Come stand together with us!

Don’t miss out on any BDS at The Stalking Show news! Follow follow ‘The Stalking Show’ on Facebook, sign up to the BDS’ e-newsletter, or Hunter Gatherer Cooking’s YouTube Channel to stay up to date with the latest news on the show.

For just £5/ticket, you’ll also be able to enter the BDS Mega Raffle for a chance to win an epic prize bundle that includes a hugely popular Tikka T3X rifle, a Pulsar thermal imaging monocular, a stunning original piece of art by Kevin Alderson-Smith, and more!

The raffle will open online in early March, then you’ll also be able to buy tickets in person at the show (if any remain!). The raffle will then be drawn live at the show on Sunday, 12th April. Don’t miss the opportunity to take part! Follow The Stalking Show and BDS on Facebook to be the first to know when tickets go on sale.

SATURDAY 12:30-13:30

Rewilding - Lynx & Elk Reintroductions, Deer Densities, Trophy Hunting & Leaving Carcasses in the Landscape
Featuring representatives from leading rewilding organisations and landscape-scale conservation projects, including Sara King (Rewilding Manager, Rewilding Britain), Hugh Webster (Rewilding Relations, Scotland: The Big Picture), Dr. Jonny Hanson (environmental social scientist and author of Living with Lynx) and Dr. Alastair Ward (Associate Professor of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Management, Uni. Of Leeds), we will explore where rewilding intersects with modern deer management — and where it clashes.

SUNDAY 12:00-13:00
Head Shooting – Is Paying More for Head Shot Deer Causing a Welfare Issue?
A critical and timely conversation featuring Peter Green, expert veterinarian, Tony Lowry (co-founder of UK Deer Tracking Services), Joseph Hayward (Oakland Parks) and Warren Broad (Deer Box). Expect a frank, evidence-led discussion on welfare, carcass quality, business needs and public expectations.

So, you think you know your stuff? Put your deer stalking and management knowledge to the test in this ultimate challenge.

The challenge is FREE to enter, and ff you top the leaderboard, not only will you get bragging rights and a snazzy trophy to take home, but you will also win a 2-day stalking experience with David Freer in Scotland – including accommodation in a log cabin.

What a prize!
Laura Holmes enjoyed her visit to Scotland with the Freers so much that she’ll be returning to defend her title as BDS Stalking Master this year and win the trip again – so make sure you start swotting up now.

Runner-up prizes and 2nd and 3rd place trophies are also up for grabs.

Saturday (from 14:30) and Sunday (from 14:00)

Join The BDS, Game Larder by Tarrant Refrigeration, AGM Venison, Hunter Gatherer Cooking and other special guests for a series of workshops and activities focused on helping members of the deer stalking community learn how to set up and establish their own wild venison food business in their local area. Topics covered will include:

• How to set yourself up as a small venison retailer?
• What kit and gear do you need to get set up
• Routes to market and marketing your business
• The Wild Venison Network & Sussex Grazed on the Open Food Network UK
• Adding value through product variety

(Photo credit: AGM Venison)

Saturday (13:30-14:00) and Sunday (13:00-13:30)
Taneli Pokkinen, Product Manager of Commercial Rifles, will be joining the stage with BDS Corporate Partner, GMK Ltd. to present and demonstrate some of their latest gear and discuss what goes into designing rifles like the Tikka T3X Ace Target.

Saturday (14:00-14:30) and Sunday (1330-14:00)
The Thomas Jacks team will be joining the stage with BDS team members to talk about and demonstrate some of the latest thermal imaging, digital and night vision optics on the market from Pulsar.

Saturday and Sunday (11:00-12:00, both days)
Presented by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) & Guests

Representatives from UKHSA will be on stage to raise awareness about various disease risks to the deer stalking and wildlife management sector. They will be answering questions and addressing common myths around tick-borne and other diseases that deer stalkers have an increased risk of coming into contact with. Joining them on stage will be guests from the community, including Paul Childerley (Childerley Sporting).

Separately from their on-stage activities at The Stalking Show, the UKHSA will also be calling for volunteers to their stand on the upper floor of Bingley Hall, to provide a blood sample to support their research on vector-borne diseases in the UK. Any volunteers who donate will be provided with a pass for a free hot drink or soft drink and a biscuit at the BDS Meet & Greet Lounge as a thank you for participating.

Representatives from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary (HIOWC), Staffordshire Police and Derbyshire Police will be available to connect with on the BDS Stand through the weekend of the show.

You’ll also be able to learn about the police-led HAD volunteer scheme established by HIOWC, their progress with rolling out the scheme more nationally and what it’s like to be a HAD volunteer.

(Photo credit: Glenn Moores, HIOWC HAD Volunteer & Digital Fauna)

Get the latest news on BDS membership – including our new Premium Membership that includes insurance. BDS Members will be able to get access to firearms licensing advice from expert partner Chris Downs of FirearmsLicensing.net, and grab information on all upcoming regional branch events, range days and activities in your area. You’ll also be able to shop for popular BDS items such as the Field Guide to British Deer, Field Guide to Deer Diseases and carcass tags.

Every (new and existing) member who checks in at the Membership Hub with the team, as well as getting automatic entry to the BDS Meet & Greet VIP Area where you can enjoy a drink or two, will also automatically get entered into a free prize draw to win an experience at Holland and Holland - kindly provided by BDS Corporate Partner GMK Ltd.

Meet our training team and chat through anything from deer stalking and deer management training to sector best practice and mentoring support. Whether you're taking your first steps or looking to build on existing skills, the team and training representatives will be there to help and available to answer your questions.

Representatives from Scotland’s WDBP Guidance will be joining the Training and Deer Management Hub on the BDS stand during The Stalking Show.

Scotland’s Wild Deer Best Practice (WDBP) Guidance is a collaborative partnership initiative that provides authoritative guidance on the sustainable, legal, and humane management of wild deer. Developed collaboratively with key industry stakeholders within the Training, Forestry and Wildlife Management sector, the collection was first published in 2003 and has prided itself on being sector-led. These guides are designed for landowners, land managers, and deer stalkers to ensure that deer populations are managed in a way that respects public safety, food safety, and animal welfare.

Learn about the Wild Venison Network project and all about the work of Sussex Grazed, Brighton and Hove Food Partnership’s Meat Box Scheme. The scheme includes wild venison browsing boxes provided by Ben Marks (The Deer Project) and Darren Kilner and Helen Stammers (Apex Woodland and Wildlife Services).

Both these projects are all about supporting small wild venison businesses to connect with local customers and support more sustainable and environmentally-friendly food systems.

Saturday 10:00-11:00
Alastair Boston, Deer Officer for the Forestry Commission North West and West Midlands Area, will chair a talk with Dr Rodney F. Calvert, BSc Hons Principal Adviser - Wildlife Management for Natural England on deer management and legislation.

About Dr. Rodney Calvert:
Rodney has been working in the deer industry for over 30 years, ever since he studied the impacts of Fallow deer at Tollymore Forest in Co. Down, Northern Ireland. After moving to Surrey in 2000 to take up a position as a Wildlife Management Adviser in the Ministry of Agriculture, he has continued his career in Government and is currently a Principal Officer – Wildlife Management for Natural England, with Deer Specialist being one of his roles. Actively involved in deer management in the Southeast of England, Rodney sees this as a huge advantage to understanding what practitioners want when it comes to legislation and licensing and applies this knowledge when advising on licence applications and Government policies.

Sunday 10:00-11:00
Representatives from Nature Scot will provide an update on what the Natural Environment Bill will mean for Scotland's deer management sector.

About Nature Scot:
As Scotland’s nature agency, NatureScot is responsible for advising the Scottish Government on biodiversity, climate resilience, and sustainable land use. Its primary mission is to protect and restore Scotland’s natural heritage, ensuring that landscapes and wildlife thrive alongside local communities.