BASC Northern Ireland Centre, 33 Castle Street, Lisburn, Co Down, BT27 4SP
Tel: 028 9260 5050; email 

Help keep killer tapeworm out of NI

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) is asking BASC NI members to assist them in their efforts to prevent the introduction of a particularly dangerous parasite to NI.

Currently, there are controls on pets from EU member states and other countries to ensure that the tapeworm echinococcus multilocularis (EM) is prevented from being introduced into native wild animals and pets in Northern Ireland. The worm is rapidly spreading through the fox population in mainland Europe and can be transmitted to dogs and humans. The parasite, once established in a human host, is hard to treat and can eventually kill.

In order to maintain its controls on animals entering from the EU, DARD is required to show, on an annual basis, that NI is free from EM and this is done through surveillance of the fox population. Consequently DARD's Veterinary Epidemiology Unit requires 150 fox carcasses between now and the end of March. The carcasses have to be as fresh as possible to make sure that they are fit for examination in the lab.

Please assist with this request as it will not only help protect our native wildlife and pets but it will reinforce the value of shooters to the various agencies in NI.

If you want to assist in this important work, have any queries or require further information please call Brian Barker on 07769 744782, email him here or contact the BASC NI office on 028 92605050.

You can find more information about the EM worm on the Key Issues pages of the BASC website here.

Young Shots activity day

The first BASC NI Young Shots day of 2012 will take place on Saturday 11 February, at the Drumbanagher Estate, Ponytzpass.

The event, which is being run in conjunction with Drumbanagher Sporting Rifle Club and generously sponsored by T. Beattie Guns & Ammo, Field & Stream and Tannyoky Guns and Ammo, aims to encourage young people under 21 to participate in shooting sports. The cost will be £20 per Young Shot (lunch included).

Subjects covered on the day will include:

• .22 rifle target shooting (non-members will be charged £10 for this activity)
• Clay pigeon coaching with BASC accredited coaches (over 18s only)
• Shotgun and air rifle safe handling
• Introduction to ferreting
• Introduction to gamekeeping
• Introduction to deerstalking

Please promote this event among young people and encourage them to attend. 
We would like to thank the sponsors for their generous support for the BASC Young Shots programme.

Annual gundog day - 24 March

Our annual BASC NI gundog day, sponsored by Chudleys, dogtransportboxes.com and Norspace, will take place on Saturday 24 March at Larchfield Estate, courtesy of Mr and Mrs Mackie. Competitors will be able to enter as three-man teams or as individuals. There will be cash prizes for the following:

• Overall Top Dog - £75 (plus dog box kindly sponsored by dogtransportboxes.com)

• 1st placed team - £120

• 1st placed individual - £50

• BASC member’s highest scoring dog - £100 donated by Foymore Lodge Shooting School and a year’s free subscription to Irish Shooter’s Digest.

In addition, all winners and runners-up will receive bags of Chudleys dog food and a rosette.

We very much appreciate the continued support of Mr and Mrs Mackie and our sponsors and we look forward to seeing you on the day. 

Win a bespoke English shotgun - last chance!

There's only a few days left to get your entries in for the 2011 Winter Prize Draw for a chance to win one of the stunning new Longthorne Hesketh Deluxe 12 bore shotguns.

This superbly crafted gun is 100 per cent English; Longthorne produces every component and each gun is hand assembled in its Lancashire workshop.

The Hesketh Deluxe is the most valuable prize yet offered in a BASC gun draw; a bespoke gun worth more than £17,500, it will be finished and fitted to the winner’s personal specifications. For more details visit www.longthorneguns.com or the Gun Draw page on the BASC website here.

Members can enter through the Gun Draw web page, by using the entry form enclosed in the latest issue of Shooting & Conservation or by telephoning 01244 573020. Entries will be accepted up to 12 noon on Monday, 6 February, when the draw will be made at BASC’s head office. All the proceeds will go to help fund BASC’s vital work in introducing young people to shooting.