BASC’s staff at the Scottish National Party’s conference in Glasgow discussed snaring with the authors of a new report which calls for its abolition.
The UK’s largest shooting organisation highlighted that snaring remains an essential pest control tool for land managers in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage is carrying out a review of snaring on behalf of government.
Dr Colin Shedden, BASC’s Scotland director, said: “The report relies a great deal on historic cases and is not, in my opinion, an accurate reflection of the progress that has been made under the training and accreditation that is now required before anyone can set a snare in Scotland.
“We are pleased to note, nevertheles, that the content of BASC’s snare training courses was described as being both accurate and well delivered.”
Mike Hardy, a BASC council member and gamekeeper, said: “More than 1,400 people are currently authorised to use snares in Scotland and it is clear to me that they do so within the law and under the terms of the practitioners’ guide.”