Shooting from 31 December 2020

From one minute past midnight on the morning of Thursday 31 December, all areas of England will be either in Tier 3 or Tier 4. Nowhere in England will be in Tier 2. The Isles of Scilly are the only exception - which remains in Tier 1. 

Further to this announcement, made in Parliament by the Health Secretary this afternoon (Wednesday 30 December), the NGO is reminding its members what these different Tiers mean for shooting:

 

TIER 4: You can only leave your home with 'reasonable excuse'. No recreational shooting constitutes 'reasonable excuse'. Nor can you travel from Tier 4 to shoot elsewhere. Work that cannot be done from home does constitute 'reasonable excuse', so professional gamekeeping can continue. Pest control is only allowed if it constitutes work.

 

TIER 3: People can meet outdoors in groups larger than six "for organised outdoor sport and physical activity", which includes shooting provided it is conducted in a Covid-secure way. The NGO has previously issued advice on what this means. This exemption does not, however, extend to the social aspects of a shoot day. Indoor meeting is prohibited and outdoor meals must adhere to the 'rule of six'. Government advice on travel within Tier 3 is to "stay local" where possible. Travel from a Tier 3 area should be "avoided". Work that cannot be done from home is allowed to continue. 
--