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Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25697 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 05 9:40 am Post subject: Pigeons |
 
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When can you shoot pigeons for the pot, legally and ethically?
I gather that pigeons are classed as a pest and can be shot all year round under an open licence (conditions of which have changed a little recently). However, if you are shooting for the pot is there any legal dates that need to be followed?
Also, if you are shooting for the pot then some form of closed season would seem logical but when should this be? |
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judyofthewoods
Joined: 29 Jan 2005 Posts: 804 Location: Pembrokeshire
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 05 10:21 am Post subject: |
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one thing that concerns me about pigeons is the possibility of them eating treated seeds. Is that a likelyhood? How far do they forrage, if one shot one, say 200 yards from a seed source, is it unlikely they would have eaten the seed? |
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nettie
Joined: 02 Dec 2004 Posts: 5886 Location: Suffolk
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 05 10:46 am Post subject: |
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Dunno but hope you've managed to get your bird-scaring practice in!  |
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deerstalker
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 589
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 05 10:00 pm Post subject: Re: Pigeons |
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Treacodactyl wrote: |
When can you shoot pigeons for the pot, legally and ethically? |
Legally, anytime of year. Ethically, well that's up to you, but no farmer would thank you for it.
If you have self imposed seasons, you can guarentee the guys on the next farm will shoot them for you!
With regard to them eating treated seed, perhaps, maybe???
That's the trouble with the organic / free range ideal. What is truly freerange and organic. Organic stock still have to me wormed, drenched and treated when they are ill.
Do wild rabbits eat treated fertilised grass?
Is the fodder contaminated with naturally occuring heavy elements?
We live in a small heavily managed landscape. All we can do is our best, and make informed choices.
After all, wherever we live, the air is still contaminated!
A guide to the DEFRA general licence on woodpigeons can be found here:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/vertebrates/gen-licence.htm |
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Treacodactyl Downsizer Moderator
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 25697 Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 05 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks DS, there seems to be more info about shooting them as pests than for food. If there were ever restrictions on shooting them as pests I wondered how this would affect people shooting for the pot. |
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Lloyd
Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 2699
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Posted: Sun Mar 27, 05 12:52 am Post subject: |
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No closed season, huge crop damage all year round. Get bangy!! |
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Lloyd
Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 2699
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 05 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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Annoying day today, I went down the wood with my 12 guage, to get some pigeon. I saw no pigeon, but two brace of duck and four male pheasant. All of which are in closed season. Went home with empty bag  |
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ian1
Joined: 12 Dec 2004 Posts: 314 Location: essex
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 05 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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madman
ok..empty bag
but how cool is it to be able to say "when i went down the wood today" and know its your own!
sooo envious,
(cant get blumin teddy bears out of my head now) |
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Lloyd
Joined: 24 Jan 2005 Posts: 2699
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 05 10:55 pm Post subject: |
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I know...I still am trying to get used to the idea, but it's so different to my life up to December last, that I haven't managed to get my head round it!!....Even today when I picked up my shotty, It felt odd that I didn't need to ring anyone to ask permission. I had to remind myself that I can do this, and if I want to take a tent and camp in there, with shotty, or with dogs, I can!!!!...It's going to take a while to get used to this! |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 44206 Location: Essex
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 4:55 pm Post subject: |
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Madman wrote: |
It's going to take a while to get used to this! |
Bet it's great. Happy for you  |
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cab
Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 32429
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Suppose I was to take a wild pigeon without use of a gun... I see fat, tasty looking pigeons within arms reach all around local villages... Naah, scratch that idea.
Is it legal though? |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 44206 Location: Essex
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 5:00 pm Post subject: |
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cab wrote: |
Is it legal though? |
That's a good question, if I ever end up buying some land I might buy an air rifle but definitely not a shotgun, how could I legally catch pigeons etc on my land? |
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Mat S
Joined: 07 Nov 2004 Posts: 282 Location: Leicester
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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I've been thinking of leaving a cage-type structure (5 sided box) propped up at one end by a stick tied to a bit of string which I hold - some distance away. Bit of grain in the cage and hello dinner! I'll get round to trying it one of these days... |
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tahir
Joined: 28 Oct 2004 Posts: 44206 Location: Essex
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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Mat S wrote: |
I've been thinking of leaving a cage-type structure (5 sided box) propped up at one end by a stick tied to a bit of string which I hold - some distance away. |
Hmm sounds a bit Wiley Coyote to me. Anyway is it legal? |
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wellington womble
Joined: 08 Nov 2004 Posts: 14968 Location: East Midlands
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 05 5:56 pm Post subject: |
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can't you invite madman round to get them for you? |
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