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Game of the ground


potshot
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A recent thread got me thinking. A game bird is legally defined under the Game Act, whether is bred in captivity or is truly wild, it is still a game bird and protected and may only be taken as defined within the Game Act. As far as I can see the only ground game that we have in the Britain is the hare. The fact that a game bird in on the ground does NOT make it ground game. So if your FAC should say game on the ground then it follows the only game you can take is a hare.

 

Now you legal eagles get posting.............................

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This is very interesting!

 

Is a 'winged game' bird classed as 'ground game' when on the ground? Although I can't seem to find many references to this but the ones I have found seem to make a distinction between the two.

 

Can anyone quote the wording of the law on this?

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but just to throw a spanner in the works..

 

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Ace Pigeon Shooter

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Rabbits are 'Ground Game' not vermin so you need Pest Control on your FAC and whilst they are changing it ask for Sporting Purposes as well as that covers head shot pheasants.

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Like all things to do with UK law any question you may want answering will require looking at quite a number of Acts rather than the one you may expect.

 

In this instance there are lots of different aspects that have been brought up that only add to muddy the waters.

 

 

For instance - Rabbits are Ground Game in law. This was further enhanced because they were a valuable meat source during the last war and as Game any poaching could be controlled.

 

 

This brings in that particular Act – The Poaching Prevention Act 1862 which defines GAME as hares, pheasants, partridges, eggs of pheasants and partridges, woodcock, snipe, rabbits, grouse, black or moor game and eggs of grouse or moor game.

 

 

Unfortunately there is no standard definition of Game in UK Law and so one needs to consider what the word actually encompasses purely in relation to any specific Act that so defines the word. We are unable to assume that the definition used in one Act is valid in another. It may be but not necessarily so.

 

 

The following are some of the Acts that need to be read and comprehended before even a reasonable assumption may be made.

 

 

The Game Act 1831 (which mentions rabbits but doesn’t class them as game)

 

 

Game (Scotland) Act 1832 which does not even define Game but uses the Night

 

 

Poaching Act 1828 definition

 

 

Hare’s Act 1848 which specifies game (incl hare) must not be shot at night

 

 

Game Licences Act 1860 specifies that it is an offence to take game by means of a dog and in this instance includes rabbit and deer. BUT does not define the term Game merely suggesting those that are generally treated as game.

 

 

Game Laws (Amendment) Act 1877

 

 

Game laws (Amendment) Act 1960

 

 

Game Act 1831 (amended 1970) which does not specify Rabbits but does say Game must mean game of all kinds wild or tame, dead or alive.

 

 

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

 

 

You could go on ‘ad infinitum’ and still not reach a satisfactory answer for yourself let alone one that would satisfy members of this forum.

 

 

Suffice it to say a Game Bird on the ground is considered just the same as the bird in the air – but less sporting.

 

 

And in reverse a rabbit on the ground is still considered as ground game even if you should find it roosting in a tree.

 

 

 

If you really want to delve more deeply may I suggest you buy a copy of Charlie Parkes and John Thornley – Fair Game (The Law of Country Sports and the Protection of Wildlife).

 

 

This will afford an excellent insight into Game shooting law in both an easy to read way and one that is most applicable for anyone shooting Game.

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:blush: I think an fac air rifle or a rimfire HAS to say ground game......as you simply wouldnt shoot either in an upward trajectory...would you?

 

I spoke to my flo about this and he said that if I have permission to shoot game on my permission then it doesnt matter WHAT I shoot them with....and thats good enough for me! :unsure:

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If you really want to delve more deeply may I suggest you buy a copy of Charlie Parkes and John Thornley – Fair Game (The Law of Country Sports and the Protection of Wildlife).

This will afford an excellent insight into Game shooting law in both an easy to read way and one that is most applicable for anyone shooting Game.

 

I'm selling a copy of that on Ebay (360017046745) at the moment :good: :unsure: :blush::good: :good: :)

Edited by Chard
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