Sir, Jim Dixon says he is “reassured” after learning that 97.5 per cent of woodcock shot in the UK are from countries such as Russia and Finland, “where numbers are stable and so harvesting is likely to be sustainable” (Nature Notebook, Oct 17). On the contrary, it is depressing that this exciting and beautiful bird is so often done to death after its long and hazardous migration. It is “a sporting shot”, we are always told. Really?
Sir Hew Pike
Bentley, Hants