Outdoorsman Posted March 1, 2016 Report Share Posted March 1, 2016 How far do you have to be from a road when using shotguns and rifles, i was under the impression it was 50 yards but i drove past a clay ground inbetween Heighton and Peirce bridge if anyone knows it and the stands are pretty much at the road side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 If you go down to bisley on the end of the 600 yard range you will have to careful that you don't get run over from the cars on the road . I think you have to be at least 50 feet from the centre of a highway or by way and not causing fear or worry to highway users . Harnser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I know pheasant shoots where u stand on the road to shoot. It's only if u cause fear or alarm or stop traffic it becomes an issue. In practice obviously depends on the road and u haveing a good reason Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Shooting near highways (roads and carriageways) In England & Wales using a firearm near a highway is not prohibited – but it is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to discharge any firearm within fifty feet of the centre of a highway/carriageway IF in consequence a user of the carriageway is injured, interrupted or endangered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I know pheasant shoots where u stand on the road to shoot. It's only if u cause fear or alarm or stop traffic it becomes an issue. In practice obviously depends on the road and u haveing a good reason Unless that's a private road it's not something I would be doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salopian Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 This is VERY important. I was pigeon shooting two weeks ago and stopped to allow dog walkers pass by . Engaged in conversation with one who was under the impression that you need to be 500 yards away from a highway , road or public footpath ! I wonder how many times an armed response team or helicopter have been alerted by concerned members of the public? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Shooting near highways (roads and carriageways) In England & Wales using a firearm near a highway is not prohibited – but it is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to discharge any firearm within fifty feet of the centre of a highway/carriageway IF in consequence a user of the carriageway is injured, interrupted or endangered. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Shooting near highways (roads and carriageways) In England & Wales using a firearm near a highway is not prohibited – but it is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to discharge any firearm within fifty feet of the centre of a highway/carriageway IF in consequence a user of the carriageway is injured, interrupted or endangered. +1 But I've never seen a situation where I would need to set up that close to be road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 +1 But I've never seen a situation where I would need to set up that close to be road. There is a difference between the need to be there, and being there because it is the best spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotguneddy Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Seen a video with Geoff garrod right next to a road, his back to it and making sure he didn't take anything on that could have dropped behind, thoughts...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsman Posted March 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Champion that was answered consistantly there, I god knows were i got 50yrds from better safe than sorry though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deny essex Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 last time I checked long time back it was 90 feet from the centre of a road minimum distance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Unless that's a private road it's not something I would be doing. I can think of quite a few local estates where a gun/s will either stand on a public road/verges or walk down it as a walking gun. DM has it correct, if u have a reasonable excuse and not causing fear or alarm not aproblem Just need a bit of common sense applied. As with all things legal give Basc a bell and double check if ur in any dount Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Champion that was answered consistantly there, I god knows were i got 50yrds from better safe than sorry though An FEO once told me that a piece of land would probably be unsuitable for FAC use (on a closed ticket) because "It is illegal to discharge a firearm within 50 yards of a road". I explained to him what the law ACTUALLY said, and pulled up the relevant law on my computer. So don't be surprised if you got it wrong - after all, it was his job to know the law, and yet he had no idea ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outdoorsman Posted March 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I wonder if it was my FEO that said it to me, he was i thought quiet odd the first time he came for a visit, it is understandable though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 As robbie says probably the most misquoted piece of firearms law. Some folk have all sorts of strange ideas, plenty of other variations of it on this thread alone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 An FEO once told me that a piece of land would probably be unsuitable for FAC use (on a closed ticket) because "It is illegal to discharge a firearm within 50 yards of a road". I explained to him what the law ACTUALLY said, and pulled up the relevant law on my computer. So don't be surprised if you got it wrong - after all, it was his job to know the law, and yet he had no idea ! Why am I not surprised Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 I know pheasant shoots where u stand on the road to shoot. It's only if u cause fear or alarm or stop traffic it becomes an issue. In practice obviously depends on the road and u haveing a good reason Yep here also it's not uncommon and I can't see a problem with it It's not nearly as bad as moving cows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 There is a difference between the need to be there, and being there because it is the best spot. Yep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffAim Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 (edited) Shooting near highways (roads and carriageways) In England & Wales using a firearm near a highway is not prohibited – but it is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to discharge any firearm within fifty feet of the centre of a highway/carriageway IF in consequence a user of the carriageway is injured, interrupted or endangered. This absolutely correct, however certain FLOs including one in particular in Suffolk do not agree with the Police Guidelines and unless the firearm is discharged at least fifty feet from the carriageway (meaning edge of road, lane, highway etc, not centre of). The one in Suffolk has apparently threatened to confiscate any gun he sees without a gunslip if within fifty feet of the highway. (He ought to get out at night and grab a few people lamping while driving around the lanes here, firing from the back of a moving pick-up or out of the sun roof of a moving car). The Guidelines (which is just what they are - guidelines) are open to interpretation by the FLOs (and courts) but the actual paragraph means that a gun can be fired actually on the centreline of a highway, as long as it doesn't harm, frighten or slow the passage of a person. Edited March 2, 2016 by OffAim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 This absolutely correct, however certain FLOs including one in particular in Suffolk do not agree with the Police Guidelines and unless the firearm is discharged at least fifty feet from the carriageway (meaning edge of road, lane, highway etc, not centre of). The one in Suffolk has apparently threatened to confiscate any gun he sees without a gunslip if within fifty feet of the highway. (He ought to get out at night and grab a few people lamping while driving around the lanes here, firing from the back of a moving pick-up or out of the sun roof of a moving car). The Guidelines (which is just what they are - guidelines) are open to interpretation by the FLOs (and courts) but the actual paragraph means that a gun can be fired actually on the centreline of a highway, as long as it doesn't harm, frighten or slow the passage of a person. As far as I can see it makes no difference whether they agree or not. These instances are covered by section 161 of The Highways Act (1980). It`s a legal definition, not a guideline. As long as a user of the carriageway is not injured, interrupted or endangered then any case against the shooter would/should be thrown out of court. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7daysinaweek Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 Shooting near highways (roads and carriageways) In England & Wales using a firearm near a highway is not prohibited – but it is an offence without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to discharge any firearm within fifty feet of the centre of a highway/carriageway IF in consequence a user of the carriageway is injured, interrupted or endangered. This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OffAim Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 As far as I can see it makes no difference whether they agree or not. These instances are covered by section 161 of The Highways Act (1980). It`s a legal definition, not a guideline. As long as a user of the carriageway is not injured, interrupted or endangered then any case against the shooter would/should be thrown out of court. Unfortunately courts may side with what an FLO says.......If in his opinion, 'it was incorrect use of a firearm etc etc.....' Much the same as a police officer's opinion on a person's driving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 If someone took the family who own the spot I am thinking of to court I don't think they should get very far Most likely outcome if they pushed might be a good proportion of the county shut off to all access lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matone Posted March 2, 2016 Report Share Posted March 2, 2016 As far as I can see it makes no difference whether they agree or not. These instances are covered by section 161 of The Highways Act (1980). It`s a legal definition, not a guideline. As long as a user of the carriageway is not injured, interrupted or endangered then any case against the shooter would/should be thrown out of court. Well said ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.