Welcome to the February 2025 Newsletter!
This month is packed with exciting updates, from successful seasons and new land acquisitions to upcoming events and website improvements. Our pigeon season has been a great success, and we’re expanding our driven pheasant days with increased stocking levels and new facilities. The Deer-Cull Services are making strong progress, with more cull grounds secured and further opportunities on the horizon.
We’re also growing our syndicate’s footprint, having acquired new stalking land in Craven Arms, Oxford, and Ayrshire, with high seats going up this week. Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing for a major Cornwall culling contract, and we are actively working with land agents to expand into new regions.
On the tech side, our website has been revamped with a Firearms Certificate upload feature, and we’re introducing digital ID cards for easier access. Improvements to the interactive mapping system and courses section are also underway.
Looking ahead, we’ll be attending The Stalking Show in Staffordshire (12th–13th April) and have made enquiries about attending The National Shooting Show in Harrogate. We hope to see many of you there!
Thank you for being part of the Stalking Syndicate—read on for all the details, and don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to get involved in any of our upcoming opportunities.
The Great British Shooting Show
We had an excellent few days at The Great British Shooting Show at the NEC from 14th to 16th February 2025, receiving fantastic feedback throughout! It was a great chance to connect with fellow members, explore upcoming opportunities, and welcome new enthusiasts to the syndicate.
A special thank you to Andy Siddall and Mike Idziaszczyk for their invaluable help on the stand. We also appreciate everyone who stopped by—your enthusiasm and conversations made the event even better.
If you couldn’t make it but would like more information about the syndicate, feel free to get in touch or simply download our brochure if you haven’t already done so.
Exciting Website Enhancements
A huge well done to our web team for their fantastic work on the site revamp! One of the key new features is a Firearms Certificate upload system, streamlining membership applications for a smoother, more efficient process.
Looking ahead, we’re introducing a digital ID card system, allowing members to store their ID cards in their phone’s virtual wallet for easy access. We’re also upgrading the interactive mapping system to include newly acquired land, making high-resolution stalking maps more accessible than ever.
In addition, the courses section of the website is being refreshed to provide clearer information and a better user experience. These improvements are all part of our commitment to enhancing accessibility and reducing administrative overheads.
Other Upcoming Shows
Meet Us at The Stalking Show – 12th & 13th April, Staffordshire
We’re excited to be attending The Stalking Show, a fantastic event created by passionate hunting and outdoor enthusiasts. Designed to bring together people of all ages who share an interest in stalking, hunting, pest control, and working dogs, this two-day show is packed with everything you need under one roof.
Attendees can enjoy:
🛒 Big-brand trade displays showcasing the latest gear
🎤 Talks, demonstrations, and expert advice from industry leaders
🍽️ Celebrity game chefs demonstrating field-to-fork cooking and game butchery
🏹 Interactive experiences, including a target range and virtual shooting
🚜 Quads, trucks, trailers, and hunting holidays in the UK and abroad
Major organisations such as BASC, BDS, NGO, and UK Deer Track Recovery will be on hand to provide expert advice and answer questions.
📍 Find us on the balcony—we’d love to see you there!
… Additionally, we’ve made enquiries about attending The National Shooting Show in Harrogate, so stay tuned for updates.
A Successful Pigeon Season
Our latest pigeon season has been a great success, with excellent results for our members. Ideal conditions made for some fantastic shooting days, and we’re grateful to everyone who took part. We’re already looking forward to an even better season next year!
For those interested in pigeon shooting days, feel free to get in touch at team@shottingsh.com. Commercial rates apply, but members can book for £50 with a £25 rebate.
Don’t forget – some areas are free for members and if you’re not yet a member todays a great day to tick this off your to-do list as you can join today here.
More Pheasants for Driven Days
Great news for our game shooting enthusiasts – this year’s pheasant season is shaping up to be our biggest yet! We’re planning to increase to two driven days per week, doubling the opportunities available.
To support this expansion, a part-time keeper starts on 1st April to build new cages and repair existing ones. This year, we’ll be running four cages instead of one or two, allowing us to release 2,500 pheasants into the woods, along with 500 ducks across two pond areas. The keeper is also actively working on vermin control to improve conditions on the shoot.
With these increased stocking levels, syndicate members can look forward to plenty of driven days. If you’re already a member, keep an eye out for dates and availability – spots tend to fill quickly!
Land Acquisition & Expansion
We’re excited to announce the addition of new stalking land, further expanding opportunities for our members. Our latest grounds near Craven Arms offer excellent stalking conditions with a strong deer population. In addition, we’ve secured new leased land in Oxford and Ayrshire, where high seats will be installed this week.
To continue growing, we are working with land agents across Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Peterborough, Suffolk, Essex, Herefordshire, and Bedfordshire. These agents will be retained to acquire additional syndicate-leased land, ensuring ongoing expansion.
As the year progresses, we’ll be reaching out to agents in other key areas where we aim to establish a presence. This investment ensures we can provide high-quality, sustainable stalking experiences for all members.
Deer-Cull Services – Exclusive Member Benefits
Our Deer-Cull Services are already delivering results, with new grounds secured and more in the pipeline. Our target was 10–15 new areas, and so far, we have confirmed three, with a fourth in progress. Notably, the potential Cornwall contract could cover 40,000 hectares, which may require us to employ one or two additional stalkers to manage the population effectively.
For members, this expansion means increased access to high-seat locations and walk-and-stalk opportunities to help maintain deer numbers responsibly. As part of our commitment to ethical deer management, our cull services provide experienced members with exclusive access to designated grounds, offering valuable culling opportunities while supporting conservation efforts.
If you’re interested in joining the cull team, we require a minimum qualification of DSC2 or PDSA2. Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved.
Current cull grounds include:
📍 Oxford – 5th March
📍 West Sussex – 5th March
📍 Berkshire – 6th March
📍 Tunbridge Wells, Kent – 4th March
Additionally, we are in discussions with Cornwall Council on 10th March regarding plantation areas affected by deer damage. Several tenanted farms also require extensive culling, further expanding opportunities for members.
Stay Connected
We’re always looking for ways to improve the syndicate and enhance the experience for our members. If you have any feedback or suggestions, we’d love to hear from you!
📧 Email us: team@shootingsh.com
🌐 Visit our website: https://www.shootingsh.com
📍 Meet us at The Stalking Show in Stafford – you’ll find us on the balcony.
Thank you for being part of the Stalking Syndicate – here’s to another fantastic season ahead!
Best regards,
Bob Glynn
Chairman, Stalking Syndicate
