More than a million people take part in shooting sports every year – more than in rugby, hockey and athletics.

Shooting sports in the UK in the 21st century offer many different opportunities such as:

• Clay pigeon shooting
• Deer management
• Game shooting
• Pest control
• Rough shooting
• Target shooting
• Wildfowling
  … and many more

From formal estate shooting such as driven pheasant or grouse, through to target shooting, muzzle loading and pest control, the choice is endless and the enjoyment unrivalled. Whatever your passion, there is only one organisation dedicated to ensuring your freedom to continue to enjoy your sport.

Shooting and Jobs

Shooting brings work and revenue into the countryside and contributes significantly to the UK and regional economies:

• 480,000 people shoot live quarry
• Shooting supports the equivalent of 70,000 full-time jobs
• Shooters spend £2 billion each year on goods and services
• Shooting is worth £1.6 billion to the UK economy
• Shooting is involved in the management of two-thirds of the rural land area
• Two million hectares are actively managed for conservation as a result of shooting
• Shoot providers spend £250 million a year on conservation
• Shooters spend 2.7 million work days on conservation - the equivalent of 12,000 full-time jobs

Safety and shooters

The UK has tough controls on firearms. Modern firearms laws were introduced in 1920 and have been progressively tightened to keep firearms out of the hands of criminals and terrorists. There have been major reviews of the law in 1968, 1988 and 1997. Shooting seasons and legitimate quarry species are also strictly specified in law.

The police have absolute control over who is issued with a firearms or shotgun certificate. A chief constable has wide discretion over the grant or the renewal of a certificate and must refuse a certificate if the applicant is a danger to public safety or to the peace, or for any reason unfit to be entrusted with a firearm. If properly administered, the licensing system will ensure that only fit and proper people can own and use firearms.

Training and education within shooting have resulted in an exemplary safety record for the sport. Shooting has the lowest incidence of accidental injuries of all sports. * BASC's Proficiency Award Scheme is designed to promote high standards of competence and responsibility to the environment, quarry and fellow shooters.

Young shooters are able to learn the safe and responsible use of firearms under a regime which ensures their own and the public's safety. The law allows young people access to firearms on a progressive basis as they grow in age, maturity and responsibility, overseen by the police and other adults.

Training is reinforced through codes of practice covering all aspects of the sport. This ensures that high standards of practice continue to be carried out in the field.

*Taken from the Home Accident Surveillance Survey 1995, DTI

Insurance

No one should shoot without full insurance cover. The cheapest and easiest way to get this is by joining the British Association for Shooting and Conservation which provides full cover for accidents, with third party liability up to £10 million. Click here to find out more about joining BASC.