Game shooting is a force for good for nature and people, it is not a problem that needs solving - Yorkshire Post Letters

From: Conor O’Gorman, head of policy and campaigns, British Association for Shooting and Conservation.

It’s that time of year again when so many of us enjoy the beautiful autumnal British countryside on our rural rambles with family and furry friends.

The game shooting season is also well underway. This is a quintessentially British activity that has shaped the landscape we love, while connecting and supporting rural communities in so many ways.

The government is reviewing game shooting – and if that means something to you, this is your opportunity to write about your experiences and highlight its positive impacts on you personally, on the environment, on farming, and on the local economies your involvement supports.

The science is clear: game shooting is a force for good for nature and people. It is not a problem that needs solving; it is a solution that needs supporting.

However, what is missing from the review so far are real stories from people with lived experience. That includes people of all ages and backgrounds who participate in shoot days, those who look after our land and wildlife all year round, and those running the shops, pubs, hotels, and rural businesses that rely on the trade shooting brings.

Guidance is available at basc.org.uk/thevoiceofshooting

We only have until November 1, 2026, to contribute. The people who live and work in the countryside need to be heard. One email is all it takes.