Before considering gamekeeping as a career there are a few things you should consider very carefully before proceeding any further with this career choice.

• The work is very hard and time consuming.
• You need to be physically fit and prepared to work in all weathers.
• At many times of the year any social life you have disappears because of the demands of the job.
• There are no set hours, so your day is not over until all your work is finished; there is no overtime.
• There are only a few job vacancies every year with thousands of people after them.
• The pay is very low especially when you consider how much is done and how worthwhile it is.

Despite this the job is very rewarding and all gamekeepers love their work. If you were successful, you would surely feel the same way. However, it is such an important and demanding job that you must be totally convinced it is the right one for you. If you go ahead you will have a job that will give you a rich and fulfilling career. Of course, the problem is how do you make that decision? Work experience is one answer, but opportunities often remain elusive or perhaps you have friends or relations who can introduce you to a local keeper who may be willing to help?

Gamekeeping - the industry

The number of gamekeepers peaked just before the First World War at 23,000. Following the two World Wars there was a huge reduction of the number of keepers - due to the wars and the introduction of death duties which was responsible for breaking up large estates. Nowadays there are approximately 5,000 gamekeepers in the UK. More than 4,000 of them are members of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation, which is the national representative body for the professional gamekeeper, stalker and ghillie.

What do gamekeepers do?

Gamekeepers manage both upland and lowland areas for the benefit of reared or wild game (eg pheasant, partridge, grouse, duck, deer). They also control pests. Gamekeepers maintain and create woodlands, hedgerows, and ponds for quarry species but these provide shelter for many other kinds of wildlife and help to ensure the biodiversity of our countryside. In total, gamekeepers manage around 7.3 million hectares of countryside in the United Kingdom.

The habitat maintained for game provides important habitat for "at risk" species such as the dormouse, spotted flycatcher and a variety of butterfly species. Pest and predator control carried out by gamekeepers benefits ground nesting birds such as the redshank. Gamekeepers are involved in conservation initiatives and work with conservation agencies such as English Nature, British Trust for Ornithology and local wildlife trusts on projects such as badger watch, otter watch, polecat research, bird counting and the reintroduction of the red kite.

Many manage areas which are legally protected for wildlife, such as Sites of Special Scientific Interest. BASC, as the gamekeepers’ representative body, has Joint Statements of Interest and Co-operation with the Government’s conservation agencies - English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Countryside Council for Wales and the Environment and Heritage Services (DOENI). BASC issues a number of Codes of Practice, ranging from avian and mammalian trapping to good shooting practice. It is also a member of the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW).

Still interested in gamekeeping as a career?

There are an increasing number of colleges offering gamekeeping or associated courses that contain gamekeeping modules such as land management, conservation, forestry and woodland management.

For more information contact:

Lantra (the national training organisation for land-based industry)
Tel: 0845 707 8007 or www.lantra.co.uk

Learndirect (part of the University for Industry)
Tel: 0800 100900 or www.learndirect.co.uk or email enquiries@learndirect.net