Goose Hunting: Welfare Standards and Season Management

Goose hunting is a major waterfowl hunting activity across Europe and North America, with welfare implications spanning from non-lethal wounding to lead poisoning in wetland ecosystems.

Key Facts

An estimated 3-5 million geese are shot annually across Europe; North American harvests are similar in scale
Wounding rates in goose shooting vary significantly by hunter skill and distance; estimates range from 10-30% of shot birds
Lead shot causes population-level lead poisoning in waterbirds and eagles that eat shot prey
Steel and bismuth non-toxic shot alternatives are widely available and perform comparably to lead at appropriate gauges
Non-toxic shot has been mandatory for waterfowl hunting in the US since 1991 but remains inconsistently enforced in Europe

Welfare Considerations

Goose hunting welfare centres on wounding rates and lead poisoning. Non-toxic shot requirements should be standard globally. Hunter education programmes improving marksmanship and ethical shot selection reduce wounding rates. Season management that avoids breeding periods reduces population-level welfare and conservation impacts alongside individual bird welfare harm.

What You Can Do

Advocate for mandatory non-toxic shot requirements for all waterfowl hunting to eliminate lead poisoning of wildlife
Support hunter education programmes that emphasise ethical shot selection and wounding rate reduction
Report illegal lead shot use in waterfowl hunting to relevant enforcement authorities
Engage hunting organisations with evidence on non-toxic shot performance to support voluntary transition where regulation lags