News
Findhorn Bay: Anti-Shooters Destroy Agreement
Many of you will be aware of the negotiation over wildfowling at Findhorn Bay. Despite local wildfowling being a long-established cultural and wild food harvesting activity of abundant species, a number of anti-shooters have sought to stop wildfowling or restrict it to the point where it is no longer viable…
Findhorn Update and 2019 Restrictions
For anyone who wildfowls at Findhorn: Update on the Findhorn wildfowling negotiation and 2019-2020 season voluntary shooting restrictions. Links at bottom, but please read the following briefing first…
Proposed Scottish Green Party Legislation
The SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY wants to ban all fox, hare and potentially other wild mammal control in Scotland. Alison Johnstone MSP is looking to draft a Private Member’s Bill and has launched a public consultation exercise to that end. As reckless as this proposed legislation might sound to anyone with a basic grounding in the realities of the natural world and farming, we cannot ignore this threat and need to respond robustly and intelligently…
Findhorn Wildfowlers’ Statement
Today, 10th September 2019, the Economic Development & Infrastructure Services Committee of Moray Council met to discuss the wildfowling situation at Findhorn and whether the anti-wildfowling petition should be dismissed. During the meeting a number of councillors gave their opinions on the matter and what could be done going forward…
Deer Working Group Report
In late March, the Scottish Government published its response to the report from the independent Deer Working Group on ‘The management of wild deer in Scotland’. The earlier SACS response can be found HERE.
Game Dealers’ Lead Ammunition
The National Game Dealers Association has voted to commit to sourcing all feather and fur game as well as venison and wild boar from lead-free supply chains from 1st July 2022.
Scottish Government Deer Group Report
The Scottish Government has published its response to the Deer Working Group report. This is essential reading for deer managers and land owners. Link below:
Ardmoor and SACS
In these times of political turmoil where, more often than not, it feels as though our politicians are doing their best to curtail all rural activities…
Proposed Ban on Hare & Fox Control
Scottish Green Party MSP Alison Johnstone has launched the first stage in her bid to ban ALL fox and hare control in Scotland. Following a public consultation exercise she intends to put forward a member’s bill in the Scottish Parliament. The text of her proposal and related public consultation can be read from the link below…
Brexit & Shooting
As things stand, the UK will exit the EU on 29 March or, now more likely, some extended date a few weeks after that. Leaving the EU with a ‘deal’ remains the UK Government’s top priority. However, at the time of writing (13 March 2019), there appears to be little prospect of a deal being agreed. Some of you will be lucky enough to have plans for European hunting trips this year with your own firearms. Up until Brexit you would have made use of the excellent and efficient European Firearms Pass (EFP). But after Brexit, what are the options…
Scottish Government to Restrict Fox Control
This afternoon in Parliament, RANE Minister Mairi Gougeon made her long-awaited statement on how the Scottish Government intends to implement the findings of Lord Bonomy’s report on the operation of the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002. For those unfamiliar, this legislation regulates the use of dogs in fox control in Scotland…
Welsh Pheasant Shooting Debacle
Most members will be aware of the extraordinary debacle in Wales, where public land management body Natural Resources Wales has chosen to prohibit the leasing of pheasant shooting rights on its land. This decision was taken despite the overwhelmingly supportive evidence gathered in an official Call for Evidence and presented in a subsequent report…
Fox Control - Email Your MSP
Following the January statement by RANE Minister Mairi Gougeon MSP, where she announced further restrictions on fox control using dogs, a huge amount of work has been going on behind the scenes to mitigate the damage of the Scottish Government's intentions. SACS has been working tirelessly on a number of advocacy points, which are ongoing, but as lambing and nesting…
Full SACS and Findhorn Wildfowling & Conservation Association Statement:
"Wildfowling is an ancient and conservation-led harvesting activity involving the sustainable harvesting of overabundant wild geese. Without this harvest, goose numbers increase to the point where the environment becomes damaged from over-grazing”…
SACS Letter to Nicola Sturgeon
Yesterday, SACS wrote to the Leader of the Scottish National Party, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, in the strongest terms regarding the SNP National Council votes in favour of licensing driven grouse shooting and restricting the use of dogs in fox control. In our letter, we stated…
Reminder: Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Consultation
Reminder: Scottish Government consultation ‘Improving the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002’ closes on 31 January:
This consultation seeks the views of the public on:
Restricting terrierwork
Introducing vicarious liability for wild mammal control using dogs…
Update for all Findhorn wildfowlers
Moray Council ban on shooting over Council land at Findhorn Bay. From Moray Council: “The Economic Development and Services Committee on the 5 September 2017 agreed to support the voluntary scheme proposed by the Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve Management Committee for the 2017/18 season. A review of the scheme will take place at the end of the season…
Wildfowler’s statement on Findhorn Fiasco
This is a joint statement from Forres, Nairn & District Wildfowling Association, Findhorn Wildfowling & Conservation Association, Ardersier & District Wildfowling Club and the Scottish Association for Country Sports (SACS). These comprise the entirety of local Findhorn wildfowling bodies, supported by SACS…
SACS response to BASC Findhorn statement
SACS is disappointed to read BASC Scotland’s recent statement in regard to the ongoing battle to protect wildfowling on Findhorn Bay. In their statement, BASC Scotland directly implies that SACS and wildfowlers, including Findhorn Wildfowling & Conservation Association, are at fault in our decision to walk away from the proposed permit scheme, which is supported by BASC Scotland. BASC Scotland also implies that SACS…
Wildfowlers and SACS withdraw from Findhorn Bay discussions
Following a misleading petition from anti-shooters, SACS was asked by the local and visiting wildfowling communities to help their cause and get their voices heard. That request was met with vigour and commitment by SACS and we have worked tirelessly with Findhorn Wildfowling & Conservation Association (FWCA), Findhorn Bay Local Nature Reserve (LNR)…