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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

ChairAlan Marshallchairsouthwestscotland@bds.org.uk
Secretary Mark Toftsouthwestscotland@bds.org.uk
Treasurer Rupert Shawsouthwestscotland@bds.org.uk

Committee Members: Tom Clark, Andrew Craig, George Miller, Graeme Dalby, Ben Klinck, Matt Law and Gary Ferguson.

PostcodeArea
DGDumfries
KAKilmarnock
MLMotherwell

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

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.

Red Deer Stags at Sunset in Scotland By Mark Connelly

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

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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