Pheasants out of season

[Pedro]

'keepers job. Tell him to look out his shovel and shut up about it . . .

1. That's the sort of policies that gets keepers into trouble. Doing the same with protected raptors. Out of season, pheasants are protected.
2. If they are going to do that, best to not put it on a open foru…......oh.

 

[Woodsmoke]

1. That's the sort of policies that gets keepers into trouble

Yeah, it was kind of meant tongue-in-cheek.
In truth though, this is the kind of thing any keeper should be able to get on top of through medication. Mycoplasmosia isn't an uncommon ailment and can generally be treated with antibiotics. I have a sneaking suspicion that this 'commercial' shoot may be overstocking way past capacity to maximise returns . . . . Wonder if I'm getting warm?

In any case, I stand by my point that it's the keepers problem to fix.

 

[countrryboy]

I would imagine treating if at all possible is really the only way to go initially.

No vet, land owner or keeper can give u permission to 'take' pheasants at this time off year.
The only folk that can will be ur relevant national body, but I would imagine will not be a quick process

Even ignoring any legal problems off killing the birds, I wouldn't fancy eating 1.
Not sure if it would be an issue, they always said u can eat mixi rabbits safely but I wouldnae.

Must admit been fortunate enough never to encounter mycoplasma in pheasants, but I'm sure they also call it bulgy eye and was doing the rounds on grouse moors a few years ago. Grouse are quite resilient and numbers bounced back very quickly, possibly helped by there harsh environment not much will survive up there with any illness so it never reinfected anything the following season.
Possibly it could linger on longer in low ground or possibly they have a laying field and shortly a rearing field so a cross contamination risk could be high.

 

[kes]

Yeah, it was kind of meant tongue-in-cheek.
In truth though, this is the kind of thing any keeper should be able to get on top of through medication. Mycoplasmosia isn't an uncommon ailment and can generally be treated with antibiotics. I have a sneaking suspicion that this 'commercial' shoot may be overstocking way past capacity to maximise returns . . . . Wonder if I'm getting warm?

In any case, I stand by my point that it's the keepers problem to fix.

Mycoplasma does not respond well to antibiotics, since antibiotics are designed to break down the cell wall and leave the 'infection' vulnerable. Mycoplasma , being a bacteria, has no cell wall. I agree tough its the keeper problem.

 

[25 Sharps]

I would be extremely careful. Why are they asking you? Why can they not do it themselves? IF you do decide to carry this out then I would insist on the vet letter I would insist on a written permission from the land owner and shoot owner if they are not one of the same. I would insist on taking proper advice from NRW. Then I would study the terms of you FAC carefully if you decide to go down the rimfire or small centrefire route as out of season pheasants and indeed birds of any kind would not normally be covered on you FAC as AOLQ so be very careful. You may have to have a condition added stating that you .22/.17 etc etc is licensed for use to control diseased pheasants at such and such an address blah blah blah.
I speak from experience as I have had to have similar conditions added to my .17hmr to allow me to control corvids and Canada geese subject to the conditions of the GL of course.
I would strongly advise against using shotgun and dog(s) combo for fear of providing ammo (no pun intended) for any anti out there

regards Steve

Why exactly would birds not be covered under Any Other Lawful Quarry? If the culling is happening under licence from natural England or the Welsh equivalent birds become lawful quarry.

Are you saying everyone that shoots crows with a rifle conditioned for fox and AOLQ is breaking the law? Or used a section 1 shotgun conditioned for vermin and AOLQ?

This would be no different to anyone shooting Brock under licence which is generally done on AOLQ.


The clue is in the name really ANY other lawful quarry.

unless of course it’s followed by excluding birds or something daft like that.

 

[25 Sharps]

Mycoplasma does not respond well to antibiotics, since antibiotics are designed to break down the cell wall and leave the 'infection' vulnerable. Mycoplasma , being a bacteria, has no cell wall. I agree tough its the keeper problem.

It only makes it resistant to antibiotics that attack the cell wall not all antibiotics work that way

Definitely the keepers’ problem

 

[landkeeper]

Mycoplasma is a bugger to deal with even 'recovered' birds remain carriers according to our vet ,its hard to treat even in domestic poultry where each andevery bird can be treated in released pheasants i can see why a total clear out is advisable .

 

[CarlW]

Steer well clear. A headache in the making.

 

[25 Sharps]

'

So, what did your post quoting mine say before you deleted it??

 

[enfieldspares]

It was one of those SD glitches where you can't now delete a post. But it was quoting the "AOLQ" part. That if shot out of season without the necessary express authority to do that from DEFRA that not only would be committing that offence but that you'd also be breaching your FAC conditions as being out of season it wasn't then lawful quarry. Reinforcing what you've said. If you've the paperwork it's lawful. But if you haven't its not only unlawful but because of that you've breached your FAC conditions.