Deer Stalkers vs. Target Shooters.

[kennyc]

Hi,


Dont know if this is the right place for this sort of question, but I have been wondering for a while: Are there more Target Shooters (FAC weapons - not Low-powered Airguns) or more Deer Stalkers/ Pest Controllers etc in the UK. A large discrepancy may explain the support levels for recent pro-pistols petitions (not to suggest deer stalkers etc wouldnt sign, but probably less likely to do so that a target shooter I.M.H.O), for example. I have googled and Can't find any figures for this, just overall FAC figures. (According to the Guardian, in England and Wales There were 141,775 firearm certificates on issue on 31 March 2010.)
Anyone got any ideas for the breakdown of what form of shooting is most common?
Just a thought.

from various polls and discusions of this and other forums, I would suspect that target shooters would be just as likely to not bother to sign a petition as stalkers, and the very fact that you feel a need to raise a divisive question such as this would seem proof that most groups tend to be insular and blame "the other guy" as to numbers, I suspect target shooters are by far the majority, even allowing for the number of people that hunt and shoot targets.

[DW58]

I know that the use of pistols NOW among deer stalkers is not uncommon.
How many target pistols are in use by comparison?

The illogical situation in mainland UK is it's deemed to a valid reason to want a pistol for shooting injured deer, but not for shooting at bits of paper...

There are quite a few stalkers try this one on the Police, but very few actually get the paperwork and thus the pistol.

I've never come across one, but I have come across one who tried to get the authorisation, failed and took it all the way to the House of Lords and still failed.

conversly, I know at least one stalker that has one, and am aware of several more that have pistols (although those I haven't personally seen) as to using a pistol for humane despatch, there are times when a centre fire rifle is not suitable, neither is a knife, and who has the pocketspace for a .410 shotgun when stalking?

Yes, I'm well aware of that - I've been stalking for over thirty years and was on the board of Trustee/Directors of a national deer conservation body for over a decade.

There is quite a difference between knowing one or two as you say, and "not uncommon" as Saddler wrote.

I totally agree that in many cases a pistol is the ideal weapon for humane despatch, but most police forces resist applications wherever possible. My point is that while the legislation exists, the possession of handguns by stalkers/deer managers is not common.

At the time when various conservation bodies were in discussions with the Home Office over such use, the Home Office were quite emphatic that the type of pistol to be authorised was to be strictly regulated to single-shot pistols and the like - how don't know how much this is enforced.

[Daniel11]

Hi,


Dont know if this is the right place for this sort of question, but I have been wondering for a while: Are there more Target Shooters (FAC weapons - not Low-powered Airguns) or more Deer Stalkers/ Pest Controllers etc in the UK. A large discrepancy may explain the support levels for recent pro-pistols petitions (not to suggest deer stalkers etc wouldnt sign, but probably less likely to do so that a target shooter I.M.H.O), for example. I have googled and Can't find any figures for this, just overall FAC figures. (According to the Guardian, in England and Wales There were 141,775 firearm certificates on issue on 31 March 2010.)
Anyone got any ideas for the breakdown of what form of shooting is most common?
Just a thought.

from various polls and discusions of this and other forums, I would suspect that target shooters would be just as likely to not bother to sign a petition as stalkers, and the very fact that you feel a need to raise a divisive question such as this would seem proof that most groups tend to be insular and blame "the other guy" as to numbers, I suspect target shooters are by far the majority, even allowing for the number of people that hunt and shoot targets.

I did not raise a divisive point, I was merely curious as to the number of Target shooters and the number of deer stalkers. The point about the pistol petition is just an example of how in some people's eyes, (not necessarily my own.), these figures could be of interest. (Incidentally I shoot game and target shoot, so I am not 'blaming the other guy'.)
I 'felt a need' to raise the point purely out of curiosity.

[Dellboy]

in my mind a shooter is a shooter is a shooter
we should all stand as one because divided we will fall ,slowly our sports will be legislated against

[DW58]

Hear Hear.

[Chapuis]

BASC has more members than NRA.

That's a slight understatement. BASC has around 135,000 members and the NRA about 7,000 so a ratio of 19:1

I've stalked for almost as long as I have shot paper. I still regard pistol shooting as my favourite form of shooting despite being prevented from doing so legally in this country for some 20 odd years now. In fact I enjoy or have enjoyed at some time almost all forms of shooting, punt gunning being one exception so far but hopefully I will get to try that at some time. To my mind a true shooter is a shooter regardless of creed. However I have encountered the occasional target shooter who has a superior attitude to other shooters, likewise I have encountered the occasional sport shooter who has looked down with disdain on target shooters., can't say I understand it myself.

[Daniel11]

in my mind a shooter is a shooter is a shooter
we should all stand as one because divided we will fall ,slowly our sports will be legislated against

+1

[SevenSixTwo]

BASC has more members than NRA.

...because BASC looks after target shooters' interests far more than NRA does.

[dromia]

The one thing that that binds us all regardless of shooting interest is legal gun ownership.

That is the rock that all shooting is founded on.

[SevenSixTwo]

Damn straight.

So... about that signature: http://www.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/62588