.22 rimfire help

[headshot 0]

hi, just been having a debate and wondered if you good people could bring it to an end. the questions are is it legal to shoot a fox with a .22? is it legal to shoot a roe deer with a .22? and is a person allowed to use a .22 to shoot animals e.g rabbits if they dont hold a firearms but obviously accompnied by the cert holder? may seem like a dumb question but just starting out? cheers

[dadioles 68]

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Edited March 26, 2011 by dadioles

[dadioles 68]

hi, just been having a debate and wondered if you good people could bring it to an end. the questions are is it legal to shoot a fox with a .22? is it legal to shoot a roe deer with a .22? and is a person allowed to use a .22 to shoot animals e.g rabbits if they dont hold a firearms but obviously accompnied by the cert holder? may seem like a dumb question but just starting out? cheers

1. It is not illegal to shoot a fox with .22 but the wording of your firearms licence may be such that for the holder of that licence it is illegal. Most police forces either exclude, or will not include, the shooting of fox using .22 and you must conform to the terms of your licence. As I said though, it is not illegal and many foxes are satisfactorily and legally shot using .22 every year. A centrefire calibre is the preferred option for fox.

2. It is absolutely illegal to shoot roe deer with .22. The only circumstances when it may, possibly be accepted is the humane dispatch of an injured animal, but that may require a lot of explaining, possibly in court. The minimum calibre for shooting deer (England and Wales) is .240 and muzzle velocity 1700 ftlbs. For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only, minimum calibre .220 inches, muzzle energy 1000 ftlbs and bullet weight of at least 50 grains.

3. The .22 is an ideal gun for shooting rabbits but the use of a firearm by a non certificate holder is subject to legislation which is not as clear and black and white as might be expected.

It depends a bit on the definition of "Occupier" in relation to shooting rights and ownership of land. This text taken from the Home Office Guidance makes it reasonably clear...

 

Borrowed rifles on private premises

6.16 Section 16(1) of the 1988 Act enables a

person to borrow a rifle from the occupier

of private premises and to use it on those

premises in the presence of either the

occupier or their servant without holding a

firearm certificate in respect of that rifle. It

should be noted that this gives slightly more

flexibility in the use of a borrowed rifle than

is permissible with the use of a shot gun

as described in paragraph 6.14, in that the

borrowed rifle can also be used in the

presence of the servant of the occupier.

However, the occupier and/or their servant

must hold a firearm certificate in respect of

the firearm being used, and the borrower,

who must be accompanied by the certificate

holder (whether it is the occupier or their

servant), must comply with the conditions

of the certificate. These may include a

safekeeping requirement and, in some cases,

territorial restrictions. Section 57(4) of the

1968 Act defines “premises†as including any

land. The effect of the provision is to allow

a person visiting a private estate to borrow

and use a rifle without a certificate. The

exemption does not extend to persons under

the age of 17 or to other types of firearm.

There is no notification required on the

loan of a firearm under these circumstances.

[Deker 3,491]

hi, just been having a debate and wondered if you good people could bring it to an end. the questions are is it legal to shoot a fox with a .22?YES is it legal to shoot a roe deer with a .22?Only for the purpose of Humane despatch and is a person allowed to use a .22 to shoot animals e.g rabbits if they dont hold a firearms but obviously accompnied by the cert holder? may seem like a dumb question but just starting out? If the FAC owner is deemed the Occupiercheers

Edited March 26, 2011 by Deker