Legality of Back Garden Pigeon Shooting

[Markus Splenius]

Can I legally shoot wood pigeons in my back garden?

 

I read about this court case and thought that it might stop all pigeon shooting: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1613759.stm (unless it can be proved they are a pest in the area you are shooting them)

 

Markus

[Paul in North Lincs.]

A very vague question but..............

 

I supose it really depends on where your back garden is situated, and what is at the bottom of it.......... and of course, what on earth you want to shoot them with.

 

A wood pigeon is an agricultural pest and can be taken legally enough on private property, but the legality of where it is taken, and what with are obvioulys the determining factors.

 

I am a fanatical pigeon shooter but personally like to see them in my garden, and even have a nesting pair at the momment.

 

I am under the impression that you perhaps have some sort of interest, although I am not certain. If you have, may I suggest that If you want to take pot shots at pigeons, it would probabyl be alot better if you got out there, knocked door and got yourself some permission. :wacko:

 

Paul in North Lincs

[Highlander]

Play safe mate...and don't. Anyway what's wrong with enjoying them. You can learn a lot watching them from your window. Beatiful birds especially at this time of year when they're breeding and making more for our sport :wacko:

[rarms]

Thats an old story, I wouldnt think you uld have a prob in the back garden, from memory the chap who got done was baiting them into his garden

[Cranfield]

My nearest neighbour is over half a mile away and I am surrounded by pastures and arable farm land.

I would not discharge a shotgun in my garden (although I would be more than 50ft from the centre of the nearest Public Right of Way).

 

I suspect you would have some difficulty on a safety, or noise nuisance issue, if someone complained.

Whether you are able to shoot pigeons under the Open Licence, when they are not damaging agricultural crops, is another terribly grey area.

 

"When in doubt, do nowt".

[digger]

i shoot magpies and crows in my mother-in-laws back garden with an air rifle.i informed her neighbours that i would be doing so and had no complaints once i explained the damage they do to song bird nests and young.she lives on a posh estate and has a large pond which draws them like a magnet.all shots are fired downwards from an upstairs window at no more than twenty yards from the house.

pigeons use the pond heavily in the summer to drink from and i agree with highlander,they are great to watch rather than shoot.

[Fisherman Mike]

The guy was decoying the starlings to within range of his gun by using a bird feeder... hardly sporting or pest control... he was, shall we say, not particularly blessed in the intelligence department.

 

Im sure we have all shot sparrows and starlings in the back garden... but not anymore.!

 

FM.

[Sergeant]

Ihaveshot squirrels and rabbits in our garden with both .22 and shotty. All the land is registered, but I think our back garden is a tad bigger than yours, 3 acres of ornamental, orchard and vegitable, all combined.

[rjimmer]

Perhaps Markus Splenius is merely the neighbour of a person who might be wanting to shoot pigeons in their garden and has come on here in order to find out what can be done to stop something they might object to.

[digger]

good spot rj,goes with the usual form now you mention it ; no location,first post etc.