GAMEBIRD SHOOTING IN EXMOOR NATIONAL PARK

GameBird Shooting Study 2006 PDF Version 660 KB

GameBird Shooting Study 2006 Word Version 3.18 MB

GameBird Shooting Guidelines PDF Version  3.8 MB

The results of a new report entitled The Role of Game Shooting in Exmoor were published in October 2006. The study was commissioned by Exmoor National Park Authority with funding also provided by the South West of England Regional Development Agency, the Countryside Agency, Somerset and Devon county councils and West Somerset and North Devon district councils and supported by the Greater Exmoor Shoots Association (GESA).

The report, which was commissioned to provide evidence of the contribution that game shooting makes to the economy of Exmoor National Park and surrounding areas, reveals that game shooting on Exmoor contributes £18 million to the wider UK economy and that 1,600 full and part-time jobs in the Greater Exmoor area are supported by the provision of shooting activities (260 full-time equivalent - paid and unpaid).

Shoots are growing in popularity locally and nationally.  The study indicates that around 1,400 individuals participated in shoots in and around Exmoor.  The number of visitor nights generated by shooting has important implications for the amount of money spent in the local area with 2,800 visitor nights being generated on the shooting providers’ sites with a further 14,000 in the local area.

The study estimates that game shooting participants on Exmoor spent a total of £22 million on game shooting goods and services in 2004 of which £9.6 million was spent on shooting sites and £4 million was retained in the Exmoor area. As well as sustaining year round employment in managing the shoots, this level of expenditure is a significant part of the overall tourism spent in the area and helps sustain hotels, guest houses and pubs at a time of year when they would otherwise have few visitors.

Consultation draft Exmoor guidelines for the management of game birds in the national park

The shooting study is extremely useful in demonstrating the economic benefits that the industry provides and the positive environmental contribution that can be made by well managed shoots. Exmoor National Park Authority is working closely with shoot managers across the National Park to continue to develop best practice in environmental management and we are consulting on a draft set of local guidelines during the 2007/2008 shooting season. The guidelines set out particular considerations for shoot managers operating in the sensitive environment of the National Park and alongside local communities.  Good management means that the implications for the landscape are fully taken into account, wildlife benefits are achieved and access for users of footpaths, bridleways and access land is supported.

If you have any comment regarding the shooting study or draft guideline please submit them to the national Park authority by 31st January 2008

Email: consultation@exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk

Phone: 01398 323665

Or write: Shoots consultation

c/o Exmoor National Park Authority

Dulverton

Somerset

TA22 9HL

Thank you for your interest