vermin control in my back garden - am i legal??

[beesley121]

hi guys,

 

i live in nrmal house in a residential estate

 

my back garden backs onto other peoples back gardens but i have a full concrete shed at the back of mine (useful backstop)

 

anyway, we seem to be having a bit of a problem with crow, maggies, doves and wood pigeons. They first off are making all the song birds diappear, now they are landing on my kids trapoline and sh*tting all over it to the point where my kids cannot play on it and i have to bleach it to ensure theres no risk of disease.

 

A discussion with the nieghbours both side of me told me that want rid of them too as they are eating all the food they put out for the song birds and have even said that should they land in their garden, i can shoot them

 

now, where do i stand with regards to the law? I see no other way to rid them unless they are shot by my with my air rifle. I could use a larsen trap for the maggies but ive still gotta deal with the woodies, crows and doves so shooting to me is the best option

 

as long as the pellet does not leave mine or my nieghbours boundaries, i have not committed an offense. am i right

 

your advice mush appreciated

[hunters_return]

Hi Beesley,

 

What other none lethal methods have you tried?

[Sharpshooter.123]

Full concrete shed as a backstop?? RICOCHET!!!!! Firstly as hunters_return said what other none lethal methods have you tried to try and stop them?

[Brad93]

Get one of them hawk flying kite things, see of that works, if not fire away

[CharlieT]

Read and thoroughly understand the General License then make your own mind up.

 

If you decide to shoot them be prepared to defend your decision in court should some bunny hugger contact the RSPCA and they prosecute.

 

Me, I'd shoot them at dawn when everyone is in bed !!

[swiss.tony]

i can feel a knock on the door coming and it wont be Avon lady

 

Birds cr*ping on your

trampolene is no defence in court for shooting wild birds theres a thing on news at min about filling your paddling pool up with hose pipe WHATS bets some 1 will grass you up for killing any thing that flys into your garden

 

just don't think its a good idea but its your choice

[kyska]

I agree with swiss, I'm not saying don't shoot them but I don't think you would be acting in the 'spirit' of the general licence, it tends to lean towards major pest problems, causing damage to crops, or presenting a major health hazard...example; lots of pigeons around a food manufacturing plant etc.

 

The aggravating factor would be..why don't you cover up the trampoline? There isn't a warrant to shoot wild birds because they are eating food put out by you and your neighbours, example pigeons destroy acres of OSR on our farm, costing a lot of money.

 

Be careful, the RSPCA love prosecuting for this type of thing, and they normally get a conviction!

[al4x]

erm swiss I think you'll find there is a bit in the general license to cover just that eventuality.

 

Simply if you can keep the pellet in your garden and its a sub 12ftlbs airgun then you are half way there. In theory you are meant to try non lethal methods first and well I'm guessing like every pigeon shooter in the country that your scarecrow didn't work.

 

Next there are the practical considerations which include making sure for starters your neighbours are happy and no one calls the police, make sure you are subtle about it. If you shoot from an upstairs window then make sure the curtains are mostly shut and you shoot from back in the room so people don't see the gun barrel hanging out. As Charlie says time is a good consideration make it really early and you will have far less chances of trouble. A mate finds a loaf of bread on the floor gets them where he wants to shoot them, in that case its rooks that are crapping everywhere and making a god awfull din at first light. The moral of the whole thing though is subtlety what people don't know they won't get upset about

[kyska]

 

 

If you shoot from an upstairs window then make sure the curtains are mostly shut and you shoot from back in the room so people don't see the gun barrel hanging out.

 

Do remember to open said window though.

[stubby]

I see no other way to rid them unless they are shot by my with my air rifle.

 

 

as already asked, what other measures have you taken first :hmm:none I would imagine from reading your post, with any form of pest control, showing, or being able to show, you carried out other detterents first, are what you need, should anyone ever bring the law into it

 

tell your neighbours and yourself to stop feeding the birds, which you say in your first post no longer visit, see, if you look at it like that, then you guys are causing the problem, also check the general licence, as wood pidgeon baiting is a no no

 

maybe stand the trampoline up when not in use, cut overhanging branches that maybe used as a sitty tree

I find it hard to belive that there is so much fouling, your trying to class it as a health hazzard, we have all the birds you mention plus more, lots of nice things for them to eat, and yes they occassionally land, but never have I thought, they need controlling, and I do that as a full time job

 

then get out and do the hard graft like everyone else does to find a permission, rather than taking the lazy man approach

[Catweazle]

Think of a few bad scenarios before you decide to shoot. For example:

 

Pellet leaves your premises and hits a kid in the garden next door.

Wounded bird flies off before dropping dead in the garden over the road.

Old lady sees "sniper" and call the police, she has been "alarmed" so police press charges.

 

Then there are things that you aren't responsible for, eg.

 

Scrote shoots neighbours cat, they assume it was you because they've seen you shooting in the garden.

Neighbours greenhouse glass cracks, see above.

Bluetit flies into neighbours window and kills itself, see above.

 

 

I wouldn't do it myself.

[bedwards1966]

I'm not sure if you can shoot them (pigeons) for the health reasons, if you can't it would have to be for crop protection, I take it they're eating your strawberry plants that you were going to farm and earn money from...?

 

For crop protection at least, you do not have to have tried other methods before shooting them, simply to believe that they won't work.

I'd expect you to be OK shooting crows and magpies, I'm not sure where you would stand regarding shooting doves.

 

Whatever you do, if you shoot them don't be seen. Even when everything is completely legal, you don't want someone phoning the police because of a man with a gun hanging out of the window shooting, as you'll soon end up eventually end up looking down the barrels of numerous firearms pointed at you by an ARU! And also for the reasons Catweazle has said. Be careful.

Edited May 28, 2012 by bedwards1966

[swiss.tony]

erm swiss I think you'll find there is a bit in the general license to cover just that eventuality.

 

Simply if you can keep the pellet in your garden and its a sub 12ftlbs airgun then you are half way there. In theory you are meant to try non lethal methods first and well I'm guessing like every pigeon shooter in the country that your scarecrow didn't work.

 

Next there are the practical considerations which include making sure for starters your neighbours are happy and no one calls the police, make sure you are subtle about it. If you shoot from an upstairs window then make sure the curtains are mostly shut and you shoot from back in the room so people don't see the gun barrel hanging out. As Charlie says time is a good consideration make it really early and you will have far less chances of trouble. A mate finds a loaf of bread on the floor gets them where he wants to shoot them, in that case its rooks that are crapping everywhere and making a god awfull din at first light. The moral of the whole thing though is subtlety what people don't know they won't get upset about

yep al4x i no that mate but the point as was getting at if you was shooting them in a food factory or school or some thing like that cause of the mess they were making then not a problem.

 

But he"s not he asked wood he get done we all no the law and what we can shoot on general licence but wood you bet your fac on the fact you wood not get done "i no i wood NOT mate

Edited May 28, 2012 by swiss.tony

[al4x]

I know if you know the law and comply then you won't, for starters the average copper knows nothing about the general License so the real issue is using an airgun in a garden now thats perfectly legal as long as you can be sensible. We don't know if its a couple of houses on a country lane or on a housing estate but whichever you could zero as long as the pellet doesn't leave the boundary and there is nothing the police could do. The only rspca convictions I can think of reflect wounded birds that then left the garden which obviously is a slight issue and one you should avoid. other than that making sure you comply enough for the law is not that difficult if you know the law to start with. For all we know his garden could be huge, Its simply a case of be sensible and pre warned. In some gardens you can no problem in others its a bad idea, we grew up shooting airguns in the back garden and ok it was a large garden but never an issue.

[JonathanL]

hi guys,

 

i live in nrmal house in a residential estate

 

my back garden backs onto other peoples back gardens but i have a full concrete shed at the back of mine (useful backstop)

 

anyway, we seem to be having a bit of a problem with crow, maggies, doves and wood pigeons. They first off are making all the song birds diappear, now they are landing on my kids trapoline and sh*tting all over it to the point where my kids cannot play on it and i have to bleach it to ensure theres no risk of disease.

 

A discussion with the nieghbours both side of me told me that want rid of them too as they are eating all the food they put out for the song birds and have even said that should they land in their garden, i can shoot them

 

now, where do i stand with regards to the law? I see no other way to rid them unless they are shot by my with my air rifle. I could use a larsen trap for the maggies but ive still gotta deal with the woodies, crows and doves so shooting to me is the best option

 

as long as the pellet does not leave mine or my nieghbours boundaries, i have not committed an offense. am i right

 

your advice mush appreciated

 

It appears so. As long as no shot, pellet or bullet leaves the properties where you have permission to shoot you are ok.

 

I don't know a great deal about how the general licence words things but I think you can only shot them for specific reasons (protection of human health is probably one) and only after you have considered other options and concluded that they are impractical. From what you say stopping putting feed out is one option you and the neighbors should consider, perhaps?

 

J.

[SakoQuad]

hi guys,

 

i live in nrmal house in a residential estate

 

my back garden backs onto other peoples back gardens but i have a full concrete shed at the back of mine (useful backstop)

 

anyway, we seem to be having a bit of a problem with crow, maggies, doves and wood pigeons. They first off are making all the song birds diappear, now they are landing on my kids trapoline and sh*tting all over it to the point where my kids cannot play on it and i have to bleach it to ensure theres no risk of disease.

 

A discussion with the nieghbours both side of me told me that want rid of them too as they are eating all the food they put out for the song birds and have even said that should they land in their garden, i can shoot them

 

now, where do i stand with regards to the law? I see no other way to rid them unless they are shot by my with my air rifle. I could use a larsen trap for the maggies but ive still gotta deal with the woodies, crows and doves so shooting to me is the best option

 

as long as the pellet does not leave mine or my nieghbours boundaries, i have not committed an offense. am i right

 

your advice mush appreciated

 

THE PURPOSE(S) FOR WHICH THIS LICENCE APPLIES

1. Subject to paragraph 2 and the licence conditions, this licence is granted to:

(i) Prevent serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables, fruit, growing

timber, fisheries or inland waters, and

(ii) Prevent the spread of disease.

 

works for me! you should though, as advised, try alternatives to keep them out. When that inevitably fails use common sense about not attracting loads of attention and ensuring safety when you shoot them! Also ensure you don't leave any wounded bird undealt with as well and dispose of it sensibly (double bagged in bin).

Magpies raid EVERY songbird nest in my garden and I reckon that's a good enough reason for them to be shot at every opportunity. The GL says nothing about the fruit or vegetables having to be grown on an industrial level either.

 

Major deposits of bird cr*p on kids playing area and equipment has to constitute a risk of "spread of disease".

 

Suggest you don't take up neighbours offer of shooting into their gardens though - that feels like a situation where too many things could go awry.

Edited May 28, 2012 by SakoQuad

[n11tht]

for three years i have shot pigeons in my garden using an air rifle, they **** of cars running the paintwork, **** on clothes and scare off other birds. never had any issues until one fell out of a tree into next doors garden and they called the police.

 

the police spoke to my mum as i was out and just said that make sure the pellet doesn't leave the property and trey to keep the pigeons in our garden

[Dave-G]

If you propose to shoot into neighbours gardens get them to give you written and signed permission to do so BEFORE taking any action: My understanding of a typical housing estate back garden is that even if you shoot out the bedroom window you will see less than half their garden grass. I say grass because that is what needs to be behind the bird to catch the missile.

 

Shooting birds out of trees, off fences or garage/shed/house roofs will get you into grief that could injure a person or propety but also seriously impair any chance of gaining an FAC at some later date. Tempting though it is my best advice is to ignore the issue or deal with it some other way like using... oh my gosh I can't believe I'm saying this... poison or trap.

 

The police, RSPCA and general public would much rather vermin die slow horrible agonising deaths than quick humane ones that involve use of a gun.

[stubby]

deal with it some other way like using... oh my gosh I can't believe I'm saying this... poison or trap.

 

The police, RSPCA and general public would much rather vermin die slow horrible agonising deaths than quick humane ones that involve use of a gun.

 

poisoning is totally illegal, so don't go down that route as advised

 

trappings fine

[Dave-G]

poisoning is totally illegal, so don't go down that route as advised

 

trappings fine

 

I shall consider myself corrected.

 

I was thinking if it's ok for rat boxes it's ok for other small vermin, sorry for the mis-advice.