Woodpigeon, time to confer permanent quarry status?

[Blunderbuss]

Is it time the woodpigeon was upgraded to a proper quarry species, without having to wait each year to see if Natural England will throw us some crumbs and reluctantly allow us to shoot it for another year, provided we jump through a few hoops?

 

I know there is no likelihood of them not renewing the general licence any time soon, but it is possible. And it’s all a bit woolly for my liking, faceless bureaucrats reluctantly allowing us to continue shooting each year under sufferance, if we prove we’ve tried all the Worzel Gumidge options. What about the nonsense this year where according to the draft licence no one was allowed to sell any?

 

The woodpigeon has been shot since guns were invented in this country and its numbers are greater now than at any time in history. ISTR in my youth there was no such thing as a general licence, you were just allowed to shoot woodies, no annual nonsense or need to prove you’d try to scare them with voodoo or gas bangers . Everyone knew where they stood.

 

Along with the rabbit the woodie, in terms of numbers shot, is probably the most important quarry species to British shooters, especially those who will never afford driven or walked up game shooting. Along with wildfowling it is the true working man’s sport.

 

Isn’t it time then, that this status was properly enshrined in law? No annual licence, just make it a declared quarry species, with a status similar to ground game such as rabbits or hares or even “proper” winged game (less the close seasons)?

 

Is this something BASC should pursue for us?

 

Thoughts?

[anser2]

I beleve that under European law all game\ quarry bird species have to have a closed season . pest species on a general licence do not. So if pigeons were going to become a quarry\game species they would have to have a closed season. And as pigeons breed almost all the year around , just when would the closed season be fitted in? No they are better off under a general licence for the meantime.

Edited October 24, 2009 by anser2

[Dr D]

no. lets just go for a closed season. I suggest it runs from 00.00hrs 25 December to 00.00 26 December (inclusive) we can;t shoot much legally in NI during these 24 hrs anyway.

[MC]

I beleve that under European law all game\ quarry species have to have a closed season . pest species on a general licence do not. So if pigeons were going to become a quarry\game species they would have to have a closed season. And as pigeons breed almost all the year around , just when would the closed season be fitted in? No they are better off under a general licence for the meantime.

 

 

Rabbits and hares don't so why should pigeons? Corvids don't either and some of them are quarry rather than on the GL. Although I do agree leave it as it is.

Edited October 23, 2009 by MC

[proTOM1]

I think it should be left as it is ,leave them on gl its much better for all

[SSS]

another vote for leave them on the GL. It is now, as it should be.

[Lez325]

Leaving things as they are gets my vote too- Vermin not game- we dont need a closed season on woodies

 

Les

[rjimmer]

The way I read the stuff in the Shooting Times this week, woodpigeons cannot be shot for sport ie no-one should be paying to shoot woodpigeons. This is just like needing a game license to shoot rabbits if you pay for the privilege.

I am of the opinion that roost shooting of woodpigeons is not covered by the General License because you are not protecting a specific crop.

Another proposal is that anyone convicted of a wildlife crime, will no longer be able to operate under the general License. Plough over a lapwing nest during a summer fallow and you will no longer be allowed to shoot woodpigeons!

Edited October 25, 2009 by rjimmer

[danccooke]

I can't wait for the Tories to get in, reppeal the Fox hunting Ban and let the Beaurocrats and Anti's and anyone else spend all thier time and money fighting them again and leave us to what we have always done.

[anser2]

Dan just because the Tories get into power do not think much will change. Apart from the hunting ban all the major laws restricting shooting from Gun ownership after Dunblane = Stricter controls on keeping guns , scrapping hand guns , Countryside and wildlife act 1989 = loss of quarry species , Countryside act admendments = loss of quarry species , Protection of birds act 1959 = loss of quarry species and so on have come under a Tory govenment not labour. I cant stand labour or Mr Brown , but shooting has always fared better under them than the Tory party.

 

The Tories are already dragging their feet about repealing the hunting ban , it will lose them too many votes from the public.

[danccooke]

Fair point, but i still think things will be better having somoene who shoots and hunts in power, Along with someone we as a country vote for not someone who has just inherited power.