ClemFandango

7/8Kg is about average although I have had quite a few bucks get to weights of around 12Kg dressed out. Heaviest I have had has been 14.

I'm easily confused Dekers. What did you mean by that?

the only other choice is solid slug but you would need an FAC for that. You'd be surprised. I have to go up to heavy three inch cartridges to improve the pellet count but they are pretty good. They far outperform SSG's and 00buck in terms of pattern density. That is likely why they were chosen as the only approved shot size.

Build a fence... It is only legal to use a shotgun and AAA for deer in specific circumstances. taken from http://www.thedeerinitiative.co.uk/best_practice/legislation_health_and_safety_and_welfare.php Damage by deer. [s.7Deer Act] On any cultivated land, pasture or enclosed woodland, deer may be shot during the close season and a shotgun can be used in certain circumstances [see below] in order to prevent damage. This action may be taken by the occupier of the land in person and with his written permission by: Any member of the occupier’s household normally resident on the land; Any person in ordinary service of the occupier of the land; Any person having the right to take or kill deer on the land; Any person acting with written authority of a person having that right. Subject to that person having: Reasonable grounds for believing that deer of the same species were causing or had caused damage to crops, vegetables, fruit, growing timber or any other form of property on the land and; further damage was likely to be caused and was likely to be serious; The action was necessary to prevent any such damage. If a shotgun is to be used, the following conditions apply It must be not smaller than a 12 bore; AAA shot ONLY may be used, or A single non-spherical projectile weighing not less than 22.68 grammes (350 grains) Note that a firearms certificate is required to purchase such ammunition. I don't know why Dekers keeps referencing humane despatch, he's correct, you can use any means necessary to put an animal out of it's suffering but it is totally irrelevant in your case as you aren't talking about wounded muntjac. Unless you are selling your apples as a commercial crop, have tried all other methods to prevent damage and can prove it is muntjac doing the damage I would say you would struggle to justify the legality in your situation. You may find that you can shoot the legally with a fullbore. Your FLO's ignorance isn't really an excuse for you not to apply. If you have good reason then put in an application for a deer calibre rifle on that basis. Then you can control them legally.

I'm 34. I'd always repair rather than replace. But you are right. The guys I work with are similar to yours. I sometimes take their "broken" stuff off their hands. Fix it and either keep it or sell it. I have a nearly new husky chainsaw that a bloke I work with was taking down the tip because it wouldn't cut. He'd never greased the clutch and the chain break had seized on. I just gave it a good dose of WD40 and a new clutch and it's never failed since!

The squirrel was likely already dead when the buzzard picked it up.

mine are the latter

I'm a bit far away but those prices are a bargain for someone.

Well I doubt any smock is going to cover your hang down. Unfortunately my smocks are going to be way too tight I reckon. I only have a 40" chest. You can also get the Yarmo smocks on Amazon. I reckon whoever you spoke to who said they have discontinued them was running on a load of old squit. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yarmo-Unisex-Traditional-Fishermans-Sailcloth/dp/B07BNZKC1G

Chest?

Yarmo have discontinued their smocks? What size are you? I might have a couple in a drawer. You can have them if they will fit and I can find them. I think these are the ones I have but I died them green. https://www.yarmo.co.uk/clothing/casual-clothing/fisherman-s-smocks/fishermans-smock-button-neck-sm07/ although they seem to still be selling them online?

I've got a few of the Yarmo ones. Good smocks but a bit short in the body if you are a lanky ****** like me.

and they'll introduce a water collection charge based on the volume of your water butt and the catchment of your rain gutters

Still legal to control all those species.

YES! Same here.

Well. Yeah. If you go back far enough nothing was illegal.

Why? It was never legal to just shoot pigeons for meat. It still isn't. Nope. Nothing else thanks.

Yes. And you always were.

Nicely done. w Good post, interesting reading.

While I agree with the sentiment, that's not entirely true. The licence application to reintroduce Lynx by the Lynx trust UK was refused last year. There will be a lot of other licence applications refused, we just don't hear about them.

Does anybody actually read anything before replying? Scolopax. Your suggestion makes perfect sense. Not sure how many more times you'll have to repeat yourself but I am enjoying reading the thread. I hope someone cottons on to this and considers extending your suggestion to other species on the General Licence, unfortunately I don't see it happening as I don't credit the people that make the laws with that much common sense.

Wise decision. Whatever you do. Whatever "advice" you read on here or take from other shooters the biggest thing is being confident in your ability while understanding your limitations. You obviously have a sensible head on your shoulders and are making the right decisions, everything else will fall into place the more you do.

No need to apologise, I should also apologise for jumping to conclusions. In the end we were both making the same point anyway.

Fair point.

Have I misunderstood your post then? When you said "Few use a semi auto rifle for pest control." I took that to mean that not many people use a semi auto rifle for pest control. Did you mean " a few use a semi auto." as in there are people that do it. In which case I agree. You are correct in your first point. One thing that this has highlighted is the general and unfathomable ignorance of what the old General Licences actually did or stated. Your personal details should never be given out in an FOI. That would be redacted.