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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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County Deer Stalking Magazine Team
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.
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
Overseas Visitors
For those travelling to the UK from overseas, we offer an exclusive concierge service for hunters who wish to access the very best deer stalking experiences that the Great Britain has to offer.
Hunting in the UK for overseas clients is arranged through the capreolus-club which is our London based private members club, specifically designed for Deer Stalkers and hunters of large game worldwide.
Deer Stalking is carried out on exclusive private country estates throughout England & Wales and Scotland. We take care of everything, from; airport transfers, visitor’s firearms permits, hunting insurance, luxury accommodation, fine dining, trophy preparation, measuring and taxidermy.
Through our range of contacts, we are also able to offer visitors access to some of the most prestigious and exclusive London based members clubs for evening dinner and drinks.
For those not wishing to have the hassle of travelling with firearms, rifle hire is available in the form of quality estate rifles, in a number of suitable calibres, all of which are fitted with sound moderators and the very best Swarovski optics.
All our deer stalking packages are tailor made to your requirements and we can accommodate everything from novices, to couples and small groups. For those who are new to the sport, we can offer firearms training and instruction with one of our experienced professional stalkers.
Deer Species
We are delighted to be able to provide the very best that the UK has to offer, in the form of all of the UK’s six species of deer. Including: Red, Roe, Fallow, Japenese Sika, Muntjac & Chinese Water Deer. At least two (2) of these species can be hunted in season 365 days a year.
It is also possible to hunt other superb, exotic species such as Pere David, Barasingha and Manchurian Sika - all of which we guarantee to be quality medal heads.
Whether you wish to hunt trophy Roe Buck in the idyllic and picturesque Hampshire countryside or want to experience the Roar of the iconic Red Stag, as it bellows its call around the open hill of the Scottish highlands, we can accommodate your needs.
Planning your trip
In order to insure that we can cater for your needs and abide by the UK’s hunting seasons, forward planning is strongly advised. Hunting deer during each of their rutting seasons is also hugely popular, however this often presents a narrow window of opportunity, timing is everything. Therefore booking in advance is advantageous. A guide to the best times to hunt the different species is available upon request.
Whatever your enquiry, please fill out the form to the right hand side of this page with your request, or contact Peter Jones 0203 981 0159 / 07789 747709 or email
