Enthusiastic Welcome for New Scottish Wildfowling Club 

The formation of the East of Scotland Association for Wildfowling and Conservation (ESAWC) has received an enthusiastic welcome from wildfowlers throughout the region. 

The new club which, in a radical departure for Scotland, will be modelled on the best experiences of fowling clubs in England and Wales, aims to position itself to gather the expertise and resources to meet whatever challenges the future brings for Scottish wildfowling. 

Neil Gunn, an experienced wildfowler from Angus, said, “We need a club of this calibre to protect wildfowling for ourselves and for future generations, against threats from legislation and protectionist organisations.” 

This theme was endorsed by East Lothian fowler Billy Ferrans who added, “I am excited to be part of a new breed of wildfowling club. I think we have to be proactive to give ourselves a good foundation to face any challenges faced by the sport of wildfowling in Scotland. The formation of ESAWC gives us this foundation to protect wildfowling now and in the future.” 

From the shores of the Tay Estuary, Andy Brown enthused, “The club will give wildfowlers a voice in both shaping and protecting their future sport. The threat is not imaginary. This is a golden opportunity for Scottish wildfowlers to focus and unite. Together we can defend our sport. We wildfowlers must stand together and the only organisation that has shown the foresightedness and willingness to do so is the ESAWC.” 

Bill McIntosh, Headkeeper on Dupplin Estate near Perth and an 8-bore enthusiast, observed, “The only long term way of securing wildfowling in Scotland for the future is to purchase land or shooting rights. We need a club that will accumulate the resources to do this.” 

Membership of ESAWC is open not only to those living in the east of Scotland but also to visitors who come to the area for wildfowling. Eric Begbie, a member of BASC’s Wildfowling Liaison Committee, has been encouraged by the number of wildfowlers, from as far away as the south coast of England and the west of Wales who have applied to join. He said that the next step was to apply for affiliation to BASC.

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