Here’s the latest pile of dumped gamebirds – pheasants that had been shot then chucked over a wall by the side of the road and left to rot. These were photographed by blog reader Lauren Francis on Boxing Day.
The location this time: Barking Road, Willisham, Suffolk.
There are some decent shooting folk on social media who are condemning this obscene behaviour, and not just because it exposes shooting to bad publicity, and who are offering solutions (like licensing schemes that limit the number of birds released and require accountability for the number shot for example, and a suggestion that if shoots are ‘gifting’ the birds then the birds should be oven-ready) but there are still many others from within the industry who are either (a) denying it’s a widespread problem, (b) accusing ‘antis’ of trying to ‘set up’ shooting, and/or (c) slagging off anyone who dares to criticise, presumably in a futile bid to stop further criticism.
Unfortunately for the game shooting industry, this is an ongoing, criminal and widespread problem, much like illegal raptor persecution, and it’s drawing the wrong sort of attention.
Previous examples include dumped gamebirds in Cheshire, Scottish borders (here), Norfolk (here), Perthshire (here), Berkshire (here), North York Moors National Park (here) and some more in North Yorkshire (here) and even more in North Yorkshire (here), Co. Derry (here), West Yorkshire (here), and again in West Yorkshire (here), N Wales (here), mid-Wales (here), Leicestershire (here), Lincolnshire (here), Somerset (here), Derbyshire’s Peak District National Park (here) and Suffolk, again (here).
And it’ll keep getting attention on this blog for as long as the gamebird shooting industry demands licences to allow them to kill protected birds of prey for the purpose of ‘saving’ their gamebirds.
Raptor Persecution UK 
If ‘antis’ were doing this where are they getting the birds from? Presumably they are either getting them from a shooter or shooting them. If the latter they aren’t antis. If the former shooters aren’t actually eating what they kill
There are lots of problems with shooting and licencing would help.
Estate owners actively encourage their gamekeepers to put down masses of birds to attract participants.
There is no way these birds when killed, can be used for the food I
industry.
These land owners must be accountable as well as the
gangs who organise their own shoots and often have
little regard for the residents of areas where they shoot
The more publicity for this sort of activity and the other crimes that are consistently aired on this blog the better.
There are many members of the public with little or no interest in shooting or, for that matter, have scant knowledge/encounters of wildlife who will, nevertheless, be appalled when they hear of the vile activities that are commonplace and inseparable components of the game shooting industry.
Grasp every opportunity to cast light into the dark and dirty corners.
All criminals have at least one thing in common. They hate exposure to the light. Nor do governments want to see all the foul activities laid bare because that becomes proof that they have, for decades, failed to oppose the outlaws.
Maybe all such carcasses be sent on to Beefy?? – he’ll know what to do with em….
This is just thoughtless and wanton killing, for sake of it.
This isnt even a sport. It sick minded people, who are bored with staying in and need to get rid of the blood lust some how. Why not take up bare knuckle fighting and do yourself some damage & leave innocent creatures alone.
Suffolk is in Tier 4 as regards Coronavirus restrictions.
Tier 4 requires residents to stay at home unless they have reasonable excuse.
Tier 4 residents are allowed outside for exercise or recreational purposes.
The government guidelines clearly state the following:
– In general, you must not meet socially or carry out any activities with another person.
– You can exercise or visit a public outdoor place:
by yourself
with the people you live with
with your support bubble
or, when on your own, with 1 person from another household.
There is a lot more in the guidelines but it seems perfectly clear that groups of people can not meet up for social, recreational or exercise purposes. This would appear to cover an organised shoot.
Suffolk has been in tier 4 since 00.01 on 26th December.
So depending on when the pheasants were shot there could have been a breach of the covid restrictions.
The NGO have made it very clear to their members that “it is already clear that in these new Tier 4 areas gathering for game shooting events and even leaving home for recreational shooting alone, or with household members, would breach the regulations.”
BASC again have made it very clear that they do “not consider that driven game shooting or other recreational group shooting activities should take place.”
For all the criticism these organisations receive they should be applauded for making it very clear to their members that game shooting events must cease in Tier 4 areas. This will not be popular amongst those who have purchased or reared birds to shoot over the winter months.
So, it will be very interesting to see where dumped birds are found in the future, as much of England is now subject to Tier 4 restrictions.
Are we going to see those elements of the shooting fraternity who already break the law when it comes to wildlife protection legislation, also break the coronavirus rules??
It is a well know fact that criminals who commit more serious crimes, will ignore other more minor legislation such as traffic law or engage in anti social behaviour.
Could areas where large numbers of pheasants are dumped be a barometer for the police wild life officers as to where more serious wildlife crimes are also likely to be taking place?
The police are encouraged to participate in partnership working, so should they be working with local authorities to identify sites of illegal fly tipping of these dead birds and then try and ascertain who is responsible?
The other worrying issue which stems from these covid restrictions and the effect on shooting events, is that millions of non native birds have already been released all over the countryside in anticipation of being shot over the winter months. If many of these birds are not now going to die, and join the millions which already evade death at shooting events, what catastrophic effect could this have on native wildlife?? Certainly it something conservation and wildlife trusts will have to assess very carefully.
Anyway lets hope 2021 is a good New Year, especially for our wildlife.
I’m not condoning the dumping of pheasant carcasses as it is clearly wrong but the breasts of the birds in the photograph have been removed, one would guess that this is an issue with dumping the carcass once the breasts have been used. It’s not that the meat is being wasted it’s the leftover from what most people use to cook. This is not necessarily the shoot but could be anybody who has taken birds for their breast meat, as it has been said many times before game should only be allowed to leave a shoot in the processed form and then the waste has been disposed of properly.