pete k Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 hi there guys , can some-one help me , i have just been given permission over 5 rape fields but the field that is getting hit hard runs next to the motorway and need to know how close i can get to the motorway within the law and shooting can be away from the motorway due to a small copse about 50foot from the road , any help . thanks pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Where are you Pete? In Scotland you can shoot from the roadside but not so in England. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Think you will find you need to be 50 yards from a road or public right of way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M ROBSON Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 I think the English law is actually 50 feet from the center of the road. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catamong Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 (edited) Pete, Its OK to shoot close to a motorway, the only problem is, as any experienced pigeon shooter will tell you, a bird can be mortally wounded and yet still fly several hundred yards - I remember double barelling a bird several years ago over drilled barley, that floated over the M1, then dropped like a stone on to the fast lane...!!! Fortunately it fell on the road and did not hit a car, but you can imagine the potential grief if it fell smack on the windscreen of a nervous (women) driver, she panicked, and a massive pile up followed...!!!! My advice is stay a fair way away from Motorways. Edited March 20, 2005 by Double H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ernyha Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 Similar thing happened to me Double H, was set up with my back to the M6 and a pigeon came towards me high up which I shot. Its momentum carried it over the tall hedge and it dropped onto the hard shoulder. Scared me to death when I thought of what could have happened and I packed up and moved on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magman Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 the law is 16 meters from the center of a highway but you have to be brave to do it for reasons already explained Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway having vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. The Highways Act does not apply in Scotland but Procurators Fiscal may use common law offences of 'culpable and reckless conduct' and 'reckless endangerment' in situations in which the 1980 Act would be contravened in England and Wales. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pike Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 It is the "injured, interrupted or endangered" part that you should keep in mind. You are doing nothing wrong by shooting next to the road provided you don't harm anybody else. I regularly shoot right on the edge of the M11 - you just have to be a bit sensible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kdubya Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway having vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. Yes but it DOESN'T mean you CANT shoot within 50ft!! my syndicate regularly uses a road! albeit a country road, but a road never the less and it gets a fair bit of traffic on it, as a stand point? ie the road is actually pegged legallity is that as long as the shot lands on land with permission its legal to do so it always amazes me that people quote you cant shoot les than 50 yards -60 yards - 50ft etc etc when in fact NO actual distances are given I often shoot from a hedge that is backed on to a public walkway often have to "refrain" from a shot if someone is walking past and luckily have never had the anti mob have a go in fact the odd one usually wants a chat about it ie how? what can you shoot? do you eat them etc, I once asked BASC for advice re shooting close to a road and was given the answer AS LONG AS IT DOES NOT INTERFERE OR IMPEDE its ok but of course be sensible about it and consider wher your shot is landing my big worry is not shooting away from roads etc its usually shooting towards them that concerns me! many times am what I consisder a hell of a distance but still "wonder" if my shot is actually reaching the road. cheers keith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arjimlad Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Be a bit careful, the law allows any road user who is annoyed or alarmed to complain. 50ft is not far but, as others have said, if no-one is interrupted or concerned or there is no-one about you are OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mallinson Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 (edited) How about the distance from a railway line?? Edited March 21, 2005 by mallinson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 I stand corrected got my feet and yards mixed up. Have to agree with the use of a bit of savvy when shooting whether what you are doing is strictly legal or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 It is a fact that there is no offence committed as long as no-one is “Endangered” etc, etc…… BUT!!!!!!! It only takes one spiteful rat-bag to think it would be a good idea to pretend that you have frightened them, and you are in deep doo-doo. Theoretically if you are shooting alongside a motorway you shouldn’t be in danger of frightening a passer-by on foot. But by the same token, it only needs a silly ****** who sees you as they pass by and then calls the police at the next service station complaining that you had almost caused them to have an accident because you startled them……….. It all boils down to where, and when, and how you choose to shoot. No one can make your mind up for you, so when the excrement hits the whirly thing, you have no-one but yourself to blame!!!!!!! G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malcolm Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 I can see a good opportunity to shoot pigeons, but the best place to set up is behind a hedge that backs onto a road. How far must I legally be from the road to discharge a shot gun into the field? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter2 Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway having vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered. The Highways Act does not apply in Scotland but Procurators Fiscal may use common law offences of 'culpable and reckless conduct' and 'reckless endangerment' in situations in which the 1980 Act would be contravened in England and Wales. Taken From the BASC website Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devilishdave Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 All of the legal advice has been given but think about this if some one driving on the Motorway sees you with a gun there is a good chance they might phone the police and you will then get a visit from the boys in blue wheather you are in the right or wrong your days shooting will be at best interupted at worst ruined so best not to be sean. dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 I shot a high bird adjacent the M5 near Falfield in Glos in 92 it flew on over my head for 200m and droppped like a stone into the back of a flat bed lorry travelling towards Bristol ( Honest... I have a witness ) Could that be the longest shot in history. Shooting next to motorways is ok I do it quite a good deal but be careful to pick your shots. FM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teal Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 I hope your labrador was fit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisherman Mike Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 I hope your labrador was fit He is now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter2 Posted March 24, 2005 Report Share Posted March 24, 2005 so best not to be sean. dave Glad my names not sean then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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