THE BDS HIGHLANDS BRANCH
Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) Highlands branch including events, contacts, and news.
Branch Area and committee
BRANCH COMMITTEE
Contacts
| Chairman | Stewart Blair | chairhighlands@bds.org.uk |
| Vice-Chair and Secretary | Andy Wallis | highlands@bds.org.uk |
| Treasurer | Ron Taylor | highlands@bds.org.uk |
| Branch Events | Stephen Connolly | highlandevents@bds.org.uk |
| RSO | Dr James Vestey |
Committee
Andrew Yool, Alistair Monkman, Marian Yool and Lucie Mayerova.
BRANCH AREAS
| Postcode | Area |
| HS | Western Isles |
| IV | Inverness |
| KW | Kirkwall |
| PA | Paisley |
| PH19 – PH50 | Perth |
| ZE | Lerwick |
EVENTS
Date
Event
8th September 2024
Cawdor Range – SIBS Competition
21st September 2024
Darnaway Best Practice Event
27th October 2024
Winter Competition
2nd November 2024
Cawdor range - practice
4th May 2025
DSC2 Training day
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 – Winter Competition
November 2nd Saturday – Practice
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.
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.
LATEST NEWS
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After 15 years of dedicated work by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary (HIOWC), together with essential support from Dorothy Ireland, Tony Lowry, and numerous volunteers from The British Deer Society (BDS) plus expert deer managers in Hampshire and surrounding counties, we are delighted to see the HIOWC Humane Animal Dispatch (HAD) volunteer scheme poised for a national rollout.
Support BDS and Help Protect Deer and Their Habitats
Discover how the British Deer Society is working to protect deer, their habitats, and promote sustainable wildlife management. Learn about our mission, vision, and how you can support deer welfare through education, research, and donations. Join us in making a difference for deer and the environment.
The Role of Deer Management in Conservation in the UK
Deer management plays a crucial role in supporting conservation efforts across the UK, helping to restore habitats, preserve biodiversity, and address the challenges posed by rising deer populations. This article explores the importance of balancing deer numbers with ecosystem health, highlighting the impact of culling, stakeholder collaboration, and holistic management strategies.
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