Safety & Rules

To ensure the safety of all visitors and guests, please read the following safety guidelines and rules for Clay Pigeon Shooting at our park.

All visitors will be taken through the following safety rules and regulations when they visit for the first time.

Please read and become familiar with the rules before using the facilities.

Unsafe behaviour will not be tolerated on the premises. Staff are instructed to monitor and safety check shooters at any time while they are on the shooting ground. The right is reserved to request any shooter to leave the premises at the management’s discretion if customers do not adhere to the following rules. Depending on the nature of the offence we may decline to refund any monies paid for services rendered or part rendered.

Gun Safety

> If using an over and under or side by side shotgun: Guns must be unloaded and open when not in use and either carried over the arm (barrels facing forward) or covered in a slip between stands. Do not walk around the grounds with the gun closed. Treat all guns as if they may be loaded at all times.

> If using a semi-automatic shotgun: Guns must be unloaded when not in use. When walking around the ground and between stands, make sure the barrel is pointing upwards and that a safety flag is in the breach. Users are limited to two cartridges in a semi-automatic at any one time.

> Do not move between stands with a loaded gun and never put a loaded gun down or into a gun slip.

> Cartridges must never enter the shotgun unless you are within a stand and ready to shoot. It is advised safety catches are applied while on the stand and only set to the off position when the gun is ready to shoot.

> In an event of a misfire, keep the gun pointing in a safe direction for at least 20 seconds before carefully unloading, avoiding exposure to the breach to mitigate the danger posed by a possible delayed firing.

> Stop shooting if your gun malfunctions in an unsafe manner. Unload the gun and contact a member of staff for assistance.

> Only clay targets must be shot at the range. Do not point your gun at anything you do not intend to shoot and be aware of your muzzle safety. No other targets are permitted. Those caught shooting anything other than clay targets will be automatically banned from our grounds.

> Consumption of alcohol is forbidden before or while using the Westlands Country Park‘s Clay Pigeon Shooting Ground as this will impair judgement and ability, putting yourself and others at risk.

> Any person found either possessing, using or distributing any type of drug will be banned from these premises and reported to the police.

Ammunition

> Make sure you are using appropriate ammunition for the shotgun you are using. Never mix ammunition of different calibres – A smaller cartridge than the calibre you are shooting with could fall into the barrel causing an obstruction and if the gun is reloaded and shot with the obstruction in place, the gun will burst at the barrel, also risking severe injury or death. If in doubt do not shoot and ask one of our staff for advice.

> No game cartridges are allowed to be used on this site. You are responsible to know what ammunition you are putting in your shotgun. Customers caught using game cartridges may be asked to leave the grounds and refused future entry.

> No Steel Shot Allowed On The Shooting Ground.

> 28gm No.6 Maximum Load.

General Safety

> It is advised you use head, hearing and eye protection at all times while on the ground.

> Stay within the allocated path and do not cross barriers where there could be a risk of injury from falling shot and broken clay targets. Straying from the allocated pathways may endanger the safety of yourself and others.

> No shooting is allowed other than from a designated sporting/trap stand.

> Do not try to fix or touch any machinery on the premises yourself. No person should alter, attempt to alter or refill a trap.

> Please bring appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear. Shooting takes place outside and we continue to shoot in all weather conditions.

> Look after your property and keep it safe. Management take no responsibility for the loss or damage to customers’ property while on the premises. Never leave your gun or ammunition unattended.

Bringing Guests

> Licence holders are welcome to bring non-licence holding guests shooting with them and to accept full responsibility of all guest actions on the ground. If bringing guests, licence holders are advised to take out the relevant insurance.

> All guests who aim to take part in clay target shooting must declare that they are not prohibited by virtue of Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 from possessing or using firearms or ammunition.

Section 21

It is an offence for someone who is prohibited by Section 21 of the Firearms Act 1968 to have a firearm or ammunition in his or her possession at any time. Section 21 applies to anybody who has been sentenced to imprisonment or to youth custody or detention in a young offenders’ institution for three months or more. The period for which they are prohibited depends on the length of their sentence, if the sentence was longer than three years the prohibition is for life. If the sentence was three months or more but less than three years, the prohibition lasts for five years from the date of their release. It is an offence for a person to transfer, let or hire, give or lend a firearm or ammunition to someone whom he/she knows has reasonable grounds for believing to be prohibited by Section 21.