Rich91 1 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Could I put a bird feeder in the garden to attract the birds into the garden? I'm forever seeing hundreds of woodpigeon and feral pigeon in the forest behind my garden but obviously cannot shoot them as I do not have permission to shoot into the forest. I also read you cannot shoot within 50 metres of a 'highway' does this mean a motorway or just a general road? As I can see the neighbours getting annoyed if I start to shoot pigeon off the feeder as they feed them all the time. Thanks, Rich. Quote Link to post
Buster321c 1,010 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 No............ Quote Link to post
Buster321c 1,010 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Currently the shooting of woodpigeon is controlled by general licences issued by Natural England for England, Welsh Assembly Government for Wales, Scottish Government for Scotland and in Northern Ireland by the NI Environment Agency (NIEA). No individual application is required for any licence; however in Scotland you are legally obliged to have read and understood the licence relevant to your shooting. The general licences authorise shooting for specific purposes such as: preventing serious damage to crops, vegetables, fruit and foodstuffs for livestock, and for the purpose of preserving public health or public safety. It is important that any shooting complies fully with the terms and conditions of each general licence. In Britain the shooting of collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto) and the feral pigeon (descended from Columba livia) is also permitted all year round. The stock dove (Columba oenas), rock dove (Columba livia) and turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) are all protected species and may not be shot at any time. In Northern Ireland all doves are protected at all times and woodpigeon and feral pigeon are listed on the general licences but these cannot be shot at night or on Sundays. On the Isle of Man the woodpigeon can be shot under the terms and conditions of their general licence for the prevention of damage and disease only, the feral pigeon for public health and public safety and the turtle dove is fully protected. The stock dove is often mistakenly called the ‘blue rock’ and great care must be taken as these birds often fly with woodpigeons and feral pigeons and come readily to decoys. The feral pigeon is descended from the rock dove (which is usually only found on western coasts), and is often seen close to urban areas and feeding in flocks close to farm buildings. Note: wild-living, former racing and homing pigeons often fly with feral pigeons but these birds are strictly protected as they are still regarded as the property of their original owner. While they normally have leg rings to show their ownership, identification in the field can be difficult so, if in doubt, do not shoot. Quote Link to post
Strong Stuff 2,171 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 How unsporting! Quote Link to post
Rich91 1 Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Public health or saftey... Ok I have no real purpose thanks Buster looks like I'll have to save the pellets for the field. Also, the question about the 50 metres from a road, anybody have an idea? Thanks, Rich. Quote Link to post
Rich91 1 Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 How unsporting! I suppose I didn't see it in this way. Rich. Quote Link to post
Buster321c 1,010 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 I think you`ll find its 15 m ( 50 foot ish ) from the center of any road , be it main or a country lane . Quote Link to post
paulus 26 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 its not 50mtrs or any meters whot the law says is you carnt interfere with traffic on a highway, so lets say you shot a pigeon and it fell in the road causing a car to stop or take avoidng action then you are commiting an offence but if someone stops to watch you shooting the otherside of the hedge then there stopping of their own free will and your not commiting an offence if that makes sense Quote Link to post
Buster321c 1,010 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 The public highway •Shoot managers and Guns must ensure that shooting does not obstruct, cause danger or alarm to users of the public highway, including roads, bridleways, footpaths and other rights of way. •Guns should note that to shoot across a footpath or bridleway that is in use by walkers or riders may constitute a public nuisance or wilful obstruction. There may also be a liability in negligence if it is known that people are on, or likely to be on, the path. •In particular, care should be taken when siting Guns near roads. Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway with vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. •The Highways Act does not apply in Scotland but Procurators Fiscal may use common law offences of 'culpable and reckless conduct' and 'reckless endangerment' in situations in which the 1980 Act would be contravened in England and Wales. •Information signs, if appropriate, should be erected on shoot days on footpaths or bridleways. •The siting of release pens and feeding of game near highways should be avoided. Game managers should collect and dispose of road casualties where possible. Taken from BASC website 1 Quote Link to post
Rich91 1 Posted June 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 SPA Thanks, Rich. Quote Link to post
bullmastiff 615 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 As long as the pellet doesn't leave your property then I thought it was fine to shoot in your garden? Quote Link to post
matt_hooks 188 Posted June 30, 2011 Report Share Posted June 30, 2011 Bull, yes, it's fine to shoot in your garden, but it's not fine to shoot protected species. ALL birds are protected species. It's only the general licences that allow some of them to be shot, and then only for the specified reasons. Buster, you highlight the restriction, but not what is required for the offence to be completed. •In particular, care should be taken when siting Guns near roads. Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway with vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. A public footpath, bridleway etc. do NOT count as "highway" for the purposes of this offence. The 50 feet law is probably the most misunderstood, misquoted piece of shooting legislation (and it's not even from any of the firearms acts, but the highways acts. Also, note that the legislation says "without lawful authority or excuse". I don't know if there is any guidance as to exactly what that means. Do you need to have lawful authority to shoot near the highway, or is the lawful authority or excuse related to the "endanger, interrupt or injure" part of the offence? Quote Link to post
paulus 26 Posted July 1, 2011 Report Share Posted July 1, 2011 Bull, yes, it's fine to shoot in your garden, but it's not fine to shoot protected species. ALL birds are protected species. It's only the general licences that allow some of them to be shot, and then only for the specified reasons. Buster, you highlight the restriction, but not what is required for the offence to be completed. •In particular, care should be taken when siting Guns near roads. Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway with vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. A public footpath, bridleway etc. do NOT count as "highway" for the purposes of this offence. The 50 feet law is probably the most misunderstood, misquoted piece of shooting legislation (and it's not even from any of the firearms acts, but the highways acts. Also, note that the legislation says "without lawful authority or excuse". I don't know if there is any guidance as to exactly what that means. Do you need to have lawful authority to shoot near the highway, or is the lawful authority or excuse related to the "endanger, interrupt or injure" part of the offence? the bit about lawful authority or excuse says to me you can shoot near a road aslong as you have permision to do so and do not cause an obstruction to said highway as i said in my last post. Quote Link to post
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