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At the RSPB’s AGM in 2019, our Chair of Council, Kevin Cox, announced that the RSPB was reviewing its policy on the most intensive forms of gamebird shooting especially driven grouse moor management (which involves shooting our native red grouse) and large-scale release of non-native game birds, primarily pheasants and red-legged partridges, now in excess of 57 million birds annually.

We are very keen to provide regular updates on this review and today, I report the results of the first phase which involved a consultation of our members, volunteers, staff and other stakeholders. 

It is worth remembering that we are doing the review because there is growing public concern and mounting scientific evidence about the environmental impacts of these types of shooting.  Impacts include the ongoing and systematic illegal persecution of birds of prey such as hen harriers; the ecological impact of high numbers of game birds released into the countryside which may increase the density of generalist predators; the mass culling of mountain hares in some parts of our uplands (hopefully now consigned to the history books after last month’s vote in the Scottish Parliament to give mountain hare greater protection); the use of lead ammunition; the impact of burning peatlands and medicating wild animals for shooting.

Results of the consultations 

As I reported in May*, through the various consultations we ran we received views from:

  • a randomised sample of 5,265 RSPB members (full survey responses)
  • an additional 663 RSPB members and others (online comments)
  • 2,847 RSPB staff and volunteers
  • more than 23 organisations or groups with an interest in nature conservation, animal welfare, land management and gamebird shootings
  • more than 60 individuals through some confidential conversations

(* figures updated to reflect final response numbers)

The headline findings are as follows:

  • RSPB members, staff and volunteers are broadly aligned in their views, specifically: the majority are knowledgeable about the issues associated with intensive gamebird shooting, the majority support the conservation principles; any opposition to the approach proposed is more likely to come from the shooting (1%) or landowning (5%) part of the membership; a minimum of 14% support some sort of ban on shooting (intensive or otherwise).
  • Given the size of the samples, we have high confidence in concluding the views we received provide a good reflection of the whole membership, staff and volunteers
  • The views expressed by the other organisations (conservation, animal welfare and shooting groups) and individuals reflected different values, motivations and long held positions. At one end of the spectrum were respondents who valued shooting as an activity with social, environmental and economic benefits. Conversely, at the other end of the spectrum were responses with animal welfare interests who expressed little value of shooting, considering it unnecessary and harmful.  Other responses ranged in between, from seeking sustainable shooting and highlighting concerns over environmental impacts of current practices, to supporting a total or partial ban.
  • The confidential interviews provided a few additional insights, specifically: the pride in conservation associated with shooting; the observed increased interest in the environmental impacts of the industry, particularly more intensive forms; and dismay at the state of the relationship between the shooting community and the RSPB

For those of you that would like to find out more, please do look at:

  • an infographic which summarises the results of the survey of members.
  • the summary of the reports on the consultation with stakeholders
  • the summary of the report of the confidential interviews with members of the shooting community 

These are posted at the bottom of this blog.

Thank you

Thanks again to all of you that took the time to share your views.  The views gathered through this consultation are already helping RSPB trustees refine our nature conservation principles for gamebird shooting and associated land management.

What happens next?

We are currently finalising the scientific reviews of the evidence of impacts from the two most intensive forms of shooting (driven grouse and high density gamebird releases).  This will help us assess these shooting styles against the conservation principles.

The final phase involves reviewing the RSPB’s existing policy on driven grouse shooting and developing a new position on gamebird releases.

We plan to announce the results of this review of our policy at the AGM in October.

And to avoid any doubt, while this review is being conducted we shall continue to call for the introduction of a system of licensing for driven grouse shooting, a ban on burning on peatlands and an end to the illegal killing of birds of prey.

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Images courtesy of Ben Andrew (pheasant and red grouse) and Andy Hay (red-legged partridge) all on rspb-images.com

6366.7288.RSPB Members Infographic.pdf 

2671.6874.RSPB External Consultation - Exec summary.pdf

 7206.5270.RSPB shooting community engagement (confidential interviews) - Exec Summary.pdf

Parents

  • The info graphic shows that the membership is overwhelmingly lowland urban dwellers who should be mindful of the impact of their concerns on upland rural communities whose employment and housing may be dependent on landowners and shooting. That said there is no excuse for the unlawful killing of protected species that will have a negligible effect on game bird numbers. Education and robust policing with high fines or licence removal for those shoots who fail to comply is needed. This also applies to hare shooting. All truly sustainable hunting depends  on a small bag policy but small shoots often rely on selling some birds for table via local butchers, pubs and restaurants. Personally I would much rather eat a bird that has a “normal “ life than the intensively reared existence suffered by much mass produced poultry. Blanket medication is concerning. Is it really necessary or could changes to chick rearing be introduced to negate this? Peatland is an increasing rare habitat and should be protected and managed efficiently. Large areas of privately owned heather moorland could be left to rewind without management for shooting. I find this perfectly acceptable but am also aware that the landscape as we know will change a lot as a result. 

Comment

  • The info graphic shows that the membership is overwhelmingly lowland urban dwellers who should be mindful of the impact of their concerns on upland rural communities whose employment and housing may be dependent on landowners and shooting. That said there is no excuse for the unlawful killing of protected species that will have a negligible effect on game bird numbers. Education and robust policing with high fines or licence removal for those shoots who fail to comply is needed. This also applies to hare shooting. All truly sustainable hunting depends  on a small bag policy but small shoots often rely on selling some birds for table via local butchers, pubs and restaurants. Personally I would much rather eat a bird that has a “normal “ life than the intensively reared existence suffered by much mass produced poultry. Blanket medication is concerning. Is it really necessary or could changes to chick rearing be introduced to negate this? Peatland is an increasing rare habitat and should be protected and managed efficiently. Large areas of privately owned heather moorland could be left to rewind without management for shooting. I find this perfectly acceptable but am also aware that the landscape as we know will change a lot as a result. 

Children