Getting your kit, your permissions and your body in shape before the season pays you back in clean, confident shots and fewer headaches. This guide blends legal must-knows with practical set-ups, real-world fixes for common problems, and expert input from The Instinctive Shooter team in Lincolnshire. It is written for game shots, pest controllers and deer stalkers who want to do things properly, by the book, and with minimal fuss.

“Preparation is the cheapest accuracy upgrade you can buy. Pattern your gun, confirm your zero, walk your ground, and most problems vanish before they start.”
David Bellamy, Managing Director, The Instinctive Shooter

The non-negotiables, UK law and guidance you should know

Firearms licensing and renewals. The Home Office strengthened statutory guidance on 5 August 2025. Applicants are responsible for obtaining medical information via the official medical proforma from a GP or suitably qualified GMC-registered doctor, and police forces must have regard to the guidance when assessing suitability. Build lead-time into your season plan. GOV.UK

Safe storage. Follow the Home Office Firearms Security Handbook. In practice that means a suitable cabinet fixed to the fabric of the building, with transport and temporary storage rules set out for trips away. GOV.UK, National Crime Agency

Deer, seasons and legal calibres. In England and Wales the legal minimum for all deer is .240 calibre and 1,700 ft lbf, with a specific lower threshold for muntjac and Chinese water deer of .220 calibre, 50-grain bullet and 1,000 ft lbf. Check open seasons by species and sex before booking ground, and remember muntjac have no closed season. BASC, The British Deer Society

Shooting near roads and rights of way. It is an offence, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, to discharge a firearm within 50 feet of the centre of a highway that has vehicular rights if a user is injured, interrupted or endangered. Use generous stand-off distances and signage on organised days. Legislation.gov.uk, BASC

General licences, birds. In England, GL40, GL41 and GL42 are valid until 31 December 2025. Use the correct licence purpose, follow conditions, and record your reasoning. GOV.UK

Lead ammunition restrictions, where things stand today. On 10 July 2025 the UK Government announced new restrictions that will prohibit sale and use of most lead shot and lead-content bullets, with legislation planned by summer 2026 and a further three-year transition to 2029. Plan your move to compliant alternatives now. GOV.UK, BASC

Night work and devices. Deer may not be shot at night unless under licence. NV and thermal are lawful by day, and night licences may allow lamps or NV, but not thermal at present in England. Check licence conditions and local byelaws. BASC

Cameras and drones on permissions. If trail cameras capture beyond your boundary or a shared space you may have UK GDPR duties. For drones, follow the CAA Drone Code, keep within 120 m AGL, maintain line of sight, and ensure the pilot holds a Flyer ID and the aircraft is labelled with your Operator ID where required. Information Commissioner’s Office, Civil Aviation Authority, Register Drones

Public access etiquette. The Countryside Code applies, including keeping dogs under effective control, respecting rights of way, and leaving no trace. Landowners must not obstruct rights of way. GOV.UK

Physical preparation that actually carries over into the field

• Build field-relevant cardio and grip. Hill repeats with a light pack and short prone-to-kneeling transitions mimic stalks and high-seat climbs.
• Practice mount or positional shooting little and often. Ten perfect gun mounts, twice a day for a fortnight, does more than one big session.
• Dry fire the way you shoot. Use the sling, sticks and clothing you will wear in October, not gym kit.

“If you practise prone on a mat, then miss from sticks in a stubble field, the practice was the wrong practice. Rehearse the shot you are most likely to take.”
David Bellamy, The Instinctive Shooter

Gear selection, set-up and the quick checks people skip

Shotguns, steel and proof. Standard steel is suitable for most nitro-proved guns in good order with sensible choke, but High Performance steel requires the fleur-de-lys mark and appropriate choke. If in doubt, we inspect markings and advise. gunproof.com, Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust

Optics and zero. Change in ammo, moderator, or even a new torque setting on bases can shift zero. Confirm at the distance you will shoot. Copper bullets are typically longer for a given weight than lead, so many rifles behave better with a slightly faster twist or a lighter copper projectile, which is why test days matter. Health and Safety Executive

First aid and bleed control. Pack a compact kit. First response for severe bleeding is direct pressure with a dressing, keep pressure on until controlled. Only escalate to a tourniquet if direct pressure cannot control limb bleeding and you are trained. nhs.uk, SJA, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust

Drones and mapping. Use CAA-compliant flights for pre-season mapping of access points, crops and windbreaks, never overfly people or vehicles within the 50 m no-fly cylinder in the Open category. Label the airframe with your Operator ID. Civil Aviation Authority

Scouting that pays off

• Walk every boundary with the latest OS map and definitive rights of way layer. Mark footpaths, bridleways and any awkward dog-leg stiles. This reduces on-day surprises and helps you position vehicles and pickers-up without blocking access. GOV.UK
• Deer sign with a plan. Glass first and walk second. Note wind-consistent approach routes, exits for extraction, and safe backstops with autumn crops in mind.
• Bird control under general licences. Document the risk you are addressing, the species taken under the relevant GL, and the non-lethal measures already tried. Keep that log with you. GOV.UK

Field note, real example: On mixed arable near Louth, a footpath cuts a beet headland at 45 degrees. We moved a peg 65 metres, flagged the path at two points and briefed the line to hold fire when walkers appeared. Two drives ran smoothly with no interruption and no risk to the public.

Common pain points shooters report, and how we solve them

“My patterns fell apart when I switched from lead to steel.” Check your choke and cartridge choice. Many guns tighten up on steel with half choke or less, and some HP loads are happier with larger shot sizes. We pattern guns on paper with your chosen cartridge to remove guesswork. BASC

“Older English side-by-side, worried about HP steel.” If it is not fleur-de-lys HP-steel proved, avoid HP steel. We can confirm proof marks, measure chokes and recommend suitable standard-steel or bismuth options. gunproof.com

“Thermal at night for deer, yes or no.” You will need a night licence and, at present in England, thermal is not permitted under those licences. Daytime use is fine. We brief clients on lawful options or alternative measures. BASC

“Do I need permission signs and a privacy notice for a trail cam?” If your camera captures beyond your boundary or a shared track you may have UK GDPR duties including signage and responding to data requests. Keep your field of view to the permission wherever possible. Information Commissioner’s Office

“Where can I put a gun line near a lane?” Keep well outside the 50-foot rule for highways with vehicular rights and think about noise, shot fall and sight lines. We map red zones on your plan so it is crystal-clear on the day. Legislation.gov.uk

A practical, pre-season checklist you can actually use

Paperwork and permissions
• Check certificate dates and start medical proforma early if you renew within 6 months. GOV.UK
• Confirm written permission and sporting rights, update club or syndicate insurance, and print relevant General Licence text you rely on. GOV.UK

Location recon
• Walk boundaries, mark footpaths and bridleways, plan parking that does not obstruct access, and brief all guns. GOV.UK
• Mark red zones within 50 feet of the centre of any carriageway and any areas with low backstops. Legislation.gov.uk

Kit and set-up
• Shotgun: confirm steel suitability from proof marks, choose cartridges, pattern on paper at 30 to 40 yards. gunproof.com
• Rifle: torque the mounts, confirm zero with your chosen ammunition, then confirm again after travel.
• Optics and electronics: update firmware, pack spare batteries, set rangefinder to yards or metres to match your dope.

Health and safety
• First aid kit with pressure dressings and gloves, plus training for anyone carrying a tourniquet. Apply direct pressure first. SJA, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
• Ticks: long sleeves, check after the day, and seek medical advice if you develop a rash or flu-like symptoms. nhs.uk

Deer work specific
• Confirm species and open seasons for your ground and month. The British Deer Society
• Check that calibre and load meet the legal minimums for the species you intend to take. BASC
• If night control is contemplated, read licence conditions before planning, and agree alternative measures if thermal is not permitted. BASC

Bird control specific
• Match the purpose to the correct GL, keep a record of non-lethal measures, and stick to permitted species. GOV.UK

How The Instinctive Shooter can help, in plain terms

• Steel-ready shotgun checks and patterning. We confirm proof marks, measure chokes, and pattern with your chosen steel or bismuth so you know exactly where it hits and how tight it is. gunproof.com
• Rifle zero and copper-friendly set-ups. We set torque correctly, test copper loads that stabilise in your barrel, and provide a simple ballistic card you can trust. Health and Safety Executive
• Pre-season ground walk and risk plan. We map rights of way, highlight red zones near highways, and draft a one-page safety brief for your guns. GOV.UK, Legislation.gov.uk
• Compliance briefing. Short, plain-English refreshers on 2025 licensing changes, general licences and lead transition, so your team stays current. GOV.UK

“We keep it simple. Check the law, set the kit up right, and rehearse the shot you are likely to take. That is the recipe for straightforward, ethical days.”
David Bellamy, The Instinctive Shooter

And, finally…

Pre-season is where you earn easy wins. Confirm your legal footing, put your body and your kit through realistic reps, and walk every metre of the land you will shoot. If you want a hand, The Instinctive Shooter is set up to make this smooth and compliant.

Questions Shooters Often Ask Before the Season Starts