A shot in the arm for hunting safety, with the launch of a new trust.

The HUNTS Trust has been set up by the Deerstalkers Association, to operate an independent hunter training programme.

President Bill O'Leary says it'll take over from their current, more casual training programme.

He says they'll provide training to their new instructors in the first instance, who will then spread the word on safety with firearms and outdoor safety.

Bill O'Leary says the average hunter is now middle-aged, and half of them migrants.