Is it time for change?

Amid widespread fears for the future of shooting, Tim Weston takes a look at the proactive ways we can face these challenges head on

- Tim Weston

Driven game shooting has undergone some changes since I have been involved with it, most for the better to be honest. We are, as a sector, far better at regulating ourselves, as can be shown with regards to the reduction of antibiotic use in the rearing of game birds by our game farmers and gamekeepers.

It was a similar scenario with a drug called Emtryl; the licence was removed for animal use and we adapted and got better at what we do, making game bird rearing far more ethical and environmentally friendly. We have also modified our snares and now use far better hardwear for catching foxes, which don’t catch non-target species.

Shooting is a sport, there is no question about that in my view. It is there to be enjoyed by the Guns, beaters, pickers-up and everybody else involved with the day. As we all know, driven shooting takes many forms, from larger days to more intimate days on a smaller scale and it is great to see young and old getting involved and rural committees being supported by what we do.

However, this season, as I have been going about on shoots and speaking to Guns, a very worrying theme has developed among many of them. I have heard more than once that shooting only has 10 to 20 years left. I really don’t like that sentiment and feel that we (the people who shoot) don’t need to be so negative. Yes, we are under a lot of pressure from the other side and they are probing and prodding at us through legislation and fake news. However, we have such a good story to tell when it comes to conservation and the social benefits that shooting brings, we should be more positive and proactive.