does anyone leave pigeons alone for breeding?

[Mike525steel]

Is there any time of year in which it is considered sporting to let pigeons breed ?? as is the case with other vermin such as rabbits?

[CZ550Kevlar]

Don`t mean to be cruel but i don`t stop shooting raabbits, i`m asked to control vermin etc for crop protection so everything gets shot, if i didn`t do it i lose my permission. With pigeons if they are feeding on crops i`ll shoot them, the only thing i don`t do is go after the nests.

 

EDIT:- forgot to add with the advent of changing and unpredictable weather patterns there is no fixed breeding season for any animal, they are appearing all the time and breed continually, this being the case where do you draw a line??

Edited May 18, 2011 by CZ550Kevlar

[fenboy]

If we decided not to shoot pigeons in the breeding season we may be limited to just shooting in december-january !

[stripey999]

This has been asked many times before. How can you justify having a period that you don't shoot a pest species. It is because they are a pest that we need to remove them, this is the reason they apear on the General License; Otherwise they would have a season like game.

[stubby]

which it is considered sporting to let pigeons breed

 

also, if we follow the law to the letter, we are not allowed to shoot wood pigeon for sport, they can only be shot for pest control, so "sporting" need'nt even be mentioned

[Paul T]

Is there any time of year in which it is considered sporting to let pigeons breed ?? as is the case with other vermin such as rabbits?

Pest is a pest mate and having an unofficial closed season for vermin seems a bit contrary by allowing them to breed and increase their number.

[swiss.tony]

never dont fink farmer wood be to impresed if i sorry mate carnt come cause there breeding

[pigeonstool]

I personally like to leave them to "breed" at this time of the year as the squabs provide a nice food source for the owls.

[proTOM1]

If we decided not to shoot pigeons in the breeding season we may be limited to just shooting in december-january !

 

 

Of course they breed more this time of year. But with the amount of people coming in to the sport of shooting and turning to pigeon shooting i would not risk not shooting them this time of year for there is always someone who will be happy to fill your place and take over your permission .

[chrispti]

also, if we follow the law to the letter, we are not allowed to shoot wood pigeon for sport, they can only be shot for pest control, so "sporting" need'nt even be mentioned

 

He never suggested shooting them for sport

[Fisherman Mike]

They dont generally flock up and feed en mass during the breeding season except late breeders on the stubble so effectively if they aint there you aint shooting them and you are infact giving them some respite during the breeding season...if that makes sence.?

 

Shooting out the nests of Wood pigeons or Destroying the Eggs (although not illegal)wouldnt be morally justifiable in my opinion nor is the wholescale slaughter of Flappers from rookeries which are subsequently dumped and not consumed.

 

You'll have to work out for yourself if you feel it sits heavily on your conscience and compromises your sporting instincts or not. Many use the guise of pest control to justify just getting out every other day and shooting the **** out of anything that moves...but thats not my philosophy Im afraid.

 

Somebody, hopefully not a member of this forum Shot out a Rookery near the BTO HQ in Thetford recently and although perfectly legal (if carried out to protect the immediate crops from damage by the Flappers, which is very much open to debate) didnt go unnoticed.

 

The problem as discussed before lies with the interpretation of the General licence and its wording. I hope when it is reviewed it will be more explicit in its wording. For example it says we can shoot birds on the general list to prevent damage to crops when all other methods of protection have failed....What damage are eggs, sitting birds or young flappers doing to crops ? Why do we need to try other methods of protection when it isnt required ?

 

This is a real grey area and relies heavily on individual interpretation.

[sitsinhedges]

Pigeons don't generally harm crops much at this time of year in my area so I try and leave them alone from when the clocks change until harvest time though if I do get a good flight line I may drop a few.

 

It's the rabbits that are doing the damage at this time of year so I concentrate on them

[stubby]

He never suggested shooting them for sport

 

 

and did I say he did why cant people read posts correctly, before sticking up replies

 

if the law states that wood pigeons cannot be shot for sport, using the word "sporting" should be omitted from the question, "is it sporting to let them breed".

 

rabbits get the same wording used, people wont ferret in summer, "because it spoils next years SPORT"

 

to many people use the "sport" word to describe was is no more than pest control

any pest species, has to be controlled all year round, otherwise why should the pigeon get all the perks, should I visit rat and mouse jobs, and say, cant get rid of them at the mo, its breeding time

I honestly think, that when the words sporting and breeding are used together, its normally from someone that has a dislike to shooting/culling young pests, but rather than admit that on a manly shooting forum, use the word sporting instead

[vampire]

Pigeons/rabbits/rats/squirrals are all vermin and we will never get rid of them by shooting alone,it will never be a 'sport' as it will never be a business such as pheasant/deer/wildfowling shooting that people pay for,thus creating a season,although i can see muntjac going that way,its a job/requirement and no one releases captive bred rabbits/pigeons etc to be shot for sport.

[yickdaz]

we have been shooting over spring rape for last 3 weeks, with another field just been drilled with it so if we left them from now to middle of june don,t think farmer would be very impressed to see hundreds of birds eating it every day.

[trentotter]

and did I say he did why cant people read posts correctly, before sticking up replies

 

if the law states that wood pigeons cannot be shot for sport, using the word "sporting" should be omitted from the question, "is it sporting to let them breed".

 

rabbits get the same wording used, people wont ferret in summer, "because it spoils next years SPORT"

 

to many people use the "sport" word to describe was is no more than pest control

any pest species, has to be controlled all year round, otherwise why should the pigeon get all the perks, should I visit rat and mouse jobs, and say, cant get rid of them at the mo, its breeding time

I honestly think, that when the words sporting and breeding are used together, its normally from someone that has a dislike to shooting/culling young pests, but rather than admit that on a manly shooting forum, use the word sporting instead

not ferreting at this time of year is nowt to do with "spoiling next years sport",is about cant be ***** digging at every set when the ferret kills a young un!!

[MM]

I coulndt give a monkeys if they were painting their sheds, they still get it. I shoot the eggs in the nest, thats a real mans sport.

[ME]

I coulndt give a monkeys if they were painting their sheds, they still get it. I shoot the eggs in the nest, thats a real mans sport.

 

Mart, you are one badass mutha funkster !

[chrispti]

and did I say he did why cant people read posts correctly, before sticking up replies

 

if the law states that wood pigeons cannot be shot for sport, using the word "sporting" should be omitted from the question, "is it sporting to let them breed".

 

rabbits get the same wording used, people wont ferret in summer, "because it spoils next years SPORT"

 

to many people use the "sport" word to describe was is no more than pest control

any pest species, has to be controlled all year round, otherwise why should the pigeon get all the perks, should I visit rat and mouse jobs, and say, cant get rid of them at the mo, its breeding time

I honestly think, that when the words sporting and breeding are used together, its normally from someone that has a dislike to shooting/culling young pests, but rather than admit that on a manly shooting forum, use the word sporting instead

 

 

Looked like it to me, or why mention it in the first place.

 

Your reply never answered his question. So why cant you read posts correctly before sticking up irrelivent replies

 

We all know the law regarding the taking of pigeons. The word sporting mearly ment, kind, gentlemanly, given a fair chance.

 

Nothing to do with shooting them for sport.

[Mike525steel]

ok then i guess not

 

cheers guys for your replies

 

i only posted this as i have heard people say that they do and thought pretty much the same as yourselves.

 

i have shot bunnies to death on the land i have permission on and it did take a few years for the rabbits to come back

 

however i only really shoot roost pigeons and pigeons on the corn in the summer as i dont have much access to other crops (no rape or peas round here) also it is a game shooting estate and they will not have you blasting all year round.

so its a good job i find plenty of trout fishing to keep me busy in the off season.(anything but golf eh!!)

 

dont worry if i have my gun in future and i see a pigeon ill give it a barrel (or two as is usually the case)

[yickdaz]

ok then i guess not

 

cheers guys for your replies

 

i only posted this as i have heard people say that they do and thought pretty much the same as yourselves.

 

i have shot bunnies to death on the land i have permission on and it did take a few years for the rabbits to come back

 

however i only really shoot roost pigeons and pigeons on the corn in the summer as i dont have much access to other crops (no rape or peas round here) also it is a game shooting estate and they will not have you blasting all year round.

so its a good job i find plenty of trout fishing to keep me busy in the off season.(anything but golf eh!!)

 

dont worry if i have my gun in future and i see a pigeon ill give it a barrel (or two as is usually the case)

good man

[stubby]

 

 

We all know the law regarding the taking of pigeons. The word sporting mearly ment, kind, gentlemanly, given a fair chance.

 

Nothing to do with shooting them for sport.

 

but see, even yourself using the above words, contradicts itself, as there is nothing gentlemanly or kind about pest control,you are there to perform a service, weather its paid or unpaid, your culling a pest species, these are words more associated with game shooting, in which case, I think even yourself is confusing the two

[MM]

Mart, you are one badass mutha funkster !

 

 

Check ones bad self. I shoot them any time. Its got that bad now, that my 6 year old daughter points her fingers and goes bang when we some them on the way to school

[chrispti]

but see, even yourself using the above words, contradicts itself, as there is nothing gentlemanly or kind about pest control,you are there to perform a service, weather its paid or unpaid, your culling a pest species, these are words more associated with game shooting, in which case, I think even yourself is confusing the two

 

I give up :blink:

 

The poster in this case wanted to know if it was the done thing.

 

I think you have misinterpreted the use of the word 'sporting', with regards to vermin control.

Edited May 21, 2011 by chrispti

[Hamster]

I don`t think of myself as a vermin controller but a pigeon shooter. The fact that they eat the farmers crop isn`t why I get up at all hours or spend thousands to pursue them, I do it because they are a magnificant looking creature that happen to fly well, taste good, be prolific in numbers and sporting to decoy and shoot.

 

I would shoot them in summer if specifically asked to do so, more so with ferals but purely for personal reasons of conscience I try and avoid heavy numbers in the warmer months. I am aware this is irrational as they can breed throughout the year but be honest they DO breed much more heavily when it isn`t cold. I simply hate the thought of leaving hungry squabs in nests that`s all, so I forsake my enjoyment of it all in return for a slighltly clearer conscience.

 

The other thing not yet mentioned is the ease with which they become fly blown at this time of year, I know you can put them in wet hessian sacks etc, but that`s never as good as when it`s nice and cold.