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Fieldsports related advice during the coronavirus outbreak


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23 hours ago, psycho said:

What part of what Boris said do some not understand

Stay at home ..protect the NHS ..save lives

And Essential travel only

And only go out for a minimum time

The death rate is rising it will get worse before it gets better over 1000 up to now, could go over 20000 plus if persons don't stay at homr

It only takes a person  to do this non- essential work or bend the rules more by saying swinging a gun around in a field is once a day fitness,

Imagine protecting those crops by driving 10 miles to you permission..you then Need to fill  the car. You catch the virus from a pump or the garage counter.

Take it home pass it to there kids ..who passed it on to an elderly reletive they should not be visiting. The reletive then takes up a critical care bed. That person dies but just before they did . They panicked pulling off a nurses PPE who then had to be off work..the person was a specialist ITU ventilator nurse...she is missed on the unit as all the other staff have to cover her shifts.

The person after not attending his loved ones funeral..to many wanted to go restricted attendance..then thinks what was the root cause... It dawns on him

...and we wonder how this deadly virus spreads..

I think I will do what Boris says.

:good: Agree totally. Stay at home. 

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On 28/03/2020 at 20:11, PeterHenry said:

So, takeing into consideration everything I have already said - that I was asked to shoot by the farmer for pest control, that I was shooting from the safest position, that crops had already been lost, that I was acting in accordance with the general licence for woodpigeons, that the police found no problem with my actions,  that I was acting in accordance with the BASC guidelines and that i was also acting in accordance with the Government guidance on essential work that cannot be done from home - you are, regardless - still not satisfied with my actions.

Alas.

You may have your own interpretations of what the current guidelines are from the Government and our respective sporting bodies. Fine - your thoughts are your own, and I will leave you to them. 

But, nevertheless, I have not read a word here that in all seriousness makes me reconsider the opinion I have already stated.

 

Hi Peter,,,, I'm on your side by the way,,,, could I please ask if you drove to this session ? You have said 'most' of your shooting is on your family's land,,,, is this very local to you ?

It seems most of the complaints towards you are more directed at the driving and 'non essential' travel than the actual shooting ?

I have around 100 acres to shoot over. I use airguns only, and my target is 99% rabbits. Just strolling around spooks all the feathered quarry species 😏 I would still be out as much as possible even now, because,,,, All my shoots are connected and I could walk from my girlfriend's property - 3 acres of paddock - to all of my permissions, and crucially, wouldn't see another person, and if I did, all local [very rural] bods know me personally or by sight. Unfortunately she lives 50 miles away from me and I'm self isolating while suffering from a bad chest infection 😞

I would probably get slated for putting up stories about my sessions out - which can be very eventful with the amount of wildlife I encounter 😀 - for being irresponsible, stay indoors, save lives,,,, except I'd be walking from 'home' [girlfriend's place is almost my second home] and the only lives I'd be threatening are the rabbits 😏

Anyway,,,, you keep doing what you think is best, just don't tell anyone on here about it 🙄 unless of course you want to 😉

Good luck and keep safe 👍

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On 29/03/2020 at 09:55, psycho said:

What part of what Boris said do some not understand

Stay at home ..protect the NHS ..save lives

And Essential travel only

And only go out for a minimum time

The death rate is rising it will get worse before it gets better over 1000 up to now, could go over 20000 plus if persons don't stay at homr

It only takes a person  to do this non- essential work or bend the rules more by saying swinging a gun around in a field is once a day fitness,

Imagine protecting those crops by driving 10 miles to you permission..you then Need to fill  the car. You catch the virus from a pump or the garage counter.

Take it home pass it to there kids ..who passed it on to an elderly reletive they should not be visiting. The reletive then takes up a critical care bed. That person dies but just before they did . They panicked pulling off a nurses PPE who then had to be off work..the person was a specialist ITU ventilator nurse...she is missed on the unit as all the other staff have to cover her shifts.

The person after not attending his loved ones funeral..to many wanted to go restricted attendance..then thinks what was the root cause... It dawns on him

...and we wonder how this deadly virus spreads..

I think I will do what Boris says.

What you have just outlined can easily be the case from merely going shopping.

This can also be easily combatted by wearing gloves and regularly washing hands.

23 hours ago, PeterHenry said:

Farmers are classed as Key / essential workers on account of being involved in the production of food.

By the same virtue - if you are acting at the request of a farmer in relation to an activity that involves the process around the production of food, then you are acting in the capacity of a Key / essential worker.

Its is plainly obvious that this is the case.

I am not talking about walking up hedgerows - having a stroll with a gun and seeing if you can get a pigeon or rabbit for the pot. I'm talking about active crop protection which is directly concerned with keeping birds off a feild.

It is incredible to me that some members of this forum - after the last year and the problems we have had and still do have on account of various legal challenges, are now effectively arguing that crop protection is none essential.

I am with you 100%.

The people walking on the footpath were also more likely to have spread any virus, too.

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23 hours ago, psycho said:

Agree with para 1 the farmer is a key worker, as a person who has a permission on the farmers land to walk around and do a bit of vermin control I would say I am am not. 

Agree with para 2 --+this is what needs stopping..if it's not necessary do not leave the house, if I stay away from farm for 3 months will it really affect the farmers crop..not really

As BASC have said

“It is important that those involved in work that keeps our countryside functioning through this challenging time are still able to undertake essential work such as ensuring food production. In many instances, this cannot take place without associated pest control and wildlife management. But this must only be undertaken where absolutely necessary and in line with the latest government advice.

Para 3..... some are using this as an excuse to carry out para 2 and are therefore not carrying out the government s advice...

By driving 10 miles to have a nice stroll out for an afternoons  shoot is not playing the game in this current climate. By having a nice day out shooting in the country side when you should be working at home is not fair to the employer who is paying you is not playing the game.

This is a national emergency it's not a game...

my day today consists of staying at home may even clean my guns and line the safe with a yoga mat...one of those will do jobs..that I now have time to do...

then at 15:50 I will here the statistics for the day on BBC1 and hope there is a little bit of improvement knowing that I like the vast majority rather than the selfish few have done my bit

 

 

You make a great argument for the cessation of pigeon shooting for crop protection. 

21 hours ago, old'un said:

I doubt you were doing any crop protection on that field of sown oats but you may have been protecting future crops (standing corn) from the local pigeon population.

In my view that is good enough!

Imagine having to justify every pigeon we shoot, and having to prove the pigeons are actually doing damage.

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19 hours ago, spurs 14 said:

Doesn’t matter what is said , what information is given , how selfish they act !  some one will always be able to convince themselves they are in the right and providing a service !!! We all agree crop protection is important but for this period there are alternatives , what is so difficult to understand ? If we all do our bit , yes everyone is going stir crazy not being able to get out but 99 % of us are doing the right thing ! No you won’t catch the virus sat in a hide on your own it’s the other parts of the journey which they ignore , as the adverts are saying “ protect the nhs “ were not going to cure it in three weeks just slow it so the nhs can cope !! 

If there are alternatives now, then there are alternatives always. Your argument is anti shooting.

What happens if the current situation lasts for 6 months? Will you have the same attitude?  Avery and Packham will already have their next argument made for them!!

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14 minutes ago, motty said:

You make a great argument for the cessation of pigeon shooting for crop protection. 

In my view that is good enough!

Imagine having to justify every pigeon we shoot, and having to prove the pigeons are actually doing damage.

 

7 minutes ago, motty said:

If there are alternatives now, then there are alternatives always. Your argument is anti shooting.

What happens if the current situation lasts for 6 months? Will you have the same attitude?  Avery and Packham will already have their next argument made for them!!

Now don’t you go bringing any common sense to this debate motty :lol:

Edit - Should add logic as well

Edited by Newbie to this
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14 minutes ago, motty said:

 

Imagine having to justify every pigeon we shoot, and having to prove the pigeons are actually doing damage.

The day could come where we might have to do exactly that .

I had a call this morning from one of my fellow pigeon shooters , he was saying he had checked what we can and can't do . shooting pigeons purely for crop protection we can ( if authorised by the land owner ) but no way can we shoot them for sport .

This is all very well by going by word of mouth , the minimum I would want from the land owner is a written statement for me to shoot pigeons on the crop fields in order to minimise any damage to the food crop .

The biggest problem is going in your vehicle to that particular field , lets face it , very few of us can do without driving to the location and that is where one of the biggest stumberling block lies , we have been told by the P M, only use your vehicle for essential journeys , this could even change in the days ahead if tougher laws are imposed .

With me being in the age group where I should be self isolating for at least twelve weeks and all the on going restrictions I feel less inclined to risk what little we can still do like going to get food and daily exercising for the sake of shooting a few pigeons while non lethal methods could for the time being be just as effective . I admit a gas gun don't kill a pigeon, but the object of the exercise is to to keep them off , part of the debate with last years G L was using non lethal methods first before attempting to shoot them , this might no longer be in force but it could well come back into play .     STAY SAFE  

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1 hour ago, Newbie to this said:

 

Now don’t you go bringing any common sense to this debate motty :lol:

Edit - Should add logic as well

I am sure the other posters have just as much common sense and logic, mine happens to-be 50+ years of being involved with shooting. ;)

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35 minutes ago, marsh man said:

The day could come where we might have to do exactly that .

I had a call this morning from one of my fellow pigeon shooters , he was saying he had checked what we can and can't do . shooting pigeons purely for crop protection we can ( if authorised by the land owner ) but no way can we shoot them for sport .

This is all very well by going by word of mouth , the minimum I would want from the land owner is a written statement for me to shoot pigeons on the crop fields in order to minimise any damage to the food crop .

The biggest problem is going in your vehicle to that particular field , lets face it , very few of us can do without driving to the location and that is where one of the biggest stumberling block lies , we have been told by the P M, only use your vehicle for essential journeys , this could even change in the days ahead if tougher laws are imposed .

With me being in the age group where I should be self isolating for at least twelve weeks and all the on going restrictions I feel less inclined to risk what little we can still do like going to get food and daily exercising for the sake of shooting a few pigeons while non lethal methods could for the time being be just as effective . I admit a gas gun don't kill a pigeon, but the object of the exercise is to to keep them off , part of the debate with last years G L was using non lethal methods first before attempting to shoot them , this might no longer be in force but it could well come back into play .     STAY SAFE  

I'm assuming that "what we can and can't do" relates to the current coronavirus situatuion. Is this fellow saying that we can shoot them for sport outside of these current restrictions?

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15 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

Thanks for pointing that out, not sure why you didn't point it out to the first poster of such a comment.

Because your post was referring to the post by motty, which included a post by me.

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26 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

Fair enough :good:

No worries :good:…. I guess rightly or wrongly people will make their own mind up if its justifiable to go out shooting during the corona virus lock-down, I’m biting at the bit to get out but unsure if I could justify going out to shoot pigeons on a newly sown field.  

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2 hours ago, wymberley said:

I'm assuming that "what we can and can't do" relates to the current coronavirus situatuion. Is this fellow saying that we can shoot them for sport outside of these current restrictions?

I am also assuming , if you are given written permission during these restricted times of being in lock down and when any journey have got to be essential , that to shoot pigeons is for crop protection only , and not wandering about potting the odd pigeon , as for shooting them for sport outside the currant restrictions , I dare say 99% of the members do it for the sport while protecting the crops at the same time .

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7 hours ago, JKD said:

Hi Peter,,,, I'm on your side by the way,,,, could I please ask if you drove to this session ? You have said 'most' of your shooting is on your family's land,,,, is this very local to you ?

It seems most of the complaints towards you are more directed at the driving and 'non essential' travel than the actual shooting ?

Thanks - it dosent quite boarder the house - but one of the major parcels of land begins a stones throw away. The others are all fairly close - within a couple of minutes drive. The two largest parcels are separated by a thin slice of intervening land. The land I was shooting on last Friday adjoins our land and the farmer, further to being a freind and owning his own land, rents some of ours off us.

The fact of the matter is that I do drive - but not on some great scouting expedition looking for pigeons.  I crack the landrover out in order so I dont have to lug a load of equipment and pigeons around on my back.

7 hours ago, motty said:

I am with you 100%.

The people walking on the footpath were also more likely to have spread any virus, too.

👍

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1 hour ago, PeterHenry said:

Thanks - it dosent quite boarder the house - but one of the major parcels of land begins a stones throw away. The others are all fairly close - within a couple of minutes drive. The two largest parcels are separated by a thin slice of intervening land. The land I was shooting on last Friday adjoins our land and the farmer, further to being a freind and owning his own land, rents some of ours off us.

The fact of the matter is that I do drive - but not on some great scouting expedition looking for pigeons.  I crack the landrover out in order so I dont have to lug a load of equipment and pigeons around on my back.

👍

Sounds fine to me, but I'm sure the PW 'govt appointed' "stay indoors" squad won't agree 😏

Some people need to realise that everybody's circumstances will not match their own, and that there are probably 100's of variables why some can,,,, some can't,,,, some will and some won't. Isn't it all in the details ?

And like some are saying,,,, common sense prevails, but,,,, some aren't giving others the respect that they actually deserve,,,, in my opinion 😉

Now where's that roll of tin foil 😳

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  • 2 weeks later...

Issued by Hampshire Constabulary Today , covers also IOW

All organised sporting and recreational shooting activities have been suspended until further notice. With regards pest and vermin control and deer management by firearm or shotgun certificate holders, this activity should only continue if it is essential in preventing such things as crop damage or harm to livestock.  

If your occupation or employment is in pest and vermin control or deer management, you will need to be able to evidence your activity as being essential. The BASC website refers to gamekeepers and pest controllers who “require firearms to assist in crucial management” and further advice should be sought from this or other trade bodies or representative organisations.

Unless the activity is taking place on your own land or tied estate and does not require travel between locations, our advice is that if you are not employed in pest or vermin control as part of your livelihood, employment or business, you should refrain from such activity.  

If you decide to engage in this activity or travel with a view to engaging in the activity and you are challenged by a police officer, you will have to show that your movements or activities are essential, and not unlawful under the new legislation.  

Holders should also be aware that if they do not heed this advice and are found in circumstances that suggest a danger to public safety or to the peace, this may result in consideration being given to the revocation of their certificate/s.
 

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