Cranfield Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 This topic partly derailed the BASC Pigeon Conference thread and is worth a poll of its own. Members have expressed their reluctance to shoot breeding birds in the past and that is a matter for personal choice. However, it may alarm some people if there is a lobby (as Deako suggests and supports) for a fixed close season for pigeon shooting, which would cover almost half of the year. Here is a chance to air your views, but please keep it polite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 No, if you give it up you don`t get it back and if you have issues, you don`t have to go out and shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Definitely NO, A close season is usually for bird etc to be allowed to breed, Why would you want to let a pest breed? If you answer to secure your sport then it is the wrong reason. My understanding of it is you are not allowed to shoot pigeons for sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyCM Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Pigeons do agricultural damage every month of the year, just depends where you are in the UK and what's being cultivated. Local to me there is the winter rape (only just now getting away, although the bald patches will still get hammered for the next couple of months), then peas, and wind blown wheat & barley. That's more or less January - December covered. It is a pest and also one of the best sporting birds available to us. Cheers AndyCM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axe Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I voted No. For the same reasons stated above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 No, because there simply isn't the justification by way of reduced numbers and with the climate the way it is they are not just breeding in summer either, they pretty much please themselves by the looks of things. As has been said they are shot because they are the greatest agricultural pest, why would you let a pest breed? Lets not forget that the general licence, as well as allowing shooting, also allows other methods of control because they are a pest - the destruction of nests and the taking of eggs for example. I wouldn't want to see them eradicated completely, I don't think we should be able to make that choice, but they can be controlled to manageable numbers and that is just how it should stay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hitman Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 A BIG NO from me. All the mild winters we are experiencing are boosting pigeon numbers for a start. The thought of a close seaon will have Anti's pushing harder for a total ban, lets not play into their hands because it would be hard to turn back the clock on what would be a monumental victory for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Even the RSPCB makes Woody the most populous bird in the UK (and this at a time when more are being shot than ever before) and all the indications are that they will continue to explode population wise thanks to agriculture and winter crops plus the so called global warming. If any bird is capable of exploiting a changing climate/habitat Woody is it. I'd definitely vote NO to a close season and if there's any doubts BASC should join forces with the NFU on this topic! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David BASC Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 BASC and the NFU regulary get together to discuss issues of joint interest - although pigeons have not come up on the agenda in the recent past - I can assure you that if it does both the NFU and BASC will have a common interest in doing all we can to keep this significant agrucultural pest under control. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 No, if you give it up you don`t get it back and if you have issues, you don`t have to go out and shoot. I voted No this is absolutely absurd, we're attacking our own activities,, whats wrong with you idiots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 as above voted no if you let them breed then there will be a lot more damage done two crops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 this is absolutely absurd, we're attacking our own activities,, whats wrong with you idiots The reason for the poll is that Deako suggested that a close season was being sought by certain parties, see the BASC Conference thread here, http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=30871 . To avoid derailing that thread much more, it was posted here as a separate discussion point, with a poll. I voted No. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 i voted no but only shoot pigeons in the summer if i get the phone call to say there hitting the crops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazykayaker Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 NO there are plenty do gooders out there wanting to restrict our activities, let's not do it ourselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CARBINE Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 it`s a no from me,Iv seen pigeons breeding most of the mild winter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baikiel boy Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I vote no for some of the reasons others have given , but the main reason being NEVER give up anything you dont have to , it could be the thin end of the wedge . This government being a prime example for eroding peoples personal liberty . bb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 I see that the 2 people who voted Yes gave no comment, I'd be interested to hear their opinions (I clicked the wrong one by accident is not an excuse) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 I voted NO. To my mind the woodpigeon is either an agricultural pest (currently with the tag of No.1 Pest Species) to be shot on sight or else it is not and with that in mind anyone voting Yes (I strongly feel) should be barred from this forum! Been thinking more about this topic - WHY ARE WE VOTING ON THIS ISSUE? It is not compulsory to attempt to shoot pigeons all year round. How can anyone who shoots pigeons pretend they are concerned about orphaned squabs, when even the Jim Albones among us could never be 100% accurate! Point is - who has never attempted to shoot at that high crossing bird only to see it fly on, probably 'pricked' to die later? In fact in truth no-one will ever know what the standard of marksmanship really is and just how many birds we wound between us. SO PLEASE ALL OF YOU CEASE THIS HYPOCRISY AND GET REAL. WOODPIGEONS THANKFULLY ARE A SERIOUS PEST AND WE CAN SHOOT THEM ALL YEAR ROUND - BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO! END OF....... C.B. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAMMER BURT Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 i don't think it's a good i dear to have a closed season as they are in such high numbers in all parts of the country and breed like rats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Its generally accepted by the Farmers on whose land I shoot that damage by Pigeon to food crops, even though numbers are at a record level, is minimal. In these days of Intensive rape production food is at an abundance many of the rape fields in these areas will not even be touched. You cannot say that birds feeding on stubble is crop damage, quite the opposite infact, similarly overspill drillings of wheat, barley or corn will only be mopped up from the surface. Modern drilling machinery leaves little such waste and pigeon unlike crows or rooks wont bury for seed below the surface. The main risk crop is legumes like peas & beans where pigeons can and do a great deal of damage. The problem we have at the moment is that we have become a nation of ornithologists and naturalists and wild bird food, feeders, tables, and next boxes are a multi million pound industry. The Wood pigeon has become such a cosmopolitan bird that joe public no longer looks on him as a pest, (if indeed they ever did) moreover a handsome addition to the garden. It is these people with the weight of public support behind them that will determine the future of our sport, and as more and more support the BTO and RSPB and take part in the BBs and Garden Bird Survey, woody could quite easily take on a popularity status similar to the Blue *** or the Blackbird ! I think its important therefore, that woodpigeon are only shot when Pest control is absolutely necessary and a close season which coincides with the birds PEAK breeding season is implimented. This an old chestnut and quite a hot one at that, but the simple truth is that many of us, go out and shoot Wood Pigeon weekly, even daily because we enjoy shooting the birds and crop protection is notan issue which we consider when doing so. I think by having a close season we will be protecting our sport from criticism, far from jeopardising it and we can demonstrate that when we do shoot Pigeon its not for selfish or financial motives but to minimise crop predation and nothing else. I suspect many of you wont agree with these sentiments, but I exercise a close season generally April to end August, shoot predominately in the winter months, and unless the birds are a particular problem in my area wont even bother then. This I shall continue to do. FM ( RSPB, BTO & BASC member) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Country Boy Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Its generally accepted by the Farmers on whose land I shoot that damage by Pigeon to food crops, even though numbers are at a record level, is minimal. In these days of Intensive rape production food is at an abundance many of the rape fields in these areas will not even be touched. You cannot say that birds feeding on stubble is crop damage, quite the opposite infact, similarly overspill drillings of wheat, barley or corn will only be mopped up from the surface. Modern drilling machinery leaves little such waste and pigeon unlike crows or rooks wont bury for seed below the surface. The main risk crop is legumes like peas & beans where pigeons can and do a great deal of damage. The problem we have at the moment is that we have become a nation of ornithologists and naturalists and wild bird food, feeders, tables, and next boxes are a multi million pound industry. The Wood pigeon has become such a cosmopolitan bird that joe public no longer looks on him as a pest, (if indeed they ever did) moreover a handsome addition to the garden. It is these people with the weight of public support behind them that will determine the future of our sport, and as more and more support the BTO and RSPB and take part in the BBs and Garden Bird Survey, woody could quite easily take on a popularity status similar to the Blue *** or the Blackbird ! I think its important therefore, that woodpigeon are only shot when Pest control is absolutely necessary and a close season which coincides with the birds PEAK breeding season is implimented. This an old chestnut and quite a hot one at that, but the simple truth is that many of us, go out and shoot Wood Pigeon weekly, even daily because we enjoy shooting the birds and crop protection is notan issue which we consider when doing so. I think by having a close season we will be protecting our sport from criticism, far from jeopardising it and we can demonstrate that when we do shoot Pigeon its not for selfish or financial motives but to minimise crop predation and nothing else. I suspect many of you wont agree with these sentiments, but I exercise a close season generally April to end August, shoot predominately in the winter months, and unless the birds are a particular problem in my area wont even bother then. This I shall continue to do. FM ( RSPB, BTO & BASC member) Fisherman Mike, we all shoot under the guise of pest control, but who really cares about crop damage - I shoot woodpigeons because they are the finest legitimate wing shooting there is, if it was any other species of Dove (with the exception maybe of Stockies) in such numbers wild horses would'nt drag me out to shoot them! You are sounding like an anti to me, may I make a polite suggestion why don't you simply stick to fishing and bird watching? CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the hitman Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 CB, the man is entitled to an opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 23, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 Fisherman Mike has been around here for quite some time and has passed on good information and suggestions to newbie pigeon shooters, he most certainly is not an "anti". We are too quick to throw that accusation at anyone who doesn't agree with our views. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_k Posted March 23, 2007 Report Share Posted March 23, 2007 sorry if theis has beensaid before but its is to much to read at the mo, so... in my opinion when pigeons are not in flocks, (are mating) they are very hard to decoy! so as a far as a closed season goes whats the point when they kind of invoke there own! how this tread made such an argument i do not know... steve ps. what i have read are some very good opinoins... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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