Wildlife

Wild Pheasant Shooting Welfare

Pheasant shooting involves the release of millions of birds annually with welfare implications at release, during holding and at the point of shooting, raising complex welfare questions.

Key Facts

Approximately 47 million pheasants are released in the UK annually for shooting
Released pheasants have higher mortality from starvation, predation and road accidents than wild birds
Welfare conditions in rearing sheds and release pens vary enormously between shoots
Non-retrieval of wounded birds causes significant preventable suffering
Pheasant welfare during shooting is regulated by the Animal Welfare Act 2006

Welfare Considerations

Pheasant shooting involves welfare considerations at multiple stages of the production and shooting cycle. Non-retrieval of wounded birds and poor rearing conditions are the highest priority welfare concerns.

What You Can Do

If you participate in shooting, ensure all wounded birds are promptly retrieved
Advocate for welfare standards in pheasant rearing including minimum space requirements
Support independent monitoring of pheasant welfare from rearing through release