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.
As Alex refers to in his blog, the Scottish Government has brought out the Snares (Scotland) Order. This forms part of the requirements spelled out by Mike Russell to the Scottish Parliament in 2008, which established the conditions under which snaring would be allowed to continue. Support for snaring, in line with these requirements, was made clear by Roseanna Cunningham, the current Environment Minister, during the Public Petitions hearing on 12th January.
A reminder to members that under the General Licenses (which permit us to shoot and trap certain pest species during the year), you need to make a return to the Scottish Government if you took any action against Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Herring Gulls, Starlings or House sparrows in 2009.
If you did cull any of these birds last year, you should send in a return to:
Scottish Government,
Landscapes and Habitats Division,
lJ South Victoria Quay,
Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
The event at Loch of Skene, Dunecht Estate, Aberdeenshire is designed to help ghillies, gamekeepers and landowners get involved in collecting information on wetland birds that can be used to help with conservation and land management.
Keepers, stalkers and ghillies will get the opportunity to share existing knowledge about wetland birds, improve their identification skills and learn how easy it is to register their sightings. The course is free, and suitable for all skill levels.
Shooting restrictions put in place in Scotland earlier this month because of the severe winter weather have been lifted.
All birds will have been affected by the prolonged winter weather, so despite the lifting of restrictions, we encourage all SGA members to continue exercising restraint, particularly where snow and frozen water remains.
All the latest country sports equipment, clothing, advice and supplies will be showcased at the SGA's inaugural Game and Angling Show which is being sponsored by the all-terrain specialists, Polaris.
Some of the leading names in the fishing and shooting worlds will be there and there will be demonstrations and talks throughout both days.
Roseanna Cunningham, Minister for Environment, signed an Order on Sunday 3 January, imposing a temporary ban on wildfowling in Scotland. The purpose of the ban is to reduce disturbance to wildfowl in the current severe weather. The ban follows procedure previously agreed for severe weather conditions. The ban comes into effect on Tuesday 5th January and will last for 14 days. It will be reviewed after 7 days and may be lifted then if conditions have sufficiently improved.