Vulcha Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 Hello folks, Right, the situation is this. There are a whole bunch of Canadian geese on a permission I have. They're all landing on a field that is now stubble. My question is, is this enough to be covered by the General Licence, and, if so, what kinda of equipment should I use? I'll be going with a mate who has a shotgun and a spare for me to use. Since he's a certificate holder, I believe I can use a shotgun whilst being supervised. Even though he happens to be younger than me... So, can I shoot them, and, if so, what cartridges should I use and whats the best plan of attack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super sharp shooter Posted August 10, 2011 Report Share Posted August 10, 2011 Hi buddy I don't think you can use tour mates gun. If your mate owns the land then you can. It would have to be the land owners gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
margun Posted August 11, 2011 Report Share Posted August 11, 2011 Hi mate, I think shooting quarry on the general licence for crop protection over stubble is a grey area - although the accepted line is you don't have to be shooting on the actual crop you're protecting so that should be fine. As for using your friend's gun, Section 11(5) of the Firearms Act 1968 says: "A person may, without holding a shot gun certificate, borrow a shot gun from the occupier of private premises and use it on those premises in the occupier’s presence." No mention of needing to be the 'owner', but the difficulty might be in that YOU are the one with permission (and therefore the occupier), so see if your friend can be given permission by the landowner? margun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 Firstly they are Canada geese, not Canadian geese. Play it safe mate and wait untill the 1st of September when the ''fowling'' season starts A decent 3'' non-toxic load of #1s or BB's should do the trick (assuming your using a 3'' chambered gun?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WGD Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 Firstly they are Canada geese, not Canadian geese. Play it safe mate and wait untill the 1st of September when the ''fowling'' season starts A decent 3'' non-toxic load of #1s or BB's should do the trick (assuming your using a 3'' chambered gun?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 20, 2011 Report Share Posted August 20, 2011 As usual I'll get to the point, just how do you propose to shoot a whole load of Canadas in a field grazing stubble with a shotgun, just walk up to a sensible distance and let go? A Moderated rifle from cover at some distance will give a bigger bag! Now then, anyone seen my tin hat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 Firstly I'd wait till september. But, in relation to Dekers point... Why can you decoy the geese in? The same as pigeons which also get shot for crop protection? Surely it must be ok to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 Can't * Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 (edited) Firstly I'd wait till september. But, in relation to Dekers point... Why can you decoy the geese in? The same as pigeons which also get shot for crop protection? Surely it must be ok to do? Now thats another one I've never got my head round, shooting pigeons for crop protection over stubble? Must be the biggest contradiction going! Edited August 21, 2011 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 Ignoring the fact that it is stubble though,(although I'm sure you could argue that they are better shot before field sown)... Is it legal to decoy geese for crop protection? I don't do geese crop prot. myself but surely decoys in one field would allow you to cover several around you. Ie geese have the option of a few fields and you are channeling them into one? ATB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 21, 2011 Report Share Posted August 21, 2011 Ignoring the fact that it is stubble though,(although I'm sure you could argue that they are better shot before field sown)... Is it legal to decoy geese for crop protection? I don't do geese crop prot. myself but surely decoys in one field would allow you to cover several around you. Ie geese have the option of a few fields and you are channeling them into one? ATB I don't know, someone tell us please, I certainly shoot them for crop protection and for Health reasons. I don't go out of my way, I just deal with them as they turn up! ******* loads of them round here, no need to decoy, and I know that ****** off the Wildfowlers who hardly get to see them anymore! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anth6568 Posted August 22, 2011 Report Share Posted August 22, 2011 Hello I would wait till September and get your friend to do the shooting to be on the safe side. A few simple steps I have used in the past to shoot Canadas. Step 1 Learn the following; What time do the geese like to fly in and out? What direction do they fly in on and out( flight lines)? What fields do they like most? Where in the field do they like to land? What was the wind direction they flew in on and out? What was the weather like? This may take some time to work their patterns out, but it will be worth while in the end. Step 2 Choose how you will shoot them? Is it feasable to shoot them on the flight line? Or would it be best to shoot on landing with the use of decoys? Choose the location and think about camouflage? If using decoys I have found that Fud decoys are the best, 12 should do it! Spread them out in a U shape pointing towards the wind and the widest part at the end about 40-50m apart. Keep the birds in the feeding position but have one on sentry. Space them out in 2m spacings facing in different directions. Position your hide forward or to the side of this formation. Step 3 I use 3 inch BB steel shot to shoot Canadas, I load my own but you can use gamebore mamouth no 1 steel at 30p a shot. These are good for 30y, ideal for this type of shooting. If your friend doesn't have a 3inch I could advise which to choose instead? Step 4 More camouflage and patience. Wait till the goose is within you effective ammunition range before you fire( 30y) A recipe for success! I have had a lot of success by doing the above. Regards Anthony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wildfowler12 Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Exactly what Anthony said, perfect advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Exactly what Anthony said, perfect advice Ha Ha, exactly what you would expect a widfowler who never sees them to say, they are VERMIN, there are Hundreds round here and they get a BULLET which works very well, this is NOTHING to do with Sport, it is simply vermin control! Something I have never known any wildfowler to grasp! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Dekers I wish you'd stop banging on about wildfowlers, it's becoming a all consuming passion of your. I'm sure i've said in another goose thread that not all wildfowlers have problems with pest control when its needed, I don't and there a fair few on a wildfowling forum I go on that cannot stand canada geese. Theres a difference between shooting something where its a genuine pest and shootingt something just because the law allows it. For you its a job for others its a passion and there are bound to be very differing opinions. Anyhow in a cuple of weeks both sides of the party can shoot them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 Dekers I wish you'd stop banging on about wildfowlers, it's becoming a all consuming passion of your. I'm sure i've said in another goose thread that not all wildfowlers have problems with pest control when its needed, I don't and there a fair few on a wildfowling forum I go on that cannot stand canada geese. Theres a difference between shooting something where its a genuine pest and shootingt something just because the law allows it. For you its a job for others its a passion and there are bound to be very differing opinions. Anyhow in a cuple of weeks both sides of the party can shoot them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 First off I have a FAR more open mind than the VAST majority of Wildfowlers who generally fail to see any other view, and secondly I haven't had a go at them for ages. Wildfowlers are the one with the chip, because they are useless and have let all the Canadas IN, if they had shot them, then we wouldn't have a problem to deal with they would not be year round residents, and they "Might" have some sport. All they ever do is belly ache because I have to shoot them all year because of the grief they cause and they don't get to see them! Shame! ATB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry P Posted August 23, 2011 Report Share Posted August 23, 2011 (edited) Just had a good look, I even got the wife to help and theres definatly no chip on my shoulder, and i'd like to think i'm not useless, canada geese started off inland in private collections so not sure where wildfowlers let them in. As a wildfowler I cannot shoot them all year round as the law does not allow me to shhot the marsh between seasons, so i'm very limited in when and where I can shoot them. I'll try again SOME wildfowlers may take issue with your methods but not ALL. To just label all the same in anything is very blinkered. Edited August 23, 2011 by Terry P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anth6568 Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 I think I need to explain further. The methods I discribed were in fact the methods I used out of season. I used to control the vermin on a large estate for a number of years. The location was plagued by Canada geese which could have caused health issues and damage to trout fishing lakes. The method I explained was the suitable method at the time as using a rifle would of been out of the question due to public access etc I understand the various problems vermin cause and I am happy to assist in a cull within the law. I'm not taking sides, I generally shoot all types of vermin out of season and then shoot game and other wildfowl when allowed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Just had a good look, I even got the wife to help and theres definatly no chip on my shoulder, and i'd like to think i'm not useless, canada geese started off inland in private collections so not sure where wildfowlers let them in. As a wildfowler I cannot shoot them all year round as the law does not allow me to shhot the marsh between seasons, so i'm very limited in when and where I can shoot them. I'll try again SOME wildfowlers may take issue with your methods but not ALL. To just label all the same in anything is very blinkered. Come on, I have not labelled all wildfowlers, and to suggest the inland population stems from private collections is short sighted in the extreme!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Wildfowlers are the one with the chip, because they are useless and have let all the Canadas IN, if they had shot them, ATB! so its all down to wildfowlers? and not a little to do with park authorities introducing them as they did to my local parks in the late fifties then KW Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 First off I have a FAR more open mind than the VAST majority of Wildfowlers who generally fail to see any other view, and secondly I haven't had a go at them for ages. Wildfowlers are the one with the chip, because they are useless and have let all the Canadas IN, if they had shot them, then we wouldn't have a problem to deal with they would not be year round residents, and they "Might" have some sport. All they ever do is belly ache because I have to shoot them all year because of the grief they cause and they don't get to see them! Shame! ATB! No broad assumptions here then ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 I thought Canadas came purely from collections? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 (edited) I thought Canadas came purely from collections? a little potted history no doubt the home office advisor will dissagree KW English History The Canada goose is a native of the American Atlantic seaboard, and records purport it to have been introduced to England by King Charles II (or more likely a collector), around 1660, having acquired a number of birds as additions to his wildfowl collection in St James's Park, London. Due to this Royal connection it soon became popular in country gardens with lakes and ponds across England, especially due to its striking plumage and call. It became a wildfowl staple with landed gentry and country estates. Surprisingly, despite its popularity, the first recorded entry for breeding does not occur until 1890. However, this may be the first wild breeding record, rather than captive. The records do not give a distinction. The Canada goose has taken 200 years to spread nationally, via escapees, released birds and possibly human intervention (see pest control below), in the wild and become acknowledged on the British list as a native bird1. It is reported that their distribution may have been assisted by man's accidental intervention in the 1950s. The bird had been deemed a rural pest and so roundup was begun while the birds were in moult, to relocate them to less contentious areas. The sites generally chosen were Council-run lakes, parks, reservoirs, gravel pits and ornamental gardens. It was not widely understood at that time that Canada geese are naturally sedentary. When left alone their population stayed level due to the constraints of food and breeding. When they were moved these constraints disappeared and the birds bred prodigiously, creating a rapid population explosion. The birds have since adapted to coexist with man to the point where they are becoming serious pests. Edited August 24, 2011 by kdubya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildfowler.250 Posted August 24, 2011 Report Share Posted August 24, 2011 Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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