Back

Assist game-shooting by loading shotguns

URN: LANGa4
Business Sectors (Suites): Game and Wildlife Management
Developed by: Lantra
Approved on: 2022

Overview

​

This standard is about assisting game-shooting by loading shotguns. It relates to the knowledge and skills required by those handling, loading and passing shotguns to those shooting game.

This standard is for those who work within the game shooting sector and for those with the formal role of actively assisting the shooting of game.

To meet this standard you will be able to:
• prepare equipment needed to assist game-shooting by loading
• safely load and handle shotguns when applied to game-shooting activity
• maintain all necessary equipment to acceptable standards.

For you to fully understand the content of the standard, and the activities it describes, it is important that you are able to understand the terms used within the standard. See the Glossary for some definitions that should help you with this.

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

​

  1. carry out the activity safely in line with the relevant health and safety requirements associated with the use of shotguns
  2. prepare the equipment necessary to assist with game-shooting by loading shotguns
  3. undertake all necessary checks to determine shotgun suitability
  4. select ammunition suitable for the shotgun, participants and sporting situation that meets game dealer requirements, the relevant nation specific legislation and codes of practice
  5. transfer the equipment and the shotgun to the shooting location
  6. prepare the shotgun for game-shooting
  7. load (chamber) ammunition effectively and safely, observing the appropriate checks
  8. assist with the loading process, reacting to any required changes or problems
  9. communicate appropriately and effectively with the relevant people
  10. conclude loading operations and prepare guns and equipment for carriage
  11. strip, clean and routinely maintain the shotguns
  12. clean and routinely maintain other shooting equipment
  13. prepare the shotgun and equipment for appropriate storage or transit

Knowledge and Understanding

You need to know and understand:

​

  1. the health and safety requirements associated with the use of shotguns
  2. the appropriate shooting etiquette and protocols
  3. the relevant legal restrictions controlling the ownership and use of shotguns
  4. the legal requirements controlling the storage, transport and carriage of shotguns and ammunition
  5. the different kinds of shotgun ammunition and their suitability for the shotgun, participants and sporting situation
  6. the game dealer requirements, the relevant nation-specific legislation and codes of practice controlling the type of ammunition used
  7. the purpose and set up of the formal shooting field
  8. how to undertake fitness for purpose checks applicable to a sporting shotgun
  9. the common quarry species
  10. the safe shooting practices
  11. the appropriate reaction to irregularities in shotgun operation
  12. how to react to changing weather conditions
  13. how to react to positional changes in the shooting field
  14. the importance of appropriate communication and commands
  15. the difference in single gun and double gun loading operations
  16. the appropriate cleaning and maintenance of sporting equipment
  17. the appropriate cleaning and maintenance of other shooting equipment

Scope/range

​

Undertake all necessary checks to determine shotgun suitability in terms of:
• damage to stock/forend
• damage to barrels
• damage to ribs
• presence of choke tubes (as necessary)
• condition of action/breach

Check that the ammunition is appropriate for shotgun and sporting context in terms of:
• chamber length
• proof
• shot size and type
• gauge
• game dealer requirements
• nation-specific legislation
• codes of practice

Prepare the shotgun for the shooting process within context in terms of:
• single-gun use
• double-gun use

Scope Performance

​

Scope Knowledge

Values

Behaviours

Skills

Glossary

​

Wildlife management area – any area of land used for the provision of game-shooting activities

Participants – individuals participating in the shooting activity

Gun - participant in shooting activities

Game – any legal quarry species in the nation in which the shoot takes place. The legal restrictions for shooting “small game” differs in each of the four UK nations and should be checked with the relevant national authority.

National authority controlling shooting activities:
• England – DEFRA
• Northern Ireland – NI Environment Agency
• Scotland – NatureScot
• Wales – Natural Resources Wales

Links To Other NOS

External Links

Version Number

3

Indicative Review Date

2027

Validity

Current

Status

Original

Originating Organisation

Lantra

Original URN

LANGa4

Relevant Occupations

Estate Worker, Gamekeeper

SOC Code

5119

Keywords

game; shooting; loading; shotgun