Hunting in the United Kingdom

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Hunting and Shooting in the United Kingdom has been practised there for many centuries and is a major part of British rural culture.

Contents 1 History 2 Methods of Hunting 3 Game Animals 4 See Also 5 External Links

[edit] History

Hunting has been carried out for millenia in the United Kingdom.

Hunting was formerly a royal sport, with many Kings and Queens being involved in hunting and shooting. For example, hunting on the large estates of Scotland was particularly popular. This trend is generally attributed to the Victorians who were inspired but the romantic imagery of the Scottish Highlands.

[edit] Methods of Hunting

The shooting of game birds, in particular pheasant and grouse, is a popular sport in the UK, with the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) saying that over a million people per year participate in shooting (including game shooting, clay shooting and target shooting). Shooting of game birds is carried out using a shotgun.

Rifles are used for shooting deer species and vermin.

Hunting with Dogs (including hunting for fox, deer, mink and hare coursing) was banned in the UK under the Hunting Act 2004.

Fox hunting is often thought of as a primarily British activity in which trained dogs pursue red fox, followed by human hunters who are usually on horses but sometimes on foot. A traditional equestrian activity, many animal welfare campaigners object to it as a barbaric "blood sport", while proponents and participants view it as a crucial part of rural history in England, vital for conservation, and a method of pest control.

[edit] Game Animals

In the UK game is defined in law by the Game Act 1831. Other (non-game birds) that are hunted for food in the UK are specified under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. UK law defines game as including:

• Black game (or Black Grouse)
• Red Grouse
• Brown Hare
• Ptarmigan (Scotland only)
• Grey Partridge
• Red-legged Partridge
• Common Pheasant

• Deer are not included in the definition, but similar controls provided to those in the Game Act apply to Deer (from the Deer Act 1991). Deer hunted in the UK are:

• Red Deer
• Roe Deer
• Fallow Deer
• Sika Deer
• Muntjac Deer
• Chinese Water Deer
• and hybrids of these deer

Other animals which are hunted in the UK include:

• Duck
  • Mallard
  • Tufted Duck
  • Teal
  • Pintail
  • Pochard

• Goose
  • Greylag Goose
  • Canada Goose
  • Pink-footed Goose
  • White-fronted Goose (England and Wales only)

• Wood Pigeon
• Woodcock
• Snipe
• Rabbit
• Golden Plover
• Capercaillie (Note: Capercaillie are not currently hunted in the UK because of a recent decline in numbers and conservation projects towards their recovery. The ban is generally considered voluntary on private lands, and few birds live away from RSPB or Forestry Commission land anyway)

[edit] See Also

• Game (food)
• Hunting
• Hunting Act 2004

[edit] External Links

• [www.basc.org.uk] British Association for Shooting and Conservation