The National Gamekeepers' Organisation

It’s good to see the petition from our Fisheries Branch receiving more coverage, this time in Trout & Salmon magazine.

The petition remains ‘live’ and will be until 26 December - so if you haven’t signed it yet, there’s still plenty of time.

https://troutandsalmon.com/news/cormorant-petition-defra-response/

Cormorant petition: what Defra said | Trout & Salmon Defra says proposals to allow easier control of cormorants, goosanders and mergansers on fisheries are being analysed after a 10,000-name petition.

DMQ Deer Night Shooting Course – South Yorkshire

A one-day DMQ Deer Night Shooting Course is being held at Wentworth Park, South Yorkshire, on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

The course is aimed at deer managers operating in areas where night licences are increasingly being issued to help reduce and manage local deer populations.

Delivered from 1pm through into the evening, candidates will be required to complete:

• A multiple-choice question paper
• Animal identification using images taken at night
• A night shooting safety test
• A night shooting test

Candidates must have completed DSC1 as a prerequisite, demonstrating knowledge of deer behaviour and ecology, together with a basic aptitude and safety level with fi****ms. DSC2 is likely to be held by many candidates, although it is not essential.

Course cost: £252

Location: Wentworth Park, Wood Nook, S62 7UN

To book, please contact Mike Fellows directly:

Telephone: 07940 909250
Email: wess*[email protected]

Please note that certificates may take up to four weeks to be received.

The latest NPCC fi****ms licensing statistics present a mixed picture across England and Wales.

Whilst some forces continue to provide an efficient and timely service to certificate holders, significant differences in performance remain and there are still areas of concern that cannot be ignored.

Read more:

https://nationalgamekeepers.org.uk/articles/ngo-response-to-the-latest-npcc-fi****ms-licensing-statistics-q1-2026-27

The long established Loaders Course from the National Gamekeepers Organisation is now available to take online

The NGO Loader Training Course is designed for anyone wishing to work as a shoot day loader or assist guns on driven game shoots and simulated game days.

Developed by the National Gamekeepers' Organisation and delivered successfully for many years, this trusted course sets out the essential standards every loader should know—from shotgun safety, shoot day etiquette and risk assessment to loading techniques, gun care and fi****ms legislation.

To enrol on the online modular course please visit https://www.shootingandhuntingacademy.co.uk/course/ngo-loaders-best-practice-course

The trusted NGO Loader Training Course is now available online through the Shooting & Hunting Academy, delivering the recognised professional standards every shoot day loader should know.

The cost is £120 for the full course.

NGO Loader Training Course National Gamekeepers' Organisation course teaching loaders essential best practice and safety.

Wildfire warning for the northern uplands

With another hot run up to the weekend forecast, we are urging everyone heading into the countryside to take extra care and to leave disposable barbecues at home.
The National Gamekeepers' Organisation's Wildfire Risk Index is updated using real-time observations from gamekeepers and land managers working across the northern uplands of England and Wales. These are the people who are out on the ground every day and can see exactly how dry the vegetation has become.

Their latest reports show that 10 areas are currently at EXTREME wildfire risk, with a further two areas at HIGH risk.

These conditions mean that a single spark, discarded cigarette or disposable barbecue can quickly develop into a serious wildfire, threatening wildlife, livestock, homes and even lives.

Please enjoy the countryside responsibly this weekend:
DO NOT take disposable barbecues into the countryside.
DO NOT light fires or campfires.
Make sure ci******es are completely extinguished.
If you see smoke or a fire, call 999 immediately and ask for the Fire and Rescue Service.

Our gamekeepers and land managers will continue to monitor conditions through the NGO's Wildfire Risk Index and provide up-to-date information to help Fire and Rescue Services and land managers understand the risks on the ground.

As temperatures rise, prevention is everyone's responsibility. Please leave the BBQ at home — one small flame is all it takes.

WIN a Landig Professional Game Larder.

Enter the NGO raffle, in partnership with Game Larder by Tarrant Refrigeration, for a chance to WIN this Landig LU9000 Premium Professional Game Fridge.

Holding up to four roe deer or two wild boar, it's the serious choice for game hunters. Also included are a chest spreader; a gimble; a drip tray and your choice of venison hanging rail or small‑game racks.

💰Total prize value: over £3,100
💷Tickets: just £5 per entry
📅Drawn: Monday 7 December
🎫Limited tickets available!

Purchase your raffle tickets online here or call the NGO HQ on 01833 660869 during office hours Monday to Friday

OXFORDSHIRE: WILD GAME MEAT HYGIENE AND DSC1 COURSES

Two courses, one venue. Anyone offering large or small game for sale to a game dealer legally must hold the relevant game meat hygiene certificate. The NGO award covers both large and small game unlike standard DSC1 course.

WILD GAME MEAT HYGIENE COURSE – 20 AUGUST

This one-day course covers the handling of both large and small game, from the field through to the larder.

The course covers large game including wild deer and wild boar, as well as small game including pheasant, partridge, duck, rabbit and hare.

Successful candidates receive an NGO certificate and a unique Hunter’s ID number, which authorises them to sell game meat to approved game-handling establishments.

Cost: £200 including VAT

DEER STALKING CERTIFICATE LEVEL 1 – 21–23 AUGUST

The three-day DSC1 course provides comprehensive training covering the key aspects of deer management, including species and s*x identification, deer biology, legal requirements, fi****ms legislation and safe deer management.

The third day is the assessment day.

Course materials and a manual are provided.

There is also an option for candidates who have already completed the tuition to attend the Day 3 assessment only.

IMPORTANT: THE COURSES CAN BE BOOKED INDIVIDUALLY

You do not need to book both courses. The Wild Game Meat Hygiene Course and DSC1 are separate courses, so you can choose to attend either one depending on your training requirements.

Both courses are being held at Kingston Lisle, Wantage, Oxfordshire.

TO BOOK

Please contact Mike Fellows directly:

Telephone: 07940 909250
Email: wess*[email protected]

For full course details, visit the NGO website:

"Wild Game Meat Hygiene Course – Oxfordshire, 20 August" (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/0)

"Deer Stalking Certificate Level 1 – Oxfordshire, 21–23 August" (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/1)

The NGO have for many years highlighted the dangers of disposable barbecues, particularly in moorland areas and places where dry vegetation flourishes.

It's great to see Prime Minister Andy Burnham state that he is considering a ban on the products, as well as highlighting that people should not be using them "at this moment in time".

Wildfires are cropping up daily across so much of the country and with the landscape so dry, one single flame is enough to send acres up in flames.

So please, think before you light your barbie.

Andy Burnham says disposable BBQ ban under consideration The PM said the public should not be using single-use grills "at this moment in time" amid wildfire risks.