Gamekeeper

Also known as:

Keeper, Game
Warden, Game

Introduction

Gamekeepers are responsible for looking after game such as pheasant, grouse, duck, deer and sometimes fish. The work involves maintaining the environment, organising shoots and feeding animals. They often rear animals to supplement stock.

Back to Top

Work Activities

Gamekeepers are responsible for looking after game such as pheasant, grouse, duck, deer and sometimes fish. They maintain the environment, organise shoots and feed birds/animals/fish.

They often rear some birds/animals/fish to supplement the stock.

Managing and maintaining the environment can involve growing and maintaining crops that provide ground cover; for example, kale is grown to provide cover for pheasants. Gamekeepers trim woodlands, clear ditches and mend fences. They control pests such as foxes and crows and protect game from poachers.

Most gamekeepers breed and rear birds or buy in chicks that have been bred elsewhere. They feed and care for the young birds, then release them into the wild. Some keepers (particularly those on grouse moors) manage entirely wild birds, looking after their habitat and nesting.

On shooting days, the gamekeeper, along with the shoot captain, is in charge of the event. Gamekeepers try to make sure that sufficient game is available. They hire and organise teams of beaters who push birds out of their cover into the open and handle gun dogs.

Some gamekeepers protect and manage rivers and streams to provide a habitat for trout and salmon. They may also be concerned with restocking and protecting the river from poachers.

Gamekeepers cover large areas of land on foot or in vehicles. They work outdoors, in all weather conditions.

Back to Top

Personal Qualities and Skills

Gamekeeping can be a solitary occupation. You will need to be self-disciplined and capable of working alone without supervision. However, on shooting days when you work with other people, you need communication skills and the ability to organise others. Also, other countryside users may sometimes ask you for information or guidance about the countryside.

It is important to be interested in wildlife and nature.

You should be adaptable, good at working with your hands and willing to carry out a variety of practical tasks. Basic carpentry skills are useful.

Health and fitness are essential because the job involves a lot of physical work.

A driving licence may be needed for some jobs.

As you will use a shotgun, you must have the necessary certificate.

You should not suffer from hay fever or be allergic to animals.

Back to Top

Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Gamekeepers can earn in the range of £16,000 - £20,000 a year, rising to around £22,500 - £24,500 a year.

Employers usually provide accommodation, a vehicle, shooting suit and help with household and veterinary bills.

Gamekeepers work long and irregular hours, which usually include early starts, late finishes and work at weekends.

Employers are landowners of private estates and farms, and shooting syndicates, which rent shooting rights from landowners.

It is quite common for gamekeeping to be a part-time occupation. It may be combined with forestry or farm work such as tractor driving.

There is fierce competition for all gamekeeping posts.

Back to Top

Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

It is useful if you have skills and abilities gained, for example, helping a gamekeeper or in a related area such as agriculture, forestry or animal care.

Modern Apprenticeships may be available in some areas.

The Northern School of Game and Wildlife is developing part-time courses in gamekeeping, which include distance learning elements.

• 7% of people who work in occupations such as gamekeeper work part-time.
• 3% have flexible hours.
• 2% of employees work on a temporary basis.

Back to Top

New Developments

Some people working in this occupation may be involved in the green jobs sector in areas such as conservation or countryside management.