Coronavirus: Some shooting can take place as daily exercise in England

The latest news on shooting in a time of COVID. This article is updated regularly as new information becomes available. Check back often to see the latest position.

Updated Thursday 7th Jan 2021

BREAKING NEWS: IN ENGLAND WILDFOWLING, DEER STALKING AND ROUGH SHOOTING CAN CONTINUE AS PART OF YOUR DAILY EXERCISE IF IT CONFORMS TO CERTAIN CONDITIONS.

BASC has issued the following advice after the government clarified the guidance:

In light of the government providing greater clarity on its Covid-19 guidance and regulations, BASC is advising that outdoor shooting activities as a form of exercise are permissible once per day in England during the national lockdown, subject to two conditions.

You should only travel locally to shoot which is to “stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live” as defined in government guidance.
When shooting you should only meet with people you live with, your support bubble; or when on your own, with one person from another household.

If you cannot comply with these conditions, then you must not shoot as a form of exercise. To do so would place you at risk of a fine and may jeopardise your shotgun and/or firearm certificate. If you have no local shooting available then you will have to take your daily exercise in other ways.

Updated Wednesday 6th Jan 2021

BASC have issued the following guidance following the annoucement of a third wave of lockdowns.

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England

The purpose of the new national lockdown in England is to ensure that people stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

You must not leave home or travel unless you have a reasonable excuse.

Shooting for leisure or recreational purposes is prohibited. Driven game shooting or other group shooting activities are not permitted during the lockdown.

Shooting-related essential work is permitted in England and it is reasonable to travel outside your local area to carry out that essential work. This includes essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock such as the shooting and trapping of pest bird species under general licence; the management of rodents and rabbits; deer management as part of a plan agreed with and requested by the landowner. It is advised that you keep a copy of your shooting permission and a written request to undertake essential work with you so that you can present them if challenged by the authorities.

Game management work and gamekeeping activities such as management of game birds, conducting pest/predator control and undertaking habitat management are also permitted.

Everyone shooting during the Covid-19 pandemic must consider the impact of their actions on the image and reputation of the sport. We all have a responsibility to comply with Government regulations and guidance, and failure to do so may place you at risk of a fine and jeopardise your shotgun and firearm certificates.

Northern Ireland

A national lockdown is in force in Northern Ireland.

Outdoor sports are not permitted, other than at elite level. This means that outdoor recreational shooting activities are not permitted because recreational shooting is classed as sport under the Covid-19 framework in Northern Ireland. Recreational shooting activities affected included driven game shooting, rough shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling and target shooting.

All non-essential retail have closed and click and collect facilities are not permitted.

Shooting-related essential work is permitted and travelling to carry out this essential work is permitted. This includes essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock such as the shooting and trapping of pest bird species under general licence; the management of rodents and rabbits; deer management as part of a plan agreed with and requested by the landowner; and game management or gamekeeping activities such pest/predator control and habitat management.

Scotland

New Stay At Home Restrictions – Effective from 5th January 2021

Following the First Minister’s announcement, new ‘stay at home’ coronavirus restrictions will come into effect on the 5th January 2021. This means that all those residing in a tier 4 area should stay at home by law, and may only leave for an essential purpose.

Sport and exercise is deemed to be an essential reason to travel. This means that shooting activity (such as wildfowling, deer stalking or rough shooting) is permitted, so long as:

i) No more than two people from two households participate;

ii) The activity takes place within the local authority area in which you reside, or within five miles of your local authority area boundary.

This means, for example, that someone residing in Angus could go deer stalking in Perth and Kinross, provided they are within 5 miles of the Angus local authority border.

In light of the stringent socialising conditions BASC does not consider that driven game shooting or other recreational group shooting activities with more than two people should take place.

Essential pest control is considered an essential purpose to travel. Essential pest control could include: essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock such as the shooting and trapping of pest bird species under general licence; the management of rodents and rabbits; deer management as part of a plan agreed with and requested by the landowner; and game management or gamekeeping activities such as looking after game birds, pest/predator control and habitat management. All those undertaking essential pest control should carry written permission from the owner or occupier which states that they are contracted to undertake such activity.

Wales

Restrictions taking effect from Sunday 20 December

It has been announced that Wales will enter Level 4 restrictions from Sunday 20 December onwards.

As outlined in the Wales Coronavirus Control Plan people will be expected to stay at home; with travel only allowed for a reasonable excuse; and meetings outdoors are only allowed between people of the same household or support bubble.

Under Level 4 restrictions it is not a reasonable excuse to travel anywhere in Wales to take part in recreational shooting activities such as target shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling, rough shooting and driven game shooting.

Under Level 4 restrictions shooting-related essential work is permitted and it is a reasonable excuse to travel to carry out that essential work. This includes essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock such as the shooting and trapping of pest bird species under general licence; the management of rodents and rabbits; deer management as part of a plan agreed with and requested by the landowner; and game management or gamekeeping activities such as looking after game birds, pest/predator control and habitat management.

It continues to be unlawful to travel to and from Scotland; and to travel to and from Northern Ireland; unless for essential reasons as outlined in the Welsh, Scottish and NI regulations.

Updated Monday 21 December

BASC have issued the following guidance following Saturday's updates to the COVID-restrictions nationwide.

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England - Tier 4 restrictions and shooting

From Sunday 20 December new Tier 4 rules will be in force for London, the south-east and east of England.

BASC’s initial interpretation for shooting in Tier 4 areas is as follows:

Outdoor recreational shooting remains permissible in Tier 4 areas subject to two conditions. Firstly, you should only travel locally to shoot.
Secondly, when shooting you should only meet with people you live with, your support bubble, or with one other person.

In light of these conditions BASC does not consider that driven game shooting or other recreational group shooting activities should take place.

Taking part in recreational shooting is not a reasonable excuse to enter or leave a Tier 4 area.

Shooting-related essential work is permitted in Tier 4 areas and it is a reasonable excuse to travel to carry out that essential work.

This includes essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock such as the shooting and trapping of pest bird species under general licence; the management of rodents and rabbits; deer management as part of a plan agreed with and requested by the landowner; and game management or gamekeeping activities such as looking after game birds, pest/predator control and habitat management.

What to do if you can no longer attend a shoot you have paid for

Tier 1-3 restrictions

In Tier 1-3 areas, organised outdoor sport and physical activity can continue. This includes all recreational shooting activities such as target shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling, rough shooting and driven game shooting.

Driven game shooting and other group shooting activities are not subject to gathering limits (the ‘rule of six’). The legal requirements for shooting in groups remain as they were before the second lockdown. This means that the organiser or a participant must hold a valid shotgun or firearm certificate, conduct a risk assessment, and ensure all reasonable measures to limit the transmission of the coronavirus.

Those at work or providing voluntary services are exempt from gathering limits (e.g. gamekeepers, beaters and pickers-up).

Outdoor leisure and sports venues (including shooting venues) are permitted to open.

Organised indoor sport (such as target shooting) can take place in accordance with the ‘rule of six’ in Tier 1 areas. In Tier 2 areas, organised indoor sport can take place if separate households can be prevented from mixing. Organised indoor sport cannot take place in Tier 3 areas. There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes, supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s.

Shoots operating as a business and providing food and drink or accommodation must follow the relevant Tier guidance for the hospitality sector. Guest accommodation in Tier 3 areas must close.

Shoots not operating as a business and providing food and drink must conform to the indoor and outdoor gathering limits for the relevant Tier in force in their area. The exemption of outdoor physical activity from the gathering limits does not apply to associated social activity.

When travelling into or staying in a higher Tier area you should follow the rules for that area. When travelling into or staying in a lower Tier area, people should follow the rules for the Tier of their home area.

Government advice is that you should avoid travel into or out of Tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. Based on current guidance, this is advisory only and not a legal requirement.

However, it is clear the intention of the government’s guidance is to discourage long journeys wherever possible; and we encourage members to follow government advice and consider their individual circumstance before travelling.

If travelling to shoot, you must not leave home if you have Coronavirus symptoms or are self-isolating. At the shoot, you should follow the Covid Code to ensure the safety of yourself and others.

Non-essential retail, including gun shops are permitted to open.

During lockdown local sensitivities can be high – be aware of how your recreation may appear to others. Although it is not a legal requirement you may want to log your trip in advance with Police on 101.

Everyone shooting during the Covid-19 pandemic must consider the impact of their actions on the image and reputation of the sport. We all have a responsibility to comply with the letter and spirit of the regulations and guidance.

Scotland - Lockdown from 26th December

From the 26th December, all of mainland Scotland (including the Isle of Skye) will enter Tier 4.

Shooting is not exempt from socialising restrictions in Tier 4 areas.

This means that shooting activities may only take place with up to a maximum of 6 guns from no more than 2 households.

Beaters and pickers up are exempt from socialising restrictions as they are classed as paid workers.

Wales - Level 4 restrictions from 20th December

It has been announced that Wales will enter Level 4 restrictions from Sunday 20 December onwards.

As outlined in the Wales Coronavirus Control Plan people will be expected to stay at home, with travel only allowed for a reasonable excuse, and meetings outdoors are only allowed between people of the same household or support bubble.

Under Level 4 restrictions shooting-related essential work is permitted and it is a reasonable excuse to travel to carry out that essential work.

It continues to be unlawful to travel to and from Scotland; and to travel to and from Northern Ireland; unless for essential reasons as outlined in the Welsh, Scottish and NI regulations.

Everyone shooting and travelling to shoot during this new phase of restrictions should consider the impact of their actions on the reputation of shooting.

Updated Wednesday 25th November

BASC have issued the following advice:

When does the lockdown end in England?

Government guidance states that the new Tiered system will now come into effect from the beginning of 2 December. That means from the 2 December, subject to following strict Covid-19 guidelines, organised outdoor physical activity, including shooting, will be permitted in England.

Government regulations previously stated that the current national lockdown in England would last up to and including 2 December with the new Tiered system coming into effect on 3 December.

Where will the different tiers apply?

Government has said the new Tiers will be applied ‘locally’ or ‘regionally’. The Tier area boundaries will be published on Thursday 26 November and there will be a Tier Checker on the gov.uk website where people can enter a postcode and find out which Tier it is going to be in.

Outdoor shooting activity

In all Tier areas, organised outdoor sport and physical activity (including shooting) can continue. Government guidance does not suggest that such activity will be subject to gathering limits (the ‘rule of six’).

The legal requirements for shooting in groups are expected to remain as they were before the second lockdown. This means that the organiser or a participant must hold a valid shotgun or firearm certificate, conduct a risk assessment, and ensure all reasonable measures to limit the transmission of the coronavirus, but the legislation has yet to be published.

Those at work or providing voluntary services are exempt from gathering limits (e.g. gamekeepers, beaters and pickers-up).

Outdoor leisure and sports venues (including shooting venues) will be permitted to open.

Shoot meals and accommodation

Shoots operating as a business and providing food and drink or accommodation must follow the relevant Tier guidance for the hospitality sector. Guest accommodation in Tier 3 areas must close.

Travel and overnight stays

Government advice is that you should avoid travel to Tier 3 areas other than where necessary, such as for work, education, youth services, to receive medical treatment, or because of caring responsibilities. Similarly, government advice is that people should avoid travel out of a Tier 3 area other than where necessary.

Overnight stays for driven game shooting in Tier 3 areas are not permitted as guest accommodation must close and mixing of separate households indoors is not permitted.

Gun shops

Non-essential retail, including gun shops will be permitted to open.

Updated Monday 23rd November

Following Boris Johnson’s announcement that from 2nd December outdoor sports can recommence, shooting in England should be able to begin again from next Wednesday, subject to local tiered restrictions.

The news will come as a blessed relief, not only to every gun who had December dates in the diary, but to shoot owners and managers up and down the land, who were faced with a bleak winter of no shooting. The news will bring some comfort to those who rely on shooting for their livelihoods, both directly and indirectly.

Local restrictions still apply

Local restrictions will mean that shoots will have to continue to innovate when it comes to hospitality, and that some teams may not be able to travel if hotels are closed under tier 3. We will learn which regions will be in the top tier of restrictions later this week, though it is likely to include all of those that were in tier 3 before Lockdown 2.0 began. Given that travel in and out of tiers 2 and 3 will still be restricted, it looks like shooting closer to home will be the best plan for the rest of the season.

Excitement for the second start to the season

As the countdown begins, and excitement builds towards “The Glorious 2nd”, we remind all guns to be vigilant when out in the field and to ensure that their actions would stand up in the court of public opinion. Chris Horne, Managing Director of GunsOnPegs said:

"For the sake of the countryside I am delighted that we can get back underway. Shooting proved that it could operate comfortably within the rules and take the necessary precautions to keep everyone involved safe. We will continue, as a community, to operate to the highest standards and enjoy what are the best days of our lives for the rest of the season.”

BASC have issued the following statement:

On 2 December all outdoor shooting activities (including driven game shooting and other types of group shooting) can resume because the latest government guidance states that organised outdoor sport and physical activity can continue in all new tiers.

BASC will continue to update our Covid-19 advice here:

Find December shoot dates

Updated Tuesday 10th December

Shooting in Wales

From 9 November, the local lockdown measures that were in place before the firebreak have been replaced with a new set of national rules.
Under the new rules, recreational shooting activities such as target shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling, rough shooting and driven game shooting may resume.
Up to 15 people will be able to take part in organised indoor activities and up to 30 people in organised outdoor activities, providing all social distancing, hand hygiene and other Covid-19 safety measures are followed.
Businesses may re-open and new rules have been introduced for hospitality.
There are no travel restrictions for Welsh residents travelling within Wales.

Wales and England cross-border travel restrictions

During the lockdown in England (5 November to 2 December inclusive) it will be unlawful for people to travel between Wales and England (and vice versa) without a ‘reasonable excuse’. No person living in England may enter or remain in Wales without a ‘reasonable excuse’. Likewise, no person living in Wales may enter or remain in England without a ‘reasonable excuse’.

For these purposes, a person may have a ‘reasonable excuse’ to travel between Wales and England (and vice versa) for reasons such as work. Work reasons could include beating and picking up on shoot days; essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock such as the shooting and trapping of pest bird species under general licence; the management of rodents and rabbits; deer management as part of a plan agreed with and requested by the landowner; and game management or gamekeeping activities such as looking after game birds, pest/predator control and habitat management.

It would not be a ‘reasonable excuse’ to travel between England and Wales (and vice versa) to participate in a shoot or attend shooting related events.

Shooting in Scotland

Scotland has adopted a 5 tier approach to Coronavirus restrictions. Tiers have been assigned by local authority area and range from 0 – 4.

Travelling to and from the rest of the UK

The Scottish Government have advised, given the state of the epidemic across the UK, that people should avoid any unnecessary travel between Scotland and England, Wales, or Northern Ireland. You should use your own judgement when deciding whether or not to travel to take part in shooting activities, depending on your particular circumstances.

Updated Friday 6th November

The following updated advice has been issued:

What shooting activities are not permitted during the lockdown period in England?

Driven game and other types of group shooting cannot take place from Thursday 5 November to Wednesday 2 December inclusive, as the new coronavirus regulations prevent gatherings of more than two people.
England will return to a local and regional approach on 3 December and driven game shooting is expected to resume from that date subject to local and regional restrictions.
Leisure and sports facilities, including target shooting ranges and clay grounds are required to close up to and including 2 December.

What shooting activities are permited during the lockdown period?

Under the new coronavirus regulations, no person may leave or be outside of the place where they are living without reasonable excuse.

Exceptions where a person may leave their home include:

Recreational shooting activity such as informal rough shooting, wildfowling and recreational deer stalking may continue as ‘open air recreation’ but subject to strict legal limits on numbers. You may only participate in shooting activity with people you live with, your support bubble (if you are living alone), or one person from another household.
Essential bird and mammalian pest control to protect crops, livestock or conservation may continue during the lockdown period. Pest bird shooting must comply with relevant general or individual licences as applicable. Pest control services requested by a landowner or agent can be construed either as work (whether paid or unpaid) or voluntary service. The regulations do not impose any limits on how far you can travel.
Deer stalking as part of a management plan agreed with the landowner can similarly be considered as work or voluntary service. There are no legal restrictions on how far you can travel.
Game management and gamekeeping activities may continue during the lockdown period. Ensuring that birds under your care are adequately provided with food and water is important.

Government guidance advises that you should only make short journeys for the purposes of exercise and recreation – it does not define what distance they mean by this. You may not stay away from your home overnight to partake in recreational activity.

Non-essential retailers such as gun shops are allowed to trade remotely (online, mail order) and to provide “click and collect” services but customers are not allowed to enter the premises.

Take a precautionary approach

When shooting during lockdown, we would advise taking a copy of your shotgun or firearm certificate with you and paperwork for your permission to shoot on the land you are on.

Everyone shooting during lockdown must consider the impact of their actions on the image and reputation of the sport. We all have a responsibility to comply with the letter and spirit of the regulations and guidance.

Updated Tuesday 3rd November

Driven shooting must stop, but solo pest control, wildfowling and rough shooting may continue under lockdown.

BASC have issued the following advice on how Lockdown rules in England apply to shooting, following contact with the Government.

Driven game shooting should cease on Thursday 5 November and is expected to resume on Wednesday 2 December. England will return to a local and regional approach on 2 December. BASC is lobbying to ensure that Covid-19-safe driven game shooting can resume when lockdown ends.

Essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock may continue during the lockdown period.

The government has stated that where people cannot work effectively from home they should continue to travel to work/attend their workplace. Game management and gamekeeping activities may continue during the lockdown period.

Rough shooting, wildfowling and deer management may continue during the lockdown period as outdoor recreational activities, as long as you comply with the guidance. This includes making short journeys to your place of exercise, and you can only exercise with people you live with, your support bubble (if you are living alone), or one person from another household.

The government has ordered shooting ranges to close to reduce social contact.

BASC also advise that anyone shooting during lockdown should take a copy of your shotgun or firearm certificate with you and paperwork for your permission to shoot on the land you are on, adding that everyone shooting during lockdown should consider the impact of their actions on the reputation of shooting.

While the end of driven shooting for now will come as a disappointment to many it is perhaps not unexpected. Those who are able to take advantage of it will be glad of the fact that wildfowling, rough shooting and deer stalking can still be enjoyed as outdoor recreation. However, we would stress that it is important that the shooting community respects these rules and protects shooting from criticism.

Updated 2nd NOVEMBER - Lockdown in England from 5th November

That which we all hoped would not happen has happened, and obviously lots of people have lots of questions about how the new second lockdown will impact shooting. The simple answer to that is at present we don't know.

Given the similarities to the first lockdown, it seems reasonable to suppose that shooting will not be able to go ahead. However, we are also aware that an exception has been made for angling, and we are hopeful that there may be a slim possibility of shooting being treated in a similar way. We await updates from BASC and Countryside Alliance to confirm shooting's position one way or the other. We will update this article as we receive further information.

BASC have released the following statement in the interim:

BASC is clarifying with government the detail of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions due to take effect in England from 5 November to 2 December and what this means for shooting. The underpinning legislation has not yet been published and will be subject to a parliamentary vote on Wednesday. This makes it difficult to provide definitive answers in the short term.

It is likely that essential bird and mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock will be permitted.

It is unclear whether game shooting will be permitted due to restrictions on travel and social gatherings and guidance on the status of organised outdoor sporting activities is yet to be published.

Shoots have a legal duty of care towards birds under their care so essential gamekeeping such as feeding must continue.

The government has stated that it has ordered certain businesses and venues to close to reduce social contact and this includes shooting ranges.

What if shooting is not exempt?

Assuming a worst-case scenario, and that shooting is cancelled at least until 2nd December, there are several worrying implications. We are concious and concerned about the impact of shoots being unable to shoot the birds that they have released. Apart from the obvious financial implications of shoot days being cancelled in terms of cashflow for shoots, there are significant environmental and welfare concerns regarding the number of birds on the ground. The price of wheat and feed has also increased sharply, making caring for birds far more expensive for shoots.

Could the season be extended?

Lots of people have been asking about whether the season might be extended. Having taken part in a call with DEFRA earlier in the year on just this issue, it was confirmed that shooting season dates are part of primary legislation, so in order to change them a parliamentary vote would be needed.

Shooting in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland has adopted a 5 tier approach to Coronavirus restrictions. Tiers have been assigned by local authority area and range from 0 – 4.

Wales is currently in the middle of a two week fire-break. BASC issued the following guidance:

Everyone in Wales is required to stay at home. Exceptions are for exercise, essential supplies, critical workers and where working from home is not possible.

No gatherings are permitted with people you do not live with either indoors or outdoors. The only exception to this is if you are an adult living alone or are a single parent household. If this applies, you can be in a temporary extended household with one other household.

Certain businesses and venues, including bars, restaurants and most shops, including gun shops, must close.

During this lockdown period it is a reasonable excuse to continue carrying out essential bird or mammal pest control to protect crops or livestock with the landowner’s permission. It is not a reasonable excuse to take part in recreational shooting activities such as target shooting, game shooting and wildfowling.

In Northern Ireland outdoor recreational activities, including shooting, can take place however the Executive has advised against any unnecessary travel. You should use your own judgement when deciding whether or not to travel to take part in shooting activities, depending on your particular circumstances.

Shooting before lockdown

The new measures, whatever they turn out to be, come into force in England on Thursday 5th November. Until then, the regional tier system applies. Several shoots have scheduled dates between now and then specially to cater for those who want to squeeze one last-minute day in before the new rules hit. Visit the new newsfeed on the homepage for the latest availability.

UPDATED: 27th April 2020

First of all, our thoughts are with anyone affected by this rather awful outbreak, not just those that are ill, but those whose businesses and lives have been flipped upside down as a result of it.

This time of year is a crucial one for the people who manage shoots - many are in the process of hatching and rearing, or buying in chicks, as well as taking bookings for the season ahead. The financial outlay involved in rearing or purchasing chicks is significant, and lots of shoots rely on taking deposits from guns to help offset some of this cost. Shoots now have some very big decisions to make.

What GunsOnPegs are doing to help

Many shoots are already feeling immense strain as a result of guns being wary of committing to days, which is putting jobs at risk. As a result, GunsOnPegs is doing whatever it can to help shoots facing closure if they cannot sure up their immediate future. Although any shoot can post up to three dates on GunsOnPegs for free, we are making it entirely free for any shoot selling days of 100 birds or fewer, and we are opening up thousands of pounds of free advertising to shoots in trouble, in order to try and bring them customers who, like us, expect the shooting season to continue as normal by the time we get there.

Our view

Things are obviously very fluid, with government advice changing seemingly daily, so it is very hard to make any long-term predictions about what will happen in the next few months. However, many people are asking us about the coming season and what we think the impact of social distancing and other government imposed measures is likely to be, so we thought we would share our thoughts with you, based upon the situation as things stand at present.

Many of you may be wondering whether you should still book shooting for next season, understandably concerned that you may be unable to attend, either due to illness or government restrictions on social gatherings. Obviously each individual will need to make up their own mind about what they think is the right thing to do, but here are some things to keep in mind. We don't want to scare anyone or be alarmist, but the reality is that without commitment from guns and the shooting community rallying round, job could be lost and shoots may be forced to close.

Will you be able to get your gun out next season?

We feel that, given currently available information, we would hope that there will not be an impact on people’s ability to attend shoot days come September and October. There is talk of some form of social distancing remaining in place for a while after lockdown. Looking at other countries, group sizes for gatherings are being increased as of Monday 27th April. In Western Australia for example, gatherings of 10 are now allowed. We therefore see it reasonable to expect that gatherings of a line of guns come August, September or October to be fine. The other big question will be the appetite for older guns within a syndicate to want to spend time with others.

We know that the shooting community is a strong one, and now is time for us all to come together to ensure that the pursuit that we all love, and the estates that lay on the best days of our lives, are able to continue operating.

Consequently, we would encourage people who are keen on shooting this season to go ahead and make bookings, pay deposits, keep calm and carry on. However, we would also suggest that before doing so you speak to the shoot about what may happen in the various possible scenarios of cancellation to see if you can find a sensible agreement.

This, however, is contingent upon there being shoots to attend, so with this in mind, on 20th April we surveyed more than 600 shoots to find out how the pandemic has changed their plans for the 2020/21 season.

How much shooting will there be next season?

The good news is that two thirds of shoots are still planning to have a season of some kind. Of these, 59% are continuing with a normal program in terms of the number of days they’re planning on shooting. Interestingly, 10% of these shoots plan to run more days than last season. The remaining 30% or so plan to run a reduced season, shooting fewer days.

More: Search for shooting now

15% of shoots are mothballing for the coming season which means that in total, of those who have made a decision either way, the average shoot will be reducing the number of days they shoot by 42%.

A further 18% of shoots have yet to make a decision, waiting to see what further advice the government issues in the coming weeks, and the availability of poults.

Barney Stratton, of Stockton Shoot, in Wiltshire told us:

We are planning to operate at about 75% of normal. We have lost more of the larger (300 bird) days but very few days of 150 or below. It has been important to be open with teams about the risks and rewards of going ahead, communicating frequently about the changing scenarios, and being prepared to roll-over deposits in worse case scenarios.

Given the decision of some shoots to reduce the number of days they are shooting, or to mothball altogether, there are likely to be lots of Guns seeking new shoots to attend this season. This is reflected in the decision of 10% of shoots carrying on planning to shoot more days that last season. Barney added:

Since the lockdown we have sold a number of days to teams who have relocated from shoots that have mothballed and the issue of the moment is whether we put down some extra birds to enable us to accommodate teams who get braver about looking for shooting as the lockdown lifts. After all, there are 4 months before the season starts.

Barney told us that he has been encouraged by the response from his guns, highlighting the importance of having a flexible approach in these uncertain times, saying: "Overall, I have been very heartened at the positive attitudes taken by my teams."

Big shoots hit the hardest

The largest shoots, with average bags over 250, are most likely to be mothballing (22%) and the number of days they’re planned on such shoots (including those who aren’t shooting at all) will reduce by 50%.

The mid-sized shoots, with bags between 100 and 250, are going to be shooting 41% fewer days this year.

The smallest shoots are going to be reducing their days by 27% and are least likely to be affected by this crisis.

A brigher picture than imagined

Broadly speaking, we see these figures as a slightly more positive than many expected, and while we must sound a cautious note over the number of shoots who have yet to decide upon a strategy, the situation looks far better than it potentially could have done. If you do plan to go ahead with your season, we anticipate that demand will be high for shoots with availability, as Guns whose usual shoots are mothballed or running reduced programmes. GunsOnPegs will be seeking to keep guns informed about availability, and we would advise booking early to ensure the greatest choice. There has never been a better time to sign up to our newsletter, and a GunsOnPegs Premium Membership, with the PegMatch and Shooting Alert features, could be a useful tool for those seeking a new venue.

What does your shooting insurance cover?

In terms of insurance, our shoot cancellation insurance, through Triple Barrelled Cover, does not cover a shoot that is cancelled for anything other than bad weather, disruption by antis or financial failure. It does however cover you if you are ill and cannot attend.