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THE BDS HIGHLANDS BRANCH

Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) Highlands branch including events, contacts, and news.

Branch Area and committee

Contacts

ChairmanStewart Blair chairhighlands@bds.org.uk
Vice-Chair and SecretaryAndy Wallishighlands@bds.org.uk
TreasurerRon Taylorhighlands@bds.org.uk
Branch EventsStephen Connollyhighlandevents@bds.org.uk
RSODr James Vestey 

Committee

Andrew Yool, Alistair Monkman, Marian Yool, Jen Ross and Lucie Mayerova.

Postcode Area
HS Western Isles
IV Inverness
KW Kirkwall
PA Paisley
PH19 – PH50 Perth
ZE Lerwick

EVENTS

Date

Event

10th March 2024

Branch AGM

28TH APRIL 2024

CAWDOR RANGE – PRACTICE

4th May 2024

Cawdor Range – Spring Competition

4th May 2024

emergency first aid at work + forestry course

26th May 2024

Cawdor Range – practice

1st June 2024

Cawdor Range – Summer Competition

7th July 2024

Cawdor Range – practice - Team Selection

18th August 2024

Cawdor Range – practice - Team Selection

8th September 2024

Cawdor Range – SIBS Competition

27th October 2024

Cawdor Range –Practice

2nd November 2024

Winter Competition

Please see below for more details in the news section or email highlandevents@bds.org.uk 

NEXT BDS NATIONAL EVENT

No upcoming events, please check back soon.

NEWS

CAWDOR RANGE 2024 SEASON

Cawdor Rifle and Gun Club (CRGC) have kindly arranged the following dates when BDS members (and guests by arrangement) can use the Range during the 2024 Season.  The Range is located at Glengeoullie 11/2 miles SE of Cawdor Castle (O.S. map ref: NH 857 477)

The range provides firing points at 100, 200 and 300 yards and only full bore stalking rifles with deer-legal calibre / bullet weight and muzzle velocity not exceeding 1,000 m/s (3,275 fps) and a maximum muzzle energy of 4,500J (3,319 ft/lbs) may be used.

The use of stalking aids and rests to improve accuracy from a variety of shooting positions under field conditions is encouraged, such as bipods, shooting sticks and normal stalking equipment.  Basic zeroing targets, BDS black “roe” silhouette targets and a number of more realistic Red, Sika and Roe deer targets, with no visible aiming mark are now available to help achieve optimum bullet placement.

The programme for range days is as follows:

April 28th                    Sunday – practice

May 4th                      Saturday – Spring Competition

May 26th                     Sunday – practice

June 1st                       Saturday – Summer Competition

July 7th                        Sunday – practice – team selection

August 18th                 Sunday – practice – team selection

September 8th           Sunday – SIBS Competition

October 27th               Sunday – practice

November 2nd           Saturday – Winter Competition

Shooting starts promptly at 10.00 am; range preparation is 8.45 – 9.45 am

The range will be opened well in advance by an NRA RCO/RSO who will need at least 4 volunteers to help set up flags, targets, etc., and a similar number need to stay behind after shooting is over to help tidy up and close down the range.

For four years a small charge has been payable by all shooters who attend the Range Days: £5 for Practice days and £10 for Competitions, to help defray the costs of running the Range.  Before anyone is allowed to shoot they must produce their BDS membership card, Firearm Certificate and sign the Range Register.  The RCO/RSO in charge will then read out a Safety Brief with which all firers must comply.

It would also be helpful if rifles wishing to attend could inform us so that we know how many targets etc to prepare beforehand and to enable me to circulate full details of upcoming shoots, competitions, courses of fire etc.

BDS Highland Senior RSO, James Vestey: highlands@bds.org.uk

BDS Highlands Branch Facebook Group

Stay up to date with all the BDS activities and discussions in the Highlands with our new Highlands Branch Facebook Group.

 The Group is just for BDS members and is a safe space to:

  • Keep up to date with local events and activities.
  • Discuss and provide feedback on emerging deer related policy issues
  • Share your deer experiences and ask questions from the community
  • Share your venison recipes, deer photographs etc
  • Let the Highlands Branch Committee know what activities and events you would like to see in your area

 The Group won’t share your details, try to sell you anything or tolerate anything other than polite and respectful discussion on deer topics.

 To join the group today please find us by searching for British Deer Society – Highlands Branch on Facebook and entering your BDS number and answering a quick question.

 We look foreword to seeing you on the group and would welcome your feedback on how we can continue to develop it.

young red deer in Scotland by grafxart

Preferential Rates for BDS Members

Altyre Estate are pleased to announce preferential rates for BDS members who wish to stalk Scottish woodland roe deer at Altyre Estate in Moray. Primarily aimed at those wishing to undertake DSC2 training and/or assessment, the estate can offer accompanied stalks for cull roebucks and does with the estate stalker (Approved Witness) at a flat rate of £85 inc VAT per outing.

For more details, please contact the Altyre Estate office directly on 01309 672265 or by email at office@altyre.com www.altyre-estate.co.uk.

Stay in touch

If your contact information has changed please make sure to let us know.  To update your details simply email membership@bds.org.uk or call 01425 655434.

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