Night Shooting on the General License - Crows

[terry1001]

I suspect that part of the reason for the "ban" on shoting bird pest species in the dark is the possibility of shooting the wrong sprecies without adequate light to discriminate one type of bird from another. There is no way of guaranteeing that all NV users would have/use good enough equipment to differentiate between birds of different species. The diffilculty of range estimation in the dark adds to the potential for mistake.

More likely similar to not shooting game on Sundays, don't want people out shooting pheasants etc at night!

[Hartshot]

Our fowling patch is

On one end you can shoot on Sundays below the sea wall, on the other end you can't

All the local wildfowl have turned to religion even the Mallard wear a white collar now

H

[Hartshot]

No answer from BASC yet !

Bloody crows will be branching by the time I get an answer

H

[squid]

I can't see the problem? It's in pure black and white on the general licence

WHAT THE LICENCE PERMITS
2. For the purposes set out in paragraph 1 above, and subject to the terms and conditions, below, this
licence permits:
(i) Authorised persons to kill or take any of the wild birds listed at (a) and (b) below, to take, damage
or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs:
(a) Crow Corvus corone
Dove, Collared Streptopelia decaocto
Gull, Lesser Black-backed Larus fuscus
Jackdaw Corvus monedula
Jay Garrulus glandarius
Magpie Pica pica
Pigeon, Feral Columba livia
Rook Corvus frugilegus
Woodpigeon Columba palumbus
(b) Goose, Canada Branta canadensis
Parakeet, Monk Myiopsitta monachus
Parakeet, Ring-necked Psittacula krameri
(ii) Authorised persons acting under subparagraph (2)(i) above:
WML - GL04 (01/12) 2
(a) to use a semi-automatic weapon;
(b) to use a cage trap, the dimensions of which do not satisfy the requirements of section 8(1) of
the Act;
(c) to use any hand held or hand propelled net to take birds whilst not in flight; and
(d) in relation to the killing or taking of Feral Pigeon (Columba livia) only:
i. to use any device for illuminating a target or any sighting device for night shooting;
ii. to use any form of artificial lighting or any mirror or other dazzling device.

When reading these legal documents you have to consider that everything is illegal apart from what's on the licence. So as I read it shooting any of the birds listed at night (apart from feral pigeon) is perfectly legal as long as you don't use any illumination or nightvision device. I would include an illuminated reticule as form of 'illuminating a target'

The special conditions for feral pigeons is for clearing them out of buildings, factories/shopping centers etc.

I would agree, except that an illuminate ret illuminates itself, not the target.

[punky]

what about not having a license I cant read what I aint got ,sub 12lb logun with add-on nv private land middle of the woods its quieter than a mouses fart through a silencer

[PESCA]

You don't actually 'have' a General License', punky. It's simply the relevant legislation that's out there.

George

[Hartshot]

Never did get an answer from BASC, having only been a member for 28 years I don't think my trial period has been reached to qualify for a response.
Maybe I don't live in the right area, who knows ?

BTW there are/were no branchers on my patch

H

Ps, Everybody who participates, therefore operates under the general license

[punky]

o right im supposed to trawl the internet because when you buy a sub 12lb rifle you look up the vermin list and theres no mention of that specific subject,thanks guys ill go up there with a chain saw and chop the tree down at night while there all on there nests my border loves birds his killed two chickens and one runner duck no law against that

[Gloop]

Never did get an answer from BASC, having only been a member for 28 years I don't think my trial period has been reached to qualify for a response.
Maybe I don't live in the right area, who knows ?

BTW there are/were no branchers on my patch

H

Ps, Everybody who participates, therefore operates under the general license

I would be on the phone chasing them for an answer. But then that is part of my day job chasing people.