National Association of Regional Game Councils (NARGC)

24/09/2026

Great news, but we could have told you

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1497184639110278&id=100064562688951&post_id=100064562688951_1497184639110278&rdid=Zo6dLCyRt0D3fU9M #

🦆📉 Hunting is not the main reason for bird populations dropping across Europe, according to new research from UCD in collaboration with the Spanish research institute, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos (IREC).

Examining population trends for 256 bird species across nine European countries, including Ireland and the United Kingdom, researchers found no statistically significant association between whether a species could legally be hunted and its likelihood of being in decline.

The study, published in Global Ecology and Conservation, tracked national bird population trends over two decades alongside factors including legal hunting status, conservation protection, nesting strategy, agricultural habitat and farming intensity.

“Our findings suggest that hunting-related indicators alone do not explain broad-scale patterns of bird population decline across Europe,” said Associate Professor Barry J. McMahon, UCD School of Agriculture & Food Science.

“This is an important distinction because it does not mean hunting has no effect on individual species or populations. Rather, it shows that the relationship is more complex than simply whether a species is legally huntable” pointed out Dr Eva de la Peña, the postdoctoral researcher who was an author of the study.

The researchers assessed species in Spain, France, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and the UK as either declining or not declining, and examined whether legal huntability was associated with those trends while accounting for other ecological and policy-related factors.

The analysis found no statistically significant association between national-level huntability and population decline.

A second analysis examined huntable species in six countries, using average annual harvest levels as a broad measure of hunting pressure. It also found no significant relationship between harvest levels and population decline.

Harvest levels in wildlife management refers to the specific percentage of animals permitted to be removed from a population through hunting to maintain ecological balance.

The study did identify other factors associated with population trends. Birds receiving special conservation protection under Annex I of the EU Birds Directive were associated with a lower probability of population decline, while ground-nesting birds had a higher probability of decline.

The researchers stress that national-level measures of huntability and harvest did not capture differences in local hunting pressure, habitat conditions or conservation management.

Legal huntability indicates whether hunting is permitted, but not how many birds are actually hunted, where hunting takes place or the intensity of hunting. These factors can vary considerably between species and countries.

The researchers note that populations already under pressure from factors such as habitat loss or low reproductive success may be more vulnerable to additional pressures.

They conclude that more detailed data on hunting intensity, demographics and local population trends are needed to understand when and where hunting may affect bird populations.

20/09/2026

Our NARGC Youth & Education Team had an incredible three days at The Ploughing — and we managed to put some numbers on just part of the engagement:

🌿 750 wildlife posters distributed
🧢 100 NARGC caps given to young people who genuinely stopped, engaged, asked questions and showed an interest
⚜️ 9 Scout leaders engaged
👩‍🏫 17 primary school teachers
📚 11 secondary school teachers
🎓 9 Transition Year class groups
🏫 1 primary school class group
🎓 1 lecturer from Mary Immaculate College involved in teacher training
🎨 300 primary school colouring competition flyers into the hands of children, teachers and parents
📖 170 TY course flyers handed to TY students, parents and others

And they’re only the interactions we could actually count!

Behind every one of those numbers was a conversation — a young person asking about wildlife, a teacher looking for something to bring back to the classroom, a TY student discovering an opportunity, a parent stopping with their child, or a Scout leader looking for ways to get young people more involved in the outdoors.

If some of those conversations encourage a young person to take a greater interest in wildlife, conservation, field sports or simply getting out into the countryside and understanding what’s around them, then we’ve achieved something.

A huge thank you to every child, young person, parent, teacher, Scout leader and visitor who stopped to talk to our Youth & Education Team.

We’ll see you at the next one! 👏🌿

19/09/2026

19/09/2026

That’s a wrap from the National Ploughing Championships 2026!

After three very busy days, we would like to thank everyone who visited the NARGC stand. We had a fantastic attendance throughout the event, with plenty of questions, lively discussion and genuine interest in the work of the Association.

There was particular interest in the national mink eradication programme and the important contribution that NARGC members and clubs can make to this conservation work. We also had many positive conversations about An Óige, our youth development programme, and the importance of introducing young people to country sports, conservation and responsible participation in a safe and supportive environment.

It was a great opportunity to meet existing members, prospective members, landowners, farmers, families and political representatives from all parties and representatives.

A special word of thanks to everyone who helped organise and staff the stand over the three days—and, most importantly, to everyone who stopped by to speak with us.

Your interest, questions and support made the event a great success. We look forward to building on the many conversations and new connections made over the three days.

19/09/2026

Delighted to catch up with so many great friends at the Ploughing 2026! 🚜🌾

It was a fantastic few days filled with good chat, familiar faces, and plenty of craic. Great to reconnect, make new memories, and enjoy one of the highlights of the year.

Looking forward to the next year already! 😊

19/09/2026

Well done guys

19/09/2026

Never a truer word said

🌿 MYTH: Hunting destroys biodiversity.
This is a claim we hear increasingly often. But does the evidence support it?
Across Europe, hunters are actively involved in biodiversity conservation — restoring habitats, monitoring wildlife, supporting threatened species, managing invasive alien species and contributing to protected areas.
The FACE Biodiversity Manifesto documents this work through hundreds of real conservation projects across Europe — showing what hunters are actually doing on the ground for habitats and wildlife.
Does every form of hunting automatically benefit biodiversity? Of course not. Hunting must be sustainable and based on sound wildlife management. But portraying hunting itself as a driver of biodiversity destruction ignores a substantial body of practical conservation work carried out by Europe’s hunting community.
Don’t stop at the claim. Look at the evidence.
Explore the FACE Biodiversity Manifesto: https://www.biodiversitymanifesto.com/

16/09/2026

Great work by volunteers.

16/09/2026

Our first entry in the NARGC Oige colouring competition.

Thanks to Alice who got her entry yesterday and delivered it completed today!!

We have lots more activities for you...call in and have a go.