How To Become A Game Keeper

The Chore and What's Involved

Gamekeepers work in the countryside looking after areas called beats. They brand certain there is enough game in their beats for shooting. Game includes deer, and birds such as grouse, partridge and pheasant. They as well manage and protect wildlife habitats.

The different types of gamekeeper are:

Lowland Keepers working in woodland and open farmland. They are mainly concerned with mallards, partridges and pheasant.

Upland Keepers working on moors. They are mainly concerned with blackcock, deer and grouse.

Highland Keepers mainly concerned with deer stalking. In some of the Scottish Highland areas they are also involved with ptarmigan (a type of grouse).

Gamekeepers work closely with farm managers and forestry workers, as well as clients who come to shoots. Their work varies according to the season. In spring and summer their main tasks are:

• Rearing young birds from hatcheries or those bought equally one-twenty-four hour period old chicks (simply lowland keepers).
• Making sure game is kept safe from predators (birds or animals that compete with or may impairment them). Predators include crows, magpies, foxes, stoats, weasels and rats. Gamekeepers shoot some predators and trap others.
• Making necessary repairs to equipment, buildings and game pens.

In the shooting flavour, the busiest time of year, gamekeepers:

• Conform shoots and hire beaters, who flush birds out of their encompass and collect those that have been shot.
• Supervise beaters on the day and sometimes sell the game afterwards.

Other piece of work throughout the year includes clearing woodland or burning heather, tractor driving, clearing land using power saws and other equipment, building fences and clearing ponds and ditches. They too keep records and may railroad train gun dogs.

Some gamekeepers are as well responsible for rivers, streams and surrounding wetland management.

Gamekeepers work flexible hours according to the season and jobs which need completing. This tin can include early morning, evening and weekend work.

Most of their working fourth dimension is spent outdoors in all weather conditions. There is a lot of walking, and piece of work can involve bending and lifting. There is some indoor work, including looking later immature birds, maintaining equipment and machinery.

The chore besides involves using power saws and other equipment, and sometimes wearing protective clothing such as goggles or gloves. Gamekeepers need a good knowledge of safety issues.

The starting salary for a gamekeeper may be around £x,000 a year. Many employers provide free or depression-cost accommodation and a vehicle. In that location may also be allowances for items such as clothing, telephones and dogs.

Getting Started with this Career Choice

There are estimated to be around iii,000 full-fourth dimension and approximately the same amount of part-time gamekeepers in the Great britain. Jobs opportunities occur in rural areas, about half of them in England, a 3rd in Scotland, and the remainder in Wales and Northern Ireland. Vacancies for full-fourth dimension gamekeepers occur infrequently and at that place is likely to exist much competition for them.

Gamekeepers work for landowners or shooting syndicates that rent shooting rights from landowners.

Chore opportunities may be advertised in local newspapers, but more frequently jobs are found through contacting landowners directly, give-and-take-of-rima oris, or through working for employers in another capacity. The National Gamekeepers Organisation's website includes a Gamekeepers Jobs Register.

Teaching and Training

There are no prepare bookish requirements, but some employers prefer applicants with GCSE's/S grades (A-C/1-iii). Practical feel of working on the land or involvement in countryside activities tin be useful in finding employment or preparation.

Most agricultural colleges run specific gamekeeping courses. Contact them individually for details of courses and whatsoever entry requirements.

Useful qualifications include:

• BTEC First Diploma in Countryside and Environs (Gamekeeping).
• BTEC National Award in Gamekeeping.
• BTEC National Award, Certificate and Diploma in Countryside Direction (Game Direction).
• Metropolis & Guilds National Certificate in Gamekeeping Level 2.
• NVQ Gamekeeping and Wildlife Management Levels 2
  and 3.
• SVQ Game and Wildlife Management Level 2.

A Few More Exams You Might Need

In that location is probable to be on-the-chore training for people with gamekeeping qualifications or those who have go gamekeepers afterwards working in other relevant jobs.

Gamekeepers can work towards NVQ's/SVQ's at work as achieving these qualifications includes workplace assessment.

The National Gamekeepers Organisation encourages high standards in the piece of work, provides communication sheets, and runs a membership scheme. The Game Conservancy Trust is also a membership organisation.

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Skills and Personal Qualities Needed

A gamekeeper should:

• Be knowledgeable almost the countryside and its wildlife.
• Take energy, forcefulness and stamina for the tasks involved.
• Be willing to work outdoors in all weathers.
• Be practical and skilful at working with their hands.
• Be warning and observant.
• Have good knowledge of safety issues when dealing with guns.
• Have adept personal advice skills.
• Be able to piece of work alone for long periods, merely likewise as role of a small-scale team.

Your Long Term Prospects

There may sometimes be opportunities for gamekeepers to be promoted to senior or head keeper, particularly on large estates.

Some gamekeepers movement on to piece of work in a different area of countryside management or work overseas in other European countries or North America.

Go Further Information

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC),
Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HL
Tel: 01244 573000
Website: www.basc.org.uk

The British Deer Society,
Burgate Manor, Fordingbridge, Hampshire SP6 1EF
Tel: 01425 655434
Website: www.bds.org.uk

Lantra, Lantra Business firm, Stoneleigh Park,
well-nigh Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 2LG
Tel: 024 7669 6996
Website: www.lantra.co.united kingdom of great britain and northern ireland

National Gamekeepers' Organization,
PO Box 107, Bishop Auckland DL14 9YW
Tel: 01388 665899
Website: world wide web.nationalgamekeepers.org.great britain

Scottish Gamekeepers Clan,
PO Box 7477, Perth PH2 7YE
Tel: 01738 587515
Website: world wide web.scottishgamekeepers.co.uk

Other Related Jobs

• Countryside Ranger/Warden
• Countryside Officeholder
• Farm Manager
• Subcontract Worker
• Fish Farmer
• Forest Worker

Additional resources

Additional resource

Source: https://www.inputyouth.co.uk/jobguides/job-gamekeeper.html

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