Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has told the House of Commons that extensions of the badger culls in west Somerset and Gloucestershire are now being considered by Natural England.
Mr Paterson said that the pilot culls could be extended by up to three weeks as marksmen have failed to kill enough badgers to reach their original targets.
He told the Commons that 850 badgers had been shot in Somerset during the six-week trial, just over 40% of an initial target of 2,081.
But he insisted the Somerset scheme had been effective and successful.
The controversial pilot culls set out to study if badgers could be killed safely, effectively and humanely.
They are being carried out in an attempt to control TB in cattle, which can be spread by badgers - though opponents say the culls will have no impact.
The plan was to kill 70% of the badgers in the areas of west Somerset and Gloucestershire by free shooting.
Across both regions, this meant around 5,000 badgers were to be killed in total.
Badgers 'moved goalposts' says minister Owen Paterson
A government minster said "badgers moved the goalposts" when asked why marksmen failed to reach a cull target.
A pilot badger cull in west Somerset may be extended by up to three weeks in an effort to make up the shortfall.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson was asked if he had "moved the goalposts" by claiming the cull was a success.
"The badgers moved the goalposts. We're dealing with a wild animal, subject to the vagaries of the weather and disease and breeding patterns," he replied.
The pilot culls in Gloucestershire and Somerset set out to study if badgers could be killed safely, effectively and humanely.
They are being carried out in an attempt to control TB in cattle, which can be spread by badgers. Opponents say they will have no impact.
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