A great pity that someone can be this evil towards fellow humans.

This week's article was a reflection on the Olympics and the nation's problem with obesity, and considered what the countryside had to offer - that's right, killing animals! It's been running, walking, and cycling that has got me into the countryside for the last thrity years so in the context of health and fitness in the country I think those sports and pastimes deserved a mention.

LOL, really?

I can't imaging going on a modern shoot makes the calories fall off - unless one is a beater.

Well, I am glad you enjoy "the countryside". But, I feel, food production is more important than your choice of recreation.

I'm not with you. Is my enjoyment of the countryside in any way in opposition to the production of food?

Confused too. Your post (#62) suggests you are against killing all animals in that this is what the countryside (as reported) has to offer?

Right, I'm with you now. "Country Matters" this week is promoting "hunting, shooting, and fishing" as the sports of the countryside but ignored the popular countryside sports and passtimes of running, walking, and cycling which goes quite some way to supporting the proposition of the OP that the article isn't actually concerned with matters of the country but is simply a vehicle for the promotion of bloodsports.

I'd forgot that the function of a substantial part of the countryside is the rearing of animals to eat and I wasn't making a comment on that, though I see how it would look like I was.

Agreed.

I know it is an old topic but I was interested because on Saturday morning
there was about 3 hours of continuous shotgun firing.Well it is not exactly a shooting area, the rabbits were still asleep and the pigeons seem to have gone elsewhere. If you have an event in a suitable space. Birthday treat.
There was the answer in an advert for mobile clay pigeon shoots.
They bring the guns, the insurance,the temporary documents. It seems like a good idea.
Waste of time on me.
ce

Hit rock bottom this week with a blatant diatribe on the pleasures to be had from blasting wild birds to death (or some to near death if you read it fully). Does the NWN not realise that many will find this sort of thing most offensive together with no balanced argument against?
Strange that there is one large column on the page extolling shooting birds and another smaller one taking of the pleasures of observing them at peace in the countryside.

Wholly agree - well spotted.

Perhaps a letter to the editor about one's abhorrence of game shooting? Or indeed, amazement at how anyone could enjoy performing such acts for recreational purposes.

A brace of birds for the oven.....

Wild birds? Pheasants are a crop, raised in their thousands in order to be shot. Like lambs, cattle and pigs they provide an income for farmers through their deaths.

Umm - by the same argument, why can't us 'townies' still have rat pits in pubs where we could get rid of vermin whilst watching our dogs have a bit of fun. This would also create a much needed income stream for publicans, who aren't even subsidised by EU.

Because the government decided to enact a law making such activities illegal. If and when the government decides to ban game shooting then the practise will cease - and pheasant numbers will dwindle. In the meantime pheasants will be bred and cropped.

You miss the point.
It is the gaining of pleasure from the killing (or maiming) and calling it a "sport" that does not, in my opinion, fit in with today's society.
You do not find folks reveling in killing lambs, cattle, pigs etc., calling it a "sport" and devoting a newspaper column to it.
We've made killing foxes for fun illegal so why birds?
If pheasants or other birds are required for food then why not farm them in the same way as other types of farmed bird?
Yes I know............. country "sports" make money.

The number of half dead birds we see around here is sickening. I wonder perhaps if killing baby seals would give these people as much pleasure? after all the birds are bred to fly low they are overfed to ensure they fly slow. There is no sport in it at all. Killing things for fun is just sick.

Spot on

I agree, so, here's your chance, get into power and do something to stop it.