Pigeon shooting

Beretta man

Wondering what is the law regarding shooting pigeons..was told before you can only shoot them for crop protection
But according to the nargc website they can be shot on stuble too

Cass

It's all covered here.

J.R.

Beretta man wrote: »

Wondering what is the law regarding shooting pigeons..was told before you can only shoot them for crop protection
But according to the nargc website they can be shot on stuble too

Woodpigeons are in an unusual position and the only species of bird in this position - they are classed as a game bird with an open and closed season, the same as Pheasant & Woodcock, but they are also classed as a pest species that can be shot under derogation, if damaging crops, throughout the year.



So:

1. From 1st Nov. - 31st Jan. woodpigeon can be shot as a game bird. They do not have to be causing damage to crops during this period. You just meet and shoot them like woodcock & pheasants.


2. Pigeon can be shot the whole year round, under E.U. Derogation, if causing damage, or are likely to cause damage to crops. If you have the landowner's permission to protect the crops you can shoot them, if attacking.


3. At the end of August and during early September many tillage fields will have been harvested and be in stubble. If there are tillage crops nearby, still standing, that are being attacked by pigeons you can set up, decoy & shoot them from a stubble field, to intercept them on their way to the standing crops. (a type of ambush!!!) This is often more advantageous as decoys are more easily spotted in stubble & collecting dead birds does not flatten crops, causing damage (which you are there to stop!!!).

If all tillage crops have been harvested and every field is in stubble with no crops nearby to protect then you cannot shoot the pigeons over stubble.

If the pigeons are coming in to stubble fields in these circumstances they are eating the fallen grain.....the landowner does not need this fallen grain protected as it will not be collected, therefore pigeons cannot be shot - nothing to protect!

Aside from being classed as a game bird.....the same rules apply to crows, rooks, jackdaws, magpies & greycrows.......all can be shot all year round if causing / or likely to cause damage to crops or livestock.......in essence greycrows & magpies are likely to cause damage to wildlife every day of the year so can be shot every day........you need crops being atteacked , which need to be protected to justify shooting jackdaws & rooks.

Decoys, spinners, magnets, lofting poles, floaters etc can all be used for decoying pigeons........(as well as for decoying ducks & geese)..........no artifical decoys allowed for crow shooting.(crazy rule!!!)

Beretta man

Thank you that answers everything I needed to know

dodderangler

J.R. wrote: »

2. Pigeon can be shot the whole year round, under E.U. Derogation, if causing damage, or are likely to cause damage to crops. [/I]

This part I've heard and couldn't quite understand.
Surely all pigeons are likely to cause damage? Whether in your area or somewhere else.

Username Exists.

J.R. wrote: »

Woodpigeons are in an unusual position and the only species of bird in this position - they are classed as a game bird with an open and closed season, the same as Pheasant & Woodcock, but they are also classed as a pest species that can be shot under derogation, if damaging crops, throughout the year.



So:

1. From 1st Nov. - 31st Jan. woodpigeon can be shot as a game bird. They do not have to be causing damage to crops during this period. You just meet and shoot them like woodcock & pheasants.


2. Pigeon can be shot the whole year round, under E.U. Derogation, if causing damage, or are likely to cause damage to crops. If you have the landowner's permission to protect the crops you can shoot them, if attacking.


3. At the end of August and during early September many tillage fields will have been harvested and be in stubble. If there are tillage crops nearby, still standing, that are being attacked by pigeons you can set up, decoy & shoot them from a stubble field, to intercept them on their way to the standing crops. (a type of ambush!!!) This is often more advantageous as decoys are more easily spotted in stubble & collecting dead birds does not flatten crops, causing damage (which you are there to stop!!!).

If all tillage crops have been harvested and every field is in stubble with no crops nearby to protect then you cannot shoot the pigeons over stubble.

If the pigeons are coming in to stubble fields in these circumstances they are eating the fallen grain.....the landowner does not need this fallen grain protected as it will not be collected, therefore pigeons cannot be shot - nothing to protect!

Aside from being classed as a game bird.....the same rules apply to crows, rooks, jackdaws, magpies & greycrows.......all can be shot all year round if causing / or likely to cause damage to crops or livestock.......in essence greycrows & magpies are likely to cause damage to wildlife every day of the year so can be shot every day........you need crops being atteacked , which need to be protected to justify shooting jackdaws & rooks.

Decoys, spinners, magnets, lofting poles, floaters etc can all be used for decoying pigeons........(as well as for decoying ducks & geese)..........no artifical decoys allowed for crow shooting.(crazy rule!!!)

One of the most straight forward, clear explanations I have seen on this subject.
There is a quarterly derogation for vermin species, which is a slightly different thing but as above 'they can be shot every day'.

J.R.

dodderangler wrote: »

This part I've heard and couldn't quite understand.
Surely all pigeons are likely to cause damage? Whether in your area or somewhere else.

You are right ......the pigeon may not cause damage in your area but may attack crops in another area miles away.

Around Kildare, Meath, Dublin etc. & down the East coast there is lots of tillage but as you cross the country it becomes scare ......more dairy farming rather than tillage.

So a hunter in Kerry, where there is no tillage growing, could claim he /she was shooting pigeons as they are likely to cause damage in Kildare, Meath or elsewhere.............that is the reason why you also need the landowners permission....he / she have requested you to protect the crop that they have seen being attacked.

Needing the landowners position means keeping it for protecting local crops from attacks. So, in the above scenario the Kerry hunter would have to be invited / requested to travel to the landowners tillage farm to shoot the pigeons.