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The battle to tackle poachers has been stepped up this Christmas as deer and salmon become the number one targets for criminal gangs operating with no regard for animal welfare or the law.

The year-round management of two species of gulls is to continue in Scotland, but with a warning that evidence of the practice being carried out must be submitted or the legal basis for control could be removed.

Britain’s largest shooting organisation says airgun safety should be a matter of common sense rather than legislation.

BASC will ensure that the interests of shooters are fully considered in the final drafting of secondary legislation and guidance stemming from the enactment of the Marine and Coastal Access Bill.

BASC has ensured that a possible ban on the sale of woodpigeons has been averted. Natural England?s draft general licences, under which woodpigeons can be legally shot, included a condition that would have resulted in a ban on the sale of their meat.

Defra has confirmed that NE will have a duty to take all reasonable steps to notify everyone who has sporting rights over land affected by coastal access proposals.