Defra’s Call for Evidence on all aspects of gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting is now open – this is your opportunity to be heard

Further to yesterday’s blog, Defra’s Call for Evidence on all aspects of gamebird rearing, releasing and shooting is now open, and will close at 23.59hrs on 1st November 2026.

The Call for Evidence covers Red Grouse, Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge and Mallard.

The Call for Evidence is open to anybody, and Defra has stated that it would particularly welcome responses from Gamebird producers, shoot operators, land managers, Veterinary and animal health experts, Environmental, conservation and animal welfare organisations, Local communities and land users, Academics and researchers, and Public bodies and delivery partners.

The Call for Evidence relates to England (because gamebird policy is devolved in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland), but Defra has stated that evidence gathered from outside of England will still be welcome if it is considered relevant.

Defra is separately commissioning an independent assessment of the economic costs/benefits of the gamebird sector so evidence of this nature will not be considered in this particular exercise.

The evidence collected will be used to inform any future decisions related to Government policy on gamebirds, which, if significant, will undoubtedly then be subject to a public consultation.

Everyone should buckle in because this will be a long and drawn-out process (remember it took the Scottish Government almost five years to introduce licensing for grouse shooting, from the time the decision was made to the time the legislation was implemented, and there are still aspects of the legislation that have not yet been put in place).

Nevertheless, it’s a very important first step and those who have spent years, if not decades, campaigning for scrutiny, have finally battered down a door that has been firmly locked and bolted for far too long.

You can read the Call for Evidence document below, and it’s well worth having a look at the extent of the questions. Some of them are specifically aimed at those directly involved with gamebird rearing, release and shooting, but there are plenty of opportunities for others to have their say.

For example, take a look at Question 29: ‘Are there any additional positive or negative impacts [of gamebird release and shooting], not covered above, for example recreational benefits?‘

This question offers a fantastic opportunity for those who are not involved in gamebird releasing and shooting but who still have to suffer the consequences.

For example, restricted access for walkers, disturbance to the quiet enjoyment of people’s gardens, pets being caught, injured or killed in traps associated with the local shoot, personal harassment and intimidation from gamekeepers and shoot owners, including criminal damage to vehicles and property and dead animals dumped in gardens, pets poisoned and killed etc etc.

Quite a few communities have spoken out about these and other issues (e.g. see here, here, here, here and here), and raptor persecution associated with land managed for gamebird shooting has been raised repeatedly as a major concern for residents and visitors to several National Parks (e.g. see here, here, here).

There is plenty of time before the Call for Evidence closes, so there’s no need to rush in to a response straight away. I’m sure there will be guidance for responding offered by several organisations in due course, but for now, please spend some thinking about what evidence you could provide. It’s really important that this opportunity is not missed.