Driven grouse shooting

I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH MARK Carwardine’s opinion on grouse shooting (May 2025 issue).

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The law that is supposed to protect birds of prey against persecution is quite ineffective because the nature of the crime makes it almost impossible to obtain the evidence required to secure a conviction unless the perpetrator is caught in the act. I would therefore go even further than Mark and call for all game-bird shooting (not just grouse) to be made illegal, as I believe that the only way to make the UK safe for birds of prey is to get rid of shooting estates altogether.

George W Henderson, Surrey

I disagree with the practice of driven grouse shoots for the same reasons outlined by Mr Carwardine. To this I would add a further environmental hazard to animals and people: pollution from lead pellets. The yearly killing of 500,000 grouse is reported, thus probably 1.5 million shots fired. With around 30g of lead shot per cartridge, perhaps 45 tonnes of lead per year are scattered about the moors, to remain permanently in the soil and water, which is terribly toxic to humans and animals alike.
Michael F Schultz, via email