FARMERS, landowners and gamekeepers have been urged to count the number of wild grey partridges on their land before holding any shoots.

The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) said initial reports from their annual partridge count scheme have given some cause for concern.

Roger Draycott, head of advisory at the GWCT, said: "Initial reports give a very patchy picture across the UK. In some parts of England, chick production appears to have been low.

"Although breeding success is not as bad as it was following the summer of 2012, which was the worst summer for grey partridges this century, chick survival could well be the lowest it has been since then.

"Consequently, care needs to be taken to ensure enough birds survive this autumn and winter to sustain breeding densities next spring."

The GWCT said gamekeepers and anyone who shoots need to assess any wild grey partridges they have this autumn, before they begin shooting.

They need to ensure that their shoot bag will be set at a sustainable level to safeguard the number of grey partridges breeding on their ground.

In order to sustain the number of birds into the spring they need to maintain effective over-winter cover crops and tussocky grass margins, and not cut or plough them until next spring.

Mr Draycott said: "Our Grey Partridge Conservation Guide outlines six golden rules for game shooters/gamekeepers when it comes to grey partridges", which are:

  • Do not shoot wild grey partridges if you have fewer than 20 birds per 250 acres (100 hectares) in the autumn. Stop shooting as soon as that threshold is reached;
  •  Avoid shooting grey partridges after the end of December. Birds pair up in the new year and shooting at this time reduces the breeding stock;
  • Never shoot at grey partridges that are in pairs;
  • With driven red-leg or pheasant shooting, special precautions should be taken to ensure that wild greys are not shot at the same time. Warn the guns if grey partridges may be on the drive and make them aware that higher birds in tight coveys might be greys;
  • A system of whistles and flags for beaters to warn guns that greys have been flushed could be arranged with observers in the line of guns doing the same. Remember – if in doubt, don’t shoot;
  • Do not shoot grey partridges at all unless you take steps to conserve them.