The West’s shoot lifeline

Hot on the heels of the recent ground-breaking PACEC report into the economic value of shooting to the UK has come another, which states that £1 in every £3 spent on tourism in the Exmoor National Park, is spent on gameshooting.

Commissioned by the Exmoor National Park Authority (ENPA), with funding provided by the South West of England Regional Development Agency and the local county and district councils, the report helps to illustrate the importance to the National Park?s economy of its 63 providers of gameshooting. In 2004, a total of £22million was spent on goods and services by those participating in the sport on what many regard as some of the best gameshoots in the UK. More than 10 per cent of those shooting on Exmoor were overseas visitors.

?The National Park Authority was pleased to work with the Greater Exmoor Shoots Association and sponsoring organisations to commission this report,? commented ENPA chairman Steven Pugsley. ?It shows that gameshooting is a significant contributor to the economy of the area, and that shoots invest considerable resources in managing the environment and providing opportunities for people to enjoy the area and to participate in shooting.?