Agricultural Pest Control - Rifle

Course Description

This course enables you to facilitate safe, humane and effective pest control measures using a suitably prepared sporting rifle matched to your proficiency and knowledge. It covers the planning and implementation of a pest control strategy and follows on from the Lantra Awards Safe Use and Handling – Rifles course. Learners are expected to have some experience of wildlife management and firearms awareness. Shoot management, pest control and farming interests are all represented on this course. You must be 18 or over to attend. Learning outcomes include: applying a practical foundation for safe working practice related to sporting rifle use; understanding legislation relating to the ownership and use of a sporting rifle; identifying and understanding the main parts of a rifle and telescopic sight; understanding what happens when the trigger is pulled and how to maintain a rifle; understanding current legislation and relevant codes of practice relating to pest control; understanding the basic ecology of pest species as this relates to control; planning and applying effective pest control measures; understanding key aspects of fox behaviour and life history; applying and planning fox control measures efficiently; understanding current legislation and codes of practice related to fox control; assessing land for safe rifle use; understanding the basics of delivering accurate shots; understanding the basic principles of health and safety planning and risk assessment relating to sporting rifle use; recording control and management activity; undertaking a practical exercise in essential ballistics; and reading a projectile path, its drop and the relationship to aiming and sight adjustment allied to range performance. Where learners operate with their own equipment, including their own firearm, responsibility for that equipment and matters relating to its certification and conditions of use rests with the learner. Any uncertainty should be discussed with SCJ Training prior to the course. All learners attend with an explicit obligation to operate equipment in a manner which promotes and maintains the highest standards of operational safety. Please contact us to discuss eligibility, availability and course duration.