By Mike Swan, GWCT Senior Advisor
The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust is very proud of its association with the Purdey Awards. The link between conservation and shooting that the awards highlight is precisely what GWCT is all about – conservation through wise use. It has been a real joy to the organisation over the years that so many Purdey finalists have been GWCT members and advisory service clients.
Entries for 2023 close on 26th May, so there is still plenty of time to put your shoot forward. Please remember that what the judges are looking for is good game management leading to excellent conservation outcomes. Size is not important, and you most certainly do not need a grand estate to enter; many modest shoots have been amongst the winners over the years.
Whether you are reliant on reared and released birds, wild game, or a mix of the two is also unimportant. The key to success is to be a well run enterprise, complying with both the letter and the spirit of the Code of Good Shooting Practice, and delivering a demonstrable conservation benefit in the process. Delivering good PR for shooting, and being actively involved in the local community is also an advantage.
All entries go before a panel of independent expert judges at a meeting in June, and those who are shortlisted receive a visit from a group of judges between July and September.
The new more streamlined entry form explains more about the awards, and is neither difficult nor time consuming to fill out, so if you feel that you have a good project, why not give it a go?