Spud dog Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Was wanting to purchase an air rifle to shoot some pigeons in the garden. Can shoot them from the shed. Obviously don't want to spend a fortune, just to have a bit of fun. Help much appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizza22196 Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 why exactly do you want to shoot the pigeons in your garden? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 why exactly do you want to shoot the pigeons in your garden? ...... just to have a bit of fun.......... :hmm: I'm sure I've seen that section somewhere on the GL but I can't remember where! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Errr it illegal to shoot pigeons "just for fun" either in your garden or on a farmers field. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerob Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 well we all should know the general license but come on guys we all go out shooting to have a bit of fun weather we are there decoying to save crops or walking trough a wood to shoot or down a clay pigeon yard we all shoot for a bit of fun / enjoyment if we didn't enjoy shooting where wouldn't be a big following of it or website dedicated to shooting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Errr it illegal to shoot pigeons "just for fun" either in your garden or on a farmers field. No its not. Its just conviniant the terms of the gl allow you to do so. Just tell me why you shoot pigeons? Its not to benifit the farmer but because you enjoy it. But i carnt understand why you would want to shoot them in your garden. Unless 50 woddies was clearing the bird table up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerob Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 also depends how big your garden is my garden its 1/4 of a acre where my friend has 29 acre garden with 3 acre of wood land pigeons can be annoying ******** on your car ever 5 minutes and making noise while you in bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 making noise while you in bed Is that not called the countryside? Are we going to start shooting blackbirds to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
littlerob Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 i live in a caravan i get pigeons dancing on my roof sounds like two men doing the irish jig /river dance on it at 5am but i get up for work at 6 but it can be annoying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) also depends how big your garden is my garden its 1/4 of a acre where my friend has 29 acre garden with 3 acre of wood land pigeons can be annoying ******** on your car ever 5 minutes and making noise while you in bed Sorry but it makes no difference at all how big your garden is other than the legal aspect of your pellet staying within your boundary . The fact remain that pigeons can only legally be shot under the terms of the general licence and we as members of a responsible forum should educate those that are unaware of this not ignore it. Edited January 9, 2013 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 No its not. Its just conviniant the terms of the gl allow you to do so. Just tell me why you shoot pigeons? Its not to benifit the farmer but because you enjoy it. But i carnt understand why you would want to shoot them in your garden. Unless 50 woddies was clearing the bird table up. Well my interpretation of the GL is that all birds are protected by law with the exception of a few species and those species can only be shot to protect produce or for health reasons and not for fun - the fact that we enjoy shooting is just a happy accident and not a reason in itself. If you enjoyed shooting barn owls it would't protect you from the law. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Well my interpretation of the GL is that all birds are protected by law with the exception of a few species and those species can only be shot to protect produce or for health reasons and not for fun - the fact that we enjoy shooting is just a happy accident and not a reason in itself. If you enjoyed shooting barn owls it would't protect you from the law. You talk ****. The number 1 reason you go shooting is because you enjoy it. the gl allows you to presue your hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 You talk ****. The number 1 reason you go shooting is because you enjoy it. the gl allows you to presue your hobby. Yes, I go shooting because I enjoy it, we all do, but that is not illegal IF there is a good reason to be shooting. If you don't have a good reason to shoot pigeons then it IS illegal, whether you like it or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spud dog Posted January 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Sorry, didn't realise it was going to open such a can of worms. I didn't mean in the sense "Just for fun" or having a laugh. I meant to control them as a few seam to keep pinching all the food from the bird table. Anyway wish I hadn't asked, what I thought was a straight forward question. Never mind! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Just get any air gun you like the look of mate. To satisfy the gl, there pooing in your garden and its a health hazzard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alycidon Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 I found my 12 ft lb .177 air rifle to be a very poor weapon for pigeons unless head shots only are taken. Pigeons are shot under general licence, details of which are on the BASC site. If you are in a domestic situation I suspect its probably illegal for your projectile to travel beyond the boundaries of your property. A Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 IMHO if they are being a pest then shoot em-if we all start being pedantic with regards to the GL then we would never fire a shot.Its a stupid unworkable rule that needs overturning anyway.The chances of getting prosecuted would be pretty small so long as you are not playing Rambo and use your nonce-how many huntsmen have been succesfully prosecuted since the hunting ban was passed? Its high time groups like BASC became more active in defending our sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Sorry, didn't realise it was going to open such a can of worms. I didn't mean in the sense "Just for fun" or having a laugh. I meant to control them as a few seam to keep pinching all the food from the bird table. Anyway wish I hadn't asked, what I thought was a straight forward question. Never mind! even if you were not shooting them for fun then shooting them for taking food you have placed out for wild birds also would be against the terms of the licence , you may also fall foul of the baiting of wild birds part !, it really is best to read and understand the licence , as I said its not about just having a pop at people but to educate them , clearly you had no idea this would be illegal or you would not ask . I for instance dont shoot pigeons in my garden but if they are the other side of my fence ( on land I have permission) feeding on the crops then I shoot them for the purpose of crop protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Ghost Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 My wife, has asked me to shoot the Pigeon in the big tree in our back garden as....they wake her up every morning. I cant do it.....If my next door neighbour was firing an air rifle I would not be happy stepping out the back door....no matter how good a shot they were. Spud Dog I can see you are interested in shooting, so get yourself a nice BSA air rifle and get out in a wood for some great sport on some pigeon. ..I worked in Lancaster and know you have some good shooting I am sure someone will put you right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregthegreat Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Jason Christ! Can we get this in perspective?!! He wants to shoot the odd pigeon that comes into his garden! Yes, the terms of the general licence stand regardless but let's be proportionate with the answer. Don't spend a fortune, get yourself a spring powered .22 rather than .177 for the stopping power of the heavier, slower pellet. If your garden is a normal size then you should be able to head shoot them to ensure a clean kill. The last thing you want is them flying off only to drop dead in your neighbours (presuming you've got them) garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizza22196 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 I can't see that eating bird seed which you put out for wild birds is a problem so just leave them be and respect the wildlife Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catweazle Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Whilst it might sound a bit pedantic to be referring the OP to the General Licence, it should be remembered that if the police turn up at his door his first answers will be very important. Knowing why he is shooting the pigeons might make the difference between a big fine or a friendly warning to keep a lower profile. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willos Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Sorry but i find this amussing. A pigeon is fare game. Its a pest and spreads all sorts of nasty bugs. Its a pain in my garden as it puts off any small birds nesting as they are constanting ******** , fighting and nesting. If anyone asks you why your shooting them its simple. I want to eat them. Thats it. End of Story. no one will bother you. Ive seen pictures of 100s of pigeons shot in a single location.and is in all shooting mags but will go to a game dealer who will send to france where they will eat them. The feet are then put in soup in china. hmmmmm I live in the country and the farmers given me permission to shoot . Flocks of 100s of birds land on his crop. Then they fly off and land in my garden **** fight and nest. Its a pest not a protected eagle. You have to be slightly a bit on the sadistic side to kill and eat your own grub and to own your own gun. Sorry we are desendants of hunters and have animal instincts. Sorry shooting pheasants is for pleasure as you cannot eat 20 birds and you pay for the privlage. Its not for pest control. No i dont go pheasant shooting ive got better things to spend my money on. Dont get me wrong im no towny, im the son of a game keeper when i was a boy and had a pet fox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FalconFN Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 You may be a son of a keeper but you don't know the law. There is a difference in law between game and pest species so it's ok to shoot a pheasant for fun but not a pigeon. You may not like it but that IS the law. As for your sadistic comment, well it's clear you either need a dictionary or a psychologist. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gizza22196 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 if you said you were shooting pigeons because you want to eat them it would be far from end of story Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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