Shooting in your own garden

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Firstly, the caveat - this is theoretical and is not something I've done, but a situation arose this morning that got me thinking.

We currently live in an urban area and often see foxes around. There's currently a very late and poor looking cub about that I've seen a few times in our garden. I spotted it this morning in the neighbours garden and it's in a very bad way. It's got a broken front leg, covered in mange and sores and is clearly in a lot of discomfort. So the question is, could I legally shoot it if it was in my garden. I've an open certificate with .22lr and AOLQ, and a very safe shot so no way a bullet (or any part of it) would leave my property. I appreciate there are potential issues from neighbours etc in urban areas, but I'm just asking from a purely legal perspective - would there be anything to stop me doing so?
 
Interesting question with no simple answer unfortunately.
Would I shoot a fox in an urban back garden with a .22 (silenced as in mod and subsonics) - yes, but in a place and direction and at a time which could not be questioned i.e. bedroom window, downward trajectory, soft substrate shielded from neighbours - baiting to that point would be best. I might even chat to my FEO first.

The easier alternative, possibly 'safer' (and I apologise for suggesting this), is advise the RSPCA. Say the animal is in severe discomfort probably pain. First give them 1/2 days, then shoot it. Defence would be obvious and HD. Dispose in black bin bag at local tip. Amazing how humane actions are so very difficult these days.

I've been shooting rabbits out of the bedroom window for about 2 weeks now with subs - I shot 3 one morning, all out at once and they never moved when I shot 1. My garden overlooks about 200 acres with nobody in them so its not a problem but I still take very great care, as one should.
 
No. Because if you shoot and miss, and are seen, then it will be YOU that has caused the broken leg. I'd do what KES says and for sure the RSPCA have no need to know you have access to guns. Indeed if the RSPCA are using resources on this fox in your garden then they can't use those resources to support further restrictions on lawful shooting. Let them sort it is my advice. What's legal isn't always what is sane and sensible.
 
I have been in this exact situation, although not humane dispatch, just fitted a new scope to a .22 rimfire, I was on my own owned outright, property .. so therefore I can give myself permission, ... OK, next issue is backstop, sorted, 10 inch concrete solids, fronted by a sheet of rubber quarry conveyor belting, and covered by a sheet of Makrolon (stuff is used in bank screens), OK, get job done & put everything away, ... two hours later cul de sac blocked off by big fat BMW X 5 SUV ... another sat in an opposite neighbours drive ready to ram the gates, ( It would have been written off & bounced back from where it was launched from), two more same type vehicles block off top off the road either end, ARV people enter & knock demanding dogs are put away, ... Cutting a long and winding story short, they were satisfied for the time being & went away after a thorough inspection of arms & ammunition held, extra comment "Any children in the home" as some shotgun ammunition was on a shelf in the gunroom, ... So in the round it went on for a couple of weeks culminating in a visit from some sergeant along with Bernie FLO now retired, rolling his eyes behind this guy who could not differentiate between Mrs Finnbear's target cert and my open, over land cert ... I was attended during this second visit (gratefully I might add by my then target club secretary, who just happened to be senior firearms staff @ Marford mill) Who on hearing "Well we drove from Crewe @ 200 miles an hour" from the bobby, His riposte was "Who was breaking the law then?" .... So as you can probably tell, it all depends who has an axe to grind with you.:popcorn:
 
enfieldspares said:
No. Because if you shoot and miss, and are seen, then it will be YOU that has caused the broken leg.
Click to expand...

But that's a different scenario. I asked if it was legal to shoot a fox on my land - maybe I should have specified "shoot and kill". I didn't ask if it was legal to injure or maim a a fox on my land!

I absolutely understand finnbear's view and the public perception / potential for police over-reaction, but I was trying to take that side of things out of the equation and simply look at the legal side.

I did consider the RSPCA angle and maybe I'll put it over to them - I did take a bit of video so could send them that. I guess my reservation is that I'm really opposed to the RSPCA's approach to injured foxes, which used to be spend lots of cash on fixing them up then to chuck them out of the back of a van in the countryside somewhere for them to become someone else's problem. Is that still their approach?
 
I would go down the RSPCA route! No matter where you live there is always the anti, be it anti gun or anti shooting of feathered or furry creatures type, neighbours usually have big eyes and or big ears sometimes both and would use this event as a means of vengeful hatred towards anyone who dared to own a gun, maybe you think your neighbours are not that kind, pull the trigger and wait for the abuse to start.
By using the RSPCA route it would in my opinion give you greater credibility with your neighbours (if indeed you may think you need it) and they would credit you for using your initiative and also for being kind to a furry creature.
Personally l would stand back from the window so absolutely nothing could be seen of myself or rifle and shoot the fecker!
 
75 said:
But that's a different scenario. I asked if it was legal to shoot a fox on my land - maybe I should have specified "shoot and kill". I didn't ask if it was legal to injure or maim a a fox on my land!

I absolutely understand finnbear's view and the public perception / potential for police over-reaction, but I was trying to take that side of things out of the equation and simply look at the legal side.

I did consider the RSPCA angle and maybe I'll put it over to them - I did take a bit of video so could send them that. I guess my reservation is that I'm really opposed to the RSPCA's approach to injured foxes, which used to be spend lots of cash on fixing them up then to chuck them out of the back of a van in the countryside somewhere for them to become someone else's problem. Is that still their approach?
Click to expand...
Legal side, if you are not causing your neighbours alarm, ... shoot it.
 
Fosbery Holster said:
I would go down the RSPCA route! No matter where you live there is always the anti, be it anti gun or anti shooting of feathered or furry creatures type, neighbours usually have big eyes and or big ears sometimes both and would use this event as a means of vengeful hatred towards anyone who dared to own a gun, maybe you think your neighbours are not that kind, pull the trigger and wait for the abuse to start.
By using the RSPCA route it would in my opinion give you greater credibility with your neighbours (if indeed you may think you need it) and they would credit you for using your initiative and also for being kind to a furry creature.
Personally l would stand back from the window so absolutely nothing could be seen of myself or rifle and shoot the fecker!
Click to expand...

only if you live at disneyland, or close to a road with lots of lead pollution. :-|
 
You have an Open FAC with AOLQ, so the Police clearly think you are competent to decide. I'd whack it from as high a vantage point as I could get so the backstop is the turf 2' behind and below. We get muntjac under the trampoline and that's what I'll be doing if near enough to the cabinet to get myself sorted in time
 
r.s.p.c.a. .... note the lower case, .. I was on a farm that a cow was down on a field, it had been so for a day at least, I was disturbed that the maggies were perching on it obviously after it's eyes, I shot the f**k out of them & went to see the farmer, he was distraught but knew it was hopeless, & he asked me to shoot it, I explained that the sub calibre I was using was insufficient, the two female Arsepca's were climbing all over him so I phoned my FLO Bernie now sadly retired, he said go home get summat bigger & shoot it. So I did as advised.
 
75 said:
Firstly, the caveat - this is theoretical and is not something I've done, but a situation arose this morning that got me thinking.

We currently live in an urban area and often see foxes around. There's currently a very late and poor looking cub about that I've seen a few times in our garden. I spotted it this morning in the neighbours garden and it's in a very bad way. It's got a broken front leg, covered in mange and sores and is clearly in a lot of discomfort. So the question is, could I legally shoot it if it was in my garden. I've an open certificate with .22lr and AOLQ, and a very safe shot so no way a bullet (or any part of it) would leave my property. I appreciate there are potential issues from neighbours etc in urban areas, but I'm just asking from a purely legal perspective - would there be anything to stop me doing so?
Click to expand...

Three times so far the police have asked me to shoot an animal in someone's garden. With the owner's permission of course.

I have shot a couple of Roe Bucks and a few rabbits in my garden.

As far as I am aware it has always been legal.

As far as your neighbours go...is it worth mentioning that you have seen the distressed and diseased animal in their garden and gauging your actions on their response? Maybe even offering to "arrange" for the mercy killing on their behalf?

Alan
 
75,
Good on you for asking for advice first.

I would never jeopardise a F.A or an S.G licence, they are difficult to attain, but so easy to lose.

Without knowing the area / circumstances,
you would have do a risk assessment etc, If you deem it safe to dispatch with your .22lr and you are not next to a school, people or shops etc,etc, as long as the bullet does not leave your property + have a safe back stop etc, etc.

With respect, this is an open forum, for all to see, you would have to be safe + legal, it is your licence and ultimately, it has to be your considered opinion.

You could bait an area with cat or dog food for a few nights, providing you have a clear shot and it is humane, it would be your choice.
Keep it discreet.
If you get on well with your neighbours ? Maybe explain to them first, your reason for a humane dispatch ?

A trail camera
( see recent trail camera thread ) insitue, will help identify, when the fox appears, so a practise zero shot at the bait point, or at least measure out the shooting distance first, then wait for it, an accurate head shot, will suffice.

As others have said, a baited, legal fox trap, may work, or contact the RSPCA.
Your choice.

If in doubt, contact your local F E.O dept.
Good luck either way.

ATB.
 
We live a 1.5m from the village in open countryside so I shoot the rats on bird table from the bedroom window but do ask the neighbours, "Should I starting the rats again?" it's always yes please
 
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