Sandhill Game Bird Services

18/08/2026

We are currently busy carrying out pre release visits on shoots and game farms to allow the release of game under licence around SPAs.

The purpose of the visit is to ensure pheasants and partridge are not showing signs of AI prior to release as per the terms of the Natural England licence.

As pheasants are an indicator species they can be directly inspected as they would soon show evidence of disease if they were infected. However as partridge are a non-indicator species they either require PCR testing or mixing / beak to beak contact with an indicator species such as pheasants.

12/08/2026

GLORIOUS 12TH!
All the best to those out today in the heat. Grouse prospects are variable with reasonable/moderate counts across the Pennines and Borders, but then a very poor numbers for most across the NYMs.
We have carried out a handful of worm and worm egg counts already and surprisingly found a few raised counts despite the dry conditions. .
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10/08/2026

Wild Game Meat Hygiene Course in North Yorkshire on Thursday 3 September 2026.

This comprehensive one-day course is designed for anyone involved in harvesting, handling or supplying wild game.

Unlike many game meat courses that focus solely on deer, this qualification covers both large and small game, including wild deer, wild boar, rabbits, hares and feathered game such as pheasant, partridge and duck. Successful candidates are awarded a unique Hunter ID number, enabling them to supply game to Game Handling Establishments where required.

Whether you stalk deer, manage game, shoot rough game or supply wild game into the food chain, this course provides the knowledge and certification needed to ensure game is handled hygienically and in accordance with current food hygiene requirements.

Date: Thursday 3 September 2026

Location: Skiplam, Nawton, York

Cost: £200 (including VAT)

To book your place, contact Mike Fellows directly:
Telephone: 07940 909250

Email: [email protected]

Candidates should arrive by 9.00am. Tea and coffee are provided, but please bring your own lunch. Places are limited, so early booking is recommended.

08/08/2026

A season of two halves in the North. The extreme heat caused endless issues with Coccidiosis, enteritis and Hexamita on rearing fields. Many rearing sheds struggled with overheating and subsequent disease. Hexamita has cropped up on many sites for the first time ever.
On the other side the releasing period has been kind with many birds going out into shady woods and thriving. Birds at wood have managed to cope with low levels of disease that would have caused issues in a wet & cold year. Additionally due to the dry weather worm burdens are very low.

04/08/2026

1st September delayed release date removed on many NE licenses! This means birds can be released from today (following pre-release vet inspections).

Natural England has advised of changes to the likely licencing outcomes for gamebird releasing on six Special Protection Areas in England.

28/07/2026

WATER TESTING - RAPID, LIVE, ON-SITE RESULTS.
We have been using the rapid ATP water tests for many years now.
Here this drinking water tests incredibly clean (target

24/07/2026

We are seeing a number of cases of pheasants at wood harbouring high levels of Hexamita or Trichomonas (as seen here). The good weather is masking disease and scour is minimal. Some shoots are seeing firmer frothy scour and on PM the intestines/caeca are hugely distended and filled with frothy content.
While the weather is stable and stress is low birds can handle this disease burden, but any weather change or increased stress such as predation or restricted feeding can trigger disease outbreaks.

20/07/2026

We are carrying out more and more audits each year!
It's also great to see the ever increasing uptake across vets and gamefarms/shoots nationally.
Not only does this audit provide bespoke vet advice and protection to the individual site, but also protection to the wider game sector by demonstrating best practice and self-regulation.
Please let us know if you want get involved and help protect yourself and also the wider game sector.

16/07/2026

BASC has won its High Court challenge against Natural England, with Mr Justice Ritchie ruling today that the regulator acted outside the law in its approach to the licensing of gamebird releases.

26/06/2026

The NGO's Wild Game Meat Hygiene course is coming to North Yorkshire on 2 July 2026, based at Skiplam, Nawton, near York.

The NGO's game meat hygiene course is the industry standard for game meat handling, covering everything from field to larder — including large game such as wild deer and wild boar, and small game including pheasants, partridge, duck, rabbit and hare. Successful candidates receive a unique hunter's ID number, which is a legal requirement for anyone wishing to sell game to a game dealer.

The course runs from 09.00 and includes a short multiple choice assessment

Please bring your own lunch — tea and coffee will be provided.

Cost: £200 inc VAT

To book, contact Mike Fellows on 07940 909250 or email [email protected]