Hunting in nature reserves

tittybiscuits

Hi all, I met an avid hunter a few days ago and the conversation turned to a nearby nature reserve. He told me he'd been lamping rabbits there on a few occasions. Can anyone explain in layman's terms if this is legal or are there exceptions? The reserve isn't designated SPA/SAC, but it does border an area which is, so are there any laws stopping people from doing this? He also told me that there is hunting/shooting allowed on certain SPA's/SAC's, a fact that was confirmed by the local wildlife ranger - I can't understand the logic of this, I mean I understand certain species aren't endangered but shouldn't wildlife sanctuaries be just that?

Any help appreciated!

Birdnuts

Some SAC's,NHA's are there to protect habitat and not particular species. Some just relate to flora rather than flora. It depends on the purpose of the protection. The other extreme is SAC's that protect sea-bird colonies where obviously hunting of any type would be destructive to breeding success. In most cases legal hunting is not harmful to the purpose of these designations. Also in certain sanctuaries it is necessary to remove invasive species like mink, grey squirrels etc. so hunting is part of the conservation effort in these areas.

Cork boy 55

Is there a sign up there explaining?

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

In addition to what Birdnuts said, what distinction makes the area a nature reserve? Is it a wildlife sanctuary, an area of special interest, a tidy towns nature park or a national park etc?

OpenYourEyes

In researching Greenland White-fronted Geese I came across several situations where a Wildfowl Sanctuary designation was more beneficial than an SPA designation, for the GWFG. In an SPA shooting of certain species is permitted - that shooting then disturbs the GWFG, even though it's not the GWFG being shot at. In a statutory Wildfowl Sanctuary there's not shooting and therefore no disturbance (from shooting anyway).

Poll Dubh

It's a criminal offence to hunt anywhere without the permission of the landowner or from the holder of the sporting rights.