Sam Walker, from the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) will be leading a seminar at PPC Live called "Air Rifles; Safe cleaning and transportation". We catch up with him to see what we should expect.

It is estimated that there are over six million air rifles in England and Wales, the vast majority of which are used in a safe and responsible manner. They are also an important tool for those working in the pest control industry.

Sam Walker from the British Association for shooting and Conservation will be looking at the practical aspects of Air Rifles from cleaning to transportation and everything in-between. BASC have produced a specific Air Rifle Safety Code of Practice for England and Wales which Sam will discuss in further detail.

The BASC Ideal is that all who shoot conduct themselves according to the law and to the highest standards of safety, sportsmanship and courtesy, with full respect for their quarry and a practical interest in wildlife conservation and the countryside.

A bit about Sam

I work as the regional officer for The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and previously worked as the Gamekeeping and Deer Officer for BASC. BASC is a national representative body for sporting shooting. We aim to promote shooting and conservation and develop peoples understanding of shooting and the countryside as a whole.

My father was a gamekeeper so I was brought up with pest and predator control from which I becoming a single-handed keeper in Herefordshire myself. I studied an HND in Game and Wildlife management which I followed up with a degree in Conservation Ecology which gave me a better understanding of the importance of pest management and the benefits associated. I’m a keen shot myself from rabbit control to pigeon shooting and also Deer management all of which I strive to do in the most professional manner.

What areas of pest management interest you the most?

Shooting is of real interest to me, as well as many forms of trapping, all of which were a very important tool in my role as a Gamekeeper. To be effective in either shooting or trapping, having a good understanding of the behaviour of the pest can really help. Spending time to learn about how their biology and ecology and how it effects their behaviour can really help and I also find this very interesting.

What do you expect people to take away from your talk?

I would ideally like to see people having a better understanding of the laws associated with air rifle use, and hopefully rising peoples standards of safety and courtesy, with full respect for their quarry.

We will look at the BASC specific Air Rifle Safety Code of Practice for England and Wales which we will discuss in detail. Demonstrations on best practice and safe handling. It will also be an opportunity for people to ask any questions relating to the use of air rifles for pest management, not just on a theoretical level but also on their more practical us.

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