Wildfowling must be visible to survive

A defining moment for shooting

I thought long and hard about how to begin this wildfowling article. There is no value in sugar-coating it. This is a defining moment. Anyone who shoots, or values a traditional rural way of life, must stand together. We face pressure on several fronts. Firearms licensing. Protected sites and consents. Now, an increasingly likely quarry list review in 2026. We all know the history. When species come off the list, they rarely return.

Keep your head down no longer works

I joined my first wildfowling club, Taw & Torridge, at 14. Even then, the message was familiar. “Keep your head down and crack on.” For years, that approach worked. While we quietly got on with it, clubs achieved remarkable things. They secured and managed national nature reserves. They bought land. They carried out predator control. They supported ground-nesting birds. They shaped vast areas of countryside alongside farming.

A growing disconnect

Today, society is detached from the countryside. Policymakers are even further removed. Social media has amplified misinformation. It has given opponents a powerful platform. This is why BASC has focused on informing Defra and Natural England properly. Decisions must be grounded in reality, not narrative.

Why self-regulation matters

Our position is clear. Self-regulation is the only viable long-term future for wildfowling. It must be evidence-led. It must be community-driven. Compliance with law and best practice must be visible. We can only argue for self-regulation if we already live it.

The sustainable shooting code

The Sustainable Shooting Code for Wildfowl Quarry Species must become everyday practice. Our approach to woodcock shows what responsible shooting looks like. It is proportionate, evidence-led and managed through self-regulation.

That mindset must now extend to other wild quarry species. These conversations must become normal. Without that cultural shift, our case weakens.

Clubs are leading the way

Wildfowling clubs have embraced this approach. Sixty-three per cent of clubs responding to our survey have adopted the Code.

Outside club structures, communication is harder. That gap must be addressed.

Taking policymakers to the marsh

Recently, we took Defra and Natural England delegates onto the marsh. No Zoom calls. No briefing notes. Just reality. We crossed muddy creeks in darkness. They saw the sunrise. They heard the marsh wake. They felt why fowlers get up at ridiculous hours.

Meeting the people behind the sport

They met volunteers, marsh wardens and citizen scientists. They met true wildfowlers. People who care deeply about species and habitat. These are the people affected by upcoming decisions. Some will shape the outcome of the Section 1 and 2 firearms consultation. They needed to see wildfowling as it truly is. Responsible. Cultural. Conservation-led.

Rightly proud

The hosting clubs were outstanding ambassadors.
Lytham & District Wildfowlers Association.
Preston & District Wildfowlers Association.

They were honest. They were knowledgeable. They were rightly proud.

For too long, this work has been hidden. Now it must be seen.