GAME SHOOTING REPORT LAUNCHED
Shooting Study 2006 PDF Version 660 KB
Shooting Study 2006 Word Version 3.18 MB
Shooting Code of Conduct PDF Version 3.8 MB
The results of a new report entitled The Role of Game Shooting in Exmoor have just been revealed. 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).
Survey respondents indicated that all game shot goes for food either through dealers and local butchers with a small minority of birds being distributed amongst the shoots themselves and those whose land they shoot over.
Commenting on the report Steven Pugsley, chairman of Exmoor National Park Authority said: “The National Park Authority was pleased to work with the Greater Exmoor Shoots Association and sponsoring organisations to commission this report by the Public and Corporate Economic Consultants.
It shows that game shooting is a significant contributor to the economy of the area, and that the shoots invest considerable resources in managing the environment and providing opportunities for people to enjoy the area to participate in shooting.”
Dr Nigel Stone, Chief Executive of Exmoor National Park Authority adds “The report 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. The Authority is working closely with shoot managers across the National Park to continue to develop best practice in environmental management and we are publishing a draft set of local guidelines at the same time as we publish the study. 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”.
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.
Hugh Thomas, chairman of the Greater Exmoor Shoots Association said: “We welcome this independent and authoritative report and we are grateful to the National Park Authority for having commissioned it.
Shooting is a sport and many people get good physical recreation and enjoyment from the outdoor activity. My hope is that this report will inform views and policies of all who read it because it demonstrates that shooting is also a major contributor to the land based rural economy and environment of this outstanding landscape and through the study the extent of this is now better understood.”