Woodcock Shooting in the UK: Why 1st December Matters for Conservation

Every autumn, something remarkable happens in the woodlands and hedgerows across Britain. From October to January, hundreds of thousands of woodcock arrive on our shores, having travelled from the vast forests of Scandinavia, the Baltic States, and Russia. These mysterious, perfectly camouflaged birds undertake journeys of thousands of miles, navigating by instinct to reach their winter refuge here in the UK.

It's estimated that between 800,000 and 1.3 million migrant woodcock spend their winter in Britain before most depart again in March. They arrive in waves, their numbers and timing dictated by the severity of weather on the continent.

But there's a shadow over this annual migration story. While the European breeding population remains stable (currently estimated to be 6-8 million males) and the numbers of migrants arriving in Britain remains strong, our own resident breeding woodcock population is declining.

Our Disappearing Woodcock

Research by the GWCT and British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) shows a significant decline in the population size and breeding range of our resident woodcock since 1970. Between 1970 and 2010, woodcock presence fell by 56%. The British population estimate dropped by 29% - from 78,350 males in 2003 to 55,240 in 2013. By 2023, numbers had fallen further to 50,750 males, representing an overall decline of 35% in just two decades. That's 27,500 breeding males lost.

Given the scale of this decline, woodcock was moved from amber to red status on the UK's Birds of Conservation Concern in December 2015 which is a clear signal that this species is in serious trouble.

The latest survey in 2023 revealed a complex picture. There were some encouraging signs: in parts of England, breeding woodcock numbers were actually increasing. But in Northern Scotland, the core stronghold of Britain's breeding population, numbers plummeted by nearly 50%. This single regional collapse was enough to drive the overall UK decline.

Dr Greg Conway, Senior Research Ecologist at BTO, the UK's largest bird monitoring and research organisation, says: "Collecting robust survey data is essential for accurately monitoring the ongoing changes to the declining UK breeding Woodcock population. The rapid loss of 35% (27,500 males) of the British population in just two decades is a major cause for concern."

Understanding the Decline

Causes for the declines in the breeding birds is poorly understood, though there is a high likelihood that it is connected to a reduction in the availability of suitable woodland habitats, along with other external factors affecting breeding productivity and survival.

The BTO said: "Quantifying Woodcock declines is important, but the most pressing issue now is to understand the causes of this change. Comparing the very different fates we're observing in parts of England and Scotland, may help provide clues as to where future research and conservation strategies should focus."

"Existing research suggests that there are specific types of woodland that are more valuable to Woodcock, and this may relate to woodland age and management. We suspect Woodcock populations are responding to the overarching, long-term patterns in woodland planting, and it's these complex relationships we want to unpick next."

But habitat isn't the only possible factor. Other ground-nesting wading birds such as curlew and lapwing are also declining as a result of predation on eggs and chicks and high nest predation rates have recently been documented in some declining woodland songbirds.

Increased recreational activity in woodlands during spring and summer may also be taking its toll. Woodcock are particularly susceptible to disturbance when nesting, and even well-meaning walkers can inadvertently flush birds from their nests, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable.

This decline has sparked passionate debate. Last year, almost 15,000 people signed a petition calling for a ban on shooting woodcock in England. The government's response highlighted the complexity of the issue: any regulatory changes would need to be "underpinned by robust evidence" and would need to address all factors contributing to decline - not just shooting, but habitat loss and climate change effects too.

What We're Doing About It

The Wild Meat Company makes an annual payment to support the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust's Woodcock Appeal. The Appeal funds critical research to understand why Britain's resident breeding population is declining and what we can do to reverse it.

In addition, the GWCT runs a comprehensive monitoring programme of wintering woodcock (that breed in northern Europe and migrate to Britain in winter). Each winter for the past decade, they've been ringing around 150 woodcock in Hampshire and Cornwall to understand annual survival rates.

They've been using tracking technology such as geolocators, satellite tags, and GPS loggers, to map migration routes and timing with unprecedented precision. For example, two satellite-tagged Norfolk-to-Scandinavia migrants have been tracked by the GWCT: Holkham and Nellie III. For the past four years they have seen them arrive back on their breeding grounds by late March after relatively short migrations. Whereas Fonthill Abbie II, who breeds in north-west Russia, doesn't reach home until mid-April. Her later arrival is not just dictated by the longer journey Abbie has to make but also the colder conditions experienced in Russia in spring.

This research has confirmed what many suspected: France and Russia's monitoring data shows the European population is stable. The migrants arriving in Britain aren't in trouble. The crisis is purely with our resident breeding birds. Conservation efforts must focus here, at home.

How You Can Help

The GWCT doesn't believe that a complete ban on woodcock shooting would help recover the resident population in the long term. Here's why:

There's evidence of a voluntary reduction in hunting pressure over the last 20 years, with many people choosing not to shoot woodcock anymore.

A ban might inadvertently remove the motivation for landowners to manage their woods in ways that maintain suitable woodcock habitat. Shooting interest often drives woodland conservation.

Parts of western Britain have no history of breeding woodcock but host large numbers of migrants. Shooting in these areas doesn't put residents at risk—except during cold spells when resident birds might move south and west.

However, until we better understand the decline and the effects of shooting, the GWCT recommends a prudent approach: avoid shooting woodcock before December 1st.

Although migrants begin arriving in October and November, numbers continue to build throughout autumn and don't peak until December. Waiting ensures we're predominantly shooting birds from stable continental populations, not our vulnerable residents.

This is why The Wild Meat Company does not procure woodcock from hunters until after 1st December. It's a small change that makes a meaningful difference - reducing any possible impact on our resident breeding population while still allowing responsible sourcing of the abundant migratory birds.

When you buy woodcock from us, you're supporting this conservation approach. And every purchase helps fund the research that will, we hope, unlock the mystery of why our breeding woodcock are declining and show us how to bring them back.

Browse our sustainably sourced woodcock (available from December 1st)

To learn more about the GWCT's Woodcock Appeal, visit www.gwct.org.uk

---

Photo credit: Roast Woodcock with Mixed-Berry Sauce originally published in Recipes from the Woods by Jean-Francois Mallet