The silent treatment

Defra has managed to unite the shooting community in complete bewilderment. The department’s refusal to explain why General Licence 45 (GL45) will not be renewed for 2025 has now pushed BASC towards legal action.

BASC has issued a pre-action protocol letter — the first formal step towards a judicial review — after months of getting nowhere with Defra over the licence decision.

GL45 had provided a workable framework for shoots operating near sensitive habitats, allowing gamebird releases on or near Special Protection Areas (SPAs) under strict conditions. Then, without warning, Defra pulled the plug. The official reason? Bird flu concerns.

According to Defra’s own website, it “cannot rule out the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza spreading to bird features on SPAs”. But what’s missing from its explanation is any fresh evidence, updated risk assessments or new data to justify such a sudden and disruptive decision.

The non-renewal of GL45 has left shoots scrambling during their crucial planning period. Those wishing to release gamebirds must now apply for individual licences from Natural England, a process that can take weeks and often involves costly ecological surveys.

The real problem? Without clear reasoning from Defra, shoots are struggling even to draft proper applications. It’s a classic regulatory Catch-22: how can you address concerns if the authorities won’t even spell out what those concerns are?

When asked for comment, Defra declined, maintaining the very silence that sparked this dispute in the first place.

Did you enjoy this article? Read more news online or subscribe to Sporting Gun for 12 jam-packed issues of the essential magazine for clay, game & rough shooters.