GUEST BLOG
Karolien Van der Vorm, Founder and Owner of 360 Wildlife Control Ltd and member of BPCA's WildWise group, talks about how she believes there's a lack of available shooting training in the industry and what's being done to fill the gaps.
With night shooting being a core part of 360 Wildlife Control operations, we are always seeking ongoing training and qualifications for the team. Which, for an industry that uses lethal weapons and control, seems to be in short supply!
Whilst there are readily available courses and certification for deer management, such as the Lantra-approved PDS1, there is a void in training for fox, rat, feral pigeon and rabbit shooting at night.
The lack of available training is a big concern to me, and we often get called in as sub-contractors to work with other shooters, often with inappropriate equipment and a shortfall in experience.
It can be both challenging and concerning, to the extent that we now add into our contracts that we will not work with unqualified or inexperienced shooters or parties who wish to provide their own rifles and equipment.
Against a backdrop of headlines in the tabloids, like the incident in which a fox night shooter was sadly killed last year, along with other coverage of accidental shootings of both non target species and shooters, it is surely on the cards that mandatory regulations will be imposed on us, unless swift self-regulation is adopted by the industry.
A person can purchase a lethal rifle and night vison scope and be employed by an unsuspecting client, to go out at night to shoot, unsupervised, without any formal training, as the industry standard doesn't require this.
This sorry state of affairs led to a conversation last year with Peter Jones, CEO of the Shooting & Hunting Academy.
Peter is renowned for his professional deer stalking expertise and popular County Deer Stalking YouTube channel, as well as having developed online training courses with other leading industry professionals, such as the ‘Proficient Deer Stalking Certificate’ (PDS1), ‘Airgun Proficiency Course’ (APC) and Grey Squirrel Management Course, to name but a few.
Through the S&H Academy, Peter has recognised the urgent need for more industry wide, professional training.
In the latest course developed by the Shooting & Hunting Academy, Peter has brought together a collaboration of leading industry experts including:
to deliver a Lantra-accredited Night Shooting Course that is suitable for all those that shoot deer, fox and vermin at night.
The 360 Wildlife team have been delighted to assist in the production of the course and have contributed significantly to the content, presentation and footage, which has arisen from many years of varied UK-wide, urban experience in this space.
The comprehensive Night Shooting Course now delivers advanced, up-to-date information on the use of thermal and night vison equipment, along with crucial guidance on the law, and training to implement safe, effective and humane control methods in both urban and rural environments.
Particular emphasis is given to safety and species identification, which is in our view, critical.
To pass the course, candidates are required to complete a short online examination after each module, with a final exam being required at the end of the course.
Upon successful completion of the assessed Lantra award, candidate are immediately awarded a Lantra certificate.
The benefits of the course, aside from instant certification and the ease by which candidates can complete the course online, are that it covers the entire United Kingdom, with additional sections on both Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Alternatively, for colleagues North of the Border in Scotland, there is a very good and enjoyable classroom-based course delivered by the Scottish Gamekeepers Association. However, this course only provides certification for Scotland.
In my opinion the new Lantra Night Shooting Course provided by the Shooting & Hunting Academy should be an essential requirement of any pest controller engaging in nighttime shooting, if we are to avoid the roll out of mandatory qualifications.
To find out more about the course, visit the shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk/night-shooting-course
And don't forget, all training will qualify for CPD points on BPCA Registered!
About 360 Wildlife Control
360 Wildlife Control’s team have over 35 years’ experience across the UK, dealing on all wildlife management and control issues in a wide diversity of environments from airports, industrial estates, private residences, golf clubs, solar farms, ancient monuments, through to Hebridean Islands, to name but a few.
360 Wildlife Control work as sub-contractors and add a profitable addition to any pest controller, as well as working directly for clients throughout the UK.
Karolien Van der Vorm is the founder and owner of 360 Wildlife Control and works throughout the country, solving all wildlife problems from deer, fox and squirrel to rats and rabbits. Specialising in covert activities and the use of firearms.
Source: Online