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How to Apply for a Firearm Certificate in the UK
Firearms Licensing - We explain how to make an application for a firearms Certificate.
If you need advice how to get a Firearm Licence in the UK, then the following is designed as a guide to making a Firearms application for the purpose of hunting and stalking deer.
For those new to shooting, or for those only familiar with Shotgun Certificates, the process of obtaining a Firearm Certificate can at first appear confusing.
The fundamental thing to understand when applying for a firearm Licence is that the Police are not obliged to issue you with a certificate, and will not do so, unless you are of good character, have no mental health issues and have provided them with sufficient evidence and good reason to possess one. Even upon having been issued with a certificate, unlike a shotgun certificate, the police may still seek to apply conditions on the holder of the licence restricting the manner in which a firearm may be used.
Unlike Firearms, holders of Shotgun certificates, are entitled - subject to using the gun safely and in line with UK legislation, to purchase a number of shotguns. They are also entitled to use the shotgun safely on any land on which they have permission to shoot. Firearm Certificates are often quite different and the legislation restricting the use of a firearm is considerably more complex. Just because an individual has been granted an FAC does not mean that they can obtain any number of rifles, neither does it necessarily mean that they can use the rifle on their desired area of land, or indeed for their desired quarry, the individual can only do so provided the certificate specifically entitles them to do so under the ‘conditions’ of use.
The ‘Conditions’ section of a Firearm Certificate specifies exactly what the holder of the certificate can and cannot do. The certificate also specify’s clearly what calibre of weapon the holder of the certificate can purchase. It is important therefore to get it right from the start, so that your FAC is fit for the purpose you require it for. More on that in a bit.
An FAC costs £88-00 and once granted by an issuing Police Force lasts for five years after which an application may be made for a renewal. During the duration of the certificate you may seek variations to the conditions and/or to purchase further weapons, none the less it is best to get it right from the outset.
The following is designed as a guide to obtaining a Firearm Certificate in the UK for the purpose of hunting and stalking deer.
- Ensure that you can convince the police and your local Firearms Enquiries Officer (FEO) that you know what you are doing and are taking the matter seriously. The best way of doing this is to take a course. There are a number of providers however, at County Deer Stalking we offer the LANTRA & UK Rural Skills Approved 'Proficient Deer Stalker level 1' training course (PDS1), which offers a unique level of practical training for those who wish to develop their skills and become proficient deer stalkers. The PDS1 course is designed to enable candidates to progress in becoming accomplished, trained hunters, whilst also being a crucial first step in obtaining a Firearm Certificate. For more information on the PDS1 Deer Stalking Certificate follow this link: proficient-stalker or contact the office on: 0203 981 0159 or email:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to make a reservation.
- Next, get some experience, go out with an experienced professional stalker and get a few deer under your belt, there is no substitute for time spent in the field, what’s more you can ask your guide for a reference, which is another crucial piece of information to provide to your local constabulary to show them that you know what you are doing. At County Deer Stalking we are also able to assist with deer stalking outings over thousands of acres of land in the south east of England. All outings are carried out by highly professional experienced guides who are able to get you in to good habits.
- The Police in the UK are issued by the Home Office with guidelines for the issuing of Firearm Certificates, one of the fundamental requirements of the guidelines are that the Police must be assured that you need the weapon and have somewhere to use it. This is often referred to as having ‘Land Approval’. For this you will need a nominated area of land on which you have written permission to shoot, the land must also be frequented by deer and be suitable for your chosen calibre. For many, this is somewhat of a ‘Catch 22’. You are unlikely to get permission from a farmer or land-owner to shoot deer unless you have a rifle to do it with, and you cant get the rifle until you have the permission! A good means of solving this is to join a deer stalking syndicate or deer stalking club. Club’s like the ‘Capreolus Club’ are perfect at solving this obstacle and also provide a safe, suitable and fun environment in which you can progress in the exciting world of deer stalking. For information about the Capreolus Club please follow this link: capreolusclub
- Once you have done your course, got some experience and joined a club/or obtained land permission, it’s time to put in your application and get an approved Gun Cabinet. Cabinets should be fitted securely at your home address to a load bearing wall and be out of sight. Unlike shotguns, rifles and ammunition must be stored separately in different lockable compartments or in a separate approved cabinet.
- Depending on where you live and your issuing Police Force, Firearm Applications can take either a few weeks or a few months. Either way, when you put in your application, make sure that you have dotted the ‘i’s’ and crossed the ‘t’s’. Nothing slows up the issuing of an FAC more than a poor, incorrect or incomplete application.
- You will need four passport size photos’ of yourself, provide the details of two people who have known you for at least 2 years and are prepared to act for you as a referee, and will also need to give the police permission to approach your GP.
- Finally, you will need to specify what calibre you require. For more information on calibres for deer stalking, heaps of information may be found here on our Rifle Calibres page, which is devoted to choosing the right calibre: rifle-calibres
At ‘County Deer Stalking’ and the ‘Capreolus Club’ we pride ourselves on assisting people with their firearm applications. Our club chairman Peter Jones is himself a former police officer with 10 year’s experience in the Metropolitan Police, he is also an ‘Approved Witness’ for deer management qualifications and experienced firearms instructor. If you would like assistance, then why not contact the office to find out more on: 0203 981 0159 / 0208 239 7311 or email Peter direct:
Zoo Firearms Training
CDS Firearms Training, offers the UK's only LANTRA Approved training course in ‘Best practice guidance for use of firearms in Zoos & Wildlife Parks’.
We are the UK's leading provider of firearms training to zookeepers and zoo managers. Our course complies with UK legislation and BIAZA guidelines for the use of firearms in zoos and wildlife parks, and is designed to comply with new DEFRA guidlines on 'Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain'.
We are an established 'Approved LANTRA Training Provider' with an extensive police background, decades of experience dealing with dangerous animals and over ten years experience delivering zoo firearms training.
“The CDS Firearms Training course for Zoos was professional both in terms of content and delivery” - Chessington World of Adventures
“The content ensured that our zoo was up to date with UK legislation and BIAZA guidelines, I would strongly recommend this course to other zoos and wildlife parks” - J.Merrington Zoo Manager
The UK's No1 Firearms Training Course for Zoos and wildlife parks, is now delieverd simply and effectively throughout the UK, via an easy to access, online, e-learning platform that is accessible via the following link: firearms-training-for-zoos-and-wildlife-enclosures
Above: Lowland Gorilla 'Harambe' was tragically shot dead when a 3 year old boy fell into the enclosure
Regrettably, there are many incidents of people climbing into dangerous animal enclosures and of dangerous animal escapes, many of which have resulted in serious injury and even death.
CDS Firearms Training for Zoos & Wildlife Parks - is the UK’s leading, go-to firearms course for zookeepers and zoo managers, and is designed to empower zookeepers with the skills required to deal with these types of emergencies, and zoo managers with the knowhow to select the correct weapons and implement the correct procedures, to ensure compliance with BIAZA and UK regulations concerning the use of firearms in zoos.
Coming from an extensive Police background and with over a decade of experience delivering firearms training to zoos & wildlife parks, CDS lead instructor Peter S Jones has spent his career dealing with emergency situations and dangerous animals. Through the huntingacademy, he delivers a comprehensive, high quality, certificated zookeeper course via a convenient online platform that is available to zoos and wildlife parks throughout the UK.
The course offers affordable, easy access and an invaluable insight into subjects such as the appropriate choice of weapons, firearm licensing, how to liaise with the emergency services, how to approach dangerous animals and the relationship between shot placement and shot reaction, along with and a whole wealth of additional expertise that is delivered by an existing trusted provider of zookeeper training.
And that’s not all! - Zoos & Wildlife Parks that employ this fabulous means of training their staff, are also afforded a 1 hr free telephone consultation with our CDS lead instructor, to help ensure that they have in place all of the procedures and equipment that is required to deal with emergencies concerning dangerous animals. For those that want ongoing practical training CDS is also available to assist.
The Zoo Firearms Course includes the following modules:
Module 1: Introduction
Module 2: Firearm safety and understanding the component parts
Module 3: Selecting the right weapons & optics
Module 4: Choosing the right calibre & ammunition
Module 5: Marksmanship & Shooting positions
Module 6: Shot placement & shot reaction
Module 7: Contact & Cover and Reactionary gap
Module 8: Following up on shot animals
Module 9: Important procedural guidance
Final Exam
Too many zoos and wildlife parks are woefully ill equipped and ill prepared to deal with emergencies concerning dangerous animals. Enrol today, and get your zoo back on track, by taking the UK’s premier firearms course for zoos & wildlife parks.
Follow this link to Enrol today: firearms-training-for-zoos-and-wildlife-enclosures
The course enables zoos and wildlife parks with dangerous category 1 animals to meet current DEFRA guidelines and UK legislation relating to firearms and zoos. The aim of the course is to ensure that managers have the correct procedures in place and that staff are professionally trained, competent and armed with firearms that are fit for purpose.
If you would like a consultation for your Zoo or Wildlife Park anywhere in the UK, or would simply like to find out more about CDS Firearms Training for Zoos, then please contact our training course co-ordinator Peter S Jones on: Tel: 020 3981 0159 / 07789 747709 or email:
To read more about incidents when zoo enclosures have been breached follow this link: cds-firearms-training-for-zoos
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Whether you are a complete novice, experienced deer stalker, vermin controller or big game hunter, CDS Firearms Training offers professional firearms training at arguably the finest training facilities in the UK, on an exclusive estate just one hour from London. This first-class facility provides training in a beautiful woodland environment just one hour from London.
‘One to one’ range time with one of our professional instructors is charged at £100 + VAT per hour and can be booked with 48 hours’ notice seven days a week.
* Shoot at ranges from 50 -300 yards
* Learn advanced marksmanship techniques for accurate shot placement.
* Accurately check and zero rifles using our specialist equipment
* Extensive specialist tool kit to fine tune your rifle/scope setup. Learn advanced techniques for accurate shot placement
* Interactive, life size, steel and paper deer targets.
No FAC, no problem. We have a selection of quality rifles all fitted with the latest Swarovski optics and are able to offer training with a variety of calibers including; .17HMR, .22 Hornet, .243 Winchester, .275 Rigby, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield and for dangerous game hunters a .416 Rigby.
NEW for 2023
New for 2023 'CDS Firearms Training' has developed the unique 'PDS Woodland Stalker' training course. This challenging course is designed for deer stalkers of all abilities to test their marksmanship over a series of targets presented along a pre-determined woodland course. Stalkers walk the one mile course with one of our qualified instructors taking shots at a series of interactive steel discs and life size steel deer targets, at a variety of ranges and positions designed to replicate real life hunting scenarios.
When hunting in the wild, the chances are, that you will encounter animals at a variety of distances and be required to shoot from a variety of positions. Unlike traditional shooting ranges, the unique ‘PDS Woodland Stalker Course’ provides attendees the un-paralleled opportunity to walk a meandering picturesque woodland trail, taking shots at strategically placed life size steel targets at a host of different ranges from 45 yards to 200 yards, all from a variety of shooting positions designed to replicate real life hunting scenarios.
The 1/2 day course includes
- Tuition on accurate shot placement
- Break for tea/coffee and soft drinks
- 20 reactive steel gongs from 3 - 12 inches and life size deer targets out to 200 yards
- Shoot in a variety of positions including standing with stick, prone, kneeling, freehand and high seat
- Duration is approximately 3-4 hours
- Professional tuition and assistance offered throughout.
The training session is designed to seriously test your marksmanship, observation skills, safety, distance judgemen, holdover technique, knowledge of ballistics/wind, shooting at angles and accurate shooting at longer ranges. The aim of the longer target distances featured in the course are designed to test the deer stalkers ability to despatch deer out to 200 yards, should they be required to despatch an animal at distance.
No Firearms Certificate, no problem, there is opportunity to use a selection of quality rifles in a variety of calibres ranging from .243, .275 Rigby, .308 and 30-06 all fitted with the latest top Swarovski optics.
Bespoke Options:
There are three levels which make shooting the course varied, interesting and challenging for shooters of all abilities.
Beginner: Suitable for novices or those new to rifle shooting. No time restrictions, lots of tuition and easy shooting positions.
Intermediate: Suitable for deer stalkers who have some practical experience and want to improve their skill set. Training on how to zero and setup a rifle, generous time restrictions on some targets, training on allowing for wind and bullet drop and more.
Advanced: Suitable for deer stalkers with more experience who want to test/hone their abilities. Tight time restrictions, challenging shooting positions and assessment of distance judgement & ballistics knowledge.
As required, the format can be tailored to create a bespoke training session to meet your needs. Exciting variants include shooting ‘freehand’ or just standing with sticks. For a slightly different challenge and for those who want to ‘go back to basics’ why not try shooting the course with open sights? The choice is yours.
The duration of the pre-course training and shooting the course is approximately 3-4 hours. Prices start at £245-00 + VAT for individual bookings. We can also accommodate corporate and group bookings of up to 6 rifles. A certificate is awarded upon successful completion of the course. To book a session on this unique facility contact us on: 0203 981 0159 or email:
Other training delivered at the Crawley facility includes ‘Proficient Deer Stalker’ (PDS) Levels one and Level 2 modules, ‘PDS Land Assessment’ and our ‘Zoo/wildlife Park Training’.
To book time at the range, rifle/scope setup, firearms training or to book a session on our ‘Woodland Stalker Challenge’ call 0203 981 0159 or email
CDS Firearms Instructor
You'll be in good hands..
Peter S Jones is our senior firearm's instructor and one of the UK's most familiar faces in deer stalking. There are few who are more eligible for the role.
Peter is an approved trainer for leading land-based awarding bodies LANTRA and UK Rural Skills. He is also a former Metropolitan Police Detective with 10 years service in the MPS Crime Squads & CID where he specialised in firearms legislation and was awarded a 'Commendation for Bravery & Professionalism' for his handling of an armed incident, before retiring from the Police with an 'Exemplary Service Certificate'.
Peter has been shooting and hunting big game throughout the UK, Europe and Africa for the last 25 years. In addition to offering expert tuition to our clients, Peter is also responsible for the training and weapon familiarisation programs we deliver to Zoo’s and Wildlife Parks throughout the UK. Peter has qualifications PDS1+2, DSC1+2 and is a BDS DMQ ‘Approved Witness’ and Approved Verifier in Deer Stalking Qualifications.
For more detail about our independent courses please follow the links below.
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Deer Hunting UK - County Deer Stalking offers exclusive access to deer hunting over arguably the finest privately owned parkland estates in the UK. The estates are situated in the South east of England in Kent, Hampshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Sussex and are all within one hours drive of London. The estates offer challenging deer stalking over thousands of acres and combined have a population of over 2,000 deer.
We go to great length to ensure that our hunting practices are sustainable. Animals are carefully selected to ensure the betterment of the species and will usually involve the culling of old males that are approaching the end of their lives.
In relation to park deer such as Barasingha and Pere David, our conservation hunting practices, encourage the betterment of species, and have resulted in a proliferation of deer which, have in some parts of the world, become extinct. We believe that the way to ensure the continued survival of some species, is to ensure their financial viability, through regulated, controlled and sustainable, conservation hunting.
All shot animals are inspected by a 'trained hunter' and will enter the human food chain as a healthy, nutritious, sustainable form of meat.
Deer species
We offer trophy hunting for all six of the UK's deer species, including, Roe, Fallow, Red, Sika, Chinese Water Deer & Muntjac and also park deer including Pere David and Barasingha deer.
These world class animals are in peak condition and offer the trophy hunter the opportunity of a lifetime to shoot a medal trophy all in one day.
Deer stalking is carried out on foot and/or from a number of strategically placed tower high seats. A quality estate rifle/optics and ammunition can be provided if required. If you are bringing your own rifle, we recommend a minimum of 6.5mm.
The day usually starts at 9:00am and there will be the chance to test zero on the range before heading out to stalk for your trophy. Lunch and refreshments are provided throughout the day.
Please Note: We also offer stalking for medal class Roe, Muntac and Chinese water deer. Stalking for these species, is carried out on estates across the south east of England and is carried out over a number of days.
Trophy preparation and taxidermy can be arranged as required and venison can be purchased at current market rates.
Please call on 0203 981 0159 or email
