BASC Northern Ireland women’s shooting day a fantastic success
The BASC Northern Ireland team hosted a successful women’s shooting day at Sperrin Sporting Ranges, Draperstown.
BASC celebrates record number of female members
BASC has celebrated a new milestone for female members, reinforcing its commitment to increasing participation for women in shooting and fieldsports.
In August 2025, women and girls accounted for 7.5 per cent of BASC’s total membership – a figure that represents a new record for the number of female members, and one that continues to grow.
BASC now has more female members than ever before, underlining the progress made in encouraging women into shooting sports. But there is still more to do to ensure participation keeps rising.
The increase in BASC female membership is mirrored by the latest Home Office statistics on firearm and shotgun certificates. Of the 496,904 certificate holders in England and Wales, six per cent (31,747) were women. BASC members account for 36 per cent of female certificate holders in England and Wales.
Women in Shooting leads the way
BASC vice chair Claire Sadler, the first woman to hold the position and figurehead of BASC’s Women in Shooting initiative, welcomed the milestone. She said: “A key focus of Women in Shooting is to encourage more women to take up shooting and to support them along their journey of progression by creating a community, lifestyle and knowledge hub that promotes best practice.
“I believe the rise in female participation is also linked to greater awareness of where our food comes from. Many women are taking up both rifle and shotgun shooting to develop the skills needed to source their own meat.
“BASC has an unwavering commitment to supporting women in shooting, at every level and across every discipline. While there has already been tremendous progress, there remains huge untapped potential. From the outside shooting can appear male-dominated, but by increasing visibility and relatability for women, we can continue to redress the balance.”
Curtis Mossop, BASC’s head of education and outreach, said: “We are delighted to see more women taking up shooting. Through our education and outreach programmes, we aim to give women the skills, knowledge and confidence to thrive in the sport. These initiatives encourage participation and help build a supportive community where everyone can learn and progress.”
The announcement highlights BASC’s commitment to making shooting and fieldsports accessible, welcoming and inclusive. Our tailored programmes aim to encourage more women and young people to get involved – find out more here.
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