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Larson Trap Gamekeeping & Wildlife Management Risk Assessment
Describe your trap round — species, site, method of checking and dispatch. We generate a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment covering lone working, live bird handling, disease risk and General Licence conditions in minutes.
Used by gamekeepers, estate rangers, wildlife trusts and conservation contractors across the UK
🦅 Checking traps alone in woodland every day? Mention it — we'll include lone working check-in procedures, emergency contacts and disease control measures specific to daily corvid trapping rounds.
Legal requirements for gamekeepers and predator control
Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, employers and self-employed gamekeepers must carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment of the work they undertake. Solitary trap rounds in woodland, involving daily walking routes, handling of live birds and use of tools for humane dispatch, fall squarely within this duty — whether you are employed by an estate or working as a contractor.
Trapping of wild birds such as crows for predator control is governed by General Licences issued under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, which set out conditions on trap design, permitted species, decoy bird welfare and the requirement that traps are checked at least once every 24 hours. A written risk assessment demonstrates that these welfare checks and the associated safety hazards have been properly considered, and is often requested by conservation bodies, estates and landowners such as the National Trust before contract work is approved.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires that risks from lone working, zoonotic disease, manual handling and terrain hazards are documented and controlled. HSE guidance recognises that solitary outdoor workers face heightened risk from delayed emergency response, and estates increasingly require evidence of a documented lone worker policy as part of contractor onboarding.
How it works
1. Describe the round
Tell us the site, target species, trap type, whether you work alone, and how traps are checked and reset. Mention terrain, vehicle use and dispatch methods so we can tailor the controls precisely.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant risk assessment referencing the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and General Licence welfare conditions.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Hand it to your estate manager, wildlife trust or landowner, or file it for your own compliance records. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every gamekeeping and wildlife management risk assessment is written in full — covering trapping, handling and lone working hazards specific to your site.
Lone working in remote woodland and estate land
Zoonotic disease risk from handling live corvids (avian influenza, psittacosis)
Bite, peck and scratch injury risk
Humane dispatch procedures and PPE
Decoy bird welfare and trap condition checks
General Licence compliance — permitted species and trap design
Terrain hazards — uneven ground, ditches, water crossings
Quad bike and ATV use on estate tracks
Weather exposure and cold/wet conditions
Manual handling of traps, feed and equipment
Emergency contact and check-in procedures
Firearms and cartridge storage where used alongside trapping
Public access and dog walker interaction on shared land
Slips, trips and falls in woodland terrain
Works for
From estate gamekeeping to conservation predator control, Anyrisks covers every type of trapping and wildlife management role.
What customers say
"I check my Larson traps daily on Trust woodland as part of the wader protection contract. Anyrisks covered lone working, disease risk and General Licence conditions in one document, exactly what the ranger asked for."
David M.
Gamekeeper, Northumberland
"We contract predator control across several estates. Having a written risk assessment for lone trapping rounds means landowners take us seriously and we can show it during site inductions."
Fiona R.
Wildlife management contractor, Scottish Borders
"Working solo on remote moorland, the lone worker section was exactly what I needed. It covers check-in times, phone signal issues and what happens if I don't check in."
Callum T.
Grouse moor keeper, North Yorkshire
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| General Licence welfare conditions covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lone working controls for solitary woodland rounds | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zoonotic disease and handling risk included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Terrain and vehicle hazards covered | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Also see: The ultimate guide to risk assessment · Do I need a risk assessment · Risk assessment legal requirements · AI risk assessment generator
Do gamekeepers legally need a risk assessment for Larson trap checking?
Yes. Under Regulation 3(1) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, any employer or self-employed person must assess risks to themselves and others arising from their work. Daily lone trapping rounds in woodland, involving live bird handling and dispatch, are a clear example of an activity requiring a documented assessment, particularly if you are contracted by an estate, trust or landowner.
Does this cover the legal requirements of the General Licences for Larsen and multi-catch traps?
Yes. Describe the trap type (Larsen or Larson multi-catch), target species and site, and the assessment will reference the relevant General Licence conditions covering trap design, welfare checks, decoy bird care and permitted species, alongside the standard health and safety hazards of the task.
Can it cover lone working on National Trust or estate woodland?
Yes — mention that trap rounds are carried out solo in woodland or estate land and lone working controls will be included, covering check-in procedures, mobile signal blackspots, emergency contacts and what to do if injured or unable to raise the alarm.
Does it cover bite, scratch and disease risk from handling corvids?
Yes. The assessment covers zoonotic disease risk (including avian influenza and psittacosis), bite and scratch injuries from handling live birds, and the correct PPE and hygiene controls for humane dispatch and trap resetting.
Is humane dispatch and animal welfare covered?
Yes — the assessment references the welfare duties under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and General Licence conditions requiring traps to be checked at least once every 24 hours, with humane despatch methods and decoy bird welfare included as control measures.
Can I use this for other predator control methods, not just Larson traps?
Yes. Describe your trapping and predator control methods, whether cage traps, Larsen traps, spring traps or snares, and the assessment will be tailored to the specific hazards, legislation and welfare requirements of each method used.
Will it cover terrain and lone vehicle use on estate tracks?
Yes — if you describe travelling by quad bike, ATV or 4x4 on rough estate tracks to reach trap sites, the assessment will include vehicle and terrain hazards, weather exposure and manual handling of equipment.
How long does it take to generate?
Under 2 minutes. Describe your trapping round, site type and species targeted, and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced gamekeeping risk assessment instantly, ready to download as PDF and Word.