Conor O'Gorman

I think I have explained this already in this thread. It's because of Brexit. Did you vote Brexit?

If you wish to continue using lead shot for your live quarry shooting that is your choice. There is no need to make it personal. Thank you. In fairness, they just want to protect birds from lead poisoning from lead shot. We have perhaps two extremes in play. Those that want a total lead ban regardless of the consequences. Those that are in denial of any issues with lead shot that want to preserve the status quo.

A full background from last year's HSE consultation is here: https://consultations.hse.gov.uk/crd-reach/lead-in-ammunition/user_uploads/lead-in-ammunition-background-document---draft-sea.pdf But be mindful that there are some inaccuracies in this (and a related HSE document) and these were picked up by BASC in its main response here: https://basc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BASC-review-of-HSE-Annex-15-opinion.pdf

Perhaps they are happily all padding around in another pond that is free of AI. As for bird counts I don't know what the data is saying. I just trust the GWCT advice. Do you trust the GWCT advice?

RSPB: https://community.rspb.org.uk/ourwork/b/nature-s-advocates/posts/the-fight-against-lead-poisoning-the-latest WWT: https://www.wwt.org.uk/news-and-stories/news/government-admits-delay-on-toxic-lead-shot-ban-despite-its-presence-in-93-of-pheasants-destined-for-dinner-tables/#:~:text=Reacting to the news%2C WWT,risk to wildlife and people. The academics that have been most active lobbying for a ban are Rhys Green and Debbie Pain. Google them. Some context: https://basc.org.uk/poor-methodology-undermines-validity-of-game-meat-research/ The evidence does not warrant a ban on the use of lead shot. Here is BASC's position in response to last year's HSE lead ban proposals consultation: BASC is opposed to any further regulation on the use of lead ammunition in the UK. Regulations are already in place to mitigate risks to wildfowl from the use of lead shot in wetlands. There is clear evidence that lead shot poses a risk to a wide range of bird species in terrestrial habitats and a voluntary move away from lead shot for live quarry shooting with shotguns is reducing these risks. The shooting sector must be allowed time to develop non-lead shotgun ammunition due to a world shortage of components and the need for manufacturers and assemblers to source new machinery to produce lead shot alternatives and biodegradable wads for all shotgun calibers. Lead in game meat is potentially a risk to human health via secondary exposure and government guidance and market forces are managing risks via best practice. Lead exposure pathways are not conclusive for livestock, soil, soil organisms, plants, and surface waters; and current legal and regulatory frameworks are in place to manage risks.

Good evening. Neither have I to the best of my knowledge but it's perhaps more subtle to you or I to detect. My local pond was full of mallard ducks before the recent avian flu outbreak. Literally hundreds of ducks swarming around you if you were feeding them. Now its only a few dozen remain. I have only found one body - a roadkill. Where did the rest go? GWCT advice is that sick birds die a few at a time, may hide themselves away and are more vulnerable to predation (so their dead body may look like a predator kill). The body may also be scavenged or lie in an inaccessible place. I trust the GWCT assessment because they are objective scientists - and I trust their research on the need for predator control and a myriad other topics of relevance to shooting - do you trust them on the issue of poisoning due to lead shot? https://www.gwct.org.uk/advisory/lead-ammunition/ There have been plenty of studies and direct observations on record of lead poisoning in birds here in the UK and overseas. I think the argument would be around what the total impact is - which is based on modelling data. Here is some footage for a mallard duck: Here is a video on an autopsy of a swan: Lot's more videos out there.

Shooting estates have been supplying small game to market for around 150 years. It's nothing new. Just because someone else enjoys a different shooting experience to your own does not perhaps give you the moral high ground. Perhaps consider that some people in your local community believe that you are part of the problem going out there shooting birds to eat them when you could have just popped into your local Tesco to feed yourself.

I do see where you are coming from in theory but in my experience working on this topic for around 15 years I do not see the evidence of it in practice. What I have witnessed happening is that the weight of research on primary poisoning of birds (ie some bird species eating some sizes of lead shot as grit and dying or suffering sub-lethal impacts) in a range of bird species outside wetlands growing significantly enough to trigger policy reviews across Europe and wider afield seeking to mitigate those risks. The voluntary transition away from lead shot in the UK announced in 2020 by nine organisations did not trigger any of that nor give anyone more ammunition or a bigger voice.

I think its a matter for all game shooting regardless of the size of the shoot. Game as food is indisputably one of the key justifications for game shooting. Therefore, promoting the benefits of eating more game as a sustainable and healthy alternative to farmed meat is important. We can all play our part in that and many PW members do just that introducing shot game to family and friends. Two campaigns are playing a role in this: Eat Game https://eatgame.co.uk/ Eat Wild https://www.eatwild.co/

Some game dealers will accept lead shot game and some won’t. It depends on who they are selling the game to. Shoots have two considerations. Do they want to move away from lead shot to reduce the risk to birds eating the lead shot as grit? Do they need to move away from lead shot because their game dealer won’t accept lead shot game anymore? Of course in the latter scenario the shoot could try to find another game dealer that will accept lead shot game. It’s a voluntary transition so it’s up to shoots what to decide but BASC would always encourage the move away from lead shot for live quarry shooting. Non-lead shot game does not carry a premium. In terms of marketing game meat and reaching new markets it certainly helps not to have to explain about it containing lead. There have been recent projects where hospitals and nurseries are procuring game meat for their menus. That game meat is lead free. Some supermarkets are now selling lead-free game meat that were not previously. It’s not about marketing game meat as ‘lead-free’ its about marketing it as an alternative to other meats and about its nutritional values and sustainability - game as food is after all a key argument against those that seek to restrict or ban live quarry shooting. It’s all inter-linked.

I am not doing anything with it, it's just a distraction from the campaign.

Update from Fieldsports TV:

It is frustrating but we are getting good responses from some candidates in other areas. Mind you one candidate has emailed one of our members that they want to stop receiving emails otherwise they will constitute this as harassment and contact the police. You could not make it up.

Thanks for flagging that, I have checked it out. https://www.gofundme.com/en-gb/c/terms-2 ....not to use the Services to raise funds or establish or contribute to any Fundraiser with the implicit or explicit purpose of promoting or involving... (7) knives, explosives, ammunition, firearms, or other weaponry or accessories. Some of the neo banks have been bringing in similar terms and conditions.