YOUNGSTERS have made the most of the Young Shots Country Sports day at Duchy College Stoke Climsland, gaining an insight into the country way of life and discovering a wide variety of activities, including shotgun shooting, gun dog training, ferreting, air rifle shooting, hide building, pigeon decoying, game keeping and conservation. The day was organised by the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC). A team of experienced coaches from BASC and Duchy College, including volunteers and students from the college's gamekeeping and wildlife management courses, shared their expertise with young countryside enthusiasts aged between eight and 15. Stewart Lees, from Callington, works for BASC as a shotgun coach and was teaching the more experienced shooters among the participants how to shoot clay pigeons from a hide, with close to 100% success. He said: 'It's very difficult to shoot from a kneeling position in a hide so these boys, who had never shot from a hide before, did very well.' John Stowers, from the Deer Initiative, and Keith Cann, from BASC, were talking to the youngsters about deer management and firearm safety. Keith said: 'It is important to teach the principles of firearm safety from an early age as the messages will stay with them as they become more experienced.' John said: 'The deer population in the UK is the highest it's ever been and we're teaching these young people how to safely and humanely control the population of deer, using the best practice to reduce the negative impact that large numbers have on the countryside, woodland and farmland.' Mark Claridge, who lectures on countryside and gamekeeping courses at Duchy College, said: 'Once again it's been great working with the BASC to put on this event. It's an excellent opportunity for these youngsters to come to the college and see what we have to offer on our countryside and gamekeeping courses. 'Our student helpers have been great too, introducing the young shots to ferretting and it's been a brilliant experience for them to share the knowledge and skills they have learned on their courses here at Duchy College.' For more information about similar events take a look at the BASC South West pages on the website basc.org.uk/basc-south-west and for more information about countryside and gamekeeping courses at Duchy College visit http://www.duchy.ac.uk">www.duchy.ac.uk