Voluntary Restraint in shooting wildfowl and waders

[harrycatcat1]

The following has been taken from the B.A.S.C website

 

 

England/Wales

Day 9 - confirmed on 8 December.

A call for voluntary restraint in shooting waterfowl or waders is currently in place in England/Wales. Should widespread freezing conditions continue a statutory suspension could be imposed at 00.01 on 14 December (day 15).

 

Scotland

Day 13 - confirmed on 8 December.

A call for voluntary restraint in shooting waterfowl or waders is currently in place in Scotland. It has been confirmed today that a statutory suspension will be imposed at 00.01 on 10 December (day 15).

 

The suspension will last for fourteen days, but should be reviewed and could be lifted after seven days if the weather improves.

Click here for more on the Scottish statutory suspension

 

So it looks as though thats the last of Wildfowling till after Christmas. According to the weatherman as the cold is due to return next week.

 

What do you think??? and have I interpreted it correctly???

[proTOM1]

its the right thing to do in the conditions , we have not shot our ducks we put down since the snow came anyway but with the weather looking up over the next few days we might have a go on sat but will see what the weather does !

[TJ91]

let em live in peace

hope the weather fairs up for boxing day(+1 day) shoot

havent shot my pond since it first froze, trying to keep it clear of ice and topped it with food to keep them healthy though

[stirky]

Cold weather brings legal restrictions on shooting in Scotland.

 

8th December 2010………………..…….……………………………….immediate release

 

The shooting of ducks, geese and waders is to be suspended in Scotland for the second time this year because of severe weather. From one minute past midnight on the morning of Friday 10th December 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 will be reviewed after seven days and could be lifted if there is an improvement in conditions. The last such suspension was in January 2010.

 

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 offers extra protection when an extended period of severe weather is likely to disrupt the birds’ feeding and roosting patterns. BASC has already issued advice to people who shoot to exercise restraint over the last week.”

 

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. The legal suspension is introduced on the fifteenth day of severe weather, according to data collected at coastal weather stations by the Meteorological Office. Similar restrictions will come into force in Northern Ireland from Thursday morning. In England and Wales, people who shoot have been advised to exercise restraint where local conditions merit it. ENDS

 

For more information please call Colin Shedden on 07770 990 222 or the BASC press office on 01244 573031

 

NOTES to Editors:

When a protection order is signed, it becomes an offence to kill or take any of the following species in Scotland, 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.

[shakin stevens]

its for the best got to give the birds a chance, im on holiday on saturday if we can travel aint going to

stop our holiday, was in the cold blitz last year in the same place in inverness.

[wildfowler.250]

What about geese as vermin? Just curious? for example on a farm where they have out of season shooting?

 

 

ATB

[anser2]

The ban will apply to all waterfowl including canada geese.

[P~MX]

The following has been taken from the B.A.S.C website

 

 

England/Wales

Day 9 - confirmed on 8 December.

A call for voluntary restraint in shooting waterfowl or waders is currently in place in England/Wales. Should widespread freezing conditions continue a statutory suspension could be imposed at 00.01 on 14 December (day 15).

 

Scotland

Day 13 - confirmed on 8 December.

A call for voluntary restraint in shooting waterfowl or waders is currently in place in Scotland. It has been confirmed today that a statutory suspension will be imposed at 00.01 on 10 December (day 15).

 

The suspension will last for fourteen days, but should be reviewed and could be lifted after seven days if the weather improves.

Click here for more on the Scottish statutory suspension

 

So it looks as though thats the last of Wildfowling till after Christmas. According to the weatherman as the cold is due to return next week.

 

What do you think??? and have I interpreted it correctly???

 

 

Didn't they mention Northern Ireland (UK) ?

 

f3

[wildfowler.250]

The ban will apply to all waterfowl including canada geese.

 

Sorry I was meaning pinks/greys,(not that it makes much difference). So you can't even shoot Canadas for the next two weeks as vermin? ( I dont get them past the first few weeks in september...just interested to find out).

 

 

 

[ollie]

Didn't they mention Northern Ireland (UK) ?

 

f3

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/media/pressreleases.cfm/prid/80342D7F-46D1-4B75-881E999B4E70AD11

[CharlieT]

The ban will apply to all waterfowl including canada geese.

 

Can you please point me in the direction of the specific legislation that overides the General License as far as Canada geese are conserned.

[harrycatcat1]

Can you please point me in the direction of the specific legislation that overides the General License as far as Canada geese are conserned.

 

 

 

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/media/key_issues.cfm/cid/0E4129DD-791D-4722-A256194278DFDB1F

 

Try this link, and scroll to the bottom link.

 

" Which species are affected?

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 (including reared mallard), teal, wigeon, pintail, tufted duck,

pochard, shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye

Geese: greylag, pink-footed, white-fronted, Canada

Waders: golden plover, woodcock, snipe

Others: moorhen and coot

Gamebirds are not affected, but reared duck are included.

NB: Shooting of 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 to minimise unnecessary disturbance to other

waterfowl."

Edited December 9, 2010 by harrycatcat1

[stirky]

Dont forget they are called canada "geese" not canada vremin.

[CharlieT]

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/media/key_issues.cfm/cid/0E4129DD-791D-4722-A256194278DFDB1F

 

Try this link, and scroll to the bottom link.

 

NB: Shooting of 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 to minimise unnecessary disturbance to other

waterfowl."

 

I would therefore assume that the shooting of Canada geese fall into the "unless it is permitted by license" category, ie. the General License. Therefore any suspension would not apply to Canada geese being controlled under the terms of the General license.

[proTOM1]

We have a small spring fed pond which never gets iced over and this morning i went to feed it and put off well over 100 ducks was shocked to say the least ,normaly only see a few on

[harrycatcat1]

I would therefore assume that the shooting of Canada geese fall into the "unless it is permitted by license" category, ie. the General License. Therefore any suspension would not apply to Canada geese being controlled under the terms of the General license.

 

I would just double check with BASC before doing anything as I am sure you would not want to bring shooting into disrepute Let us know what you find out.

[shakin stevens]

same on our pond big running stream through it keeps one end free of ice, usually three types of ducks on it

bet ive seen six different types and a bitten for good measure, we wont shoot this till its fit, like

last year best shooting we ever had after the big freeze, keep the snap going in for now.

[anser2]

I could be wrong here , but I think canadas are classed with all other waterfowl during the shooting season , reverting to pest status in the closed waterfowl season where they can be controled if neccessary after all other means of scaring them off have been tried and failed. Remember the cold weather ban is not only to stop starving and poor condition birds being shot its also to stop disturbance from shooting to other waterbirds trying to feed.

[CharlieT]

I would just double check with BASC before doing anything as I am sure you would not want to bring shooting into disrepute Let us know what you find out.

 

 

I'm not a BASC fan so won't be phoning them. However, should I wish to ask a question regarding the General license I would go directly to the horses mouth, namely NE.

 

However I can assure answer 2 that the General License covers Canada geese for the duration of the license and has nothing to do with seasons.

[Vermincinerator]

I'm not a BASC fan so won't be phoning them. However, should I wish to ask a question regarding the General license I would go directly to the horses mouth, namely NE.

 

However I can assure answer 2 that the General License covers Canada geese for the duration of the license and has nothing to do with seasons.

 

Thats exactly how i see it charlie, and any geese i shoot will be shot with one of my rifles!!

 

Ian.

[harrycatcat1]

I'm not a BASC fan so won't be phoning them. However, should I wish to ask a question regarding the General license I would go directly to the horses mouth, namely NE.

 

However I can assure answer 2 that the General License covers Canada geese for the duration of the license and has nothing to do with seasons.

 

 

Can you tell me with what knowledge that you assure him this to be the case??

[big bad lindz]

its for the best got to give the birds a chance, im on holiday on saturday if we can travel aint going to

stop our holiday, was in the cold blitz last year in the same place in inverness.

 

Hi Shakin and others,

 

Big thaw right on the big bad ban day in Scotland with a good strong wind,typicial

Over the last few days I have not seen to many geese about down on the shore although 30-50 on a grass field near home but plenty of duck all close inshore.This is not the norm for them. I left the banging stick at home I just wanted to see what the birds were like. It would have been easy pickings but not sporting.

All the roads are clear up here but not sure what the central belt is like.

Hope you enjoy the Highland hospitality for your break away.

Hopefully going out on a walk up on the morrow for phesant unfortunatly no woodcock and there plenty of them about. Hopefully things will improve for the new year,

 

Cheers

 

BBL

[anser2]

My reasons for thinking canada geese are treated differently in the shooting season is as follows

 

Under the terms of the general lience Quote "

Anyone shooting listed pest species under general licence must however still comply with the relevant terms and conditions. Sporting shooting alone is not a reason for control according to the conditions. If challenged, the individual would have to show that any shooting of Canada geese or other species was carried out in accordance with the terms of the appropriate general licence. "

 

But in the shooting season these conditions do not apply. According to Natural England the reason for adding canada geese to the general lience is to protect native birds not for crop protection or public health. As such I still think that they are a quarry species in the shooting season , ( when no breeding native species are under threat ) , and a pest species in the closed season. Perhaps we could have a comment here from BASC.

[CharlieT]

The shooting of Canada's cropped up because of CZ452's post and the question it contained, namely the shooting of Canada's as vermin (to use his description) therefore meaning under the terms of the General license.

 

Provided one is shooting Canada geese under the terms of the General License (no one has provided reference to specific legislation that overrides the GL) I can see no reason why their shooting as a pest species would be affected by the cold weather ban.

 

Of course where they are being shot solely for sport they would come under the cold weather ban but CZ452 was not referring to sporting shooting. Similarly where one is shooting them for sporting reasons only it would be illegal to shoot them in the closed season, however as I have pointed out, CZ452 was questioning their standing in the context of a pest species.

 

C

[mudpatten]

Just do what most CA gameshooter members do. Carry on shooting them throughout the cold weather suspension using lead cartridges.

 

The law does`nt apply to them.