Redgum Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 I had a call from alocal golf course owner earlier today who is having a problem with a large skien of Canada's alighting on his golf course and making a hell of a mess. I have read a few posts on here about Canada's and am pretty sure they now come under general license. Does this mean they come under the normal geese season or is it gloves off anytime. I have use my .22lr on rabbits on the course and the area where the geese land is safe with the rifle, also the subsonics would attract alot less attention at dawn than the 12bore. If however I needed to use the 12 would I have to use steel and what size, I have some bb's but they are lead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Taken from BASC Canada geese This species can be shot throughout the year (i.e. during the close season) in England only under the terms and conditions of specific general licences. However if using your 22rf you would have to be very close and a perfect head shot as geese are a pretty tough birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 you do need to prove that other methods of scaring them off have been ineffectual first though - has anything been tried to remove them before you start shooting them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomhw100 Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 you wouldnt just have to shoot them in the head if you was conifident you could pull off a clean heart/vital organ shot a rimfire is definatley powerful enough to kill one-id rather shoot them flying with a shotgun though thats just my personal preference! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 you do need to prove that other methods of scaring them off have been ineffectual first though - has anything been tried to remove them before you start shooting them? Apparently they have been scaring them with the quad bike or golf buggy but they are in early and damage has been done before most are about.( Is this the same general license pigeons come under ie try everything else first but that happens rarely apart form the odd gas gun.) We have experience a big increase in numbers over the last few years and culling really needs to be done. They come onto a farm were I have a highseat, probably the same bunch, they stay for an hour or so and move on but nobody has really complained about them there. The golf course is on the edge of my village, I would prefer decoys and shotgun but the noise maybe an issue, the hmr would do a good job but the owners would rather a discrete approach. I reckon I could head shoot em with the .22lr. What else would deter the Canada's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 "Condition 3 of this licence – which requires users to satisfy themselves that other appropriate legal methods of resolving the problem are either ineffective or impracticable - only applies to bird species that Natural England considers to be native to Great Britain (these are listed at paragraph 2(i)(a)); it does not apply to non-native species (listed at paragraphs 2(i)(B)). People may use non-lethal methods, such as scaring and proofing, for non-natives and are encouraged to do so where this is the best solution to a problem, but these methods do not need to be shown to be ineffective or impracticable before this licence can be relied upon." However, do you know which licence you intend to shoot under? The one that is most commonly used, the protection from damage only covers crops, fisheries and inland waters. Public health and safety as a result of fowling? See: http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/Images/wml-gl05_tcm6-24150.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 However if using your 22rf you would have to be very close and a perfect head shot as geese are a pretty tough birds. * ollocks, why do some people quote facts, unless they know it to be 100% true, Ive taken canada's at a distance with a body/heart/lungs shot, yes they are tough, but so is a winchester sub sonic, one shot and they aint getting up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 (edited) * ollocks, why do some people quote facts, unless they know it to be 100% true, Ive taken canada's at a distance with a body/heart/lungs shot, yes they are tough, but so is a winchester sub sonic, one shot and they aint getting up You must use some super winchester ammo or you are an extremely good shot. If you shoot a rabbit and dont get the shot placement exactly right ie an inch further back the rabbit dose not die instantly, and a canada its a hell of a lot tougher than any rabbit ive ever shot. Edited January 18, 2011 by Luckyshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 You must use some super winchester ammo or you are an extremely good shot. If you shoot a rabbit and dont get the shot placement exactly right ie an inch further back the rabbit dose not die instantly, and a canada its a hell of a lot tougher than any rabbit ive ever shot. for rabbits I use eley's, anywhere in the "engine room" area, and they are down, Ive seen rabbits run after a head shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 .22 Air rifles work on Canada's with a well-placed cranial shot 25-30 yards - I've witnessed it myself, although not tried it and don't intend to (before anyone starts going off their tatas). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 TAKE COVER! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 .22 Air rifles work on Canada's with a well-placed cranial shot 25-30 yards - I've witnessed it myself, although not tried it and don't intend to (before anyone starts going off their tatas). I could also throw rocks at em, build a big catapault, borrow a verminator,probably someone around hear will have a trained up sea eagle, golden eagle will do but I really wanted to know if, when and how.( wonder if infesting the golf course with hedgehogs would stop em from wanting to land) Do you think trying to drive them off with the quad and it not working would cover other methods of trying to deterring them. I could head shoot them easily enough but the method I really fancy would be to buy a couple of canada decoys and shooting them with the 12 gauge. As for damage, it could be crop damage as they are eating the greens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 have to say I agree with the shotgun approach, pure pest control, a fisheries that my shooting partner has a permission on, asked us to remove a number of canada geese just before christmas, a slow walk upto them, around 25yds away both of us with semi auto's, and we got nine before the other 20 or so flew off, as yet none have returned there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 You can shoot them legally all year round under the terms of the general licence. If you decide to use a shotgun then you will need to use non toxic shot, unless you're shooting over certain areas, and are in Scotland. If you've tried driving them off with the quad and they're still returning you'll be fine. Protecting the greens and their constant fouling (health issues) would be reason enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 You got some tasty birds there Stubby I've not yet seen anyone cleanly take a goose by throwing rocks, building catapults or even flicking their brains out of their )0( at them for that matter. I've seen it work effectively with a .22 airgun at close range. Not saying its right necessarily, but what I saw was 6 Canadas go over clean at 25-30 yards, without a twitch. Again I wouldn't do it personally - I'd vote with the RF as a minimum myself. To me though, the heads didn't seem armour plated. If I ever meet Ivan again, I'll let him know that some on PW think he's achieved the impossible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 As for damage, it could be crop damage as they are eating the greens. Crops could be a good reason, but how about good old H&S? Have you ever seen the amount of turdage they leave? I was lucky enough to go to The university of Birmingham and stayed in halls in the 1st year. It was a real pooey minefield getting to the campus and back every day though as there were tons of canada's from the lake that lived on the grass and turded it out everywhere. Not pleasant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 They can be shot to prevent their mess causing a danger to health and safety, different licence though IIRC. I used a .243 to great effect - no cover to get close for a rimfire shot so they were being dropped from 200+ yards away. 223's not bad but 243 I would would kill humanely and with a 90gr SP, not massively destructively. Tried an HMR from about 100 yards out, maybe a fraction more, and that really was ****. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 (edited) They can be shot to prevent their mess causing a danger to health and safety, different licence though IIRC. I used a .243 to great effect - no cover to get close for a rimfire shot so they were being dropped from 200+ yards away. 223's not bad but 243 I would would kill humanely and with a 90gr SP, not massively destructively. Tried an HMR from about 100 yards out, maybe a fraction more, and that really was ****. What kill zone were you on there with the HMR please? Edited January 20, 2011 by Dave-G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Logic Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Engine room. Doubt there would be too much of an issue with the head, but it's persuading the little **** to keep still... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJ91 Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 I had a call from alocal golf course owner earlier today who is having a problem with a large skien of Canada's alighting on his golf course and making a hell of a mess. I have read a few posts on here about Canada's and am pretty sure they now come under general license. Does this mean they come under the normal geese season or is it gloves off anytime. I have use my .22lr on rabbits on the course and the area where the geese land is safe with the rifle, also the subsonics would attract alot less attention at dawn than the 12bore. If however I needed to use the 12 would I have to use steel and what size, I have some bb's but they are lead. Just use 12bore with some no 1 steel loads shoot them before the end of the season jobs a gud un Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docholiday Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 You got some tasty birds there Stubby I've not yet seen anyone cleanly take a goose by throwing rocks, building catapults or even flicking their brains out of their )0( at them for that matter. I've seen it work effectively with a .22 airgun at close range. Not saying its right necessarily, but what I saw was 6 Canadas go over clean at 25-30 yards, without a twitch. Again I wouldn't do it personally - I'd vote with the RF as a minimum myself. To me though, the heads didn't seem armour plated. If I ever meet Ivan again, I'll let him know that some on PW think he's achieved the impossible. lol Those would be the usual crew who havnt got a clue, sorry to sa it but there it is Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted January 20, 2011 Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 if you can get stuck in with the 12g then great stuff but if, like me, its a sound issue and a sensitive area the a 22lr to the base of head/top of neck works best. if you just head shoot them i find they flap all over the place and put the rest of the birds up. hit them when i said and they will just slump on the spot. 4 was the best we did with rifle before the others got up. good meat in the slow cooker as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redgum Posted January 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 20, 2011 Thanks for all your advice, sound is the issue,be interesting to shoot em with the 243 but sound and safety an issue. I called the golf course owner to see when he wanted me to sort them, he will call me if they come back but since I posted on here they have not been back ( they were coming most days) It must be the vibe from all the pigeon forum members killing minds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billybob Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 It's been my experience over the last 6 years of controlling these birds that there really is'nt a rimfire out there that can humanely dispatch these birds with one shot. I started out trying to do the job with a .22lr with subsonics and many birds survived 2 or 3 shots into the chest cavity. I then went on to try .17hmr and although the results were better than with the 22 it still was not a one shot each time. I applied for and was granted a variation on my .223 rem and now the birds are dead instantly and my local feo agrees that the centre fire is the way to go to do the job without the birds suffering unnecessarily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 I have only oncr shot a goose wiyh a rifle and I did so because it was wounded out in the midfle of a loch over 30 yrs ago So I am no expert but I had a mate who did thid as part of his pest conttol buisness and said the 22 hornet was perfect for the job I am sure a 22 sud will do the job through the backbone though I djould avoid thr head yhr brain is tiny in a big box and all fowl are very tough If it had to be done thid is the right time of year Shotgun must be non toxic shot at all times in England and Wales 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.