'Defra shooting rethink offers lifeline to endangered woodcock'

[PeterHenry]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/defra-shooting-rethink-offers-lifeline-to-endangered-woodcock-rjpq696n7

In todays times by the look of it (I don't subscribe, but may pop out and buy a paper later). Quite an alarming headline, but not having read the artical, I will reserve judgement.

Edited September 27, 2022 by PeterHenry

[Gas seal]

Hi yes I saw this on the website this morning. It makes sense about the woodcock season. It’s a lot more than woodcock if you read the green paper about wildlife in the U.K. it looks like a lot of changes are going to happen regarding wildlife and sooner than later. It also refers to outdated wildlife laws in the country. I’ve been following this on the internet about the woodcock and I found it very interesting. 

[bigroomboy]

Just read the article. It looks like a wild justice effort but the DEFRA response seems more reasonable. I'm surprised by the figure that 160000 are shot each year. Most places Ive shot at don't shoot them and where they can be shot most people choose not to.

The experience from our shoot is that two other factors have a far larger impact on native woodcock than shooting. Climate change means that the climate is drier and hotter which doesn't suit them. And the state of the woodlands. They seem to much prefer woodland at a middle development stage. When it gets too mature or isnt managed in any way they don't like it anymore.

Although I have no issue with changing the season dates if it benefits the species. Although I think the whole shooting season could be moved back a month these days.

[matone]

I`ve been unable to find anything on the Defra website relating to this.Where does the Times get it`s info from ?

[Krico woodcock]

Do they differentiate  between native and migratory woodcock shot in that, what is probably a figure pulled out of the clouds?? 

[Gas seal]

Hi Yes it was wild Justice who asked for the season for woodcock to be changed. The numbers of woodcock quoted by wild Justice haven’t been challenged from what l have seen on any website. DEFRA is looking at the season for woodcock and the other birds on schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. From what I have seen on the internet they are looking at the (outdated laws) on wildlife. I don’t know about the story in the newspaper just what I follow on the internet.