Frenchieboy Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 (edited) I have just read a thread in this section (Show some compassion) about pigeon shooting during this prolonged cold snowy spell and it leaves me asking the question "Is it sporting to shoot any live quarry at the moment"? Where I am in Lancashire we are particularly hard hit with a deep covering of snow lying on all of the fields, and there's more forecast. I have been out a few times on my permissions (where possible) over the last week or so but have had to exercise extreme caution as there are drifts in some of the gullys that are 6 feet or more deep - If you went in to one of them you would be in serious trouble! Anyway, one of the most noticable things of all around here is the fact that I can go out and see a great many more rabbits out during the day time than ever before as they are really having to scratch for every blade of grass that they can just to survive. The few that I have shot "for the pot" are in good condition and not showing any signs of "losing their condition" YET but if this weather carries on much longer, (which I fear it will) what are peoples opinions on continuing shooting rabbits while they are struggling to survive? OK, I know that they are classed as vermin and in some areas can be a very big problem to farmers and land owners and should be controlled at all costs, but up in our area while they are only here in "low to reasonable numbers" they are not causing much of a problem so they are bieng shot more for "sporting" purposes than any other. With this in mind should we cut down on the numbers we shoot in order to preserve our "sport" where they are not a serious problem? Your thoughts please? Edited January 12, 2010 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 For what my opinion is worth,im not interested if it is "sporting" or not.Vermin are species that can cause damage at any time of the year,and if im shooting them now it saves a lot of damage later on.My opinion is completely different for most of our other quarry,and i have not shot a duck or goose since the snow started.The ban is a great thing,and hopefully no true outdoorsman queries the need for it.I will continue to shoot the pest species,although i dont do it from early morning to last thing,as the vast majority you dont shoot need to fill their guts and starvation is not my choice of control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 For what my opinion is worth,im not interested if it is "sporting" or not.Vermin are species that can cause damage at any time of the year,and if im shooting them now it saves a lot of damage later on.My opinion is completely different for most of our other quarry,and i have not shot a duck or goose since the snow started.The ban is a great thing,and hopefully no true outdoorsman queries the need for it.I will continue to shoot the pest species,although i dont do it from early morning to last thing,as the vast majority you dont shoot need to fill their guts and starvation is not my choice of control. I'm in the same camp really, if I told my Dad in Law I was leaving the shooting for this reason he'd kick my ***, and most likely find someone else to look after the estate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lez325 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 (edited) Ive been out in the snow this very morning and saw hundreds of woodies - diving onto a green patch in one of my Rape fields I'll be there tomorrow mornimng without fail they are still causing untold damage and my landowner is none too happy seeing them there, as said VERMIN nothing more nothing less- he';s asked me to address this problem and I intend to do just that Les Edited January 12, 2010 by Lez325 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 lez,keep at them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookiemonsterandmerlin. Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Just the same as the showing some compassion thread just diffrent thread name. Same replies and views I dont think a huge amount more to gain to talk unless somebody can inject somethink new. All the best OTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 To be honest how can you call it sporting ? sitting around in this weather is not my choice but if i don't do it someone else will This time of year with the temperature as it is its vermin controll to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted January 12, 2010 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 To be honest how can you call it sporting ? sitting around in this weather is not my choice but if i don't do it someone else will This time of year with the temperature as it is its vermin controll to me Sorry if I have caused a bit of misunderstanding here. Even though I was generalising I was thinking more of shooring rabbits than I was of pigeons. Obviously there are many lives of thought on the subject and while I tend to class my rabbit shooting aas "sporting" I can understand that they can be a very serious problem in some areas or where they are in very high numbers. If I were troubled by rabbits in high numbers I would have no qualms whatsoever about shooting them regardless of the weather! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hi mate, We should all show some compassion!, the pigeons and rabbits can only cause damedge to crops that they can get to. And in this weather they carnt get to much. Iam itching to get out shooting but havent been out since the first heavy snow falls. and now it is starting to thaw. we are all sporting peaple,arent we. And are we breaking the law by shooting pigeons that cant cause damedge? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hi mate,We should all show some compassion!, the pigeons and rabbits can only cause damedge to crops that they can get to. And in this weather they carnt get to much. Iam itching to get out shooting but havent been out since the first heavy snow falls. and now it is starting to thaw. we are all sporting peaple,arent we. And are we breaking the law by shooting pigeons that cant cause damedge? Are we breaking the law??Good question,but i think BASC,but not 100% sure wrote a piece saying that you are still abiding by the general license as you controlling birds that can be damaging crops elsewhere and also at a later date.Thats why its ok to decoy birds over stibble and elsewhere where they are not damaging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogfox Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 for vermin....vermin control is vermin control. For game, maybe best to give the pheasants and other game a break for a bit, tackle the foxes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hi, sako 751 sg. Good point and you are right,but is it sporting? i chose not to shoot!.every one has the rights to there owne opinion. but when there is a fall in the quarry that you shoot remember who shot them,and it dose happen I have seen places shot out due to narrow minded people. most of the rabbits are feeding in the hedge rows/pigeons have gone to the big woods. is it wrong to show compasion? The snow will melt and we will all be back out shooting,a couple of weeks out of a sporting calender isnt much. my pigeons will be there next year,will those who have shot still be there? lets see over the coming seasons,because it will show. thanks,ps keep your powder dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 If I was a farmer, and rabbits or pigeons were eating my wages, would I leave them to it as food is a little hard to find at the moment . . . . . . . . . More than likely NOT! Would you pay for an allotment patch that was over run by rabbits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Would you pay for an allotment patch that was over run by rabbits course i would,but not to grow veg BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_commoner Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 just picked up a new permission because the guys that were supposed to be shooting it haven't bothered, not sure if its the cold or what but the crops are /were getting hammered big time, been out this afternoon and will be going again tomorrow, the pigeons that were shot today out of interest were very healthy and not at all thin fact is if you dont 'do your job' there are plenty of others that will Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest rimotu66 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Sorry but for me pigeons and rabbits are pest which I will shoot any and every chance I get. By the way it is illegal to shoot rabbit and pigeon for sport isnt it? So sporting it isnt but pest control it most certainly is and should be done all year round no matter what the conditions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 course i would,but not to grow veg BB good point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Sorry but for me pigeons and rabbits are pest which I will shoot any and every chance I get. By the way it is illegal to shoot rabbit and pigeon for sport isnt it? So sporting it isnt but pest control it most certainly is and should be done all year round no matter what the conditions. The term ''sporting'' as in, ''is it sporting to shoot, when the weather is like it is,'' doesn't mean people are shooting for sport mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cocker3 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 same as other thread but same answer vermin show no compastion. if it was a fox coming round a pen would people say poor thing give it a brake times are hard ! dont think so if they are not damage now once the thaw comes they will be causing damage shoot the or someone else will !!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 all shoting is for sport of some kind what ever it may be as we all enjoy it in some way ,but for rabbits and pigeons for me its pest control not just sport , but for around me it now needs doing more as the snow has gone in almost all places so its buisness as normal due to it now being clear there has been alot more pigeon on my patch than normal , was busy feeding this morning on our shoot and went past a rape field there was well over 5000 on the field let alone what was in the air and trees . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted January 12, 2010 Report Share Posted January 12, 2010 Hi lads, like i said every one has the rights to there opinion.I was tort by the old school,and i have shot for 33 years and i will follow there ways for the next 33, on the same land. And i do hope you will too. Thanks yours rabbit. and keep your powder dry in the thawe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliespaniel Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 just been shown a phone vid of alad at work he is areal good shot he had shot 401 pigeons on a field of standing beans the only food for miles around he never even picked them up just left them there to rot that aint pest control thats disgusting to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rabbit Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 Hi, just read the last post and its took me 20 mins to think of wot say, and i cant!. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
covlocks Posted January 14, 2010 Report Share Posted January 14, 2010 just read the last post and its took me 20 mins to think of wot say,and i cant!. I think the word you are looking for rhymes with Anchor. Personally I mostly go "vermin controlling" for the pot - with this weather and the pigeons just scratching around eating brussels and stuff, I find that they are bitter tasting so I leave alone for a while. There again, my shoot is a dairy farm therefore we dont suffer from massed crop destruction like some on here. Now rats are another story, they have moved in in force and I am going through 410 carts faster than they can make 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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