BASC - The British Association for Shooting and Conservation

08/10/2026

"This is not a done deal."

Conor O'Gorman has spent 20 years at BASC working on conservation and policy. In his latest blog he explains why Defra must read and count every email, why an example from Wales shows that responding works, and why your own experience is evidence nobody else can give on your behalf.

Remember, you can live outside England and still respond to the call for evidence; just share what your connection is to shooting in England.

Read Conor's blog here 👇
https://basc.org.uk/the-most-important-thing-you-can-do-this-month/

BASC Scotland, BASC Wales, BASC NI Team

The government's review of game shooting closes on 1 November. One email is all it takes. If you haven't sent yours yet, today is the day.

07/10/2026

Shadow Farming Minister Robbie Moore MP told our rural reception at the Conservative Party Conference that his party will work to protect shooting from threats such as shoot licensing. But as a party in opposition, he said it needs the rural community's support to make that case.

"We are going to need all of your help to make sure that we are banging the drum… for the rural way of life."

The reception, co-hosted with the Angling Trust, rounded off a series of four this autumn at the Reform UK, Liberal Democrat, Labour and Conservative conferences, as we take shooting's case to politicians across the political spectrum.

Read more 👇

The threat of shoot licensing to rural life was high on the agenda at BASC's Conservative Conference rural reception earlier this week.

06/10/2026

A right royal celebration in the uplands...

Last week, BASC's Patron Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal joined 167 children from five Lancashire primary schools to experience first-hand what Let's Learn Moor delivers.

A huge thank you to Grosvenor's Abbeystead Estate, Forest of Bowland Moorland Group, Countryside Learning, Lancashire Police, Wyre Rivers Trust, Field & Fell and L&A Dent Game Dealers for their support in making this special celebratory event happen.

Let’s Learn Moor is a collaborative educational project overseen by BASC and funded by BASC’s Legacy Fund. Events run annually in July and are facilitated by the Regional Moorland Groups and private estates across northern England, with the support of more than 50 other partners.

Read the full story:

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal joined 167 pupils from Lancashire primary schools to mark the tenth anniversary of Let's Learn Moor.

05/10/2026

BASC has told the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee that the Hunting with Dogs Bill is unworkable.

Tommy Mayne, Dr Alex Murray and Glynn Evans gave oral evidence on how the bill's broad definition of hunting could criminalise legitimate dog use, leave landowners exposed and put fi***rm certificate holders at risk of having their guns seized.

Read more 👇
basc.org.uk/hunting-with-dogs-bill-unworkable

BASC NI Team

BASC has told the Stormont AERA Committee that the Hunting with Dogs Bill is unworkable due to its implications for fi***rm certificate holders, dog owners and landowners.

05/10/2026

A busy rural pub through winter. A reason to get outside and connect with others. These experiences matter - and Defra needs to hear them.

As the pheasant season gets underway, talk to people on your shoot about what shooting means to them. Have they shared their story? Have you?

Send your experiences and encourage others to do the same before 1 November.

👉 Email Defra today: https://basc.org.uk/thevoiceofshooting/

04/10/2026

🛎️🛎️ICYMI🛎️🛎️

This month's podcast is a special episode all about Defra's call for evidence on gamebird shooting.

It features Northampton Saints and England rugby player Ollie Sleightholme, gundog trainer Ben Randall and our very own Michelle Nudds.

Hear what they have to say by listening to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or here: https://basc.org.uk/podcast/

03/10/2026

Your first-hand observations can help explain what shoot management delivers for wildlife. Write down what you do, what you’ve noticed and any records you’ve kept, and send it to Defra before 1 November.

One email to save the future of shooting.

👉 Email Defra today: https://basc.org.uk/thevoiceofshooting/

03/10/2026

Looking for new recipes to try now the pheasant season is underway?

Look no further than the Eat Game website.

From pheasant schnitzel with mango-chilli sauce to the Big McPheasant burger - find them all here ⬇️
https://ow.ly/PKff50ZTxFB

02/10/2026

In a key period of change for rural Britain, we are looking for a Director of Political Affairs with the skills and expertise to take a senior and strategic role in leading our political strategy, advocacy initiatives and stakeholder engagement with elected officials, political parties and policy influencers.

Find out more on our website: https://basc.org.uk/director-of-political-affairs/

02/10/2026

Have you sent your email to Defra yet?

Find out more and use the template on our website: https://basc.org.uk/thevoiceofshooting/