Consultation on the General Licence

.Skinner.

Well-Known Member
Hi all,

Apologies if this has been covered already.

Rather than explain it all myself I think I'll paste some text that the Countryside Alliance has put up on their Facebook page, regarding a consultation on the general licence and some worrying potential changes that could be made to the specifics of it.

Here it is....

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Do official proposals threaten a crisis for the control of pest birds in England?

As Political Adviser to the NGO, I have been going through the lengthy consultation document issued by Natural England (NE) on 24 February on the future of the General Licences. These are the regulations under which gamekeepers and others control pest birds such as woodpigeons, crows, rooks and magpies. The suggestions make alarming reading.

If you are a gamekeeper, a farmer, a pest controller, a pigeon shooter, a wildfowler or indeed anyone with an interest in the good management of the countryside, I strongly recommend that you read NE's consultation and send in your views to them by 19th May.
Here are some of the reasons why you need to get involved:

Under NE's draft Bird Trapping Code, you would not be allowed to set a bird trap of any type on public Access Land (ie most of the English uplands) or "where livestock could get access". See paragraph 2 of http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/draft-code-of-practice-trapping-birds_tcm6-37397.pdf

NE is proposing that no-one should be allowed to shoot or trap woodpigeons, crows or other pest birds unless they themselves had first taken "reasonable and appropriate steps to resolve the problem, such as scaring and proofing". See section 31 ofhttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf

NE thinks that the hooded crow, the jackdaw, the jay & the collard dove should come off the General Licences for England. See section 1 & 4 ofhttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf
NE are suggesting that individuals should have to report to them whenever they trap or shoot pest birds in an SSSI, SPA or SAC. See section 30 of http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf

They ask if there should be a limit on the time that decoys can be kept, including a prohibition on keeping them in aviaries through the winter. See section 8 ofhttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf

NE are asking whether you think you should you have to register with the police before using Larsen traps or crow cages, which would all have to be numbered. See section 9 ofhttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf

And so it goes on. Suffice to say that if these proposals go ahead, they would massively affect the actions of gamekeepers, pest controllers, shooters and farmers.
The NGO will be sending in a detailed, point by point response to NE's consultation in due course and I urge you to do the same.
CHARLES NODDER

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Skinner
 
Shooting Times have an informative article on it -http://www.shootingtimes.co.uk/news/542353/Natural_England_launches_General_Licences_consultation.html
 
Hi all,


Do official proposals threaten a crisis for the control of pest birds in England?

NE are asking whether you think you should you have to register with the police before using Larsen traps or crow cages, which would all have to be numbered. See section 9 ofhttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf
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Skinner

This already happens in Scotland - you call up the local Wildlife Crime officer state you are setting up a trap and obtain a number form him/her and away you go. It's just one number for the trapper rather than for each of the traps as you may start off with 6 and a few months later want to get another 6 in which case there would be a break in the numbering system for that individual.

Ed
 
Hi all,


Under NE's draft Bird Trapping Code, you would not be allowed to set a bird trap of any type on public Access Land (ie most of the English uplands) or "where livestock could get access". See paragraph 2 of http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/draft-code-of-practice-trapping-birds_tcm6-37397.pdf

NE is proposing that no-one should be allowed to shoot or trap woodpigeons, crows or other pest birds unless they themselves had first taken "reasonable and appropriate steps to resolve the problem, such as scaring and proofing". See section 31 ofhttp://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf

NE are suggesting that individuals should have to report to them whenever they trap or shoot pest birds in an SSSI, SPA or SAC. See section 30 of http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/cl-consultation-document_tcm6-37389.pdf

Skinner

1st point build a timber post and two rail fence round the trap - livestock cannot gain access.
2nd point not really possibly to be in one location dawn 'til dusk to watch out for pests also what happens if birds aren't allowed to settle and are constantly moving and scared into starvation also how do you proof a field of rape seed or peas?
3rd point overload the system, 30 or 40 shooters calling in each day (provided they had permission to shoot on the area) will quickly take care of that issue.

Just my thoughts

Ed
 
This already happens in Scotland - you call up the local Wildlife Crime officer state you are setting up a trap and obtain a number form him/her and away you go. It's just one number for the trapper rather than for each of the traps as you may start off with 6 and a few months later want to get another 6 in which case there would be a break in the numbering system for that individual.

Ed

It seems to be the thing that Scotland is being used a the testing ground for a lot of these type of things nowadays!
 
1st point build a timber post and two rail fence round the trap - livestock cannot gain access.
2nd point not really possibly to be in one location dawn 'til dusk to watch out for pests also what happens if birds aren't allowed to settle and are constantly moving and scared into starvation also how do you proof a field of rape seed or peas?
3rd point overload the system, 30 or 40 shooters calling in each day (provided they had permission to shoot on the area) will quickly take care of that issue.

Just my thoughts

Ed


Livestock are usually prone to setting the trap off or knocking it over anyway so most people locate the trap accordingly.
The part about attempting other means first is really namby-pamby and as many farmers will have gas guns etc running as well as folks controlling them/keeping them off is really words on paper rather than practical law.
Sometimes I do wonder if NE spout some of this rubbish to justify their existance rather than help anyone or anything.
As for Jays,Hoodies and Collared Doves coming off the list,what a load of twaddle!Logically the doves are the same as grey squirrels as they are not a native species and the other two are far from being endangered
 
Great of CA to spread the word but they have just cut and pasted the NGO blog - They didnt even bother to change the first line.

On a serious note this could far reaching consequences for all shoots and we should all take time to read the document and speak to our membership organisation whoever they are as well as responding ourselves if we think we can.
 
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