Adam Porter says that pheasant shooting is one of the few positive things we have left in this country (Shoot him down, Letters, January 2).

There is nothing positive about the shooting of a pheasant.

Putting to one side the morally indefensible nature of shooting a pheasant dead, at least 30 per cent of pheasants that are shot die painful and protracted deaths because they are not found by those taking part in the shoot.

Surely Mr Porter can think of something more positive than this? And if firing at a moving target is what people want to do, how about trying clay pigeon shooting?

Alan Swain, Skeldergate, York.