col s10 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 right guys,do any of you shoot jays i know they take chicks and eggs ,but they are not as prolific as say maggies and they are very handsome ,by the way,ime abit of a twitcher ,i know they are on the list ,but so far cant bring myself to take one out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 yes i shoot them when i can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 These are probably more vicious than magpies, and are more common than you think. on one shoot just at the end of Jan,I stood on a peg in the woods and watched five adults fly past me. I didn't shoot as I was stunned to see that many in one go. I did get a shot off though when the neighbouring gun fired and they turned back. The reason they're on the license is because of the damage they do to the Song and Game bird population, and the fact that they are common and widespread in large numbers in some areas. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col s10 Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 are they more common in some areas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 Yep, Jays prefer Deciduous or mixed woodland although you will still find them in fir plantations and along hedgrows. Magpies tend to go wherever, hence why you see them in city and town centres. My experience of Jays is that unlike Magpies, they love to eat fruit/berries as well as eggs, scavange, young chicks etc. I have witnessed three mobbing a little white ball of fluff in a tree that turned out to be a Tawney Owl chick, it was fun to watch when Mum or Dad came back and saw them off. Like all corvids their big and brave when in groups, but on their own or in small numbers they're cowards. At the end of the day, it is your choice whether or not you should hsoot them. If you don't feel comfortably, then don't do it. We're not here to wipe out all of the vermin because if we did, we would have a very unbalanced ecosystem. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
08shooter Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 easy put the cross hairs on it control yourself squeeze of an air arms field job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col s10 Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 bloodyhell what do i do know ,great reply though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffolk shooter Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 easy put the cross hairs on it control yourself squeeze of an air arms field job done. Bit clinical, but true. On the flip side of that col s10, as you're a twitcher as well, see if this one or more are causing problems in the vicinity and then decide what action you're going to take. Slightly harder to trick than magpies, hence shotgun is better as the ******* can be got whilst flying. SS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col s10 Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 again great advise if i see more than normal i will have a go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 I'm also a bit of a birdwatcher. Jays will take chicks etc. but also you have to bare in mind all the good they do planting Oak trees as all the acorns that they stash they don't remember where every one was placed so the are responsible for many new Oaks every year. Having said that my area is hardly over run with them so I don't shoot them. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beatingisbest Posted February 10, 2007 Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 we have quite a lot around my area, on one drive last year we managed to bag 4 we also discovered that if you grab the body and squeeze it, the air is forced out of the lungs of the bird and it produces a cawing sound as the air passed through the soundbox in the throat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
col s10 Posted February 10, 2007 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2007 i think ferret master knows where ime comin from i know i mentioned maggies how the hell do you get to nail them by the way guys this is in my back garden ime quite lucky to have a BIG ONE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNAKEBITE Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 Onl you know if there is a balance on your shoot o not. I have only seen 2 Jays on my shoots, so no I'm not going to take them as they are in balance with the enviroment. As for magpies a rabbit with it's guts showing will attract them. There are loads of threads on here going into great detaol so have a search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arnold Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 old acorns are a good trick for bringing in jays in wooded areas specialy this time of the year, ive shot a few over the allotment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowland75 Posted February 11, 2007 Report Share Posted February 11, 2007 The woods that back on to my garden literally have no song birds. When you walk though them there are thousands of squirrels, jays, crows and magpies at the periphery, which is why im sure the song birds are down. Along with a massive rabbit population, theres a fair few pheasants (not too sure of legality?). Im currently tracing the land owners as these woods get treated as public owned, but a family own them but seem to have no interest in upkeep. Id happily cull the pests! Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naddan28 Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 The woods that back on to my garden literally have no song birds. When you walk though them there are thousands of squirrels, jays, crows and magpies at the periphery, which is why im sure the song birds are down. Along with a massive rabbit population, theres a fair few pheasants (not too sure of legality?). Im currently tracing the land owners as these woods get treated as public owned, but a family own them but seem to have no interest in upkeep. Id happily cull the pests! Pete Hey pete, I will happily help you if need any! In process of getting my girlfriend's mum to ask her boss if she needs anyone/more+ on her land. I know she has a lot with horses on so rabbits aplenty im guessing! As regards to pheasants, they have a game season so cant be shot out of that. Also, althou i think legal using an air rifle on a pheasant is wrong. Not the right level of power for the job. Check the BASC code of practice for suitable quarry for a 12ftlbs air rifle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oly Posted February 12, 2007 Report Share Posted February 12, 2007 I never touch them, only see one or two a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 never seen one in the flesh sadly , so would not shoot it if i did , unless there was a plauge of them . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ratcatcher Posted February 15, 2007 Report Share Posted February 15, 2007 I leave jays alone Maybe becouse there not in huge numbers round here, plus there stunning to look at Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newboy Posted February 17, 2007 Report Share Posted February 17, 2007 I leave jays alone Maybe becouse there not in huge numbers round here, plus there stunning to look at ive never seen one let alone shot at one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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