THE BDS SOUTH WEST SCOTLAND BRANCH
Information on the British Deer Society (BDS) South West Scotland branch including events, news, and contacts.
BRANCH AREA AND COMMITTEE
BRANCH CONTACTS
| Chair | Alan Marshall | chairsouthwestscotland@bds.org.uk |
| Secretary | Mark Toft | southwestscotland@bds.org.uk |
| Treasurer | Rupert Shaw | southwestscotland@bds.org.uk |
Committee Members: Tom Clark, Andrew Craig, George Miller, Graeme Dalby, Ben Klinck, Matt Law and Gary Ferguson.
BRANCH AREAS
| Postcode | Area |
| DG | Dumfries |
| KA | Kilmarnock |
| ML | Motherwell |
EVENTS
Date
EVENT
Sunday 9th april 2023
Glenswinton range day
Sunday 14th may 2023
Glenswinton range day
sunday 11th june 2023
Glenswinton range day
sunday 9th july 2023
Glenswinton range day
Saturday 12th and sunday 13th August 2023
Galloway Game Fair
sunday 13th august 2023
Glenswinton range day
saturday 26th august 2023
The Scottish Interbranch Shoot
sunday 10th september 2023
Glenswinton range day
Sunday 8th October 2023
Glenswinton range day
See news section below for more details.
NEXT BDS NATIONAL EVENT
No upcoming events, please check back soon.
NEWS
Range Days
We have several days booked this year at the fantastic Glenswinton Range, Jackson Rifles, Parton, Castle Douglas, Scotland DG7 3NL. Meeting at 10.50am for an 11am start and the days will last until 3pm. The cost will be £6.00 per person.
The dates booked are as follows:
9th April
14th May,
11th June,
9th July,
13th August,
10th September
8th October
News We are hosts this year of The Scottish Interbranch Shoot – SIBS The event will take place on Sunday 20th August at Blair Atholl. Galloway Game Fair. We will be with our colleagues from The BASC at Drumlanrig Castle on Saturday and Sunday the 12th and 13th of August. |
Come along and say hello!
Branch AGM
The scheduled date for the BDS SW Scotland branch AGM is Sunday 12th February. The venue will be the Ernespie House Hotel, Castle Douglas. The start time is 4 pm arrival for a 4.30 formal start to the meeting.
As ever we are very keen to see some new faces at the AGM this year, so please feel free to bring any friends, family or people who share an interest in deer.
Author, regular Shooting Times contributor and landowner, Jamie Blackett will give us a thought-provoking and stimulating talk on the many conflicting aspects of countryside life and countryside management.
Always stimulating, he has just written in Shooting Times about the current poor game shooting season. But like those of us out with a rifle, he is enthused to see the wildlife that abounds in our countryside and enjoy the fellowship of like-minded individuals.
Please bring a prize for the raffle (and some cash for raffle tickets!).
All attendees are welcome and encouraged to stay for dinner, please contact Tom Clark southwestscotland@bds.org.uk. Final menu choices are being prepared by the hotel this week and a menu will be sent, along with the formal agenda later this week. Meals can be paid for with cash or cheque on or before the day, cheques to be made payable to “British Deer Society SW Scotland Branch”.
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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