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Exposing the cruelty of game bird shooting

When we think of farmed animals, chickens, pigs, and cows often come to mind. But every year, millions of pheasants and partridges are also intensively farmed, only to be released for the shooting season, which runs from October to February in the UK.

These birds are the forgotten farm animals, and the cruelty they suffer in the name of “sport” is just one of a number of problems caused by the so-called “game” industry. 

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birds bred to be shot every year.

The cruelty behind game bird shooting

Every year, an estimated 50 million game birds, including pheasants and red-legged partridges, are released into the wild, not as part of any natural ecosystem, but for the sole purpose of being hunted. 

These birds, bred in factory-farm-like conditions, can endure severe suffering from the moment they are born until their eventual death – either through violent shootings or other environmental threats like disease and predation. Alongside this, a significant number never make it to the actual shooting events, as millions die from being hit by vehicles or from environmental exposure. 

Because shooting often occurs behind closed doors on private estates, many people remain unaware of the associated cruelty. The only indications of these activities may be the distant sound of gunshots or the presence of pheasants lying alongside the road after being struck by vehicles.

Image credit: Animal Aid

Factory farm conditions

The factory farming conditions for game birds are deeply troubling. Birds are kept in cramped wire-mesh cages, often smaller than the size of an A4 piece of paper, and their living conditions are worse than those permitted for food-producing poultry. This lack of regulation allows birds to suffer from severe physical ailments, such as open sores on their feet and injuries caused by overcrowding. Many are forced to wear cruel devices like “bits,” which prevent them from closing their beaks fully, reducing the amount of pecking injuries caused by stress and confinement.

This treatment not only violates the animals’ basic rights but also exposes a significant legal loophole. Unlike chickens raised for food, these birds are exempt from welfare laws under the guise that they are destined for “sport,” rather than consumption. Thus, despite being subject to identical or worse conditions than food poultry, they receive none of the legal protections afforded to other farmed animals.

Environmental devastation

The environmental impact of the game bird industry is equally disturbing. Each year, the mass release of non-native species like pheasants and partridges compete with local wildlife for resources, which can disrupt the delicate balance of ecosystems. Research has shown that the sheer number of released game birds equates to a biomass exceeding that of native bird populations in some areas. Their presence often damages habitats, reduces food availability for native species, and contributes to biodiversity loss.

Moreover, the industry’s practice of burning large areas of moorland to promote heather growth for grouse exacerbates environmental degradation. This burning pollutes rivers and increases carbon emissions, contributing to climate change. Furthermore, it has been linked to significant flooding in areas surrounding grouse moors, as the altered soil loses its ability to absorb water.

It is clear that the practices associated with game bird shooting undermine efforts to protect the environment, despite claims by the industry that they are beneficial for conservation.

The collateral damage: wildlife and companion animals

Gamekeepers, employed to protect the birds intended for shooting, have been known to systematically target native predators in certain areas. Animals like foxes, stoats, weasels, and even birds of prey, which pose a potential threat to game birds, are routinely killed using cruel and indiscriminate methods. These methods include the use of snares, which are illegal in most of Europe due to their inherent cruelty.

Snares are wire traps designed to capture animals by the neck or torso, leading to slow, painful deaths by strangulation, dehydration, or predation. Many non-target species, including domestic animals like dogs and cats, have also been known to fall victim to these traps. In 2012, it was estimated that up to 1.7 million animals were trapped in snares across the UK, with only a quarter being the intended target species. The remaining casualties include hares, badgers, and other protected species, further emphasising the reckless and inhumane nature of this practice.

Image credit: League Against Cruel Sports

Overstated economic benefits

Proponents of the game bird industry often defend it by citing its supposed economic benefits, claiming it generates significant revenue and creates jobs in rural areas. However, closer scrutiny reveals that these claims are often exaggerated. Many of the figures cited by the industry include activities like clay pigeon shooting, which involves no live animals, thus inflating the perceived impact of game bird shooting.

Additionally, a proportion of the industry’s revenue is subsidised by taxpayers. For example, large shooting estates receive millions in public subsidies, despite the damage they cause to the environment. At the same time, many workers in the industry, such as beaters, are paid below minimum wage, further undermining claims that the industry provides meaningful economic support.

Conclusion: a call for change

From the cruelty inflicted on game birds to the environmental destruction and wildlife suffering that accompanies this industry, it is clear that game bird shooting is an unacceptable practice. The romanticised image of “sport” shooting, where birds are humanely killed and then consumed, could not be further from the truth. In reality, game bird shooting is nothing more than canned hunting – a practice where animals are bred and killed for sheer entertainment, often left wounded to die slow, painful deaths.

It is high time for government action to acknowledge the cruelty inherent in this industry. Measures such as banning the use of breeding cages, ending live transport of game birds, and prohibiting the use of snares would be a significant step towards protecting these animals from needless suffering. The public must also be made aware of the false economic claims made by the industry, which obscure the considerable costs – both in terms of animal suffering and environmental degradation.

Only through a concerted effort to expose the truth about the game bird industry can we hope to bring about meaningful change and ensure a future where animals are no longer exploited for sport.

What you can do to help

Write to your MP

Use the search tool on www.writetothem.com to find contact details for your local MP, and write to them to express express your concerns on the ‘game’ bird shooting industry.

Sign the petition

Sign Animal Aid’s petition calling on the UK government to ban the production, release and shooting of birds.

Share this article

Share this blog post on social media to raise awareness about this cruel practice.

Sources:

  1. League Against Cruel Sports – www.league.org.uk/what-we-do/shooting and “The Case Against Shooting” PDF
  2. RSPB – “Birdcrime Report”, 2013.
  3. Animal Aid – www.animalaid.org.uk/the-issues/our-campaigns/shooting
  4. Compassion in World Farming – “Welfare of Laying Hens”.
  5. DEFRA – Evidence Project Final Report AW1303, 2015.