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 | Dr James Vestey | chairhighlands@bds.org.uk |
| Vice-Chairs | Roger Knight and Al Monkman | |
| Secretary | Sam Thompson | highlands@bds.org.uk |
Committee
Marion Yool, Andrew Yool, Al Monkman, Roger Knight, David Allison, James May and Linzi Sievwright
BRANCH AREAS
| Postcode | Area |
| HS | Western Isles |
| IV | Inverness |
| KW | Kirkwall |
| PA | Paisley |
| PH19 – PH50 | Perth |
| ZE | Lerwick |
EVENTS
Date
Event
5th - 6th August
Moy Fair
12th - 14th August
BDS DSC 1, Altyre
21st August
Cawdor Range – team selection
28th August
Inter Branch Match, Blair Athol
11th September
Cawdor Range - practice
30th October
Cawdor Range - practice
5th November
Cawdor Range – Winter Shoot
Please see below for more details in the news section.
NEXT BDS NATIONAL EVENT
No upcoming events, please check back soon.
NEWS
CAWDOR RANGE 2022
Following the relaxation of Covid restrictions, Cawdor Range is now fully open to BDS members (and guests by arrangement) for the 2022 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 and 200 yards and only fullbore stalking rifles with deer-legal calibre / bullet weight and muzzle velocity not exceeding 1,000 m/s (3,275 fps) may be used.
The use of any available stalking aids to improve accuracy from a variety of shooting positions under field conditions, such as bipods and combination sticks, is encouraged.
In addition to basic zeroing targets, black deer silhouette targets (approx. roe doe size) with no visible aiming mark are used to help achieve optimum bullet placement.
The programme for range days is as follows:
- May 1 Sunday practice
- May 7 Saturday Spring Competition
- May 29 Sunday practice
- June 4 Saturday Summer Competition
- June 10 Sunday practice – team selection
- August 21 Sunday practice – team selection
- August 28 Sunday Interbranch Shoot – Blair Athol
- September 11 Sunday practice
- October 30 Sunday practice
- November 5 Saturday Winter Competition
Shooting starts prompt at 10.00am; range preparation – 9.30
- the range will be opened up well in advance by an NRA Range Conducting/Safety Officer 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.
You will be invited to add your name and contact number to a list of volunteers from which a rota of helpers can be drawn up for future range days.
Before anyone is allowed to shoot they must produce their BDS membership card and Firearm Certificate, and sign the Range Register. The RCO/RSO in charge will then read out a Safety Brief which all firers will be required to follow to the letter.
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
Restoring forests in the Cairngorms one burger at a time
Cairngorms Connect has launched a new project marketing venison, to share the story of forest expansion in the Cairngorms.
BDS Response to the Defra Consultation on Proposed Deer Management Strategy
The British Deer Society (BDS) has reviewed in detail the consultation on proposed deer management published by Defra on the 4th of August 2022. Whilst we welcome the consultation in general terms, and in particular the intent to develop a wider market for venison, we have serious concerns about some of the proposals.
Firearms and Mental Health – Awareness and Support Leaflet
The Scottish Firearms Licensing Practitioners Group has released a leaflet providing information on mental health support for firearms license holders.
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