Shooting foxes from a vehicle
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its illegal if its a highway
I thought the following:
It is forbidden to shoot from a public highway or verge in England and Wales – and although shooting from a public highway is not forbidden in Scotland, reckless discharge would be committed under common law if a member of the public was inconvenienced or disturbed as the result of a shot.
It is forbidden to shoot from a public highway or verge in England and Wales – and although shooting from a public highway is not forbidden in Scotland, reckless discharge would be committed under common law if a member of the public was inconvenienced or disturbed as the result of a shot.
The common since rule applies....but is lacking in a few shooing persons lol
I'll get a definitive answer but I'm almost certain that in Scotland it is lawful to shoot from a road, on top of (say) a car bonnet as long as no one is inconvenienced. That's a pretty broad spectrum of 'inconvenienced' but my understanding would be no-one having to stop for you to complete the shot or being frightened/distressed by seeing a man (presumably) with a gun in the road etc which could be a breach of the peace -that's an almost certain certificate revocation.
Just get your sticks out and get on the land you have permission easy
Yes, im talking about roads where you can drive for 5 hours and not meet another sole.
I Not talking about pulling into a lay-by on the M74 to shoot a fox on the opposite side of the road!!
AFAIK, legal in Scotland as long as:
a. The vehicle is not moving
b. The fox is on land over which you have permission to shoot (and your FAC allows you to shoot foxes)
c. No-one is disturbed or inconvenienced by your actions
Cheers
Bruce
a. The vehicle is not moving
b. The fox is on land over which you have permission to shoot (and your FAC allows you to shoot foxes)
c. No-one is disturbed or inconvenienced by your actions
Cheers
Bruce
It wouldn't matter if it was the M74. The rule applies where the police would have lawful jurisdiction.
If it was the M74 the chances of inconveniencing someone would be much higher and the reports of someone 'seeing a man with a gun' would be much more, that doesn't mean it would be unlawful.
Deermanagement
Well-Known Member
The same was true for England/Wales I'm sure. Plenty of game shoots take place where guns stand on such lanes and shooting stops when someone comes along, then commences when they've passed. Maybe someone can correct me ?
Why's that?
It's good common-sense when shooting to know and obey the law.
Having achieved that, further common-sense is needed to work out when it's prudent to do what is lawful, and when not.
I think that's the situtation in England and Wales. No idea about Scotland, but I'm not sure why it should be different.
As to 'off the bonnet of a vehicle', I'm not sure that's relevant. The laws about vehicles and shooting I've come across seem to relate to the situation where the shooter is actually in the vehicle, rather than standing next to it using it as a rest.
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Stalker62
Well-Known Member
Not true.
Again not true.
The following is the Law in England & Wales.
The Highways Act 1980
Laws relevant to shooting near roads and ‘ways’ can be found in section 161(2) of the Highways Act 1980 (and its amendments) and states:If a person without lawful authority or excuse—
(a)lights any fire on or over a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway; or
(b)discharges any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of such a highway,
AND in consequence a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
In short. No harm no foul.
Those North of the Wall, will have their own wee vagaries...
in England you can certainly shoot a shotgun from a road as long as you do not put anyone at risk of inconvenience them . However here is the catch , you might need to prove that in court ! this does not include an airgun .Not true.
Again not true.
The following is the Law in England & Wales.
The Highways Act 1980
Laws relevant to shooting near roads and ‘ways’ can be found in section 161(2) of the Highways Act 1980 (and its amendments) and states:
If a person without lawful authority or excuse—
(a)lights any fire on or over a highway which consists of or comprises a carriageway; or
(b)discharges any firearm or firework within 50 feet of the centre of such a highway,
AND in consequence a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered, that person is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
In short. No harm no foul.
Those North of the Wall, will have their own wee vagaries...
i do know a few drives that are shot from the road , super dodgy territory so best have a good barrister in the line .
besides public footpaths its not something i wish to test in court
Is it different for a rifle?
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
frankly i dont know but i do know shotgun can be fired from the road but not sure i would want to end up in court because enough folks have been convicted of things that where not actually against the law . A lot of laws get changed unless its your trade its thin ice
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
No you won't.
Herewith is the legal definition of a firearm.
A firearm is “a lethal barrelled weapon of any description from which any shot, bullet or other missile can be discharged” (section 57 (1) Firearms Act 1968).
This will obviously include any airgun which is capable of killing - so any airgun.
are you legally trained / qualified in the area ?
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