southeastpete Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Having recently had my licence returned, I am now back on the road, in a supercool volvo v40. On the way back from work today, I had the air rifle in the car, and thought I'd drive by a couple of fields I shoot, and look for any bunnies. I saw loads, and plenty let me get really close. Often they would run off when I stopped, but I got a couple of shots. So many young about in most areas though too. call me weak, but I just refuse to shoot a young rabbit . My first shot, I misjudged the range a little, and dirt kicked up just above its head, the second was a perfect hit, right behind the ear. Dropped straight over sideways, not even a backflip. I also shot a pigeon while I was waiting for the bunnies to come back out. That did the most backflip[s ive ever seen from a pigeon. But to get to my point, shooting from the car gives much easier results, though you dont get the thrill of the stalk. Still I was only after one to make up a game pie I'm making, result! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted April 12, 2011 Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 Take em as you find em mate. Bear in mind that young rabbits have possibly the tenderest flesh you are ever likely to ingest! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted April 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 12, 2011 poor little things, give em a chance to see at least a couple of months of life... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 Just bear in mind that shooting within 50 feet of the centre of the highway is an offence if someone complains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 You don't make it very clear in your post, but if you are shooting from a car on a public highway you are just asking for serious trouble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroku4399 Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 You don't make it very clear in your post, but if you are shooting from a car on a public highway you are just asking for serious trouble. I was a bit mythed also if its on a private road belonging to the farm owner that may be ok but doing a drive by along the public road will get you in serious hot water. The biggest give away will be the reg plate on your car Shane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 poor little things, give em a chance to see at least a couple of months of life... oh please, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 poor little things, give em a chance to see at least a couple of months of life... I like to give them the chance to see the inside of a Doberman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackinbox99 Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 A lot of people find this. You can roll up in a car or truck and the rabbits wont even move, but as soon as you walk up on foot they leg it before you get anywhere close enough to shoot them. One of my permissions, ive had loads of bunnies before ive even got out of the car! I keep trying to persuade the missus to let me take her convertible, but she isnt keen on the idea of me driving it onto fields etc... dont know why! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted April 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 lol, the mrs's convertible round the fields! just to clear up,. i am not actually shooting while on the road. i drive to the relevant field and pull in the gateway or corner of the field, or way up a private road. I might have to check up on the 50 ft thing though, as i thought it was only if posing a danger or causing injury or damage. One of the fields im definately within 50ft, but shooting directly away from the road. i'll leave that one till im sure of it. cheers pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 lol, the mrs's convertible round the fields! just to clear up,. i am not actually shooting while on the road. i drive to the relevant field and pull in the gateway or corner of the field, or way up a private road. I might have to check up on the 50 ft thing though, as i thought it was only if posing a danger or causing injury or damage. One of the fields im definately within 50ft, but shooting directly away from the road. i'll leave that one till im sure of it. cheers pete Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway having vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. Shooting from the enterance of the field or the corner of the field is perfectly ok so long as you are abiding with the above.Alot of my shooting is done within 10-12 ft of the centre of a highway on a very regular basis, never had a problem doing so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKPoacher Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 The law is that it is an offence to shoot within 50 feet from the centre of the highway (includes road, footpath, bridleway) to the annoyance or distress of others. Basically, if anyone reports you then it is an offence. Doesn't matter which way the gun is pointing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted April 13, 2011 Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 (edited) The law is that it is an offence to shoot within 50 feet from the centre of the highway (includes road, footpath, bridleway) to the annoyance or distress of others. Basically, if anyone reports you then it is an offence. Doesn't matter which way the gun is pointing. The law does NOT cover footpaths or bridle ways. I zero my rifles 6" off a bridle way (shooting away ofcourse) normally with the local bobbys watching as the bridle way is a regular haunt for the youngsters to hang around. Taken straight from the BASC site. For the purposes of Section 161 (2) of the Highways Act 1980, a ‘highway’ is restricted to a public right of way for the passage of vehicles and does not include footpaths, cycle tracks or bridleways. Edited April 13, 2011 by Luckyshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted April 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2011 lol, cheers guys, thought i was ok on that one. i can keep my littel after work routine going then. I figure an easy rabbit a day for the pot is a good way of doing things. yum yum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danro Posted April 14, 2011 Report Share Posted April 14, 2011 Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway having vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. Not wanting to pick an argument but does "pest control" not fall into the category of "with a lawful excuse"? So,provided you had permission and a good reason to be there (like pest control) discharging an airgun within 50ft of a highway should surely be fine - so long as your actions were safe (for both you and the public). I'm not saying this is "fact"... I'm asking opinions Cheers Danro Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted April 14, 2011 Report Share Posted April 14, 2011 Not wanting to pick an argument but does "pest control" not fall into the category of "with a lawful excuse"? So,provided you had permission and a good reason to be there (like pest control) discharging an airgun within 50ft of a highway should surely be fine - so long as your actions were safe (for both you and the public). I'm not saying this is "fact"... I'm asking opinions Cheers Danro If you read my post through, that is what I am getting at. It is legal so long as you abide by Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danro Posted April 14, 2011 Report Share Posted April 14, 2011 If you read my post through, that is what I am getting at. It is legal so long as you abide by Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980. Doh My mistake - sorry :blush: You are quite right, Had I read and inwardly digested.. :blink: Thank for clearing that up. Danro "User error!! Replace user and press any key to continue..." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Albion Posted April 14, 2011 Report Share Posted April 14, 2011 It's worth noting that the law says 'discharge' of a firearm. So it has to be the act of firing that causes a nuisance, rather than just 'being there with a gun'. Pretty unlikely to achieve this with an air rifle unless you are firing towards the highway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 I often set my shotgun hide up against the mainroad where i shot(shooting away) as the road is that wide plus the verge is 10ft wide. Remember 50ft is only 16m wide/away so is actually very close. The law comes from the days of the highway man(robber) as his gun was only accurate to 50ft and the law never changed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Duncan Posted April 15, 2011 Report Share Posted April 15, 2011 Good point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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