Something to Grouse about?

There has probably been more coverage in the broadcast and printed media over the last few weeks than ever before, wish some well-known personalities making all sorts of claims about the negative impacts of grouse shooting.

More info on that and what BASC has done about it can be read about in the below articles:

BASC complains to BBC after hen harrier broadcast
BASC gives MP's the facts on grouse
BASC accuses Chris Packham of misleading consumers on new anti-shooting campaign

BASC will always respond robustly to any attack on shooting in the media, and thank goodness we have a large and well experienced press team to do just that.

New addition to the BASC membership package

In July we increased our legal expenses cover to £250,000 per claim, although, thankfully, most of you reading this will never need to use that facility. 

Most common are dogs being injured on shoots. The most usual injuries are cuts and lacerations caused by working dogs running into something hazardous such as barbed wire.

From a purely insurance point of view, it can be tough to see and agree who would be liable, after all, most shoots in the UK probably have barbed wire on them. We all know where it is and the problems it can cause – indeed I managed to hospitalise myself last year after falling off a barbed wire fence I was scrambling over to retrieve a shot pheasant!

Starting this season, all BASC affiliated clubs and syndicates will have an extra layer of cover to take care of dogs injured on the shoot. The cover will be for up to £2,500 per claim, and will be as quick and easy to claim as possible. This is due to the massive support BASC receives from our insurance underwriters, Zurich.

The future of shooting

One of the ways we can help protect the future of shooting is to get more young people involved. I know we all do our bit to encourage our children and other relations to get involved, but what about the kids who do not come from a shooting background – I was one of them.

BASC is delivering a significant boost to its work with young people. The reason is simple the survival of shooting depends crucially on numbers. More than a million people are involved in shooting, with just under half shooting live quarry. However the overwhelming majority are over 40.

We have projects to take shooting and the joys of the countryside to thousands of children in 2018, at shows events, Scout Jamborees and much more. All of this costs money, and the more we have to spend the more we can deliver.

Your shoot can help by getting involved in the BASC on-shoot giving initiative. More details will be in the September issue of Shooting & Conservation, but if you want details now, just email david.ilsley@basc.org.uk.