lxtav Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 My father and I both have small holdings and they are just under 1 mile apart with several other holdings between us. He has just baled Haylage and when I visit there it's like a scene from the birds with the last time I was there must have been about 60-70 crows on the power lines. The problem is the crows are pecking holes in the bale wrap and another neighbour had to re wrap 350 bales due to this. I know that I can shoot the crows at my fathers as they are damaging the bales but the question is can I shoot them on my ground as well. I have no haylage bales (we use the hay we make for the horse instead) at my holding and all the crows do is throw the horse dung about in the field (which is very annoying when trying to pick it up) looking for insects to eat. Does the general licence only cover the location where the damage is being caused or can I shoot them in my field as well as I know they are causing the damage at another location nearby. Unfortunately the crows being so clever they are nesting in a National Trust for Scotland estate that does not allow shooting so the numbers are growing rapidly and the fields around are not big enough to use a shotgun in due to proximity of roads and the other holdings so it can only be done slowly with an airgun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) Yes you can shoot them, in england Link to the Scottish general licences.... http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/species-licensing/bird-licensing/general/ Edited September 11, 2012 by turbo33 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 (edited) Using the airgun to pick the odd one off mate will never reduce the numbers if they are that much of a problem,try a ladder trap they can be very effective if sited in the correct location just a suggestion you might think worthy of trying,BB And yes you can them,BB Edited September 11, 2012 by Bluebarrels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Using the airgun to pick the odd one off mate will never reduce the numbers if they are that much of a problem,try a ladder trap they can be very effective if sited in the correct location just a suggestion you might think worthy of trying,BB And yes you can them,BB Try and site it out of sight, otherwise it may be damaged. Remember to check it at least every 24hrs. Dispatch at night so the crows don't see you doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted September 11, 2012 Report Share Posted September 11, 2012 Try and site it out of sight, otherwise it may be damaged. Remember to check it at least every 24hrs. Dispatch at night so the crows don't see you doing it. Yep fair point outta site if possible,especially if your siting it near Trust land,and dont forget the perch and water for the call bird BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Good luck getting any significant quantities with an air-gun. A ladder trap could be a good way to do it. Yes you can shoot them on your land as well. If/when you get some dead crows, try pinning them out (wings out) round the bales, it can keep the others away. I too have had many issues with bales ruined by crows, they are horrible creatures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris64 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 A farmer told me he paint eye's on the bales that puts them off,i've seen some just before j16 m6 south bound,they had smiley faces painted on them. cheers chris. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 A farmer told me he paint eye's on the bales that puts them off,i've seen some just before j16 m6 south bound,they had smiley faces painted on them. cheers chris. I'd forgotten this trick - a frowny face works better (no I'm not joking). We've tried just putting a squiggle on before, but that didn't work. Frowning faces can work, but stringing crows out is probably still the best way where possible. The trouble I always used to find was that we were all too busy to shoot crows and string them out, as when the weather is right there isn't enough time for anything. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lxtav Posted September 12, 2012 Author Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 Seems that when the bales are stacked they leave them alone. Have the bale sitting on its on and its bye bye. Also they now seem more intrested in the barley fields getting cut. Also forgot you could use a ladder trap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bedwards1966 Posted September 12, 2012 Report Share Posted September 12, 2012 It's true that when stacked they usually leave them alone - some land I worked on was near a tip, and in the 2 hours taken since I finished wrapping a field and got back with a trailer, they had managed to destroy most of the bales! In some places they can make it almost unworkable. Using green plastic instead of black can help, but it doesn't stop it altogether. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr williamson Posted September 14, 2012 Report Share Posted September 14, 2012 get yourself a gas gun. and let it run a couple of hours a day alternating the times. thet wont like that going off. and will soon see your patch as danger. and yes you can shoot them. but as said an airgun will not make much difference to numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted September 15, 2012 Report Share Posted September 15, 2012 Eagle owl decoy works well on bales Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corvid wings Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 FORGET THE GAS GUN IF YOU HAVE HORSES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY ,THE CROWS WILL GET USED TO IT IN LESS THAN A WEEK ,DECOY THEM TO SOMEWHERE ON THE FARM IT IS SAFE TO SHOOT ,OR BUILD YOURSELF A LARGE CAGE TRAP, DONT BOTHER WITH CALLING BIRDS JUST FEED IT, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stubby Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 My father and I both have small holdings not something to tell everyone, did his dad have a small one too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Breastman Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 not something to tell everyone, did his dad have a small one too And this coming from someone called 'Stubby' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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