TIME FOR ACTION

Editor Alexandra Henton wrote some good words in Comment [March issue], and I think the sentiment that it is time for action and greater cooperation would not be argued by most of us who enjoy fieldsports.

Since I started shooting more than 30 years ago, I don’t think there has ever been a time when I felt that shooting, and fieldsports, were more under threat. I think it is clear that the influence on opinion that celebrities like Chris Packham and social media bring with them penetrates a much larger volume of the population than it would have done in the past. This is why I find it extremely frustrating to see commentary in an article in one of our leading shooting magazines saying that the majority of the public is ‘ambivalent’ to shooting. If questioned, I think the majority would have an opinion that reflects negatives about shooting and fieldsports with little understanding of the positive benefits.

Greater cooperation, or even merger, of the bodies that represent fieldsports does nothing in my opinion for the simple reason that I don’t think they actually ‘get it’. The voluntary removal of lead is a classic example, offering this up as a sacrifice for appeasement only shows weakness when we need ‘fight’ in the face of limited scientific evidence that demonstrates lead is an issue. We need strong organisations with strong leadership who get out front and take the fight to the likes of the RSPB.

A shooting friend said to me, “It’s death by a thousand cuts, isn’t it?” I had to agree. Each yard of ground lost will never be recovered and the organisations that represent us are not demonstrating that they can ‘hold ground’, let alone take the battle to the enemy.

John Dunk, by email