Gove considers ‘relaxing’ pigeon shooting rules

Speculation is mounting that Michael Gove is considering reclassifying woodpigeons as a “quarry species”, meaning they could be freely shot for much of the year.

It follows criticism of Natural England’s revocation of three pest control general licences that had allowed farmers to shoot pigeons and crows, shortly followed by the introduction of a new system of individual licences for the control of pest species.

The suggested change, reported in The Daily Telegraph, would make woodpigeons a “huntable species” during an open season, then available to be controlled during the close season under the general licence system.

See also: MPs to quiz Defra and Natural England over bird shooting fiasco

According to the Countryside Alliance, the UK woodpigeon population now stands at more than 5 million breeding pairs, with the species able to cause £5m of damage to oilseed rape crops alone each year.

Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, said: “The lethal control of the woodpigeon is a necessary tool for farmers to reduce crop damage, which has recently been thrown into chaos by Natural England’s decision to revoke the general licence.

“Making the woodpigeon a legitimate quarry species would allow pigeon shooting to happen without unnecessary restrictions outside the peak breeding season and would reassure the rural community that Defra has grasped the seriousness of this issue.

“However, it would still be absolutely necessary to have a workable general licence to allow farmers to protect their crops for the rest of the year and Defra should not seek to hide the fundamental flaws in its newly published woodpigeon licence behind any change in its status.”

‘Chaotic handling’

Mr Bonner said: “This would also not solve the real problems that landowners and conservationists are currently facing managing other species like crows and magpies, thanks to Natural England’s chaotic handling of the licence issue.”

The speculation comes ahead of an evidence session on 21 May at Westminster when the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Efra) committee will grill Defra and Natural England about the recent changes.

A Defra spokesman told The Daily Telegraph that no decisions had yet been made, but pointed out that the department was holding a “formal, open evidence gathering exercise” to allow all concerned parties to share their views on the recent licensing changes.