Gamekeepers work in the countryside looking after areas managed for shooting, called beats or estates. They make sure that there is enough game in their beats for shooting. Game includes deer, and birds such as grouse, partridge and pheasant. They also manage wildlife habitat and their skills play an important part in shaping the countryside and protecting vulnerable and endangered species.
There are different types of gamekeeper:
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Lowland keepers work in woodland and open farmland. They are mainly concerned with economically major game species such as mallard duck, partridges and pheasant and with the management of lowland habitats
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Upland keepers work on moorland. They are mainly concerned with red grouse, blackcock, deer and grouse, and the management of moorland habitats
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Highland keepers are mainly concerned with deer management. In some of the Scottish Highland areas they are also involved in predator control, woodcock and ptarmigan shooting (a type of grouse). Some keepers will also have fishery management duties.
Typically a gamekeeper is employed by a land owner, and often by a country estate. They work closely with farm/estate managers and forestry workers, as well as clients who come to shoots. Their work varies according to the season. In spring and summer their main tasks are:
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Rearing young birds from hatcheries or those bought as one-day old chicks (only lowland keepers)
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Making sure that game is kept safe from predators. Predators include crows, magpies, foxes, mink, stoats, weasels and rats. Gamekeepers shoot some predators and trap others
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Making necessary repairs to equipment, buildings and release pens
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Undertake work to prevent poaching and work with the police to deal with crime such as badger digging
In the shooting season, the busiest time of year, gamekeepers:
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Arrange shoots and hire beaters, who flush birds out of their cover
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Meet clients and ensure customer satisfaction and a valued experience
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Hire pickers up to collect those birds that have been shot
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Supervise beaters and pickers up on the day and sort and organise dead game for collection by a game dealer
Shooting season is the busiest time of the year and varies according to the particular game in season. Different shoots have different game priorities: partridges begin in early September, pheasants later in October and November.
Other work throughout the year includes managing woodland or burning heather, fisheries management, tractor driving, clearing land using power saws and other equipment, building fences and clearing ponds and ditches. They may also be involved in the planting and protection of game crops, woodland and field margin areas.
Some gamekeepers are also responsible for rivers, streams and surrounding wetland management. They are known as river keepers or ghillies.
Gamekeepers work flexible hours according to the season and jobs which need completing. This can include early morning, evening and weekend work. The summer months may involve working very long hours.
Most of their working time is spent outdoors in all weather conditions. There is a lot of walking, and work can involve bending and lifting. There is some indoor work, including looking after young birds, maintaining equipment and machinery. Much of the work is undertaken working alone.
The job also involves using power saws and other power tools and being responsible for personal safety equipment and protective clothing. Items such as goggles or gloves may need to be worn. Gamekeepers need a good knowledge of health and safety issues. If the job involves tasks that could be dangerous, such as operating chainsaws and using pesticides then the law requires that you obtain the relevant competence based training. This is available through:
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City & Guilds/NPTC
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Lantra Awards
These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary, depending on the employer and where people live:
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Starting salaries may be around £12,700 a year
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Experienced gamekeepers may earn between £12,700 and £18,000
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Senior or head keepers can earn between £18,000 and £20,500, or more
Many employers provide free or low-cost accommodation and a vehicle.
- Construct and maintain surfaces
- Support game shoot day activities
- Organise game shooting programmes
- Maintain game habitat
- Control the production of game meat for human consumption
- Select animals for training
- Trap vertebrate pests and predators
- Detect illegal fishing activity
- Assist with controlling pests, diseases and disorders
- Manage and deal with actual or potential breaches of the law or security
- Planning / Organizing Skills
- Work in a team / with others
- Work on your own
- Customer Care / People Skills
- Project Management Skills
- Instruction / Training Skills
- Ability to communicate with peolpe at different levels (employees to company executives)
- Flexible working
- Mobility
There are a variety of qualifications and training courses that can help you:
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Find employment
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Improve your current skills
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Gain promotion
Other more general qualifications include:
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BTEC First Diploma in Countryside and Environment
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BTEC National Award, Certificate and Diploma in Countryside Management
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NPTC Level 2 Certificate in Gamekeeping
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Diploma in Work Based Game keeping and Wildlife Management (previously National Vocational Qualification (NVQ)) at Levels 2-3
New legislation was introduced in January 2006 that requires anybody shooting and supplying game meat to be a "trained person". The new law focuses upon meat hygiene and was implemented by the Food Standards Agency. The following Qualification has been developed to contribute towards a UK common standard for industry based on best practice - Lantra Awards Level 2 Award in Wild Game Meat Hygiene.
There is likely to be on-the-job training from people with gamekeeping qualifications or those who have worked in game keeping for some time.
The National Gamekeepers Organisation encourages high standards in the work, provides advice sheets, and runs a membership scheme. The Game Conservancy Trust is also a membership organisation with a game keeper membership category.
Read more about all types of qualifications available in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Know what course you want? Search for a training course with Lantra’s CourseFinder.
It is important to:
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Have a genuine interest in the environment and countryside activities
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enjoy working mainly outdoors on a variety of jobs
There are estimated to be around 6,000 full-time gamekeepers in the UK and more than 10,000 part-time gamekeepers in the UK. Sometimes a game keeping responsibility will be combined with other duties in a full time role. Jobs opportunities occur in rural areas, about half of them in England, a third in Scotland, and the remainder in Wales and Northern Ireland. Vacancies for full-time gamekeepers do occur, however there is a lot of competition for jobs therefore skills and qualifications must be of a high standard.
Gamekeepers work for landowners, or shooting syndicates that rent shooting rights from landowners.
There are no set academic requirements, but some employers prefer applicants with GCSEs (A-C). Practical experience of working on the land or involvement in countryside activities can be useful in finding employment or training.
It may be possible to enter this career through an Apprenticeship.
Job opportunities may be advertised in local newspapers, but more often jobs are found through contacting landowners direct, word-of-mouth, or through working for employers in another capacity. The National Gamekeepers Organisation's website includes a Gamekeepers Jobs Register.
Employment opportunities can be found in the following places:
Websites:
Magazines and Journals (Some may be priced
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Countryman's Weekly
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National Gamekeepers Magazine (Keeping the Balance)
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Shooting Gazette
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Shooting Times
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Sporting Gun
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Sporting Shooter
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Farmers Weekly
There may sometimes be opportunities for gamekeepers to be promoted to senior or head keeper, especially on large estates. When shoot management skills are combined with knowledge and understanding of wider land based management, enhanced job opportunities may become available.
Some gamekeepers move on to work in a different area of countryside management or work overseas in other European countries or North America.
You can find out about other progression opportunities in this industry here
For further support and information on careers in the Game and Wildlife industries you can contact the Lantra Connect Service:
Tel: 0845 707 8007 or e-mail connect@lantra.co.uk
You can also find additional information from the following organisations and publications:
Industry Information
Publications:
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Shooting and Conservation - The British Association for Shooting and Conservation