Protect the wild

[Stevie/P]

Game birds in the news last night how long before Labour government bans game bird rearing.

https://www.itv.com/news/central/2026-05-06/cramped-cages-and-unnecessary-suffering-undercover-inside-a-game-bird-farm

 

[HonestJohn]

I think they should regulate it, not ban it. Now it’s cowboy country and many rearing practices are deplorable. I’m on the fence personally, not a fan of reared, nor driven reared game - although if done with proper welfare in mind, I’m not ‘against’ it.

 

[WW.]

I think they should regulate it, not ban it. Now it’s cowboy country and many rearing practices are deplorable. I’m on the fence personally, not a fan of reared, nor driven reared game - although if done with proper welfare in mind, I’m not ‘against’ it.

I think there should be standards set for best practice but self regulation is my preferred model. In terms of regulating it, it will cost and probably only serve to pay whoever does the inspections. Placement on a pig farm as a student put me off assurance schemes like Red Tractor.

 

[Mr Tree]

A ban on rearing would be the death knell for many types of shooting, while I'm all in favour of wild bird shoots, it is simply not possible with so many protected predators.

 

[Mike1979]

If a undercover reporter spent "a couple of weeks" in any industry and was there purely to look for fault I imagine they would find something wrong regardless of whether that be Health and Safety, HR, animal welfare etc as all of these rely on human beings. I am not justifying any breach of codes of conduct etc ..just pointing out that when you dig enough you will find something to post that is not necessarily representative of the industry as a whole.

 

[HonestJohn]

If a undercover reporter spent "a couple of weeks" in any industry and was there purely to look for fault I imagine they would find something wrong regardless of whether that be Health and Safety, HR, animal welfare etc as all of these rely on human beings. I am not justifying any breach of codes of conduct etc ..just pointing out that when you dig enough you will find something to post that is not necessarily representative of the industry as a whole.

Very true as well, politics

Question is what they’re looking to expose, you can find the answers you’re looking for pretty much anywhere, but in most cases no one cares unless it sparks feelings of disgrace and anger or jealousy

 

[Mike1979]

Very true as well, politics

Question is what they’re looking to expose, you can find the answers you’re looking for pretty much anywhere, but in most cases no one cares unless it sparks feelings of disgrace and anger or jealousy

Agreed

Its like the balanced discussions the Bias Broadcasting Company etc use...have 2 polar opposites who have a massive argument as thats entertainment ...does nothing to promote sensible discussion

 

[timbrayford]

I think they should regulate it, not ban it. Now it’s cowboy country and many rearing practices are deplorable. I’m on the fence personally, not a fan of reared, nor driven reared game - although if done with proper welfare in mind, I’m not ‘against’ it.

It is regulated, so are the releases around SSSIs & SPAs too, what extra restrictions on our civil liberties did you have in mind?

 

[Sol]

Can I be totally honest? quick look at the four minute video and I genuinely cannot see much wrong from a very quick skim through, the cages are significantly bigger and much more clean than domestic hens.... housing two cock birds together would be inhumane etc....

Even the ones getting themselves stuck under feeders perhaps that farm wasn't checking but no reputable farm Is going to willingly let birds die by being trapped.

Factory farming sure but every industry has "bad eggs" regardless, and arent a great show on the entire industry.

 

[HonestJohn]

One of the more contentious issues are that in chicken industries for commercial food, the conditions may indeed not be much better, possibly worse; but, the product is used sold and consumed. In many (too many) instances of reared game for sports shooting, the game is undesired and goes largely un-consumed, in any cases, disposed of. This, I think, is where the shooting industry is getting itself into a sticky wicket that will be hard to argue against. Yes, indeed, game dealers do not want much game, nor really pay for it much, but that cannot be used as an counter argument for throwing dead ‘sport shot’ game into a hole int the ground. Not that this happens all the time, but, it’s too prevalent to be defensible

 

[timbrayford]

One of the more contentious issues are that in chicken industries for commercial food, the conditions may indeed not be much better, possibly worse; but, the product is used sold and consumed. In many (too many) instances of reared game for sports shooting, the game is undesired and goes largely un-consumed, in any cases, disposed of. This, I think, is where the shooting industry is getting itself into a sticky wicket that will be hard to argue against. Yes, indeed, game dealers do not want much game, nor really pay for it much, but that cannot be used as an counter argument for throwing dead ‘sport shot’ game into a hole int the ground. Not that this happens all the time, but, it’s too prevalent to be defensible

No difference from any other agricultural produce, if its not fit to enter the food chain or there's a mismatch between between supply and demand it gets junked.

 

[HonestJohn]

No difference from any other agricultural produce, if its not fit to enter the food chain or there's a mismatch between between supply and demand it gets junked.

You’re missing an important element of contentiousness, which is other industries aim to produce for consumption, not for the fun of shooting game. Game shooting is predominantly done for fun and social engagement, and that’s where the axe grinds

 

[mudman]

I watched it. Cage laying systems, especially the multi decked units featured, are not a good look at all but hopefully pheasants are not kept in them that long (not sure I can say the same for redlegs though.

Overall I thought the segment was weak. No major revelations, no scandals, but it should serve as a wake up call to all involved in the ‘industry’ that they are out to get us.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Journalists with a biased agenda, nothing new there then.
Where you have livestock, you will also have dead stock....
The bizarre thing is that these same journalists will walk into Waitrose to buy a nice "free-range organic" chicken for Sunday's roast and not realise that it will be reared in conditions that are not what they would imagine.
The report was a mud slinging exercise... enough sticks for it to seem worth their while...

The results of the local elections will start to roll in soon... Vote Reform if you have time

 

[timbrayford]

You’re missing an important element of contentiousness, which is other industries aim to produce for consumption, not for the fun of shooting game. Game shooting is predominantly done for fun and social engagement, and that’s where the axe grinds

No, its you who is missing the point, the produce of game shooting does enter the food chain and is consumed just like any farmed foodstuff.

In reality the released bird represents a halfway house between free range domestic fowl and the truly wild bird like the red grouse, the current over supply situation has been hugely impacted on by the difficulty of accessing former continental outlets due to Brexit.

Perhaps the contentious issue is this whole do-gooding leftie class warfare banning nonsense which we've had to endure a complete barrage of for the past 30 odd years, and the failure of the shooting organisations to effectively counter it?

 

[HonestJohn]

No, its you who is missing the point, the produce of game shooting does enter the food chain and is consumed just like any farmed foodstuff.

In reality the released bird represents a halfway house between free range domestic fowl and the truly wild bird like the red grouse, the current over supply situation has been hugely impacted on by the difficulty of accessing former continental outlets due to Brexit.

Perhaps the contentious issue is this whole do-gooding leftie class warfare banning nonsense which we've had to endure a complete barrage of for the past 30 odd years, and the failure of the shooting organisations to effectively counter it?

As you say, supply and demand. The leftie do gooder voter group as you call it, has grown in size, and the shooters are being voted out and marginalised, at a fast rate. We are becoming the mismatch between supply and demand that you note is acceptable to get junked. The shooting organisations are there to make money from your direct debit, don’t be fooled into thinking they have any obligations to fight your corner.

Please don’t think voting for reform will have any positive impact on shooting in the U.K. reform along with Brexit, Christ,!, Britain would be sinking itself into a place where it would possibly never recover from.

But if you take the bait and vote for reform, you better be prepared to realise that you’ve just voted a right wing racist party into power, who will drive the country to shreds, whilst doing zero for the shooting sector. It’s Brexit all over. Cultural conservation my arse, the immigrants are already here and imbedded, you won’t see a single one leave unless it’s because they choose to. Your idea of the pretty little British countryside, quaint towns, phone boxes and double decker buses will never return, although Farage tries to win the hearts of those who think you can go back in time and undo decades of heavy immigration.

If you want to save shooting for the future, you need to drive the interest from the grass roots and turn it into a popular activity. Why is it flourishing in europe? Because it’s been part of social life and embedded into daily activities. It’s something many Europeans take extremely seriously, preservation, conservation, respect for game, there’s no ‘if it’s brown it’s down attitude! The reason shooting never has, and never will become largely embedded into British society, and in turn, never accepted and will be marginalised; is because it’s never been part of general social value and activity - it’s been for the upper classes for a long time, and the majority of trodden upon jealous people hate the idea that the gentry and riding around in range rovers with cigars and expensive drinks, laughing and banging pheasants out of the sky at £300 per brace, not having any desire to even touch the birds, until settling down for a booze fuelled meal and possibly skirt lifting the waitress. Because that’s how the majority of general voters see shooting, it will never be part of social life and acceptance . Reform, will not be able to create a Time Machine and go back to set up farms with private land ownership all over the country, where on weekends they all got together for shooting and enjoying the game in the village, or hosting hunting celebrations and competitions on calling bucks and stags.

Enough of this, I have work to do. Happy Friday

 

[Bo Diddley]

More folks would love to be involved with fieldsports in England.... whole families, unfortunately access to land to participate is very difficult. All we can do individually is to introduce as many to it as we can, but even that can be a challenge at times.

 

[Dave_45]

One of their reps was in the house of bruar moaning about the taxidermy fox.

If she had bothered to read the information she would have found out it was a well liked fox of the original owner.


But the truth doesn’t fit protect the wilds agenda.

 

[timbrayford]

As you say, supply and demand. The leftie do gooder voter group as you call it, has grown in size, and the shooters are being voted out and marginalised, at a fast rate. We are becoming the mismatch between supply and demand that you note is acceptable to get junked. The shooting organisations are there to make money from your direct debit, don’t be fooled into thinking they have any obligations to fight your corner.

Please don’t think voting for reform will have any positive impact on shooting in the U.K. reform along with Brexit, Christ,!, Britain would be sinking itself into a place where it would possibly never recover from.

But if you take the bait and vote for reform, you better be prepared to realise that you’ve just voted a right wing racist party into power, who will drive the country to shreds, whilst doing zero for the shooting sector. It’s Brexit all over. Cultural conservation my arse, the immigrants are already here and imbedded, you won’t see a single one leave unless it’s because they choose to. Your idea of the pretty little British countryside, quaint towns, phone boxes and double decker buses will never return, although Farage tries to win the hearts of those who think you can go back in time and undo decades of heavy immigration.

If you want to save shooting for the future, you need to drive the interest from the grass roots and turn it into a popular activity. Why is it flourishing in europe? Because it’s been part of social life and embedded into daily activities. It’s something many Europeans take extremely seriously, preservation, conservation, respect for game, there’s no ‘if it’s brown it’s down attitude! The reason shooting never has, and never will become largely embedded into British society, and in turn, never accepted and will be marginalised; is because it’s never been part of general social value and activity - it’s been for the upper classes for a long time, and the majority of trodden upon jealous people hate the idea that the gentry and riding around in range rovers with cigars and expensive drinks, laughing and banging pheasants out of the sky at £300 per brace, not having any desire to even touch the birds, until settling down for a booze fuelled meal and possibly skirt lifting the waitress. Because that’s how the majority of general voters see shooting, it will never be part of social life and acceptance . Reform, will not be able to create a Time Machine and go back to set up farms with private land ownership all over the country, where on weekends they all got together for shooting and enjoying the game in the village, or hosting hunting celebrations and competitions on calling bucks and stags.

Enough of this, I have work to do. Happy Friday

I take it that you haven't got the foggiest idea about a driven day on pheasants and in particular the cost thereof?

 

[VSS]

I take it that you haven't got the foggiest idea about a driven day on pheasants and in particular the cost thereof?

What he was describing was the public perception of it, rather than his own knowledge of it, I think you'll find if you read his post properly.