Hunting and Grouse shooting exempt from rule of six- what a surprise..

[Tellmetruth4]

So if poor people want to meet their extended families could they just club together to hire some land and claim they are chasing foxes followed by a nice pub lunch after? Would they be fined?

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/14/hunting-in-england-exempt-from-rule-of-six-covid-19-restrictions

A grouse shoot also entails a social element too though - it’s not the same as other things in the list like say people meet for their weekly football game they then wouldn’t be able to then go as a large group for the socialising afterwards. Bet the ruling classes will still be having the obligatory social gathering during/afterwards as well. And how would we know? It all takes place hidden away from us on private land

I have no idea why the list was chosen, but the list is not the list of legal sports, the list of legal sports are the ones that have agreed covid secure protocols with the DCMS, and it's the same rules that other militaristic organisations like Scouts and Guides get to carry on. Clearly the government thinks it's important to keep up military skills.

Outrageous that cycling and walking are not included.

@merrymouse, fencing is contact sport, although of course you do wear a mask and about 1m apart at point of contact.

That list is inclusive, not exhaustive. It includes other sports where the governing body of the sport has issued guidance on Covid 19 safety measures. E.g. swimming training by swimming clubs.

@merrymouse, fencing is contact sport, although of course you do wear a mask and about 1m apart at point of contact.

My point is that you wouldn't need more than 6 people to fence.

The list relates to meetings of more than 6 people.

i am not sure when killing innocent animals and birds became a sport. Its vile and disgusting

@Splodgetastic bit the list is about sports where people are usually in groups of bigger than six.

@whatistheworld

i am not sure when killing innocent animals and birds became a sport. Its vile and disgusting

Hunting has been a sport for pretty much the entirety of human history.

Unless you're a vegetarian/vegan I never understand the hatred of grouse/pheasant shooting. People do realise the birds are eaten, and the feathers used? There's far less waste than commercial farming, far less stress to the animal and the impact on the environment much lower? The worst thing that comes from grouse hunting is bad game keepers who trap and kill wild birds - but that's only a bad bunch amongst thousands of superb game keepers.
If you eat meat, you accept that an animal dies for that privilege. Our responsibility as meat eaters is to ensure they live the best life possible, and to reduce the impact on the environment as much as possible. Game hunting fulfills most of that criteria.

obviously if you don't eat meat then you're fundamentally opposed and I have absolutely no problem with that. My issue is with meat eaters who don't like game shooting.

*by wild birds I mean birds of prey

Grouse shooting involves standing at a peg anything up to 20m from the next gun so exemption is reasonable.

Hunting on horses now involves chasing a scent trail, not a fox. No-one in their right mind gets within 2m of a horse & rider at speed anyway. Both activities take place outside, so logically, they are not contact sports and don't represent a risk.

Whether you approve of hunting or shooting is nothing to do with Covid. Other people are entitled to take part in their sport or exercise, just as you are.

Many sports require some sort of licence to compete but don't do to "train"

I think this is more about allowing people who work in sports to make money.

However, presumably you could train in groups of 5?

(caveat - I don't know how many people are required for a grouse shoot - I'm just assuming its a set number otherwise it wouldn't be on the list).

@jadjas1973 Shooting pigeons and rabbits is generally to control numbers or for food, not a paid sport.

Grazing undermined by rabbits is problematic. Pigeons damage crops.

The "rule of 6" regulations were not published until late on Sunday night, 20 minutes before they came into force and giving nobody (in particular the police) any time to prepare. (So much for the rule of law.) It is being reported that the delay was due to a meeting called by Gove on Saturday in order to ensure that grouse shooting was included on the list of exemptions. All of which gives us a good insight into this govt's priorities.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do

"The list of organised sport or licensed outdoor physical activity that you can do in groups of more than six includes:

Angling..etc..etc..Volleyball

Other sports or licensed outdoor physical activities may also be permitted where their governing body has published guidance."

So anyone whose sport isn't on this list should consult the governing body.

It is being reported that the delay was due to a meeting called by Gove on Saturday in order to ensure that grouse shooting was included on the list of exemptions.

That doesn't ring true, because its not clear how or why grouse shooting could be exempted if the governing body had shown that it can be carried out in a covid safe manner.

So anyone whose sport isn't on this list should consult the governing body

And this is why cycling isn't on the list, British Cycling limited training to 6 already in their DCMS agreement.

I agree Lurchermom, I don't understand the outrage over hunting with guns, especially from people who eat meat. Thousands of cows, pigs, sheep, chickens etc are slaughtered everyday and kept in conditions that aren't great. Suffer trauma being transported in large groups to slaughter houses, are forced to breed. At least the animals being hunted have had a relatively natural life.

@pandafunfactory

It never fails to surprise me just how ignorant of country sports people can be whilst still holding terribly strong views about how vile it all is. The lack of understanding of the industry under discussion on this thread is embarrassing.

Why don't you tell us about it then @pandafunfactory? Because from where I'm standing it seems like something that would only be practised by sick individuals. To me it should be illegal anyway, regardless of Covid rules.

And yes I'm vegan.

@merrymouse I suppose fencing clubs you often train in the same space as others though.

@DdraigGoch

No tennis ? Given that it's one of the most socially distanced sports that's ridiculous How often does tennis involve more than six people? The list is of the activities exempt from the rule of six, tennis doesn't need to be exempt.

Often. Any junior competition nearly always has more than six players and they all play each other.

What people do not know is that behind the scenes of grouse shooting game keepers are indiscriminately killing a whole range of birds and animals. So many eagles and hen harriers which were being tracked have gone missing over grouse moorland, I wonder what happened to them? Just do a bit of research and you will see how vile it is.

@merrymouse I suppose fencing clubs you often train in the same space as others though.

And if the governing body have made covid safe arrangements fencing can probably still take place.

What people do not know is that behind the scenes of grouse shooting game keepers are indiscriminately killing a whole range of birds and animals.

That is a reason to campaign against grouse shooting.

It is not a reason to exclude a currently legal sport because of covid, if it can show it can take place under 'covid safe' conditions.

Often. Any junior competition nearly always has more than six players and they all play each other.

As per the website, this not an exhaustive list.