The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust is very proud of its long association with the Purdey Awards for Game and Conservation. The link between shooting and conservation that the awards celebrates 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 2024 close on 31st May, so there is 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 among 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. Having a good public profile and active involvement in and with 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 small 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. Most shoots say that the entry process has helped them to review what they do and been a benefit in itself. So, if you feel that you are making a good job of delivering conservation through wise use, why not give it a go?