The threats to game shooting are real, and to underestimate them would be very unwise. The government’s recent announcement that it is to explore licensing and any associated conditions for recreational gamebird shooting and release in England is a serious attack on our sport, given that the introduction of licensing would first require game shooting and the release of gamebirds to be banned, and then only allowed to be carried out under licence. It should come as no surprise that this has the full support of the RSPB who have asked Defra Secretary of State to bring forward legislation to license gamebird shooting in England. The introduction of licensing is also being considered by the Welsh government.

The government’s latest licensing regime for gamebirds in or within 500m of Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas will further restrict shooting activities in those designated areas, and the extension to the ban on burning of heather and grass in the uplands has more than trebled the area over which this vital management tool is no longer possible. This is despite the increased risk of wildfires, and the enormous impact of these on the environment and livelihoods.

The Campaign for Shooting is there to challenge these threats, and others, on your behalf, and it is thanks in no small part to the Alliance’s campaigning that the government has recently moved away from its proposals to align firearms licensing processes under Sections 1 and 2 of the Firearms Act 1968, which would have further restricted firearms ownership without improving the current licensing system. Instead, it is now considering our proposal to replace the 43 firearms licensing departments in England and Wales with a single, centralised, digital licensing authority as part of upcoming police reforms, having initially dismissed the idea out of hand.

To remain effective in our campaigning we must have the necessary resources. All proceeds from the sale of the Campaign for Shooting’s Season Badge go directly towards our work so please do help us, and be seen to be doing so, by buying this year’s Season Badge and encouraging your friends to do likewise. Our opponents are well funded, and it is essential that we continue to challenge misinformation that is spread in the media, in parliament and on the ground. Using the latest science and evidence, we need to manage and reduce political risk at all levels, but we need your support if we are to continue to do all that we can to enhance and secure the long-term sustainability of game shooting and its associated land management practices.

This year’s new 2026 / 27 Season Badge can be bought here.