Gibbybox Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Hi there, I'm just wondering where the law stands on shooting geese and other birds with a rifle? I live on a farm and there were several hundred geese (pink-footed I think) munching on our grass some 100 yards from the farm steading this afternoon. At the moment we do not have a usable shotgun, only .22 and .243 calibre rifles and wondered if I would be legally allowed to shoot them? I reckon I could have taken the shot from 50 yards where the zero of the .22 is set, allowing confident shot placement. What are your views on shooting geese and birds in general with a rifle? Cheers, Gibby Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) Don't do it. It may be legal, and some may consider it sporting enough but it is not ethical. I understand that once shot at by rifle that geese will not return to the same farm. That may be the object but it would be a pity. Edited November 21, 2012 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) Nothing wrong with shooting Geese with a rifle. I take plenty, but most commonly with a HMR or WMR. You just need to make sure you confirm to the terms of the GL, get a Special Licence (if required) or they are in season, but none of that has anything to do with using a rifle. Edited November 21, 2012 by Dekers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Don't do it. It may be legal, and some may consider it sporting enough but it is not ethical. I understand that once shot at by rifle that geese will not return to the same farm. That may be the object but it would be a pity. In the case above he is talking Pest Control, debate to your hearts content about Pinks, but there is nothing unethical about "Geese" Pest Control with a rifle! Its not about being sporting, its about being efficient! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Don't do it. It may be legal, and some may consider it sporting enough but it is not ethical. I understand that once shot at by rifle that geese will not return to the same farm. That may be the object but it would be a pity. How do you know the geese will not return to a field if they are shot at buy a rifle? Why do they return to fields if they have been shot at with a shotgun? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majordisorder Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) How do you know the geese will not return to a field if they are shot at buy a rifle? Because they're dead Why do they return to fields if they have been shot at with a shotgun? Because you used 28g of 7.5 Edited November 21, 2012 by majordisorder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackbart Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Be far better to let a few days shooting to a few lads. win win you get rid of geese,someone gets good shooting,you get a fist full of cash. so that should be win win win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bala Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Be far better to let a few days shooting to a few lads. win win you get rid of geese,someone gets good shooting,you get a fist full of cash. so that should be win win win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebarrels Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Be far better to let a few days shooting to a few lads. win win you get rid of geese,someone gets good shooting,you get a fist full of cash. so that should be win win win. And that's a very sensible solution to your problem BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Hi there, I'm just wondering where the law stands on shooting geese and other birds with a rifle? I live on a farm and there were several hundred geese (pink-footed I think) munching on our grass some 100 yards from the farm steading this afternoon. At the moment we do not have a usable shotgun, only .22 and .243 calibre rifles and wondered if I would be legally allowed to shoot them? I presume you have a variation for geese, police, BASC, anyone with a brain cell, won`t let you call pinks a pest. Geese will return to a field after being scared by a rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy011983 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 My condition on my licence reads any vermin and any other legal quarry. from what my feo says i can shoot any birds or animal as A bird is only on ground (common sense safe backstop) B quarry is in season C the calibre is suitable for the quarry. Suffolk police say this also covers fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 But does that condition (vermin and any other legal quarry) relate to firearm or ammunition? It is very specific on my FAC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 (edited) Is it legal for pinks anyway? Edited November 21, 2012 by al4x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foggy011983 Posted November 21, 2012 Report Share Posted November 21, 2012 Exact wording is as follows The .17hmr and.22rf rifles, sound moderators and ammunition shall be used for shooting vermin and ground game and any other lawful quarry and for zeroing on ranges or any land deemed suitable by the chief officer of police for the area the land is situated and over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot. The certificate holder may possess purchase or aquire expanding ammunition or the missiles of such ammunition in the calibers authorised by this certificate and used only in connection with (a) the shooting of vermin and all other lawful quarry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Firstly Pinks are not pests (they have a season, they are wildfowl) forget what numpie coppers say, if you end up being seen and reported by a third party the cops thoughts will be of no defence. Second "you think" they are pinks - if your wrong and they turn out to be bean geese or something you can end up in very deep doo-doo. Scare them off IMO remember Pink footed geese are of international importance in conservation terms shooting Pinks with rifle on the ground can and does scare them off for generations but it isn't garanteed, just likely. Rent the shooting if you realy must by the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blunderbust Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 There is always one smartass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Do they have pink legs like these? http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1360&bih=648&q=pinks+geese&oq=pinks+geese&gs_l=img.12...3610.13016.0.16250.11.8.0.3.3.0.110.860.1j7.8.0...0.0...1ac.1.RaRPwe6WAo4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Would i be right in saying that you'd still not be allowed to shoot them with lead if you used a rifle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Would i be right in saying that you'd still not be allowed to shoot them with lead if you used a rifle? You'd be wrong. If you shoot with a rifle then a single lead projectile is legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Mat Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 You'd be wrong. If you shoot with a rifle then a single lead projectile is legal. I don't spose you have a link or reference to that do you? Not a dig at you but my reasoning behind asking is that i thought it only applied to canadas because they have dual wildfowl and vermin status! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gibbybox Posted November 22, 2012 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Thanks for all the replies, it seems my question has caused quite a stir! After some further research on the different geese I can confirm that they were definitely pink-foots as I suspected. I find it pretty hard to believe that they would not return after being shot with a rifle but supposedly would if I used a shotgun? Hmm... It seems I'm within my rights to use the rifle on the geese should they return. However, I think I'll be phoning a few pals to come round with their shotguns first, nice to be nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 I don't spose you have a link or reference to that do you? Not a dig at you but my reasoning behind asking is that i thought it only applied to canadas because they have dual wildfowl and vermin status! It's in here I think, been a while since I looked, but "put simply" the lead ban is only shotgun, not rifle! http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/2170/introduction/made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edge007 Posted November 22, 2012 Report Share Posted November 22, 2012 Don't do it. It may be legal, and some may consider it sporting enough but it is not ethical. I understand that once shot at by rifle that geese will not return to the same farm. That may be the object but it would be a pity. That's a good thing that they won't return - he doesn't want them there, get the rifles out!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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