Garden control
- Thread starter tolley
- Start date
eggy74
Well-Known Member
Squirrels are ok to shoot, crows can only be shot to protect wild birds on the "concerned" list (assuming you have no crops or livestock in your garden)
Plenty on that list that have been identified using the Merlin appSquirrels are ok to shoot, crows can only be shot to protect wild birds on the "concerned" list (assuming you have no crops or livestock in your garden)
its OK but a serious matter can land on your lap if a pellet , charge of shot etc passes your border . Reality is .. Its a vert good way to loose your FAC if you get something wrong .
If you have neighbours its a very good idea to speak to them before hand
If you have neighbours its a very good idea to speak to them before hand
Totally agree, not something that you take on lightly, I would love to be able to control/reduce the corvid (and wood pigeon) population in my back garden, but am loathe to do so. However, I think you will find that it is only "illegal" for a projectile fired from an air rifle/pistol to leave the boundary of land you have authority to shoot over?
To clarify.. currently in England, a projectile fired from an air rifle /pistol, leaving the boundary of land over which you have authority to shoot is a criminal matter.
Shotgun shot, or other powder powered projectiles (and for that matter probabably slingshot ammo) leaving the boundary are classed a constructive trespass, and are a civil matter.
Not that you want to be showering your neighbours conservatories with no 6 shot.
udderlyoffroad
Well-Known Member
Your legal standing is you need to have read the general licences and be satisified that you have complied with them.
"Oh but someone on a forum told me it was ok" is unlikely to be much of a defence*. Have a read here, and this table might help too:
Also note that, squirrels, not being birds, aren't on the GL at all. Doesn't mean you can't shoot them, different legislation applies.
Nowhere is it written you actually have to be on the same piece of land that you are protecting. Pest species hardly respect property boundaries. But of course, this doesn't mean you blast away at woodies on your land saying "I was only protecting farmer Giles' wheat fields behind me garden, officer" if Farmer Giles has never heard of you!
Your bigger issue will be neighbours, and possibility, whether real or perceived, of a pellet leaving your boundary. Again, you must risk assess this for yourself. Shooting squirrels off a feeder, with safe backstops and no neighbours to complain, unlikely to be an issue. But, say, a long thin garden with a nosey old man next door with a known history of phoning the police for entirely made up matters. Don't even bother.
*Not that I'm aware of anyone actually being prosecuted for a GL violation under the 1982 act.
**depending of course on the size of your garden and how overlooked it is by neighbours, as well as backstops of course. You might have a couple of acres out the back, or be on a modern housing estate with about 2m2 of garden and rotten fence panel seperating you from your neighbours.
Yes in theory that is the law and it includes catapults etc also i think , but the cops will always turn out to such an event . Distress and alarm or even false allegations can be made against you that is a risk .
In reality that is the law. Where do we draw the line? I have a friend who was walking a public footpath one morning to find someone set up to take a deer adjacent to the path. They weren't too bothered as they appreciate that this takes place all over the country.
Should we stop shooting in a line with current laws to appease those who may be caused "distress and alarm" when going about their lawful business?
Nothing wrong, legally, with shooting from, across or along a public footpath, and no comebacks if someone is alarmed, distressed etc as a result, as a footpath is not a highway.
But common courtesy dictates that either you delay your shot until the walker has moved on, or the walker waits while you take it.
It’s not “ OK” anymore to randomly shoot most Corvids there are very specific listed circumstances when you can and your back garden would not be in that list as per earlier posts. Squirrels are an invasive species and so they can be culled provided it is “ safe” in terms of any firearms/air rifle discharges
You need reason to shoot anything that is not Game in season . My own garden is safe for deer rifles so lets not assume anything
So if I have noticed magpies raiding wood pigeon eggs / chicks (on the Amber list of endangered birds) at the end of my garden, am I not allowed to control the Magpies?
shakey jake
Well-Known Member
You do talk tosh sone times.
You can shoot squirrels because they have to many r's in their name if you want. Why bring game up?
shakey jake
Well-Known Member
Squirrels will trap easily, hang a bird feeder and put a few cage traps down. Aim to shoot the squirrel in the head with one shot.
If you are over 50ft from centre of road complaints are irrelavant.
Corvids read the gl as stated above and make your own choice
If you are over 50ft from centre of road complaints are irrelavant.
Corvids read the gl as stated above and make your own choice
No because Wood Pigeons are not in the classification of Cosrvation Species of Concern, have a look at the table on post #8
I am not “ assuming anything” I am pointing out the circumstances by which you can legally shoot Corvids, under the restrictions with the GL read the spread sheet in post #8
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