Most shooting to continue in many areas

Game and clay shooting look set to carry on in many parts of the UK, subject to Tier restrictions, while those engaged in pest control should also be able to continue.

The changes in rules will also mean that many gun shops have been able to reopen. However, since the rules vary from devolved region to devolved region and in different tiers, here is an overview of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation’s and the Countryside Alliance’s understanding of the current situation.

ENGLAND

From December 2nd, subject to following strict Covid-19 guidelines, organised outdoor physical activity, including shooting, has been permitted.

Government regulations previously stated that the current national lockdown in

Click here for a full list of local restriction tiers by area.

Outdoor shooting activity

In all Tiers, 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 – 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.

Indoor shooting activity

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.

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. 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

Travel and overnight stays

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 your 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.

Gun shops

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

Essential bird and mammalian pest control

Pest control

To protect crops, livestock or conservation, this 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, along with game management and gamekeeping activities.

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.

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.

WALES

From 6pm on Friday, December 4th new restrictions on hospitality come into effect which include the closure of indoor activity and entertainment centres, including indoor shooting ranges.

Hospitality venues will be banned from serving alcohol. BASC’s interpretation of the details released so far is that shoots will not be legally permitted to serve alcohol in line with previous Welsh restrictions.

There are no changes to household bubbles or the number that may gather either indoors and outdoors. Recreational shooting activities such as target shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling, rough shooting and driven game shooting can continue to take place.

Up to 15 people will continue to 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.

Travel between Wales and other parts of UK

A Welsh Government announcement is expected later today to confirm that from 6pm on Friday 4 December people will be able to travel to and from Wales and Tier 1 and Tier 2 areas of England. This means that people will be able travel between these areas to take part in all types of recreational shooting such as target shooting, deer stalking, wildfowling, rough shooting and driven game shooting.

Travel restrictions will remain in force for people travelling to or from Wales and Tier 3 areas of England; and all of Scotland or Northern Ireland. It will therefore remain unlawful under Welsh regulations to travel between these areas unless for work or another ‘reasonable excuse’. Travelling to participate in a shoot or attend shooting related events is not a ‘reasonable excuse’.

Work as a ‘reasonable excuse’ includes 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.

SCOTLAND

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

New restrictions, particularly on travel, are in force from 6pm on 20 November until 6pm on 11 December.

People living in Tier 3 or Tier 4 areas must not travel out of their local authority area, except for certain essential purposes. Also, people living elsewhere in Scotland must not travel into Tier 3 or Tier 4 areas, except for essential purposes. And there must be no non-essential travel between Scotland and other parts of the UK. Breaching these travel rules will be a criminal offence.

Recreational shooting activities are not an essential purpose to travel. Please do not travel to take part in recreational shooting activities such as target shooting, game shooting, deer stalking or wildfowling.

Shooting related work is considered an essential purpose to travel. This 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.

Shooting is no longer exempt from socialising restrictions in Tier 4 areas. This means that shooting activities may only take place with up to a maximum of six people from no more than two households.

NORTHERN IRELAND

A two week ‘circuit breaker’ lockdown is in effect in Northern Ireland from 00:01 GMT Friday 27 November until 23:59 on Thursday 10 December.

BASC’s interpretation of the guidance and regulations for shooting is that indoor and outdoor sports are not permitted, other than at elite level.

 

For detailed information, please visit www.basc.org.uk/coronavirus