Economics and conservation

The Savills Shoot Benchmarking survey produced in conjunction with the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust uniquely focuses on the economic and environmental performance of driven game shoots. We recognise that the objectives, structures and sizes of shoots are diverse, and have designed our benchmarking to make sure it is relevant to all types of shoot.

The 2017/18 season survey results include data from 130 shoots based throughout the UK. Collectively these shoots shot more than 2,900 days, put down more than 1.6 million birds and employed 200-plus full or part-time staff, generating a turnover in excess of £15 million.

Headline results

• £12.41 cost per bird put down

• The average return was 38%, meaning 38% of the birds released were subsequently shot

• £34.61 was the average cost per bird shot

• £35.81 was the average price charged per partridge shot

• £38.67 was the average pickers-up pay per day

• 84% of shoots plan to increase their charges for the 2018/19 season

• The average salary for a single-handed keeper was £21,100 plus benefits

• 60% of shoots sell some days on a fixed price per day

• 71% of shoots use land which is part of a paid agri-environment scheme

• 48% self-fund environmental work

• 7% of shoots use social media

Committed to conservation

Environmental support

With current agri-environment schemes taking a more targeted approach and administrative issues affecting their delivery, the overall area of land they cover has declined. Despite this national trend the proportion of shoots using land covered by a stewardship agreement remains stable at 71% and commitment remains high; 85% say they or their landlord will seek to join a successor scheme when their current agreement expires.

Grey partridge conservation

Our survey results also highlight how shoots are helping to conserve the wild grey partridge, which has suffered significant declines over the past few decades. Grey partridges are present on 39% of participating shoots, with 52% of these shoots undertaking specific management for their benefit. Some 84% of those shoots with grey partridge report that numbers are stable or increasing. Essential components of conserving wild partridge stocks are habitat management and legal predation control, 78% of shoots have active predation control all year.