Pinkfooty Posted December 28, 2009 Report Share Posted December 28, 2009 Last week, in view of the continuing cold weather, BASC recommended restraint in wildfowling in Scotland. The East of Scotland Wildfowling Club has e-mailed all its members with its own recommendations, as the severity of the conditions can vary from place to place. The following recommendations are worth sharing with all wildfowlers who live in Scotland or visit for wildfowling: ESAWC asks all members to heed the following guidelines. o It is recommended that members assess their own local conditions and cancel any planned shooting if they believe that the weather is causing the birds to lose condition. o Remember that when wildfowl and waders are experiencing hard weather, then the disturbance factor from shooting is far more critical as it can reduce their ability to feed. o If members do consider that shooting is OK in their own location, they should not use the conditions to take excessive bags of fowl. It is suggested that members apply a voluntary limit of two geese or three ducks. o If there is a statutory ban in a week's time, members should, of course, observe it rigorously. Game shooters please note that the ban covers snipe and woodcock. To get further updates or advice telephone BASC Scotland on 01350 723226. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 29, 2009 Report Share Posted December 29, 2009 BUMP Severe weather triggers call for voluntary shooting restraint in Scotland. 26 December 2009 Due to continuing adverse weather, BASC is calling for all shooters in Scotland to exercise extra voluntary restraint in their shooting of ducks, geese and waders including woodcock, snipe, and reared mallard. Today is day eight of the current spell of wintry weather. Under agreed procedures for managing the shooting of certain bird species, this is the point at which a cautionary warning is issued. The decision to show restraint in shooting should be made by individuals and be based on local conditions. Further guidance is available on the BASC website www.basc.org.uk If the weather conditions persist for another five days in Scotland then it is possible that a decision will be taken by the Government to impose a statutory suspension of waterfowl shooting which would last for up to 14 days. BASC Scotland Director, Dr. Colin Shedden, said: “Individuals, clubs and syndicates should consider their local conditions and be on the lookout for unusual bird movements or birds in poor condition and take their decisions on shooting accordingly while the poor weather persists.” Unless local conditions require it, there is currently no call for extra restraint in England and Wales. This was 3 days ago and it hasn`t improved and is unlikely to so I see a suspension !! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted December 30, 2009 Report Share Posted December 30, 2009 Suspension now likely........ Here ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 ***UPDATE*** 31st December BASC is calling for all shooters in Scotland to exercise extra voluntary restraint in their shooting of ducks, geese and waders (including woodcock and snipe, and reared mallard). Today is day 11 of the current spell of wintry weather. Guidance on such restraint is available through the link above "Voluntary Restraint". Note that whether and what restraint is exercised is a local decision based on local conditions. It is increasingly likely that the Scottish Minister, based on the agreed criteria, will impose a statutory suspension of waterfowl shooting to take effect on Monday 4th January 2010. This normally would last up to 14 days, but if the weather and conditions improve, should be reviewed after 7 days. Please inform shooters as widely as possible both within Scotland and those planning to travel to Scotland for some shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 This is the latest e-mail to come out of BASC Scotland. Last night was a bit milder and consequently we are still sitting on Day 12. Tomorrow (Sunday) is expected to be colder so it could be Day 13, and the Minister is ready to sign the Order. That means that the earliest that the ban could now come in is on Tuesday the 5th January at 9.00. All the best, Colin Dr Colin B. Shedden Director, BASC Scotland Trochry Dunkeld PH8 0DY Cheers, Mark. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Shoot what you can while you can, provided they are fit to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Shoot what you can while you can, provided they are fit to eat. ... you could get most of the woodcock round here with a tennis racket ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Shoot what you can while you can, provided they are fit to eat. ....and how would one know that whilst on the wing ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted January 2, 2010 Report Share Posted January 2, 2010 Here is BASC's stance onthe situation in Scotland ***UPDATE*** 2nd January 2010 BASC is calling for all shooters in Scotland to exercise extra voluntary restraint in their shooting of ducks, geese and waders (including woodcock and snipe, and reared mallard). Today is day 12 of the current spell of wintry weather. Guidance on such restraint is available through the link above "Voluntary Restraint". Note that whether and what restraint is exercised is a local decision based on local conditions. It is now very likely that the Scottish Minister, based on the agreed criteria, will impose a statutory suspension of waterfowl shooting to take effect on Tuesday 5th January 2010. This normally would last up to 14 days, but if the weather and conditions improve, should be reviewed after 7 days. Please inform shooters as widely as possible both within Scotland and those planning to travel to Scotland for some shooting. Please also check this website for updates on the situation, and encourage other shooters to do so as well. NB Unless local conditions require it, there is no call for extra restraint in England and Wales. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler-2007 Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Well we see some goose guides have still been shooting geese around our area shocking practise in my eye's Shooting geese at the moment is not sport is just killing for the sake of killing as it's so easy the ban cant come quick anuff in my eye's as reports i got back from a guide was it was easy peezy that say's it all Regards Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rjimmer Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 ....and how would one know that whilst on the wing ? Shoot one and find out. If it's poor as a crow, you won't want to shoot any more. We 'exercise restraint' all season through bag limits. 2 geese per outing! That's as many as I've shot in 48 years wildfowling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkfooty Posted January 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Ban now official. 3rd January 2010…….……………………………………………….immediate release The shooting of certain bird species is to be suspended in Scotland for the first time in 13 years because of the prolonged spell of snow and ice. From 9.00am on Tuesday 5th of January it will become illegal to shoot ducks; including reared mallard; geese, woodcock, snipe and golden plover. The suspension could last for up to two weeks, but should be reviewed after seven days if there is an improvement in conditions. The last such suspension was in January 1997 and covered the whole of Great Britain. The last suspension in Scotland alone was in 1993. Dr Colin Shedden, director of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) Scotland said: "The legal suspension of the shooting of wildfowl and wading birds is applied in order to offer extra protection when an extended period of severe weather is likely to disrupt the birds' feeding and roosting patterns. Hunters in Scotland have been under advice to exercise extra restraint in shooting these birds since Boxing Day." Following agreed criteria, Minister for Environment, Roseanna Cunningham has today signed an order under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which will bring the suspension into force from the 5th of January. The legal suspension is introduced on the fifteenth day of severe weather, according to data collected at coastal weather stations by the Meteorological Office. ENDS NOTES to Editors: When a protection order is signed, it becomes an offence to kill or take any of the following species, whether on the coast or inland: Ducks: mallard, teal, wigeon, pintail, tufted duck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye. Geese: greylag, pink-footed, Canada. Waders: golden plover, woodcock, snipe. Others: moorhen and coot. Game birds are not affected, but reared duck are included. NB: Shooting geese for crop protection during any statutory suspension period is also prohibited unless it is otherwise permitted by licence. Any such shooting should be conducted so as to minimise disturbance to other wildfowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
v-max Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Thay should stop ******* about & just impose the ban & review it 7-days later & see how it looks & give them a break. I did how ever on the 2nd flush 10 or so woodcock & shot 2 to see how they are & they were plump & came in at 12oz & 12.5oz & i will not shoot at them any more till weather gives. I have seen loads of woodcock when beating & must admit they looked weak but were plumpish but bring on the ban in my eyes. PS. this is the first woodcock of the season i have shot & shot at as i dont shoot myself at game often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoubleTap Posted January 6, 2010 Report Share Posted January 6, 2010 Its just snowed heavily down here in Buckinhamshire and is going down below 0 degrees tonight so will freeze. I reckon the ban will come down here :yp: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkfooty Posted January 7, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 A number of English wildfowling clubs have already closed their marshes because of local weather conditions. Check on the Wildfowling Forum for announcements by individual clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted January 7, 2010 Report Share Posted January 7, 2010 Shoot what you can while you can, provided they are fit to eat. I take it that your comment was a wind up having read your later posts on the matter? IMO the reason Britain is such a shooting mecca is due to the quality of our hunters who in the main are resposible human beings and not some gung ho southern european macho man! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.