The UK government has launched a wide-ranging review of gamebird shooting in England, seeking evidence on its consequences for wildlife, the environment and the welfare of birds
raised for sport.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the new call for evidence, launched on 4 September, is intended to provide a clearer picture of the effects associated with breeding, releasing and shooting gamebirds.
Gamebird shooting has long been embedded in rural life in England and supports employment, businesses and local communities. Ministers stressed that the review is not intended to overlook the sector’s economic and social contribution, but to establish a stronger evidence base on its environmental and animal welfare implications.
The government is inviting information on a broad range of issues, including the impact of gamebird shooting on wildlife and protected habitats, the potential spread of disease, animal welfare, wildlife crime and the use of natural resources.
Particular attention will be paid to what happens to birds before they are released. The government said gamebirds bred for shooting currently operate under different animal welfare rules from poultry raised for food.
As part of the evidence-gathering process, ministers will therefore examine whether existing protections for gamebirds are sufficient and whether additional or comparable welfare standards should be introduced.
Defra Minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said the government recognised the long-standing place of gamebird shooting in rural communities but argued that its wider consequences needed to be properly assessed.
“Gamebird shooting has been part of rural life for many years,” she said, adding that the government wanted to understand its effects on wildlife, the environment and the birds themselves while taking account of the sector’s role in rural economies.
The minister urged organisations, experts and individuals with relevant knowledge or experience to contribute evidence, saying future government decisions should be based on the strongest available information.
The review comes as ministers implement the government's broader Animal Welfare Strategy and Land Use Framework for England, both of which set out plans to strengthen the approach to animal welfare and the management of the country's land and natural resources.
The government said the call for evidence is intended to help identify the full range of impacts associated with gamebird shooting before any decisions are taken on possible future policy.
The consultation will remain open until 1 November 2026, giving conservation groups, shooting organisations, landowners, animal welfare advocates, researchers and other interested parties an opportunity to submit evidence.
No immediate changes to the rules governing gamebird shooting have been announced. Instead, the government will use submissions received during the review to assess whether existing arrangements adequately protect wildlife, habitats and animal welfare while recognising the interests of rural communities. Photo by FieldsportsChannel.tv, Wikimedia commons.
