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Air guns in France


Doc Holliday
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... that it is illegal to shot live quarry in France using an air gun? Sounds daft doesn't it seeing as the French seem to eat anything that walks or crawls.

 

However, what you can do is a one day course that will give you the right to shoot with a live .22 rifle.

 

I found this out yesterday from a friend who is selling a piece of land in France.

 

Can anyone varify this as it is only hearsay thus far. Perhaps one of our Gallic cousins whom frequents PW can shed some light on this interesting law.

 

I wasn't sure where to post this so please move if need be.

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... that it is illegal to shot live quarry in France using an air gun? Sounds daft doesn't it seeing as the French seem to eat anything that walks or crawls.

 

However, what you can do is a one day course that will give you the right to shoot with a live .22 rifle.

 

I found this out yesterday from a friend who is selling a piece of land in France.

 

Can anyone varify this as it is only hearsay thus far. Perhaps one of our Gallic cousins whom frequents PW can shed some light on this interesting law.

 

I wasn't sure where to post this so please move if need be.

 

I've got a feeling its illegal to shoot animals with an airgun in France, but legal to use a bow, I can't reference this, its just something I recall, sorry thats not much help.

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If you acknowledge that an airgun has a very short killing range, and that it's sometimes very tempting to try a shot which is just a wee bit too long, and very easy to fluff a shot and cause unnecessary suffering, then surely it makes sense for an enlightened, pro-hunting Government to encourage you to use the best tools for the job?

 

A good rimfire rifle is generally cheaper and FAR more robust than a good air rifle, and is much more certain to kill in a greater range of circumstances. If the Government trusts you to be responsible with rimfire, and actually prefers you to use it, why waste time faffing about with an airgun???

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I can confirm that you can't shoot live quarry in France with an air gun and also not with a .22 rimfire. Airguns are restricted to around 6 ft/lb unless you declare them as a firearm and even then you can only shoot targets, not live quarry.

 

As already said, before hunting or shooting you have to pass a two part exam. The first part is a theory exam based on hunting law, wildlife knowledge and safety issues. The second part is a one day practical course with a test of your gun safety. Archers have to pass another exam as well as the two mentioned.

 

Rabbits are mainly classed as game and have a season unless they have locally been declared nuisable in which case they are treated as vermin. Most hunting is done with shotguns and deer and boar are driven towards the gun line and shot using solid slugs or large shot.

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Rabbits are mainly classed as game and have a season unless they have locally been declared nuisable in which case they are treated as vermin. Most hunting is done with shotguns and deer and boar are driven towards the gun line and shot using solid slugs or large shot.

 

That's very interesting... I've just spent the last few days in Normandy and commented to my granddad (he lives out there, he's 96 bless him) that I never see any rabbits there at all. He suggested it maybe because the locals love to hunt (although mainly Boar) or the large amount of Raptors they have there.

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Hunting is very well controlled in France. They have local organisations who arrange the driven days and sort out the vermin control. There is no such thing as private land as far as hunting is concerned. Other than designated game reserves you can shoot anywhere. By having the Permis de Chasse they exclude all the knobheads who don't know any better than shooting blackbirds and taking game out of season.

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There is no such thing as private land as far as hunting is concerned. Other than designated game reserves you can shoot anywhere. By having the Permis de Chasse they exclude all the knobheads who don't know any better than shooting blackbirds and taking game out of season.

 

But that permission to hunt anywhere causes a lot of strife too. You and I might regard the guy who shoots a blackbird as a knobhead, but very many French folk with rural properties feel the same way about the folk who 'legitimately and responsibly' trample all over their gardens with guns and dogs, without any invitation or apology.

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we have a small run down farm in the Allier region only 10 acres..

the locals Hunt boar in the local woods..they will ask if its ok to come onto your land...

and often will share or invite you to the eating of the beast

 

havnt seen many air riffles around..but we do have thousands of song birds around the area

 

jasp

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