bow-net trap, are they legal in uk?

[greenman 221]

could someone tell me if bow-net traps are legal in this country? i was told they used to be sold with an egg plate as a corvid trap. i know they are sold in america for catching feral pigeon and other species including hawks. i have seen no legistation saying they are illegal over here. i have seen antique traps of this type and feel in todays climate they would make a very good corvid trap being more discreet than a larson which can be seen from a distance and also you can release non target species to go about their merry way decimating songbirds/gamebirds.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Excellent question! And here's some more to chew over; Under the terms of the british General Lisceance, is it deemed lawful to use a 'Net' to take corvids? That's kind of 'Part 1'. Because, for one thing, ye need to know ye can use a net, period. For another? If ye can't use a net, then where does that leave the crow trap incorperating a big wire mesh cage with 'Sheep Netting' over the top? What, legally, defines that which constitutes a wire mesh and a net? Material used?

 

Other than that, we have the Spring question. I have one of the 'Egg Plate' traps ye refer to right here. Once sold by GILPA and called the " Hoodie " crow trap. It's powered by two fairly strong springs.

 

Now, due ~ I personally have always believed ~ to a copy clerks personal misinterpretation of the wording used in an earlier act, we lost the legal use of springs in Any bird trap some years ago. I used to spend a Lot of time sat in the library and studying the Statutes. I realised how the Protection of Birds Act of 1954 made it illegal to use a " Springle " on any bird. That, as ye probably well aware, was an old term for a small, sprung snare. However, in some update or ammendment to the original Act, the word " Springle " got dropped, to be replaced with " Spring ". Whoops a f*cking daisy! This, of course, left us in the legal position where by an orchard owner in Kent could still use a Bullfinch Trap Cage perfectly legally. But woe betide him if the door closure was powered by a bit of elastic!

 

Now, with the passage of time and, to me, quite mysteriously, we have everyone and his uncle using Larsen Traps with springs on the doors and perfectly legitimate and above board firms openly selling springs for just that use! Confused? I'm f*cking mystified!

 

I imagine it must all be buried somewhere within the complexities of the Wildlife & Countryside Act and it's ammendments / General Lisceance provisions.

 

Or, to put it another way; I really haven't a f*cking clue!

[Guest foxtrack]

you've got a real point there ditch

[john b 38]

Wildlife and Countryside Act Part 1 section 5, subsection 6

 

'But nothing in this subsection shall make lawful the use of any net for taking birds in flight or the use for taking birds on the ground of any net which is projected or propelled otherwise than by hand'

 

Oh and the general licence references section 8 which talks about any 'cage' being big enough to stretch their wings etc.

Edited July 8, 2007 by john b
to add a bit

[Guest foxtrack]

Wildlife and Countryside Act Part 1 section 5, subsection 6

 

'But nothing in this subsection shall make lawful the use of any net for taking birds in flight or the use for taking birds on the ground of any net which is projected or propelled otherwise than by hand'

 

Oh and the general licence references section 8 which talks about any 'cage' being big enough to stretch their wings etc.

john what about wire net ? like larsons propelled by a spring

[john b 38]

Well to an extent I agree with Ditch that it's not clear but larsens are a 'cage' as opposed to a net.

 

Technically if the 'cage' was sprung rather than the door then it might comply, but I am guessing now

[greenman 221]

thanks for the replies folks. if you were to find one of these traps in a shed and kept it as a curiosity without setting it you are not breaking the law. what if you were to purchase a new version from a country were it was legal with no intention of using it over here, would it come through customs? presumably it is not illegal to posess one only to set it?

[Guest foxtrack]

Well to an extent I agree with Ditch that it's not clear but larsens are a 'cage' as opposed to a net.

 

Technically if the 'cage' was sprung rather than the door then it might comply, but I am guessing now

are we legal or illegal

laws made by someone in a suite whioknows feck all about this

feck me whats this country coming to

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Import pretty well what ye like, mate. I did for years. It's perfectly legal to own even a working Man Trap. It's the actual use to which it's put that they'll skin ye for.

 

And those original 'Hoodie' traps? They're now highly sought after by Trap Collectors who wouldn't dream of putting such a valuable thing outside.

 

Anyway, thanks to JohnB for straightening that one out. Must be why the firm who started selling 'Hoodie' traps after GILPA stopped?

[Madcowz 0]

Must be why the firm who started selling 'Hoodie' traps after GILPA stopped?

 

 

Hoodie trap... that must be a parked car with a handbag on the front seat. Guaranteed to catch a hoodie as he smashes the window to nick it.

 

 

 

/Mad

[Guest foxtrack]

iffyou gt one dont harm him hug him

[Sokoly 0]

Is there a guide or does anybody know how to construct a gas propelled net for massive trapping of feral pigeons? The point is to trigger the cannons to shoot the ends of the net that is supposed to cover the pigeons while feeding in the field. Ive seen them on TV netting geese.

Please help.

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Ye want to talk to the BTO, mate.

[Sokoly 0]

Is there a guide or does anybody know how to construct a gas propelled net for massive trapping of feral pigeons? The point is to trigger the cannons to shoot the ends of the net that is supposed to cover the pigeons while feeding in the field. Ive seen them on TV netting geese.

Please help.

 

What is BTO? Is there some website?

[Matt 160]

Is there a guide or does anybody know how to construct a gas propelled net for massive trapping of feral pigeons? The point is to trigger the cannons to shoot the ends of the net that is supposed to cover the pigeons while feeding in the field. Ive seen them on TV netting geese.

Please help.

 

What is BTO? Is there some website?

 

 

British Trust for Ornithology...

 

BTO Website here....