to do anything about it.

As reflected by recent comments from the RSPB:
View attachment 162089

To them, the countryside and its people are enemies of all bird species and wildlife in general, ignoring any and all evidence to the contrary. Any work done by orgs like the RSPB is important (like hush-hush deer and fox control) but any other actions from any other party should be overseen and monitored, especially if it involves the legal control of other species. Their way is the only way and this involves laws and licensing from people sitting in city offices with fancy degrees and big money.

It's a lose-lose situation without our own orgs to counter them.

I really don't know. BASC are a disgrace and most of the rest are weak.

I'm sticking with the SGA for now because they appear pretty darned aggro. However, they'll be my last ever shooting organisation. If they let me down, I'll go to insurance-only.

The lobbying side I can (and already do) do myself via MPs.

 

[User00040]

I really don't know. BASC are a disgrace and most of the rest are weak.

I'm sticking with the SGA for now because they appear pretty darned aggro. However, they'll be my last ever shooting organisation. If they let me down, I'll go to insurance-only.

The lobbying side I can (and already do) do myself via MPs.

Well, the 1st step for our orgs might be mirroring the quasi-governmental/enforcement approach that the RSPB has adopted. Then again maybe not as we are not self-righteous loonies!

If you look at my screengrab from the BBC article, the RSPB have an investigations unit, link to their site: Bird of prey persecution crimewave during lockdown - Investigations - Our work - The RSPB Community

Don't think any pro-fieldsports orgs have a specific task force or 'unit' looking into illegal damage and sabotage of legally placed traps, highseats and snares, or worse still intimidation and surveillance of gamekeepers and wildlife managers (not to mention members of their families) carried out by anti's with links to groups like Wild Justice.

The SGA help to keep records and inform the Police when such incidents occur, not sure about other orgs.

Supporting the right org is crucial, we can't let ourselves be misrepresented or vilified by anti's and their orgs.

 

[merlin]

Well, the 1st step for our orgs might be mirroring the quasi-governmental/enforcement approach that the RSPB has adopted. Then again maybe not as we are not self-righteous loonies!

If you look at my screengrab from the BBC article, the RSPB have an investigations unit, link to their site: Bird of prey persecution crimewave during lockdown - Investigations - Our work - The RSPB Community

Don't think any pro-fieldsports orgs have a specific task force or 'unit' looking into illegal damage and sabotage of legally placed traps, highseats and snares, or worse still intimidation and surveillance of gamekeepers and wildlife managers (not to mention members of their families) carried out by anti's with links to groups like Wild Justice.

The SGA help to keep records and inform the Police when such incidents occur, not sure about other orgs.

Supporting the right org is crucial, we can't let ourselves be misrepresented or vilified by anti's and their orgs.

....perhaps BASC should have halved the number of Political Officer roles they created, and spent the budget on specialists as described by Caberslash to deliver substantive evidence to debunk some of the claims made by organisations that attack shooting, support private prosecutions against instances of aggravated trespass, etc. I know which I think would deliver greater VFM....

 

[Mick Miller]

It's a lose-lose situation without our own orgs to counter them.

The problem is, they don't. Other than to occasionally pop up with some ill-conceived media piece, filmed most usually on a mobile phone (what was the point of a media centre?), with a wooly statement or rebutal. Always after the fact, mostly largely ignored. BASC's level of media savvy is sixth form at best, it is truly lamentable how bad they it is, directing their releases, as they are, toward those already shooting.

Rather than having spaffed countless thousands on jollies for MPs they would have done better to direct their attentions toward the general population, for it is they, not MPs, that ultimately influence policy.

 

[finnbear270]

That media centre has to be the biggest fluffed shot ever.

 

[finnbear270]

It’s probably filled with old desks & filing cabinets.

 

[terrier1]

For me it is not about BASC it about the future of our sport and to many people on here it our way of life. We have all just has a small taste of being without the sport we love with covid 19 and I would just like an organization who are as passionate as myself and some of the members on here. That not a lot to ask for so come on shooting organizations please get your act together or we are ALL going to be losers.

.

 

[AN DU RU FOX]

What gets me is if they actually did what shooters wanted instead of what some PR wizbang thinks,their memberships would go through the roof! maybe we need the ears of shooting

 

[countrryboy]

For me I couldn't care less about basc now, althou if someone still wants to join that's there decision I won't try to change it.

But the above 2 posts sum it up, were not asking for much.
Just a bit of common sense from shooting/country folk

I still can't comprehend how anyone at as could ever think wot they did is a good idea. Esp with no real threats on horizon, could understand it when LAG was going terribly ( which basc had a fair hand in) it really took CA to save that mess.
I'm not a conspiracy type of bloke but mibbee basc was so bad during that to try and get lead stopped but blame someone else, after all JS was boss for decades, his views must be right throu the org.

As own goals go it's absolutely spectacular completely out off nowhere.
Like a football team taking centre with no pressure and just turning round and knocking it in over own keepers head.

The sad part for me is basc haven't just shot there own foot off, they've also managed to shoot most of the others orgs feet as well.
They really could not off got it more wrong f they tried.

Very sad day when good honest orgs like GWCT are tarred with the stink off basc and this lead shot carry on.
Basc deserve to have members leaving in droves but very sad day if Gwct lose any members over this and that wil affect the future off shooting.