General license summary

[Chezney]

Good evening gents,

 

I was just wondering if one of you could summarise the general license terms for me, answering the questions below along the way, as the terminology has got me a bit confused, and I'm coming across more 'anti-shooting' folk at the moment.

With regards pest species:

On the farm, where they are/could damage crops is there anything stopping me shooting pests with the appropriate weapon? What about destroying jackdaw nests? Do I need any paperwork with me?

At the house (still rural, but more residential area) can I still shoot pest species? Wood pigeon to eat, for example? And squirrels, just because they cause havoc in the loft etc? Do I need any different legislation/paperwork?

 

Thanks!

C

Edited April 6, 2016 by Chezney

[robbiep]

Grey squirrels are pests, and can be shot at any time. No reference to the GL required. No reason required. They are viewed as a pest species under Schedule 9 of WCA. So can be shot just as you would do a rat.

 

Under the GL (actually GL04) the licence permits you to "kill or take any of the wild birds listed at (a) and (b) below, to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs". With the various birds then listed, and the reasons why you can shoot them, etc.

 

You do NOT need to apply to NE for a licence to do so. You do NOT need to carry a copy of the licence with you. Just refer to it if asked.

As to shooting at home, it can be a slightly more awkward call. Because you are not shooting them for crop protection at the time, or for any other good reason on the GL. However, if, for example, there were hundreds of them defecating on your garden, and causing a risk to health, then you could shoot them under GL05.

 

One last thing : it's relatively common for owls to take over old dreys or large corvid nests. Poking with a stick initially is better than knocking with a 12 bore !

[Thesauce]

Am I right in saying animals listed under schedule 9 can be shot without specific licence ?

[steve_b_wales]

Grey squirrels are pests, and can be shot at any time. No reference to the GL required. No reason required. They are viewed as a pest species under Schedule 9 of WCA. So can be shot just as you would do a rat.

 

Under the GL (actually GL04) the licence permits you to "kill or take any of the wild birds listed at (a) and (b) below, to take, damage or destroy their nests or to take or destroy their eggs". With the various birds then listed, and the reasons why you can shoot them, etc.

 

You do NOT need to apply to NE for a licence to do so. You do NOT need to carry a copy of the licence with you. Just refer to it if asked.

As to shooting at home, it can be a slightly more awkward call. Because you are not shooting them for crop protection at the time, or for any other good reason on the GL. However, if, for example, there were hundreds of them defecating on your garden, and causing a risk to health, then you could shoot them under GL05.

 

One last thing : it's relatively common for owls to take over old dreys or large corvid nests. Poking with a stick initially is better than knocking with a 12 bore !

A valid point.

[Chezney]

Agreed, no matter how many nest boxes I put up, owls still love going in old nests!

I will only shoot nests that I'm sure are in use by the corvids.

 

Thanks for all the other points too, I have a good idea of what I will and won't shoot and where.

 

Cheers