Animal welfare consultant Jim Barrington goes on a tour of hare poaching victims in the Eastern Counties of England. With poachers damaging crops and farm equipment, it is up to gamekeepers to defend the land. Tony Blair’s 2004 ban on coursing was meant to have stopped this. Jim meets gamekeepers Geoff Garrod and Ed Coles and hears first hand how Blair’s ban has failed.
Click here for Ed Coles’ petition to increase poaching sentences
More news stories:

Shooters urged to contact MPs ahead of gun law debate – Fieldsports News, 4 February 2026
Here are the links: MPs to debate firearms licensing – MP’s contact details Members.parliament.uk – and show them this petition Petition.parliament.uk Scotland’s Environment Bill watered down

Do British shooters need drug tests?
When Powys police started asking shooters to provide drug tests as part of their shotgun and firearms certificate applications, it sent shockwaves through the world

African nations slam Labour’s trophy ban – Fieldsports News, 28 January 2026
www.youtube.com/watch?v=22zvtFZrZAI Here are the links: Trophy ban ‘would harm Africa’s animals and villagers’ – Daily Mail Making money out of venison – TheBittescombeInn.com and FieldsportsChannel.tv/high-fiving-foxshooters

Tax blow could finish Scottish sporting estates – Fieldsports News, 21 January 2026
Here are the links: Scotland plans to hammer sporting estates – BASC Mass poaching bust on the Fens – YouTube RSPB ‘bird crime’ reports rubbished

Trump government weighs in on UK hunting trophy imports
The US government has written to the UK’s environment department DEFRA to ask it not to ban trophy imports. A letter from Doug Burgum, US

Gun licensing failures put public at risk – Fieldsports News, 14 January 2026
Here are the links: Police firearms licensing is failing the public – HMICFRS.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk Gun grab victim Sandy’s sheep attacked by fox – YouTube Gamekeeper kills

Government petition response shambles – Fieldsports News, 7 January 2026
Here are the links: Sabs’ plans for trailhunting – TheNewHuntingBan.com/ Government stuffs up petition response – Petition.Parliament.uk/petitions/750236 Get yourself ‘enshrined’ for your intangible cultural heritage

What damage can Labour do to hunting and shooting in 2026?
What is Keir Starmer planning to throw at the countryside in 2026? We ask Gareth Dockerty from BASC, Tim Bonner from the Countryside Alliance, Ed

Trail hunting triumph – Fieldsports News, 31 December 2025
Here are the links: Record turnout at Boxing Day meets – AOL YouGov says only half the country wants trailhunting ban – YouGov Bean geese

Labour’s ‘animal welfare’ attack on the countryside – Fieldsports News, 24 December 2025
Here are the links: Starmer government reveals animal rights-driven welfare strategy – Gov.uk Shotgun licensing petition passes 100,000 signatures – Petition.parliament.uk BHSA drops terrierwork from

Gun grab victim wins in court
Lifelong shooter Darren Easton has finally won his case in court, with help from Fieldsports lawyer Layla. Cambridgeshire police seized Darren’s guns when he struggled

Shotgun petition hits 50,000 signatures – Fieldsports News, 17 December 2025
Here are the links: 50,000 sign to keep shotguns off Section 1 – Sign the petition here Will Scotland end calls for deer wipe-out? –


