Why oh why is Scotland the only country in the UK to still have the ban on tail docking of working dogs?
Just back in from ferreting a plantation of young larch and scots pine trees. I am soaked to the skin and frozen. My daughter is visiting us with her boyfriend and I thought it would be a good chance for him to see some different animal tracks in the snow.
I am not a happy chappy. I was cutting old rabbit fences away this morning and my ear is bleeding profusely. I detest that high tensile wire; when you cut it with the wire cutters it goes off like a coiled spring. It felt like I had been shot in the ear.
Cover increased to £10 million
It was recently brought to the SGA Office's attention that members were having difficulty obtaining stalking access because a number of forestry and land management groups were insisting that individuals now require £10 million public liability cover. As soon as this was brought to our attention, we raised the matter with our Insurers, NFU Mutual. As of now, SGA members are covered at the new higher limit of £10 million.
Further information on options for control
As you are probably aware, the Scottish Government and SNH have at last agreed that in some cases, there needs to be a mechanism which allows the protection of livestock and wild birds from predation by protected species such as ravens, buzzards, goshawks, sparrowhawks and pinemartins.
As you may have read in the press, or through the Chairman's blog on this site, the Scottish Government is holding a consultation on proposals for the Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill. This includes the following subjects:
In this opinion piece published in the Shooting Times 26.06.09 SGA chairman Alex Hogg warned that the Scottish Government’s plans for an open season on stags raised the spectre of the Glenfeshie slaughter