Tens of thousands of game birds are set to be killed today as shooters take to fields across the country.
Landed gentry armed with guns will roam their country estates as they take aim to blast pheasants and partridges out of the sky.
Senior members of the Royal Family are expected to join the annual Boxing Day shoot at Sandringham, Norfolk.
Campaigners say nearly 50 million pheasants and partridges are released into the British countryside by the shooting industry every year, compared with only four million in the early 1970s.
An estimated 100,000 birds face death each day of the shooting season, according to researchers.
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Enthusiasts can pay thousands of pounds a day for the thrill of plucking birds out of the sky.
The League Against Cruel Sports wants the “barbaric” hobby banned.
Director of campaigns Chris Luffingham said: “In terms of sheer numbers killed no other ‘sport’ in Britain has such a devastating impact on animals as game bird shooting.
“We’ve seen a shift in attitude on fox hunting and overwhelming support for strengthening the ban on this barbaric practice.
“Now it’s time for the country to look at the issue of shooting birds for ‘sport’ and to consign it, too, to the history books.”
The British Association of Shooting and Conservation said previously: “All over the country, people will be enjoying local shoots during the festive period.
“While no game shooting occurs on Christmas Day, the Boxing Day shoot is traditionally a family day and provides a chance to spend the day enjoying the countryside and the company of friends.
(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
“Shooting plays an important part in improving social and personal wellbeing; bringing people together, keeping them active and helping them to spend more time outdoors in the countryside.”
A report on its website says shooting is worth £2billion a year to the economy and supports 74,000 full-time jobs.
