In response to this (click here) the usual suspects, except the National Gamekeepers Organisation, have said this:
A strong game market and acceptance of game meat will mean a strong future for shooting. The continued use of lead shot has become a growing blocker for the game market. This was a key driver in the announcement by the shooting organisations last year of a five-year voluntary transition away from lead shot for live quarry.
The NGDA represents an influential portion of the overall game dealers sector and their statement provides significant direction and leadership.
The shooting organisations continue to work towards a voluntary five-year transition but accept that changes within some areas of the sector may move quicker than in other areas.
The shooting organisations will continue to work with all stakeholders to support the transition through education, promotion, research and development in sustainable ammunition.
https://www.gwct.org.uk/news/news/2021/april/joint-response-to-ngda-statement/
I welcome that. And I think they are right to acknowledge, (for the first time?), that the continued unnecessary and unjustified use of toxic lead shot has become a growing blocker for the game market. This is tantamount to admitting that they’ve been forced into doing the right thing by market pressure rather than by the wish to do the right thing but that, at least, is more honest than some previous baloney from this group.
My freezer has mostly fruit and vegetables in it, but the meat it holds is almost all wild shot venison from reliable sources using non-toxic ammunition. There might well be a few Wood Pigeons and Pheasants (although I’m not that keen on Pheasant meat really) once I can be sure that they are lead-free.
I’m interested to see the Moorland Association as signatories – does that mean that all grouse moors will be switching to non-toxic ammunition soon?
This statement is worth welcoming – and I welcome it.
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This is indeed welcome as I believe it is initiatives like this that will drive shoots and thus shooters to a lead free future. All we need now is for the bigger buyers of game meat to do the same.
Although there is scope for expanding sales at home, game (including venison) will always be a niche market in the UK.
If releases and shooting at present levels are to be justified, foreign markets have to be developed, non toxic ammo
is crucial in this.
I am pleased circumstances are forcing the shooters of our wildlife for fun to gradually stop using lead shot. It is of course ia very small step to cleaning up our lead contaminated environment that already poisons quite a bit of our wildlife. Make no mistake however the shooters are being forced to do this through what they think is economics. They are most certainly not doing it for the good of our wildlife and environment.
I think their remarks about a strong game market are utter “hog wash”. I would hope that sooner or later the shame of shooting injuring and maiming of our wildlife will mean the organisations shown on your blog Mark will be put out of business and disappear. This would rid the countryside of most of the atrocities inflicted on our wildlife that are associated with the shooting industry. When this day comes this country will be a much better place.
I love the edits in the video…reminded me of Max Headroom.
The basic message was….if you want to sell it, then stop using lead. This is good. It looks like the consumers have binned the precious 5 year transition (which they no doubt planned to extend to 50).
So that will be the end of lead…..apart from the footnote that says carry on poisoning your own family an friends if you want.