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Gamekeeper

Do you want to become a Gamekeeper? Here is some information to help point you in the right direction:

Job Description - Print Page

Gamekeepers look after areas of countryside (called beats) to make sure there is enough game for shooting.

• Lowland keepers work in woodland and open farmland and are concerned mainly with pheasants, partridges and mallard.
• Upland keepers work on moors and are concerned mainly with grouse, blackcock and deer.
• Highland keepers/stalkers are mainly involved with the stalking of deer. In some of the higher areas of Scotland they are also concerned with ptarmigan (a type of grouse).

Shooting season is the busiest time of the year and varies according to the particular game being hunted. Gamekeepers arrange shoots and hire beaters. Throughout the year, much of their work involves maintaining the shoot habitat.

There are no set hours in gamekeeping. They need to work on until the job is finished, which in the summer can mean very long hours. Most of their time is spent outdoors in all weather conditions.

Salaries range from £9,360 to £15,000 plus.

A gamekeeper should be:

• fit, energetic and strong
• knowledgeable of the countryside and its wildlife
• good at working with their hands.

There are under 100 vacancies for new full-time gamekeepers each year, and there is a lot of competition for gamekeeping jobs. They may work for a landowner or for a shooting syndicate that rents shooting rights from a landowner.

Gamekeepers do not always need academic qualifications, but it can help if they have some GCSEs or S grades. They may need some practical experience before they start work.

Agricultural colleges in England, Wales and Scotland run a number of full-time courses to train for gamekeeping. About one third of gamekeepers are adults going in as a change of career.

When they are in a job, gamekeepers can work towards NVQs/SVQs in Game and Wildlife Management.

Gamekeepers can be promoted from under-keeper to second under-keeper, single-handed keeper or head keeper.

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