Following the welcome news last week that Defra intends to explore options for the introduction of a licensing scheme for ALL gamebird shooting in England, including Red Grouse, as well as the annual release of 60 million non-native Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges for shooting (see here), the Welsh Government has also announced its intention to explore a licensing scheme for gamebird shooting and releases.
On 17 March 2026, Huw Irranca-Davies MS, Deputy First Minister & Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs in Wales made the following statement:
Whilst this is very welcome news, to be honest the Welsh Government should already have a licensing scheme in place because this was recommended by its own statutory nature advisor (NRW – Natural Resources Wales) over two and half years ago!
Some of you may recall the RSPB’s frustration at the lack of progress on this issue in September 2025 (see here), where concerns were heightened due to the increased risk of Avian Influenza (Bird Flu).
I don’t know why the Welsh Government is calling for yet another evidence review; it surely has sufficient evidence by now to just get on with the job. Although I suspect it is probably in fear of a potential legal challenge (either by the gamebird shooting industry if a licensing scheme is implemented, or by conservationists if a scheme is not put in place) so its likely this latest evidence review is simply a legal arse-covering exercise.
Fine. The direction of travel is good, just slower than many of us would like. No timeline is provided for the evidence review, which may be linked to preparations for the forthcoming election. Let’s see what happens after 7th May.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Kicked down the road… enough to keep the conservationist voters ‘on board’, but without sufficient commitment to frighten the rich and powerful opposition. It is the (forever?) dangled carrot…
“Current evidence indicates that…” “It remains our policy intention to move towards…” “In order to progress…” another “call for evidence” etc etc
They can move fast when they want to.
If Plaid Cymru become the largest party in the Welsh assembly beware: they are the party of the farmers.