How can I get started as a gamekeeper

Today, there are more than 5,000 full-time gamekeepers employed in the UK. In addition, there are many who spend their leisure time and money, rearing game and maintaining habitats on their own small shoots.

A gamekeeper can be professional or amateur but their role is the same, to look after and encourage the game population on a shoot. They may do this by protecting wild stock and enhancing its breeding potential or by rearing and releasing game birds.

Their skills play an important part in shaping the countryside in both upland and lowland areas.

It is necessary to create a suitable environment for a healthy game population. The gamekeeper achieves this by working alongside the landowner, farmer, shoot manager and sometimes external governing agencies to improve and create habitats on the shoot. These provide food, nesting cover and shelter for gamebirds.

If you are looking at gamekeeping as a career choice then there are a range of courses at colleges across the country such as Game and Wildlife Management level three and Land and Wildlife (Game) – Level 2 Technical Certificate

BASC’s Legacy Funded Scholarship Programme is also here to help.

It aims to support and encourage those wishing to develop their knowledge in conservation, land management or gamekeeping.

It provides financial assistance to applicants where lack of funding obstructs education and future careers.

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