Shooting is under threat across the UK like never before so the leading organisations in the sector are urging everyone to act now to safeguard its future.

Scotland is on the cusp of making shooting grouse illegal and introducing a licensing regime citing poor and illegal practice; the Welsh Government has stated it is anti-shooting and set to ban snares while England is teetering on the brink of banning released game birds in protected areas.

In addition, Labour intends to review grouse shooting when it next gets in to power due to perceived ‘substantial environmental damage.’
Aim to Sustain – made up of eight key organisations –

believes that effective self-regulation not bureaucratic legislation across the sector is the best way of safeguarding the future of sustainable game management and shooting.

The group – which includes the British association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Countryside Alliance, British Game Assurance, National Gamekeepers Organisation, Game Farmers Association, The Moorland Association and Scottish Land and Estates, together with its scientific advisor, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust – now needs everyone’s help.

Scientific research by the GWCT shows than when shoots follow best practice guidelines significant biodiversity benefits are delivered. The GWCT, as scientific advisor to Aim to Sustain, is undertaking a survey to understand how the providers and participants in game shooting view self-regulation and how it could work best across the sector.
There are three short surveys – just choose the one most relevant to you. Each will only take five minutes but you need to be quick as the deadline is February 28^th.

• For game-rearers
• For game shoot managers
• For participants in game shooting