Animal Rights Campaigners Attack MOD Over Grouse Shooting

Dead grouse on the Ralia and Milton estate, Drumochter. (Picture: PA)

The Ministry of Defence has come under fire for issuing grouse shooting licenses at several military bases and training areas.

The League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) claims pressure on the government is mounting to put an end to game bird shooting after a poll it commissioned with Animal Aid, showed 69 per cent of people in the UK want the sport to be illegal. 

The grouse-shooting season begins next week on the so-called 'Glorious Twelfth'.

According to the LACS, there are 198 shooting licences on UK land classed as publicly owned. 

An article in The Observersays documents released under the Freedom of Information Act reveal that the MOD has issued licences for grouse shoots at the army’s Catterick garrison and RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire and the Warcop training area in Cumbria.

Chris Luffingham, the LACS's director of campaigns, told the newspaper: "There is no good way to manage moorland for grouse shooting, it can only be done through purging native wildlife by trap, snare and gun, and burning away precious habitat, all at the expense of our country’s rich natural heritage.

"It is ironic that, while the MoD is training courageous personnel to conserve wildlife in Africa, it is leasing public moorland for grouse shooting here in the UK. British wildlife and habitat must be taken out of the firing line by the MOD."

A spokesman for the MOD said:  “Grouse shooting does not damage the environment on MOD land. Licenses are only granted after careful and detailed assessments of the health of the grouse population and the surrounding environment.

"Any licences which are issued are only for a small number of days a year.”