Woodpigeon: pest or a quarry species?

[Heym SR20]

So why do we treat wild deer like pests? to be shot just because they are increasing in numbers? likely due to the damage they do which is the same as wood pigeons.

I am very much against treating deer as pests, or that matter Elephants, or Buffalo or any other animal etc. Deer are a valuable part of our flora and fauna. Most of the reason why they now get in the wrong place is we have pushed them out of where they want to be. Deer are a woodland animal, but large areas of woodland are now fenced off so deer cannot get in.

And many deer herds have been shot so hard that all the inbred hefting and herd knowledge of where to go and where not to has been totally lost. No wonder we have confused young deer turning up all over the place.

If we are going manage populations of deer, especially the herding species that travel over large distances we need to it sympathetically at a population and environment level. Not at,” I have 20 deer in my field so I will shoot the whole lot co its my right to and I want to rewild my little corner of England”.

 

[User00053]

Those involved in conservation understand that like a garden some species need help others controlled depending on what your growing all about the balance which I thought had been obvious for a long time
Definition of weed may help some but confuse others

 

[BenBhoy]

its already broke, thanks to Mr Packham - please explain, under the current general licence how I can roost shoot when I have no crops to protect and have tried any non lethal methods yet?

I suppose the question would be, playing devil's advocate, if you have no crops that need protection then why are you needing to shoot them? As a pest then just because you want to isn't a good enough reason.

 

[User00053]

Ah, shoot on sight far happier times for some including me, but with romantic spin, picture the young lad walking with father along wood edge and been able to have a“ pot shot” at pigeon as he learnt the ways at knee of father and looking forwards to feb roost shooting

 

[Bowland blades]

The idea of having both the Woodpigeon on a ‘sport’ quarry list (for want of a better description) with a closed season, whilst also at the same time on the General license, with no close season, has great merit. There are some very grey areas currently, ie shooting Woodpigeon on game drives or roost shooting away from arable fields, which have yet to be tested in court. Adding it to a sporting quarry list would remove most of these grey areas.

After all the Canada Goose is on both types of quarry list.

The Canada might well be but its wrong to forget that it can only be shot out of season via justifiable pest control after none leathal control has failed . ITS NOT a 12 month season thing

 

[cjm1066]

The only advantage of the current regime is the idiot who shoots a high pigeon before the pheasants are flushing

 

[JTO]

Plenty already are.
This is just one of many:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.woodpigeonhunting.com/&ved=2ahUKEwjuxdWci62EAxVGQUEAHS7mC8EQFnoECDMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1AYRKykuBiSNhvu7F6B7Ir

Registered in Arizona!

 

[User00053]

Well if am decoying Corvids for pest control reasons after all non lethal methods have failed (naturally) and a woody flies past presenting a testing shot I will of course raise my hat to it

 

[VSS]

Registered in Arizona!

Plenty of UK companies offering similar.

 

[JTO]

Plenty of UK companies offering similar.

Including Pigeonwatch sponsers!

 

[Siggy]

I suppose the question would be, playing devil's advocate, if you have no crops that need protection then why are you needing to shoot them? As a pest then just because you want to isn't a good enough reason.

If they were a quarry species then yes, it would be legal. however it is a dilemma, because they breed pretty much all year round...which isn't a problem for muntjac...the law, as they say, is an ass

 

[wilbert]

Edible pest just like rabbits.

 

[Nickb]

What most forget is that pigeons migrate.

What breeds here in the spring and summer migrates southwards, and the majority of the overwintering flocks will come from Scandinavia.

I find the whole view of treating wild birds and animals as just pests to exterminated pretty distasteful and unhelpful. It’s the same attitude that has resulted in many, many species going extinct.

Many species do gather in large flocks, herds etc. Go to the Bass Rock in the Forth Estuary. It is swarming with Gannets. The SD mentality seems that because its swarming with Gannets there are millions of them so they all must be shot.

However Bass Rock represents a large proportion of the European population.

Jesus , comparing gannets with pigeons now , this is getting ridiculous.
Last time I checked I dont think gannets cause serious crop protection

 

[Nickb]

Jesus , comparing gannets with pigeons now , this is getting ridiculous.
Last time I checked I dont think gannets cause serious crop protection

#damage

 

[User00053]

My last words on the matter

 

[25 Sharps]

Maybe, but by not having an open season you are relying on the terms of the general license NOT being enforced.
For example, shooting pigeons over stubble is not acceptable, birds on stubble are not causing damage , neither is roost shooting or flighting or taking pigeons flushed during a driven shoot. The use of decoys to lure birds into a kill zone may not be legal.
The only justification for shooting pigeons under your general license is to prevent damage and the onus is on you or the landowner to demonstrate that shooting is the only way that the damage can be prevented.
If you have an open season, a sensible one, say from September through to the end of March, you can bang away during the season and rely on the general licence for the remainder of the year.
I suspect that this is why BASC has raised the issue.

Shooting over stubble isn’t illegal if there are crops in the neighbouring fields that are getting damaged, nor using decoys to lure them away from the crop to the stubble. Same as roost shooting near crops, or flighting on the way to or from crops.

You only have to open the first couple of pigeons crops to see what they are feeding on to prove they are causing damage.

It’s often not difficult to show that shooting is the only practical method of preventing damage.

But an open season where the licence didn’t need to be relied upon would only be a good thing. Which is what I think @Conor O'Gorman is trying to get at!

 

[VSS]

Jesus , comparing gannets with pigeons now , this is getting ridiculous.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://lookingnorth.blog/2020/06/the-guga-hunters-of-ness/&ved=2ahUKEwi83MrXiK6EAxW1V0EAHd5JAOoQFnoECFQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0wDvQZwZOa0zADxc9s0n_-

And:

The hunt.

If you might be looking for some interesting viewing then take a look at the recent BBC Alba programme called sulaisgeir The Hunt. It is all subtitled and makes for very interesting viewing not just for those interested in life out here in the wild west but also for anyone with an interest in...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

The film is very interesting.

 

[25 Sharps]

Those involved in conservation understand that like a garden some species need help others controlled depending on what your growing all about the balance which I thought had been obvious for a long time
Definition of weed may help some but confuse others

Those with a real understanding do those with a passing interest because it fits their political paradigm generally don’t!

 

[25 Sharps]

I suppose the question would be, playing devil's advocate, if you have no crops that need protection then why are you needing to shoot them? As a pest then just because you want to isn't a good enough reason.

You don’t need to shoot them if there’s no crop to protect and you shouldn’t be doing it!!

 

[BenBhoy]

You don’t need to shoot them if there’s no crop to protect and you shouldn’t be doing it!!