THERE is no doubt that driven shooting is more popular and accessible now than since its inception in the late 1800s, when it was transformed by the advent of the breech-loading shotgun.
However, the fact that it has become such a saleable commodity is a). A shoot day is the end of a long process: the harvesting of a valued crop—that has been nurtured from an egg to a fit and strong-flying bird—reared in a rich, biodiverse environment. This is the image that shooting likes to portray and it’s mostly correct. In reality, however, the sport’s popularity has led to most shoots releasing so many birds that game is worthless, diseases are endemic and environmental campaigners are beating shooting with every stick from raptor persecution to the use of lead shot. In addition, the sport continues to be let down by some shoots (both large and small) that flout the rules drawn up to try to safeguard its future. There are several initiatives, from the various ‘codes of good shooting practice’ to Aim to Sustain and British Game Assurance, as well as the myriad organisations (GWCT, BASC, National Gamekeepers’ Organisation and the Countryside Alliance) that work hard to promote the many positives of shooting.
