canada geese cull?

[Guest john5]

as the link quite clearly states "where other methods have failed", be very carefull

[Nige69 0]

As long as you are aware of the conditions of the general licences and can quote from them when quizzed i.e. mentioning protecting crops or public health AND that you have tried non lethal means already then I do not see a problem. You must do your research before - this is critical to avoid fines/imprisonment etc and also to keep shooting away from bad publicity!

[Beechessam 0]

As long as you are aware of the conditions of the general licences and can quote from them when quizzed i.e. mentioning protecting crops or public health AND that you have tried non lethal means already then I do not see a problem. You must do your research before - this is critical to avoid fines/imprisonment etc and also to keep shooting away from bad publicity!

 

But you will need to have Canada`s or Birds of some description on your FAC as it is highly unlikely that they will be covered under the term vermin.

[Rolfe 2]

As long as you are aware of the conditions of the general licences and can quote from them when quizzed i.e. mentioning protecting crops or public health AND that you have tried non lethal means already then I do not see a problem. You must do your research before - this is critical to avoid fines/imprisonment etc and also to keep shooting away from bad publicity!

 

But you will need to have Canada`s or Birds of some description on your FAC as it is highly unlikely that they will be covered under the term vermin.

 

Exactly.............and that is where this all started As i said it DOES have to say birds........not just vermin on your certificate........

I too was under the mistaken belief that the term VERMIN covered me for Geese as well but this is not the case.

[Guest rodsmith]

theyre on the vermin list me old mate.fill yer boots!!

[Beechessam 0]

theyre on the vermin list me old mate.fill yer boots!!

 

 

And round and round we go!!!

 

No they are not, read the links posted earlier.

[CharlieT 32]

You all should read The HO firearms guidance, which quite clearly state that as far as the police and therefore your fac conditions are concerned birds are considered "Vermin".

 

I quote:

 

Shooting Small Quarry Species,

including Game and Pest Species

(Vermin)

13.16 The term “game†covers certain birds

and animals that may be shot for food and

sport. Apart from deer which are dealt with

below, these may include rabbit, hare,

pheasant, partridge, grouse, woodcock and

other game birds. The term “vermin†is not

defined in law, but it may include destructive

species that cause damage to crops or

property such as rabbits, mink, stoat, weasel,

brown rat, and grey squirrel, as well as some

birds such as wood pigeon, rook and crow.

Foxes are dealt with in paragraphs 13.23 and

13.24. Under schedule 6 of the Wildlife and

Countryside Act 1981, certain species such as

wild cats, pine martens, badgers and otters

may not be shot with any automatic or semiautomatic

firearm or killed or taken by other

prohibited methods under section 11(2) of

the 1981 Act. These species may be pests

under certain circumstances but may only be

killed under licence (see also Chapter 14).

[patchworkcrew 0]

They have not been taken off the general licence.

 

Under the wildlife and countryside act ALL wild birds are protected. The general licence allows for listed birds to be controlled where necessary. This does not mean that birds listed on the general licence are vermin.

 

They are still classed as wild birds and are protected by law, except where the general licence allows for culling. eg To protect arable of for health reason.

 

They have never been re classified as vermin.

 

Here is a link.

 

http://www.naturalengland.gov.uk/Images/WM...5_tcm6-7669.pdf

 

http://www.countryside-alliance.org.uk/sho...licence-advice/

[patchworkcrew 0]

What I meant to say but pressed the wrong button (doh!) is

 

Shooting under licence has to be demonstrated as part of an integrated strategy to deal will the Canada Goose problem. You can't just reach for a gun. To give an example - last Weds I "killed" 65 Canada Geese without a shot being fired and in less than an hour. I took a boat out to the island on our estate where they are nesting and coated the eggs with liquid paraffin. That's 65 less geese this year. If dealing with the problem is what you want then keep within the law and the licence and use a variety of methods to control the Geese.

 

Our strategy on our estate is co-ordinated with our neighbours - a golf course, a farmer and the National Trust. Between us the goose population is decreasing year on year. To just go in guns blazing will not solve the problem and will break the law.

 

If it's just sport then wait until the season to shoot otherwise be able to demonstrate an integrated strategy which may include shooting but not as a first resort.

 

BG

[Mr_Logic 5]

Yes, you have to do many things to shoot birds under general licence, but there are conditions for other birds too.

 

In terms of FAC conditions, they're vermin, end of. Being on the general licence means that when they're shot using that licence as the legal way of shooting, they're considered vermin, under the definition of vermin as a pest, including damage to livestock, crops or health.

[Fidgety 8]

I do notice with these "is it or is it not" vermin cases that i have never seen a reference to a court case. Same with the fox/rimfire dilemma!!

Anyone care to find me one????

Edited April 21, 2009 by Fidgety

[mj robson 8]

I wouldn't be surprised if one police force calls them Vermin and the other calls them Birds for your FAC.

 

Some of the English FLO's seem to make up their own version of the firearms laws nowadays, regardless of what the HO guidlines say!!!!!

 

I know a few years ago of a BASC employee who did an annual cull on feral Greys as part of his job. He used a .22 rimfire.

 

Mark.

Edited April 22, 2009 by mj robson