Getting the MESSAGE ACROSS

Julien R. Carey (Letters, 7 June) may be surprised by the number of people at major game fairs who are not already converts to shooting when they walk through the gate. A sizeable proportion of visitors use such shows to dip their toe in the water and BASC recruits new members at every fair we attend. Our presence is constantly reevaluated to ensure a measurable benefit to the costs incurred.

BASC’S membership has risen to around 148,000 this year. The size of that membership lets us carry shooting’s message to the most unexpected places. We are about to run a clay-shooting event for more than 1,200 scouts and guides at the Suffolk Moot. Last year we coached almost 6,000 youngsters at the Essex International Jamboree (Shooting’s a jamboree hit, 31 August 2016).

This month, our Taste of Game programme rolls out an innovative project to put pheasant in front of 60,000 secondary school pupils by the year 2020 (News, 14 June). BASC will also have a presence at this year’s Countryfile Live event at Blenheim Palace in August, which places us directly in front of people who may not necessarily have an affinity with shooting.

These are clear examples of events and projects that educate and highlight the undeniable benefits of shooting and its conservation role in the countryside. BASC’S mission is to promote and protect sporting shooting and the well-being of the countryside throughout the world.

Mr Carey may not see a BASC stall at a classic car rally any time soon, but he can rest assured that this association does not lack the drive to take shooting’s message wherever it needs to go.

P. glenser, chairman, BASC