At Castle Gunmakers we know how important it is to find competitively priced insurance for fieldsports such as shooting, hunting and fishing? Here is a summary of the sites that provide membership that includes shooting insurance for fieldsports*.
SACS shooting insurance
£43 per annum, includes £10m liability insurance (worldwide), no insurance excess and other benefits. Read more…
Countryside Alliance membership
From £1.80 a month, includes £10m employers liability, £10m public/products liability, £35k personal accident permanent disability, £15k accidental death benefit (worldwide) and other benefits. Read more…
GWCT fieldsports insurance
From £8 per month, includes £10m liability insurance (UK only) and other benefits. Read more…
NGO gamekeepers insurance
£45 per annum, includes £10m liability insurance (UK only) and other benefits. Read more…
BASC shooting insurance
£78 per annum, includes £10m liability insurance, £250,000 legal expenses, £50,000 personal accident (excludes USA and Canada) and other benefits. Read more…
BDS fieldsports insurance
£76 per annum, includes £10m liability cover (excludes USA and Canada) plus other benefits. Read more…
SACS – Shooting And Country Sports
Scottish non-profit sports organisation with membership options and shooting insurance
In summary
Costs from £43 and includes worldwide £10 million public and employers liability insurance, automatic cover for gain or reward up to £5,000 per annum, no insurance excess charges and other benefits.*
In detail
SACS is Scotland’s largest non-profit country sports organisation. Founded in 1994 SACs has a website with a clear mobile-friendly layout, helpful information and services that are useful to anyone engaged in fieldsports, shooting and hunting.
There are a few pages on the SACS website that cover shooting, fishing, working dogs, falconry & ferreting. However, much of the content is quite basic. If you’re an experienced hand you probably won’t learn anything new, but they provide useful background information to those who are new to the scene.
The main area of the website relates to member services. Membership affords an extensive array of low cost fieldsports insurance options, legal guidance, a 24 hour emergency telephone line, assistance with firearms licensing and a whole host of other perks from gift packs, newsletters, courses, events and competitions.
For an individual (18-64 years old) membership costs £43 and there are other options available for juniors, senior citizens, clubs and groups. As with membership options on other websites SACS membership includes worldwide £10 million public and employers liability insurance “for a broad range of shooting and fieldsports activities”, as well as automatic cover for gain or reward up to £5,000 per annum and no insurance excess charges. Unlike some shooting insurance policies the SACS membership provides worldwide coverage, so this should be considered if you shoot and hunt whilst aboard.
The Countryside Alliance
Complete guide to the latest rural news with membership services and fieldsports insurance
In summary
Costs from £1.80 a month and includes worldwide £10m employers liability, £10m public/products liability, £35k personal accident permanent disability, £15k accidental death benefit and other benefits*.
In detail
The Countryside Alliance aims to preserve the traditional values of the countryside whilst promoting a thriving community and economy. Although wildlife management is at the heart of the work, the Countryside Alliance is also involved in farming, food, rural businesses, local services and even “the injustices of poor mobile phone signal and broadband in the countryside”.
In addition to covering a broad spectrum of countryside related issues, the Countryside Alliance is “the only organisation working for the future of hunting and the repeal of the Hunting Act, 2004”. The Economist also stated of the Countryside Alliance that they are “the main lobbying group on rural issues”.
So, when it comes to shooting, hunting, fishing and other outdoor pursuits, the Countryside Alliance website is a must. Like other websites mentioned in this list they offer a membership service – from just £1.80 a month. There are options for individuals, joint/family membership as well as group or trade sign-up options that all feature the benefit of shooting insurance. This includes a fairly extensive £10m employers liability, £10m public/products liability, £35k personal accident permanent disability and £15k accidental death benefit.
Although you may be more interested in deciding which fieldsports insurance website to choose, a real strength of the Countryside Alliance site is the depth and breadth of quality content and content covering all things rural. One entire section of the site deals with a range of ongoing campaigns involving shooting, hunting, wildlife law and more. A detailed news section covers all the latest happenings, and there is even the option of weekly newsletter subscriptions, podcasts and films. Events, shows, competitions and awards also feature on the site.
Whether you choose the Countryside Alliance membership for shooting insurance or not, then a regular visit to the Countryside Alliance website is essential to keep on top of events, news, rural campaigns and laws that could impact your outdoor pursuits.
Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust
A vast library of wildlife information with membership and fieldsports insurance
In summary
Costs from £8 per month and includes £10m public/product liability insurance (UK only) and other benefits*.
In detail
Using science and research the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust strive for a countryside rich in game and wildlife. Understanding that “good conservation goes hand-in-hand with economic land use” the Game & Wildlife Conservation understand that fieldsports can contribute significantly to the conservation of wildlife, habitat and landscape.
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust features a truly expansive wealth of information, reports, articles, studies, research and news all relating to wildlife management and the conservation of the countryside.
In addition to the vast array of highly informative articles on shooting, hunting, fishing, farming and wildlife, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust also offer membership schemes for those interested in wildlife and fieldsports, as well as for gamekeepers, scientists, students, farmers and rural business owners.
Membership starts from £8 per month for the premium package and this includes the fairly standard £10m public liability insurance that covers a broad range of sporting and rural pursuits – it only covers activities in the UK however. Also included are store discounts, free updates, competitions a magazine and other ancillary tokens, so if you’re looking for insurance for fieldsports, this could be an option for you.
As with the the Countryside Alliance website, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust provides so much information on wildlife management, countryside pursuits, shooting, hunting and fishing news, it’s always worth a visit.
The National Gamekeepers Organisation
Website dedicated to gamekeepers with membership and shooting insurance services
In summary
Costs £45 and includes £10 million public liability whilst taking part lawfully in any recognised gamekeeping/fieldsports activity endorsed by the NGO (UK only) plus other benefits*.
In detail
Founded in 1997 the goal of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) is to “promote, improve and protect gamekeeping in the United Kingdom, thereby securing a thriving long-term future for the profession.”
In comparison to the other fieldsports websites mentioned in this post, the NGO website is somewhat smaller, however, the focus is specifically on gamekeeping news, events and member services, and there is a fairly extensive trade directory for gamekeepers
The news page is regularly updated as is the events page, with options to register interest or book a varied ranges of courses. There’s also a small shop, with cameras, cartridge backs, clothing and other fieldsports accessories for sale.
When it comes to membership there are options for family, trade and the individual, and the price starts from £45. As with other sites, memberships includes the standard public liability insurance for up to £10 million “whilst taking part in any listed gamekeeping or shooting activity for recreational purposes”. Although the NGO supports and provides assistance, news and courses for gamekeepers, the shooting insurance covers those undertaking “rough, walked up and driven shooting, wildfowling, stalking, vermin and pest control, clay pigeon shooting, fishing, field trials and target shooting for recreational purposes only”.
Cover is not provided when abroad, so if you’re looking for insurance for fieldsports activities when overseas this may not be the option for you.
BASC – The British Association for Shooting & Conservation
The UK’s largest shooting organisation with membership and shooting insurance packages
In summary
Full membership costs £78 and includes £10m liability (public, employer and product), £250,000 legal expenses, £50,000 personal accident (excludes USA and Canada) plus other benefits*.
In detail
BASC is the UK’s largest shooting organisation and was founded back in 1908 by Stanley Duncan FZS and Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey Bt (then being known as the Wildfowlers’ Association of Great Britain and Ireland).
With over 150,000 members, an extensive history in sporting shooting, a thoroughly comprehensive and detailed website, BASC is a vital resource for anyone engaged in fieldsports. News, events, courses, training, regional information, conservation advice and a multitude of shooting articles and videos make up bulk of the website.
When it comes to shooting insurance BACS offer memberships that are specific to different activities (such as gundog membership, air gun membership, gamekeeper membership and many more). Full membership costs £78 per annum and includes £10m liability insurance, £250,000 legal expenses and £50,000 personal accident, however, as with the British Deer Society cover this excludes USA and Canada.
The membership options and fieldsports insurance cover are similar in breadth and depth to those provided by the Countryside Alliance. Likewise, both websites provide a huge amount of news and information that is worth checking on a regular basis.
The British Deer Society
An organisation committed to deer research and management with membership options
In summary
Full membership costs £76 and includes £10m public liability cover, £10m of product liability cover (excludes USA and Canada) plus other benefits*.
In detail
The British Deer Society (BDS) “promotes deer education, research and management best practice to ensure a healthy and sustainable deer population in balance with the environment”.
The website features unbiased information on the biology of deer, methods of deer management, humane treatment and control, and BDS is heavily involved in academic research, education, training, government advise, campaigning and lobbying.
The website has numerous detailed sections relating to advice, training and education, making it the go to source for deer related research, facts and information.
As with other sites mentioned in this summary that provide shooting insurance, BDS also provides a range of membership options, with the second option being “Annual Membership PLUS Fieldsports Insurance Package”. This costs £76 per annum (or £41 for students) and includes “worldwide cover”, however, like BACS membership the USA and Canada are excluded – something to consider if you hoped to be able to hunt in North America.
As with other fieldsports insurance packages, BDS membership includes the standard £10m public liability cover and £10m of product liability cover. Activities covered include: “deer stalking and management, wildfowling, wild boar hunting, vermin and pest control, indoor shooting, fishing, game shooting, clay pigeon shooting and target shooting.”
As with other niche sites like the National Gamekeepers Organisation, the BDS is tailored to a specific area of fieldsports. The website content reflects this, however the shooting insurance packages relate to all fieldsports activities.
*Please note that this is a general guide to the insurance options that were available online at the time of writing. Before committing to any membership, and prior to choosing any shooting insurance policy, always read the policy document in detail and check that it covers you for the fieldsports activities that you undertake in the UK, and/or abroad, as necessary.
