Game and wildlife management includes the management of populations of wild birds and animals such as grouse and deer. It also includes wildfowling and coastal and estuary management of habitats for water birds.
Game and wildlife management can also involve breeding and rearing stocks of pheasant, partridge and other game birds and, in some cases, deer. The stocks are then released to the wild. Throughout the year the habitats are managed to coincide with seasonal requirements and planned to correspond with the relevant shooting season.
A gamekeeper maintains wild habitats, buildings, equipment and pens and pest and predator control. They are responsible for the safety of the stock, and help to manage access and public relations on sporting estates. Many gamekeepers also help members of the public to understand habitats and their uses.
There are 3,000 employers in the UK, employing 6,000 people, many with dual roles on farms and estates. There are at least 60,000 volunteers and occasional or seasonal workers.
