50 ft no shooting rule near public roads.

[Rake Aboot]

No.

“If a person without lawful authority or excuse—

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…”

Highways (Amendment) Act 1986

An Act to amend the Highways Act 1980 so as to impose penalties in cases where a user of a highway is injured, interrupted or endangered in consequence of the lighting of a fire on the highway or elsewhere.

www.legislation.gov.uk

- So there are two parts to the offence:

1. Shooting within 50’ of the centre of the highway, AND;

2. Injuring, interrupting or endangering someone.

maximus otter

The first part only becomes an offence if the second part happens as a consequence.

You can shoot whilst standing in the middle of a road. As long as you don’t inconvenience anyone.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I think the OP has the answers above, but even then, common sense should prevail, the deer might drop dead on the spot, if a herd panics and crosses the motorway, well, I would hate to think of the consequences, if in doubt there is no doubt, dont shoot!

 

[Tim.243]

Harrison v Duke of Rutland [1893] 1 QB 142 is a foundational English tort law case establishing that public highways are solely for passage. Using a highway for any other purpose—such as interfering with a landowner's sporting rights—makes an individual a trespasser against the owner of the subsoil. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Case Breakdown

• The Facts: The plaintiff (Mr. Harrison) went onto a public highway crossing a grouse moor owned by the defendant (the Duke of Rutland) specifically to disrupt the Duke's grouse shoot. Harrison stood on the road waving an umbrella to scare the birds away. The Duke’s servants restrained him, leading Harrison to sue for assault and false imprisonment. The Duke counterclaimed that Harrison was a trespasser. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• The Principle: The public's right over a highway is merely an easement of "passing and repassing". While minor, incidental actions (like resting or taking a quick sketch) are considered reasonable and ordinary uses of a highway, acting with the sole intent of interfering with the subsoil owner's rights exceeds the purpose of dedication. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• The Ruling: The Court of Appeal found in favour of the Duke of Rutland. Because Harrison was not using the highway to travel, but rather to intentionally disrupt the shoot, he was legally a trespasser. Therefore, the Duke's servants were justified in using reasonable force to restrain him

 

[timbrayford]

I have but still need clarification..there are NO houses nearby!
Is the measurement taken from the central reservation?

Yes

 

[Tim.243]

I have but still need clarification..there are NO houses nearby!
Is the measurement taken from the central reservation?

Yes also a large dose of common sense required, just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Centre of the road or if you can remember Sally Carr in her hot pants "Middle of the Road"

 

[muddy42]

No distance limit in Scots law, where you can shoot from the highway if you need to, except if you cause alarm, inconvenience, disturbance etc.

Its amazing how many discussions start here with a presumption that its all about England !

 

[slider]

No distance limit in Scots law, where you can shoot from the highway if you need to, except if you cause alarm, inconvenience, disturbance etc.

Its amazing how many discussions start here with a presumption that its all about England !

Spot on

 

[Heym SR20]

I presume the legislation was written before the advent of dual carriageways or motorways.

The centre of a narrow country lane, or even old A class road, is somewhat different from a motorway centre line which is generally around the middle of the centre reserve (give or take - from my days on road design/construction).

I wouldn’t want to be visible shooting next to a busy road of any sorts, preferably behind a thick hedge or scrub.
Also certainly wouldn’t want any shot quarry ending up on the motorway side of the boundary fence - which would be illegal to collect.

If you google you will find that the first dual carriageway was opened by the King in 1925. First motorway - the M1 was early 1960’s.

The Highways Act was 1986, and Legislation is constantly being updated. For example the Firearms Act 1968, was amended on 29 June 2026 regarding sound moderators.

 

[LuckyEddie]

If you google you will find that the first dual carriageway was opened by the King in 1925. First motorway - the M1 was early 1960’s.

The Highways Act was 1986, and Legislation is constantly being updated. For example the Firearms Act 1968, was amended on 29 June 2026 regarding sound moderators.

When was the part regarding discharging a firearm written into law?

Yes it keeps being updated, but only when something is worth updating.
No one is specifically tasked with updating it.
The update only happens when there is enough pressure applied.

Even then the whole Act is not reviewed to verify if any other part is requires updating or is obsolete. Hence small discrepancies can be carried over for decades.

 

[Feugh]

I once lost a permission because I refused to shoot rabbits on the verge of a dual carriageway. Madness! It was a real shame (I shot two gold medal roe there) but it was absolutely the right decision.

 

[LuckyEddie]

If you google you will find that the first dual carriageway was opened by the King in 1925. First motorway - the M1 was early 1960’s.

The Highways Act was 1986, and Legislation is constantly being updated. For example the Firearms Act 1968, was amended on 29 June 2026 regarding sound moderators.

Just did a quick check and it say it was formally written into law in 1980.
Which would indicate that there was some sort of ambiguous law previous.

To me someone, not clever enough or simply lazy, simply took the previous ambiguous wording and applied it to the legislation.

 

[Kalahari]

First UK motorway, M6 Preston bypass, 1958.

David.

 

[LuckyEddie]

I once lost a permission because I refused to shoot rabbits on the verge of a dual carriageway. Madness! It was a real shame (I shot two gold medal roe there) but it was absolutely the right decision.

20 odd years ago, I might have considered it depending on which dual carriageway.
Not now with the increase in road traffic during the night.

 

[25 Sharps]

I know it’s NOT permitted ..but can anybody please explain it with a drawing ….exactly where the measurements start and end ..especially as one of my shoots boarders a Motorway going both ways traffic!

It is allowed, provided you dont upset anyone using the highway at the time, it’s measured from the centre of the highway.

Highway includes bridleways and byways, but not footpaths, basically anywhere’s horse can go.

 

[25 Sharps]

Interesting, so anyone with authority with an excuse can ignore it

I'd measure it at night, when the traffic has died down a touch.

Within 50' today, vegans and other far left road users are certainly still going to ring the two tier police anyway.
Just don't whare a backpack!

I was once pigeon shooting, due to the public (permissive) access on the farm I would always call 101 and put out signs out saying pest control shooting taking place.

Looked down the headland and saw a dog walker stood next to a sign, phone in hand, sure enough 1 minute later had a call from the control room asking if it was me shooting. I confirmed it was and what the caller had just done, the police said fine, carry on.

Same woman a year or so later, in the field next door, decided to stand, shout and wave her arms whilst about 100 yards from us. Was great as it had gone quiet but she ushered 5 pigeons out of the trees, all of which proceed to drop into the pattern and get shot .

 

[maxtich]

Members thank you for all the info…it’s an eye opener for sure!

 

[Heym SR20]

When was the part regarding discharging a firearm written into law?

Yes it keeps being updated, but only when something is worth updating.
No one is specifically tasked with updating it.
The update only happens when there is enough pressure applied.

Even then the whole Act is not reviewed to verify if any other part is requires updating or is obsolete. Hence small discrepancies can be carried over for decades.

Haven’t a clue, but if you go legislation website you can track all the amendments made to the law over time. You can then start counting your tiddly winks collection.

What really matters is the law that is currently in force, as if you break that you potentially liable for time on the naughty step.

 

[Bo Diddley]

Members thank you for all the info…it’s an eye opener for sure!

They have all missed the point, though.
The law evolved as a ploy to thwart the activities of Richard Turpin, aka "Dick Turpin" the famous highwayman, his pair of flintlock pistols were completly useless beyond the 50' mark, especially for Dick as he was partially sighted, the joke being on him when he called his horse "Black Bess" as it was really a chestnut.
The authorities would stop at nothing to apprehend this braggart and common thief.
It even became a huge concern for King George II when Turpin fell in with the deer poaching gang who targeted the Royal Forest at Waltham. Turpin was caught and sentenced to be hanged by the neck until dead, dead, dead (a short drop is not a kind way to be hanged.
So there you have it, my dear fellow, it's all Dick Turpin's fault, this 50' from the highway nonsense.

 

[doric_prince]

Yes also a large dose of common sense required, just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Centre of the road or if you can remember Sally Carr in her hot pants "Middle of the Road"

View attachment 481418

Could be deemed a legal example of causing “botheration” I’m sure; if she were standing like such in the centre of the highway (shooting or not!)

 

[Tim.243]

Could be deemed a legal example of causing “botheration” I’m sure; if she were standing like such in the centre of the highway (shooting or not!)

Slightly off topic but justified Back in the day a friend and his wife sold Strawberry's in season, they sold ok but sales went through the roof when the very trim " Jan" put on a polka dot bikini and sat next to the punnets of Strawbs.
A couple of times the wife's in the car lost it with her husbands shouting at them " you only wanted to look at her" lol