Fifteen-year-old Jack Depledge from North Yorkshire became one of BASC’s first Young Shot Ambassadors earlier this year.
He got into shooting through his dad who was a member of a DIY syndicate near Gargrave. He started beating at six years old, and shooting at seven. He loves every aspect of shoot days; the social side, the shooting and watching the dogs work.
He says; “It’s not essential to come from a shooting family, although it does help with things like gaining experience and obtaining a shotgun. As long as you enjoy the sport, that’s what really counts.
“I really enjoy my work with as a YSA because I get great opportunities to meet new people, develop my knowledge and go shooting while representing BASC.
“It doesn’t take up much of my time. If we are at a clay shoot representing BASC it may last three or four hours, however if we are at a country show or similar event, we either stay throughout the event or just one day. It is left very much up to you as to how much you do, but we tend to stay as long as we can because we love it.”
Jack is actively considering a career in shooting, perhaps as a gamekeeper or sporting agent. So far his most memorable shot has been on his first wildfowling expedition last September. He said; “Sporting Gun’s wildfowling expert Tom Sykes took me out on the marsh. Using field craft and local knowledge, he got us under some geese and I managed to bag my first goose (a greylag) out of a skein flying behind us about 35 yards out. An average shot for most wildfowlers, but for me it was magnificent and will remain in my mind for ever!”