DEFRA Consultation on further Quarry Restrictions

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timbrayford

timbrayford

Well-Known Member
Further proposed restrictions on our shooting activities:-

Why your views matter​

These changes would directly affect anybody who participates in the shooting of any of the species listed above.

The proposals in this consultation build on the British Association of Shooting and Conservation’s (BASC’s) Sustainable Shooting Code of Practice for Wildfowl Quarry Species which covers voluntary restraint for certain species, targeted conservation measures and participation in data and evidence-gathering initiatives.

Protecting wild birds: Consultation on Amending the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which allows certain species of wild birds to be killed or taken outside of their close seasons - Defra - Citizen Space

This site contains consultations that are run by Defra.
consult.defra.gov.uk
 
As a wildfowler these changes are unwanted and unnecessary.

All population declines, bar that of Pochard, can be attributed to the phenomenon of short stopping.

The migratory ducks just do not need to fly to the UK any more to find ice free conditions during the winter. They stay on the European mainland. As do WF geese.

Stopping shooting will do nothing for the flyway population
 
mudman said:
As a wildfowler these changes are unwanted and unnecessary.

All population declines, bar that of Pochard, can be attributed to the phenomenon of short stopping.

The migratory ducks just do not need to fly to the UK any more to find ice free conditions during the winter. They stay on the European mainland. As do WF geese.

Stopping shooting will do nothing for the flyway population
Click to expand...
Had to chuckle from the BASC blurb
a) * This code does not apply to reared and released mallard, and the shooting thereof.

Where is the arrow🔙🔜 pointing to which is a wild or released mallard :tiphat:
the wild mallard breed on the farm pond and walk through the farmyard, some came in the drying shed to pick up loose grain while I was measuring up a job.
Who ever writes this stuff must have a day job as a very junior planning clerk
 
If wood pigeon are added to 2.1 would that mean we could shoot them in the open season and not have to comply with a general licence- currently I can shoot woodys because I can’t demonstrate agricultural protection, as I only have access to non commercial woodland.
If wood pigeon could be shot in an open season and/ or on a general licence- wouldn’t everyone be happy
 
Siggy said:
If wood pigeon are added to 2.1 would that mean we could shoot them in the open season and not have to comply with a general licence- currently I can shoot woodys because I can’t demonstrate agricultural protection, as I only have access to non commercial woodland.
If wood pigeon could be shot in an open season and/ or on a general licence- wouldn’t everyone be happy
Click to expand...
Yes, putting Woodpigeon on to 2.1 is a good thing, as they can then be shot as a ‘sporting’ quarry specie without need for complying with the GL restrictions during the open season.
 
Tim.243 said:
Had to chuckle from the BASC blurb
a) * This code does not apply to reared and released mallard, and the shooting thereof.

Where is the arrow🔙🔜 pointing to which is a wild or released mallard :tiphat:
the wild mallard breed on the farm pond and walk through the farmyard, some came in the drying shed to pick up loose grain while I was measuring up a job.
Who ever writes this stuff must have a day job as a very junior planning clerk
Click to expand...

Your wild duck sound about as wild as your wild foxes then Tim
 
It would simplify pigeon shooting and would remove the uncertainty of say roost shooting. Also makes decoying over stubbles in the autumn legal.
I am not sure the closed period dates are correct though.
D
 
Cyres said:
It would simplify pigeon shooting and would remove the uncertainty of say roost shooting. Also makes decoying over stubbles in the autumn legal.
I am not sure the closed period dates are correct though.
D
Click to expand...
we have to be a little bit careful about this- wood pigeons appear to be breeding from January to December - so as the close season is supposed to protect breeding birds, we need to ensure that the season is the peak breeding season.
 
Yes agree with that as the pairs around my garden breed all year. Better still no season at all as per Munties. They are a serious agricultural pest in UK and need to be controled. It's just because we are bowing to EU nonsense as woodies are v sparse in mainland Europe.
This year pigeon have stripped all the flowers and leaves off my mature plum tree. I have resorted to netting a smaller tree.
D
 
I personally think an open season for pigeons would be a really good thing.

I’ve become increasingly concerned that live quarry options for shotguns are getting rapidly eroded given you can only shoot mammals, game and wildfowl as of right. With rabbit numbers reducing, game being curtailed and wildfowl options reduced, that leaves only squirrels for a lot of people (or not for many Scots).

Historically the GLs were very generous but increasingly those are being tightened (and that’s only going one way), which will limit options for shooters whose only real option is to shoot ‘pests’.

As others also add, some forms of pigeon shooting are rendered a bit grey under the current GLs.

A sensible open season would be a positive step among the many negatives we otherwise endure.
 
Would the problem not be with woodies the close season would likely be through the summer when crops could be suffering severe damage.
So u might not be allowed to control them at a peak time.
 
A think that could be the general idea
Call me mr cynical 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️
The argument will go along the lines of killing birds & leaving the young to starve .
 
countrryboy said:
Would the problem not be with woodies the close season would likely be through the summer when crops could be suffering severe damage.
So u might not be allowed to control them at a peak time.
Click to expand...

Not as things stand as this is said to be additional to the current GLs, so you can still shoot in summer if you satisfy the GL conditions but in late autumn/winter you could shoot them for food or just because you feel like it.

Same situation as is currently in place with Canada Geese.
 
andyk said:
Not as things stand as this is said to be additional to the current GLs, so you can still shoot in summer if you satisfy the GL conditions but in late autumn/winter you could shoot them for food or just because you feel like it.

Same situation as is currently in place with Canada Geese.
Click to expand...

That would make more sense.
Which worries me, when does any government body pass legislation that makes sense and benefits shooting.

Must admit u always see lads shooting pigeons on the line on a driven day.
Always thought a pretty grey area, esp in my area as not much arable crops about.to protect
 
Shooting season 1st September to end of January.
Why not until the end of February?

But knowing how these consultations go it will probably end up with a recreational shooting season of 1st December to the end of January, even if not in the first instance of any change (me, negative?).
And then, further down the line they pull the plug on the pest control aspect..
 
I will complete this survey solely to support this 2.1 for woodpigeon so we can get back "one for the pot". And outside the proposed close season we still have GL42. Seems like a win win for me? And from a Labour Government no less!

So I just opposed all the removals from 2.1 but supported the adding of woodpigeon to 2.1.

We can be pretty sure that the "antis" will likely oppose this so we need to make sure our opinions are counted. So, for me, it's a single issue for 2.1 for woodpigeon with that close season being perhaps of less duration. I also commented this:

I believe that this would enable woodpigeons to be shot for sale for food and sold to the public and so become a useful source of income for farmers either selling the shot birds or selling the right to shoot such birds. It would also be an additional food line that could be sold in supermarkets and food markets as they once were.
 
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countrryboy said:
Would the problem not be with woodies the close season would likely be through the summer when crops could be suffering severe damage.
So u might not be allowed to control them at a peak time.
Click to expand...
No. As GL42 still applies. What this poposal does is mean that the ONLY time we need to go through the hoops of GL42 will now be during February to August.
 
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