Ban on sale of woodpigeon meat averted

Natural England?s draft general licences, under which woodpigeons can be legally shot, included a condition that would have banned the sale of their meat.

This would have had massive implications for shooters, farmers, the public, game dealers and game cookery.

BASC?s head of game and gamekeeping, Tom Blades, said: ?BASC is delighted that we have been able to work with Natural England and Defra to overturn the ban on the sale of woodpigeons for human consumption. This is a great result for all shooters, those processing and selling woodpigeon and the general public.?

A spokesperson from Natural England said: ?Natural England has no intention of banning the sale of woodpigeon and will work with Defra and BASC to ensure that general licences, introduced in 2010, will continue to allow the sale of legally shot woodpigeon.?