Game changer

Dr Roger Draycott of the GWCT discusses the environmental impacts of gamebird releasing and management, and says Wild Justice only tells half the story

- Dr Roger Draycott

The commentary we often see and hear from Wild Justice and others who are not fans of game shooting could lead people to the conclusion that gamebird management is harmful to the environment. Let’s be clear, this is exactly the outcome Wild Justice is looking for. Having worked for the GWCT for more than 25 years, first, as a scientist working in a team undertaking and publishing scientific studies on the ecological impacts of gamebird releasing and management and latterly as an adviser, helping hundreds of shoots to maximize the biodiversity gain that good game management can deliver, I believe I have a reasonably informed view on what is happening out there on pheasant shoots.

A fundamental point, often missed by those who believe the impact of gamebird releasing is harmful to the environment, is that gamebird releasing is intrinsically linked with associated activities such as habitat​ creation and management, supplementary feeding, and predation control. No shoot simply releases birds and shoots them – it just wouldn’t work. For a shoot to be successful, the birds have to be looked after and their year-round requirements catered for. It is the way the released birds are managed that provides the benefits to other wildlife.

Balance