No time to sit back and relax

As we welcome the start of the pheasant season, BASC regional officer Sam Walker talks shoot visits, political engagement and catching up with members in different environments…

As the busy show season winds down, you might think the BASC regional teams finally get a chance to put their feet up. I’d love to say we’re out shooting, beating and enjoying some well-earned downtime. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

One of the hardest questions we get asked is: “So, what do you actually do as a regional officer?” And the honest answer is that it varies hugely.

Our duties include answering member enquiries and attending stakeholder meetings. We help train wildlife crime teams and liaise with firearms licensing departments. And let’s not forget delivering courses, running events for members and supporting local clubs and syndicates. The list goes on, and no two days are ever the same.

Engagement opportunities

The shooting season is an excellent time to engage with members in various ways and brings new opportunities for us to support them. It’s also a chance to celebrate all the fantastic hard work that goes on across the country.

This year, our regional teams have made a real push to connect with newly elected MPs. Many of them have little or no experience of shooting, so it’s vital we help build their understanding and showcase the positive impact shooting has on the countryside.

We’ve already seen MPs visiting shoots to witness the hard work and benefits shooting brings. This is work we’ll keep building on. If you have a great case study or would be happy to host your local MP, please get in touch with your local BASC team – we’d love to help make it happen and support you every step of the way.

Getting people out shooting

We also organise a wide range of shooting opportunities across the regions. From introduction to game shooting, Women in Shooting and young shots events, to wildfowling and deer stalking experiences, we want to ensure everyone feels welcome and finds an event they want to join.

As a regional officer, it’s incredibly rewarding to be able to pass on our passion and love of shooting to others. These events give members at all stages of their shooting development a chance to learn and build up their confidence. We make sure best practice and high standards are taught from the very first time a gun is picked up.

Shooting briefings

Shoot briefings throughout the season give us a chance to speak directly to Guns, beaters and pickers-up, all in one place.

Let’s be honest, how many times have you sat on the beaters’ wagon chatting about what’s going on in the shooting world, trying to separate fact from fiction? Having a BASC team member on hand to answer those questions and provide clarity is very useful. We cover everything from sustainable ammunition and general licences to avian influenza and poaching.

There is so much going on at BASC, too, and shoot visits help spread the great work the teams are doing on behalf of our members. If you think your shoot would benefit from a visit, please contact your nearest regional office.

Planning for 2026

Time seems to move faster as we get older and 2026 will be upon us before we know it. Planning for the year ahead can feel daunting, but it’s also exciting. For us at BASC, it’s about looking for new ways to make events more engaging and enjoyable for members and to ensure you have all the facts and information you need to be safe and responsible.

We’ll now take the time to review what’s worked well and where improvements can be made. All teams across the organisation will work to put a plan together for the coming year, which means that many of next summer’s events will have been months in the making by the time they come to fruition.

What keeps us going as regional officers is simple – our passion for what we do. We’re proud to promote sustainable shooting, support our members and inspire others to get involved.

We’re always keen to hear your thoughts and suggestions, too, so if you have an idea or a story to share, please get in touch with your regional team here. We’re here for you.

Sam Walker

Sam is a BASC regional officer covering South West England. He is hugely experienced across the shooting disciplines and has a strong commitment to the countryside. Having originally joined BASC in 2014 as a gamekeeping officer, Sam also worked as part of our deer team before taking up his post as regional officer in 2017.