An update on the RSPB’s review of its policy on gamebird shooting: results of consultations

Written by: Martin Harper
Published: 13 Jul 2020
Topic: RSPB gamebird shooting policy review: results of consultation

At the RSPB’s AGM in 2019, the organisation's Chair of Council, Kevin Cox, announced that the RSPB was reviewing its policy on the most intensive forms of gamebird shooting. This is especially relating to driven grouse moor management, which involves shooting our native Red Grouse and large-scale release of non-native game birds, primarily Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges, which is now in excess of 57 million birds annually.

To follow are the results of the first phase of the review, which involved consultations with RSPB members, volunteers, staff and other stakeholders.

The RSPB is carrying out the review because of the growing public concern and mounting scientific evidence of the negative environmental impacts of these types of shooting. Impacts include:

• The ongoing and systematic illegal persecution of birds of prey such as Hen Harriers
• The ecological impact of high numbers of game birds released into the countryside, which may increase the density of generalist predators
• The mass culling of Mountain Hares in some parts of our uplands (hopefully no longer the case following a vote in the Scottish Parliament to give Mountain Hare's greater protection)
• The use of lead ammunition
• The impact of burning peatlands and medicating wild animals for shooting.

Views were received from:

• A randomised sample of 5,265 RSPB members (full survey responses)
• An additional 663 RSPB members and others (online comments)
• 2,847 RSPB staff and volunteers
• More than 23 organisations or groups with an interest in nature conservation, animal welfare, land management and gamebird shootings
• More than 60 individuals through some confidential conversations

• RSPB members, staff and volunteers are broadly aligned in their views. In particular, the majority are knowledgeable about the issues associated with intensive gamebird shooting and support the conservation principles. Any opposition to the approach proposed is more likely to come from the shooting (1%) or land owning (5%) part of the membership. A minimum of 14% support some sort of ban on shooting (intensive or otherwise).
• Given the size of the samples, the RSPB is highly confident that the views received accurately reflect the whole membership, staff and volunteers.
• The views expressed by other organisations (conservation, animal welfare and shooting groups) and individuals reflected different values, motivations and long held positions. At one end of the spectrum were respondents who valued shooting as an activity with social, environmental and economic benefits. Conversely, at the other end of the spectrum were responses with animal welfare interests who expressed little value of shooting, considering it unnecessary and harmful. Other responses ranged in between, from seeking sustainable shooting and highlighting concerns over environmental impacts of current practices, to supporting a total or partial ban.
• The confidential interviews provided a few additional insights, specifically: the pride in conservation that's associated with shooting; the observed increased interest in the environmental impacts of the industry and particularly the more intensive forms; and dismay at the state of the relationship between the shooting community and the RSPB.

Thanks to everyone who shared their shared their views. The information gathered is helping the trustees to refine the RSPB's nature conservation principles for gamebird shooting and associated land management.

The scientific reviews of the evidence of impacts from the two most intensive forms of shooting are being finalised. These will help with the RSPB's assessment of shooting styles against conservation principles.

The final phase will involve the RSPB reviewing the existing policy on driven grouse shooting and developing a new position on gamebird releases.

The results of the review will be announced at the RSPB's AGM in October.

While the review is being conducted, the RSPB will continue to call for the licensing of driven grouse shooting to be introduced.