THE BDS NORTH WEST BRANCH
Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) North West England branch including events, news, and contacts.
BRANCH Area aND COMMITTEE
BRANCH CONTACTS
| Chair | Iain Richards | chairnorthwestengland@bds.org.uk |
| Secretary | Judy Richardson | northwestengland@bds.org.uk |
| Treasurer | Giles Thornley |
BRANCH COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Additional Committee Members
Alice Cushnie
Andy Massingham
Craig Parkinson
Nick Jackson
Rob Slaughter
Simon Roch
RANGE CONTACT
All BDS/BASC/NGO members are welcome to join us on range days providing they have a current FAC and pre book/pre pay.’
BRANCH AREAS
| Postcode | Area |
| BB | Blackburn |
| BL | Bolton |
| CA | Carlisle |
| FY | Blackpool |
| IM | Isle of Man |
| L | Liverpool |
| LA | Lancaster |
| M | Manchester |
| OL | Oldham |
| PR | Preston |
| SK | Stockport |
| WA | Warrington |
| WN | Wigan |
EVENTS
Date
Event
14 May 2022
Quad Bike Course
15 May 2022
Range Day at Grayrigg
21-23 May 2022
DSC1 Course Sat 21st - Mon 23rd May
28 May 2022
Quad Bike Course
12 June 2022
Myerscough Open Day
16 June 2022
Stalkers’ Best Practice evening at Malmo Guns, Nr Lancaster
18-19 June 2022
Bradley Bourner Marksmanship Weekend
3 July 2022
Range Day At Grayrigg
23 July 2022
Quad Bike Course
7 & 8 Sep 2022
Westmorland County Show, Crooklands
10 & 11 Sep 2022
Lancashire Game Show, Scorton
25 Sep 2022
Range Day at Grayrigg
22 Oct 2022
Eskdalemuir ‘long’ Range Day
See below for more details on these events.
NEXT BDS NATIONAL EVENT
The Scottish Game Fair
01/07/2022 9:00 AM
The GWCT Scottish Game Fair, returns to stunning Scone Parklands over the weekend of July 1-3, 2022.
This fantastic three-day event attracts over 30,000 visitors and is a true celebration of conservation and the countryside, while raising vital funds for wildlife conservation science. The 2022 GWCT Scottish Game Fair will once again feature an impressive line-up of traders, competitions and main ring events. Plus, there will be a plethora of country sports activities to appeal to all ages and abilities from fishing and clays to gundogs.
The British Deer Society will be in attendance talking about all things deer.
NEWS
Events for 2022
We have a good mixture of branch events coming up and some have a limited number of places – so please book early to avoid disappointment.
The branch is looking into the feasibility of holding another quad (ATV sit-astride) and a first ‘buggy’ (ATV sit side by side) course as well as an EFAW+F training event. To register an interest please email northwestengland@bds.org.uk FAO Nick Jackson
It will be great to meet up with as many of our branch or BDS members as possible this year, either at arranged events or shows.
If you are knowledgeable on deer and related matters and have time to help on our stand at one of the shows or at our other events, please email your details to northwestengland@bds.org.uk and we’ll be in touch.
NB If you have a 6kg gas bottle surplus to requirements and can donate it to the branch for use when cooking at events please email northwestengland@bds.org.uk FAO Giles Thornley
Quad Bike Course Sat 28th May
Sorry, fully booked
Myerscough Open Day – Sun 12th June
We will have a stand at this event to introduce the BDS to students and prospective students and to answer any questions about deer matters relevant to their courses and the public in general.
North West Charity Deerstalkers’ Evening – Thursday 16th June, 6pm
After a Covid enforced break Malmo Guns with the BDS, Forestry Commission and BASC are holding another stalkers’ evening at Malmo Guns near Jn 33 of the M6. There will be guest speakers, trade stands, an auction for stalking lots and a raffle for some great prizes.
Speakers will include:
Bradley Bourner of Pro Sporting Solutions on marksmanship skills
UKDTR on training dogs for deer
Paul Smith of the National Trust’s Charlecote Park on managing fallow deer in a park
The charities are ABF (The Soldiers’ Charity,) North West Air Ambulance and the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust.
Cost is £12 including a venison burger.
If you are able to donate a stalking lot for the auction please get in touch.
Numbers are limited, to attend you must book in advance via this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/north-west-charity-stalkers-evening-tickets-302847594307
Bradley Bourner Marksmanship Weekend – Sat 18th & Sun 19th June
Held in conjunction with the Forestry Commission Best Practice courses on firearm familiarisation and marksmanship delivered by Bradley Bourner of Pro Sporting Solutions. The venue is the Graythwaite estate in the South Lakes from 08.30 to 16:30 on both dates.
Saturday 18th June – Basic
Sunday 19th June – Advanced
You can attend both or either day but, unless you are an experienced longer range shot it is recommended you attend the Basic prior to the Advanced course. For those attending the Advanced course previously the Sunday can act as a ‘refresher.’
This course will look at gun fit, marksmanship principles, zeroing, range estimation, wind judging and shooting positions. There will be an opportunity to put into practice the above on the range. You will need full third-party liability insurance i.e., BASC or BDS.
The courses will be delivered by Bradley Bourner who is a former sniper and instructor in the Royal Marines Commandos and now a professional deer manager and coach, see https://prosportingsolutions.com/about/
Cost is £120 per person per day. To book or for more information please email northwestengland@bds.org.uk FAO Nick Jackson
Range Day at Grayrigg – Sunday 3rd July
To reduce waiting times attendees are asked to book a slot in advance and arrive at least 45 minutes before their slot for signing in and the safety briefing. Shooting slots are on the hour from 10.00 to 13.00 or 14.00, depending how many are attending.
This is a guest day (BDS/BASC/NRA club members), but any non-FAC holders need to be a BDS member or join BDS on the day. Requirements: FAC (if not above), deer legal rifle/ammunition, rifle slip, ear defenders, sticks, breech flag & in date membership card.
There will be a raffle, free tea and coffee (please bring your own mug), bacon butties £2 until 11am then venison burgers £4 until 2pm. Help will be available for novices (ask when booking please). Advice on non-lead ammo also available.
Contact for booking is northwestengland@bds.org.uk FAO Andy Massingham and a prepayment of £13 is required before the day.
Quad Bike Course Sat 23rd July
Sorry, fully booked
Westmorland County Show Wed 7th/Thu 8th September
We will have a stand at this event so drop by and have a chat with us, it’s always good to meet with our members and the wider public to talk about current deer-related matters.
Lancashire Game Show Sat 10th & Sun 11th September
We will be here again so please swing by if you are attending as it’s a great opportunity to get feedback from branch members old and new. A local show that needs support.
Range Day at Grayrigg – Sunday 25th September
To reduce waiting times attendees are asked to book a slot in advance and arrive at least 45 minutes before their slot for signing in and the safety briefing. Shooting slots are from 10.00 to 13.00 or 14.00, depending how many are attending.
This is a BDS Range Day, any non-FAC holders need to be a BDS member or join BDS on the day. Requirements: FAC (if not above), deer legal rifle/ammunition, rifle slip, ear defenders, sticks, breech flag & in date membership card.
There will be a raffle, free tea and coffee (please bring your own mug), bacon butties £2 until 11am then venison burgers £4 until 2pm. Help will be available for novices (ask when booking please). Advice on non-lead ammo also available.
Contact for booking is northwestengland@bds.org.uk FAO Andy Massingham and a prepayment of £13 is required before the day.
Eskdalemuir ‘Long’ Range Day – Sat 22nd October
The BDS NW & NE England branches are holding another ‘long’ range day. This will be on Gardner’s Guns’ 1km range at Eskdalemuir, Dumfriesshire, targets from 100m out to 1km. If you are new to long range shooting, there will be experienced LR guys attending who can help you. The shooting area is covered should it be wet weather.
Cost payable in advance is £55, limited places available. To book please email northwestengland@bds.org.uk FAO Simon Roch
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
Steer Clear of Baby Deer!
A joint campaign is underway to inform members of the public about the need to give both pregnant or nursing deer and their young plenty of space when out enjoying the countryside.
Over the coming weeks, from mid-May to July, people may discover newly-born deer hidden in the grass or undergrowth and might mistakenly assume that they have been abandoned Please do not touch, disturb or move them as usually their mothers will not be far away.
Digital Deer Spring 2022 Out Now
The new Spring edition of our taster members’ Deer magazine Digital Deer is out now. Packed with deer news, articles and features.
Be Tick Aware!
The risk of acquiring a tick bite increases during springtime, with peak times from April to June, meaning there is no better time to refresh your precautions and help spread the word on being tick aware.
The following guidance from the UK HAS can be used to reduce the chance of acquiring a tick bite.
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