Letter: Shot and eaten

Sir: I enjoyed Brian Viner's observations on his day's beating at the local pheasant shoot (Country Life, 2 February). Unfortunately, like many other journalists he has swallowed the line peddled by animal rights activists that pheasants are shot then buried.

They are indeed shot, which is disagreeable to some, but then they are eaten in many delicious ways, as are grouse, partridge, duck and deer. The shooting community would heartily condemn any selfish idiot that buries "thousands of birds", but we have asked Animal Aid and the League Against Cruel Sports for evidence to back their claims and it has not been forthcoming.

ROBERT GRAY

Editor, Shooting Times, London SE1