Countryside fears mount over Labour crackdown on game-bird shooting

Labour has closed its call for evidence on game-bird shooting, while exploring whether to introduce a licensing regime. The review has unsettled people who rely on shooting for income and land management, though Defra says the Government has no plans to ban the activity.

Supporters say shoots help fund habitat creation and can benefit wildlife: research cited in the article found 12 times the density of wild birds on land with game-bird cover crops than on conventional arable fields. A study commissioned by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation estimates that 620,000 people take part, spending £4.4 billion a year, while the sector supports 67,000 full-time jobs. One Suffolk farmer says shooting revenue helps pay workers and maintain wildlife habitats.