| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
YORKSHIRE BRANCH
Venue - Buckles Inn at Bilborough on A64 about 1/2 mile before the Are you a new member? Have you moved to the area? My number is 07802 833 977 if you want to chat. AGM - the Branch AGM was held on January 30th at the Buckles Inn Bilbrough. Some thirty-five members attended.
The branch elected Bob Holmes as Chair, and re-elected Mark Revell as Treasurer and Hugh Davis as Secretary, other committee members are David Atkinson, Steve Atkinson, Anthony Hall, Gerald Alden and Lesley Davis. Bob Holmes thanked Julie Palin former chair, Vince Reynolds, Training Officer and Robert Matthews for their hard work and support to the branch in respect of training and education. Following the meeting Norman Healey from the Deer Initiative gave a most informative presentation on the work of the DI in the South west of February saw a welcome visit from the North Yorkshire Police Firearms Licensing Team. Linda Featherstone and her colleague Geoff Jackson provided a resume of the current legislative position and highlighted areas where change is being considered. The opportunity for memebrs to ask questions lead to a lengthy exchange of ideas and experiences. For two guests from another area the experience made them realise trhat the supportive Firearms team from NYPD is yet another good reason to live in Notrth Yorkshire! Topics of particular interest were how to request and get a quarry variation on the FAC - Their advice do your home work - find out where there are the "exotic " quarry and whether you can actually get access to shoot ( and yes they do check with Defra and the local Police to check that the quarry are indeed present! Importing guns from abroad - again the message was do the home work and have customs and a RFD lined up to receive the weapon. Two new guests were most impressed - they had thought that they would not be allowed to apply for an FAC. They went away thinking it might not be long before Geoff Jackson could be paying them a visit! - but best of all they both thought membership of the BDS was a crucial part of any one interested in deer. Bob Holmes
16th March Strensall Ranges - four members turned up on a very blustery day which provided a good opportunity to shoot straght in difficult conditions. Members were advised of the latest position in respect of the new MOD rules for Civilian users of 20th March Dr Alastair Ward gave an informative explanation of the incidence and implications of Diseases in Deer. Concentrating on Bovine TB and Blue Tongue Disease members were given some very pertinent information on the incidence of TB in Badgers and the levels of detected TB in the other species in the vicinity of each infected badger. It was re-assuring to hear that Deer are not significant carriers of the disease unless subjected to signicant overcrowding as has happened in some parts of the country Blue Tongue Disease is apparently very different. Dr Ward described how this midge spread illness is transmitted to the animals on which they may feed. With the impending warmer weather Dr Ward suggested that it is only a matter of time before the midge has invaded 16th April Walter Schwab Product Development Manager with Zeiss came with Mark Khan of Zeiss 20th April - Branch Spring Shoot Pickering RC kindly invited the Brancgh to hold the Spring Shoot at their idyllic range. Around forty rifles turned out and some very good shooting was demonstrated. The order of fire was 140 yds three shots from simulated high seat, 100yds three shots timed from prone, 40yds two shots standing with aids (sticks etc) and two shots unsupported. This last proved to be the undoing of many - does this show how reliant we stalkers are becoming on our bipods and sticks? Results English Scottish Light Sporting Rifle R Holmes 98 E Newsham 89 (best group) Eric Newsham 91 Andy Massingham 97 H Tim Brown 94 Terry Houseman 83 Tim Brown 88 R McArthur 88 May 21st Summer Cooking - David Atkinson and Hugh Davis gave another cookery demonstration of more recipes using venison and field produce. David produced a game pie, a casserole and BBQ's sausages and venison steaks while Hugh produced a venison To soothe the throats David and Alison provided a trifle and a syllabub topped with brambles matured for two years in malt. They did not take any of that home it was delicious. 22nd June Calf Count - Studley Royal around 30 members attended this very popular event when Dave Harrigan the deer Manager took the group through the July 6th - Next meeting 17th September Buckles Inn - Dave Stretton is to give a butchery demonstration. Do come early as this very popular event is well attended and the ring side seats are taken early. There will be an opportunity to cut a joint under Dave's guidance. He says only one knive is needed to sort a carcase! Well why don't you come and see how it is done! Future eventsSept 7 Strensall, 0830, Practice & Zeroing Sept 17 Dave Stretton Carcase Preparation, Sept 21 Oct 7th Saturday Visit to Woburn Abbey - Tour of the Oct 15 Nick Maskrey - Knives and Sharpening, Oct 26 Studley Royal Rut Meet 1pm at lakeside car park Oct 26 Strensall, 0830, Practice & Zeroing Nov19 Round Green - Deer Farming & Carcase hygiene handling - Hygiene from car boot to freezer December No meeting, 2009 Jan 21 Pre AGM Committee Meeting, 2009 Jan 28 AGM, Shooting Events - Will Members please bring FAC, BDS Membership Card. Strensall Range Days - It is essential that members arrive and are signed in by 0830. Only paid up BDS members and guests who are bona fide Members of associated organisations are eligible to shoot. All Branch Meetings are held at Buckles Inn, Bilborough on third Wednesday of each month unless indicated as above. Guests from other Branches are welcome to attend Branch Meetings Please contact Branch Secretary 07802 833 977 Blue Tongue Disease (BTD)
The midge season is coming BTD is another kettle of fish, spread by midges there seems liitle that can be done to restrict the spread. Members are reminded that the protection zone covers the whole of eastern England to the North of Bridlington and then includes Hull, Selby, York , Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and then across to south of Manchester on to Cheshire and the borders with Wales then south to Bristol and across to Dorset. As the weather moves towards spring we can expect the midges to move out of hibernation and start to fly - especially on warm evenings. It is possible that the midge populations in most of our traditional stalking areas have the potential to become infected so all stalkers are reminded to be on the look out for animals which appear unwell. Members are reminded that the restrictions on taking carcasses and trophies from the protection zone or moving carcases other than to end users still apply. The British Deer Society has dedicated sections on the website which are provided with both date and time of each announcement. Please check before you go out for the latest information on www.bds.org.uk. The information and hot keys are on the home page and easy to see. Show Schedule
Sunday 16 March Holderness Point to Point Tuesday 8th, 9th, 10th July Great Yorkshire Show harrogate The Show teams headed by David Atkinson and Bob Holmes are going to be busy this year. Branch members are asked if they can spare a day to assist with either setting (day previous to the above dates) or with manning the Branch Show trailer or the stand. The role is talking about deer to members of the public who visit the stand and promoting theSociety to prospective new members. Head Quarters has asked the Yorkshire Branch to attend the Chatsworth Game Fair on behalf of the Society - as this is the first time that the Society has been to Chatsworth for many years the committee would be grateful for members who feel able to volunteer some time. There are few "perks" for volunteers but you do get free admission and an opportunity to have a walk round the other stands! Please contact Dave Atkinson all shows except GYS GYS volunteers please contact Bob Holmes
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|