Shoots trying to sell game direct

SHOOTS ARE increasingly selling shot game direct to local outlets rather than through dealers, according to a survey carried out by the Game to Eat campaign.

In 2003, the price paid by dealers was just 56p per pheasant on average, but game sold direct locally achieved twice this figure.

This has led shoots to sell more birds in this way. It is thought 12% of birds are now sold direct to the public or local outlets, which is a rise of 2% on the figure for 2002.

However, 75% of the game shot in Britain does still get sold via game dealers.

The survey also sought information on bag sizes and the number of days shooting.

It found shoots with a full-time keeper enjoyed an average of 22 days shooting a year, with part-time keepered shoots likely to have about half that number.

Average seasonal bags for shoots with a full-time keeper are just over 3000 pheasants and/or nearly 1800 partridges.

Over 777 shoots took part in the survey which was supported by the Countryside Alliance, British Association for Shooting and Conservation and the National Gamekeeper‘s Association.

Alexia Robinson, Game to Eat campaign spokeswoman, said: “I am delighted that the leading shooting organisations agreed to work together on this important survey.

“We hope it will become a regular benchmark on the game market in future years.”