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 |
Committee
Andrew Yool, Alistair Monkman, James May, Derek Newlands, Gerard Western, Steve Connolly, Jen Ross.
BRANCH AREAS
| Postcode | Area |
| HS | Western Isles |
| IV | Inverness |
| KW | Kirkwall |
| PA | Paisley |
| PH19 – PH50 | Perth |
| ZE | Lerwick |
EVENTS
Date
Event
9th July 2023
Cawdor Range – practice
20th August 2023
Cawdor Range – practice
26th August 2023
Scottish Interbranch Shoot, Blair Athol
10th September 2023
Dunrobin Challenge Cup competition
29th October 2023
Cawdor Range – practice
4th November 2023
Winter Competition
Please see below for more details in the news section.
NEXT BDS NATIONAL EVENT
No upcoming events, please check back soon.
NEWS
CAWDOR RANGE 2023
Remaining Range Days
Cawdor Rifle and Gun Club (CRGC) kindly arranged 9 days this season when BDS members (and guests by arrangement) may use the Range to zero their rifles and practice marksmanship in safe surroundings to foster greater competence in accurate, reliable, humane deer management, within their personal limitations and those of their rifle and chosen ammunition.
The Range is located at Glengeoullie 11/2 miles SE of Cawdor Castle (O.S. map ref: NH 857 477). It provides firing points at 100, 200 and 300 yards and only fullbore stalking rifles with deer-legal calibre / bullet weight and muzzle velocity not exceeding 1,000 m/s (3,275 fps) & a maximum muzzle energy of 4,500J (3,319 ft/lbs) may be used.
The use of stalking aids 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 deer silhouette targets, of approximately roe deer size, with no visible aiming mark, (as used for the DSC-1 assessment and SIBS competitions) are available and a number of more realistic Red, Sika and Roe Deer targets have been developed this season too.
The programme of the remaining range days this season is as follows:
July 9th Sunday practice & team selection for SIBS
August 20th Sunday practice & team selection for SIBS
August 26th Saturday Scottish Interbranch Shoot, Blair Athol
September 10th Sunday Dunrobin Challenge Cup competition
October 29th Sunday practice
November 4th Saturday Winter Competition
Shooting starts promptly at 10.00 am; range preparation is 8.45 – 9.45 am
The range is opened up well in advance by a BDS/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 the last three 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 have an idea of how many targets etc to prepare beforehand and to enable me to circulate full details, Rules and Orders of Fire for upcoming shoots and competitions.
BDS Highland Senior RSO, James Vestey: highlands@bds.org.uk
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
Surveillance for Coronaviruses in Wildlife
The British Deer Society is asking its members and supporters to assist with a surveillance study looking into coronaviruses in wildlife. This study aims to support the development of diagnostic tests, aid future surveillance, and improve preparedness for future coronavirus outbreaks.
BDS CEO Goes Live On TalkTV To Promote Fact-led Deer Management
David Mcauley, British Deer Society (BDS) CEO went live on TalkTV and Radio at the weekend to promote the importance of having more fact-led approaches in deer management, less sensationalism in the media around total UK deer numbers and to speak up for deer welfare.
Deer Management in the UK: Sustainability Verses Eradication
Recently, we received a heartfelt letter from a dedicated member of the British Deer Society (BDS), a seasoned deer stalker with 30 years of experience who was dismayed by the indiscriminate and unsustainable shooting of roe deer around his management areas. His words shed light on the evolving challenges faced by conscientious deer managers who prioritise legal and humane practices in an environment where not all shooters share the same values.
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