Cara Hutchens who lives in Insh, near Kingussie in the Scottish Highlands, is a sporting agent running International Hunting Scotland and organises trips for country sports enthusiasts on dozens of estates throughout Scotland.

Former Chair of SYCET – Scottish Youth & the Countryside Education Trust – Cara is passionate about the countryside and educating the next generation on the rural way of life. She undertakes many citizen science projects in her efforts to support biodiversity and believes the wildlife on the moors benefits from the conservation work undertaken by land managers to help preserve many species and regularly sees birds of prey on the Scottish moors. Cara is a member of the local Community Holdings Forest project and participated in the recent RSPB river clean-up day.

Working as a beater and picker-up during the season, as well as regularly shooting herself, Cara is also involved in other rural work and is well placed to offer advice on shoot days having undertaken several relevant short courses including BASC’s Shotgun Safety Officer and the Lantra Loaders programme.

The wider local community benefits from the jobs associated with Cara’s business, supporting employment in tourism, local shops and catering on shoot days, with local estates in the Highlands also supporting community projects. The sustainability of game is also evident with local pubs and restaurants serving game during the season in Cara’s area and she chooses to eat game as often as possible.