multi shot

[mark s]

Because they are game.

 

[Whitebeard]

Because they are game.

So you are saying because they are game they can only be shot with a shotgun??
I am not aware of any legislation preventing the shooting of pheasant with a rifle as long as it is not a prohibited rifle (Ruger 10-22 or any other semi auto), is in the specified season and you have the land owners permission.

Ian.

 

[mark s]

I can't find any myself! I must bow to your superior knowledge of law! However,why would anybody want to shoot a game bird with a rifle anyway?

 

[Whitebeard]

I can't find any myself! I must bow to your superior knowledge of law! However,why would anybody want to shoot a game bird with a rifle anyway?

Hi Mark, i dont think its the reason to want to shoot pheasants with a rifle but making sure it is legal if one was ever in that position.

Ian.

 

[enfieldspares]

However,why would anybody want to shoot a game bird with a rifle anyway?

It was done routinely by the keeper for the syndicate that I belonged to twenty years ago. At the end of the season, unless it fell on the last shoot day, he would go around and using a .22LR bolt action rifle would take out about a dozen or so cock birds from here and there if those last few "cocks only" days had been of a low bag.

Thus reducing the feed bill and ensuring that the hen birds were then not too much over-troubled when the breeding season came around. I think that in fact more shoots do this than the guns might actually be aware of. Cock birds being so much "dead wood" after the season has ended if they don't get shot on "cocks only" days.

 

[CharlieT]

It was done routinely by the keeper for the syndicate that I belonged to twenty years ago. At the end of the season, unless it fell on the last shoot day, he would go around and using a .22LR bolt action rifle would take out about a dozen or so cock birds from here and there if those last few "cocks only" days had been of a low bag.

Thus reducing the feed bill and ensuring that the hen birds were then not too much over-troubled when the breeding season came around. I think that in fact more shoots do this than the guns might actually be aware of. Cock birds being so much "dead wood" after the season has ended if they don't get shot on "cocks only" days.

It does indeed still go on. I do so myself, for that very reason, every year.

 

[FrenchieBoy]

Because they are game.

Agreed! But my conditions for my .22LR say "Quarry - Vermin/Ground Game" - What if I were to shoot a pheasant while it was on the ground (Not at all sporting I agree and something I personally would not want to do even with a perfect "backstop") - How would the law stand on that?

 

[redlab]

Agreed! But my conditions for my .22LR say "Quarry - Vermin/Ground Game" - What if I were to shoot a pheasant while it was on the ground (Not at all sporting I agree and something I personally would not want to do even with a perfect "backstop") - How would the law stand on that?

Did you not answer your own question!!! its on the ground!!!!

 

[redlab]

Not quite legal if you don't read and understand the law and make sure that the category of weapon you are using complies.

The Wildlife and Countryside Act prohibits "automatic and semi-automatic weapons" for killing wild birds. However the definitions in the Act states: “automatic weapon” and “semi-automatic weapon” do not include any weapon the magazine of which is incapable of holding more than two rounds".

Therefore any s2 semi-automatic shot gun, such as held on a standard Shot Gun Certificate is lawful. But any s1 semi-automatic shot gun such as held on an FAC will need a temporary block placed in the magazine. A simple length of wooden dowel such as a few inches of broom stale suffices. It does not have to be permanently affixed.

But...and here is the warning...using an unrestricted Ruger 10/22 to shoot geese or pheasants may very possibly be illegal as the magazine is ten shot regardless of the actual number of cartridges loaded.

So how would keepers get a 5-7 shot for shooting crows, pigeons geese etc when they are damaging crops? i only ask as i know a few who have and do use them for this purpose.

 

[CharlieT]

Agreed! But my conditions for my .22LR say "Quarry - Vermin/Ground Game" - What if I were to shoot a pheasant while it was on the ground (Not at all sporting I agree and something I personally would not want to do even with a perfect "backstop") - How would the law stand on that?

Simply because the Ground Game Act defines what is ground game.

 

[CharlieT]

So how would keepers get a 5-7 shot for shooting crows, pigeons geese etc when they are damaging crops? i only ask as i know a few who have and do use them for this purpose.

The General License, under which these species are shot, contains an exemption permiting their use.

 

[enfieldspares]

As above.

Indeed some twenty years ago, so after the s1 requirement came in, I held a FN Browing Auto 5 is 16 bore unrestricted on my FAC for shooting seagulls on my fishing pond, On the justification that seagulls normally came in threes and fours to pillage and plunder and that a conevntional s2 side-by-side or s2 self-loading shot gun didn't have enough capacity.

IMHO the safest gun for a hide for decoying pigeons is either a Greener GP or a fixed barrel multishot as you don't have to "break" it to reload and so the barrels are always pointing skywards.

 

[redlab]

The General License, under which these species are shot, contains an exemption permiting their use.

Thank you

 

[VSS]

Agreed! But my conditions for my .22LR say "Quarry - Vermin/Ground Game" - What if I were to shoot a pheasant while it was on the ground (Not at all sporting I agree and something I personally would not want to do even with a perfect "backstop") - How would the law stand on that?

Nothing wrong with shooting a pheasant on the ground - why make things difficult for yourself and inhumane for the quarry, in the name of "sport"?
Besides, stalking in to a truly wild cock pheasant (as opposed to one of the tame ones that are the norm on most commercial shoots) and taking it with a smallbore rifle is a worthy challenge for any sportsman.

 

[paul o']

Q[MARK S:
Pheasants can only be shot with a shotgun] end

I find that horse hair and raisin's could also end the life of Pheasants with out a sound being made !!!!

 

[nun_hunter]

Nothing wrong with shooting a pheasant on the ground - why make things difficult for yourself and inhumane for the quarry, in the name of "sport"?
Besides, stalking in to a truly wild cock pheasant (as opposed to one of the tame ones that are the norm on most commercial shoots) and taking it with a smallbore rifle is a worthy challenge for any sportsman.

Definitely agree with the above, also from a sporting point of view, head shooting a pheasant with one small lead projectile in my opinion is more sporting than shooting it with 50+ in one go after it's been driven to you

 

[willie_gunn]

Q[MARK S:
Pheasants can only be shot with a shotgun] end

I find that horse hair and raisin's could also end the life of Pheasants with out a sound being made !!!!

Corn soaked in whisky, brandy, gin or vodka does the trick as well......or so I am told

 

[jubnut]

Definitely agree with the above, also from a sporting point of view, head shooting a pheasant with one small lead projectile in my opinion is more sporting than shooting it with 50+ in one go after it's been driven to you

50+? You must be using some big shot.

 

[paul o']

ahh!! me thinks the same schooling has been applied here

Corn soaked in whisky, brandy, gin or vodka does the trick as well......or so I am told

 

[Taff]

I have seen the drunk on sloe out of sloe gin.
I also see the " my sport is the only humane sport brigade are out again"