Hunting

IRLConor

cookimonster wrote: »

Download via Birdnuts link:

http://www.countrysideallianceireland.org/file/Declaration_for_May_2014-April_2015_State_Wide.pdf

See right-hand column ref fire arms etc and rifle is stated as a legal means.

Rifle is fine. Air rifle is not.

Pat McGroin

Was at a NARGC course a while back and the NARGC chairman , Sean Doris specifically stated that the law states that it is illegal to shoot ANY wild bird with a rifle .
I cant remember the section he quoted but it's there in black and white.

I'd be taking his word for it .

IRLConor

Pat McGroin wrote: »

Was at a NARGC course a while back and the NARGC chairman , Sean Doris specifically stated that the law states that it is illegal to shoot ANY wild bird with a rifle .
I cant remember the section he quoted but it's there in black and white.

I'd be taking his word for it .

Well, I'm pretty sure either you misheard, he misspoke or he didn't read it correctly.

It's certainly there in black and white:

http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2000/en/act/pub/0038/sec0041.html#sec41

(1) It shall be an offence for a person to hunt or injure in the course
    of hunting—

    (a) with a repeating or automatic shotgun (other than a repeating or
        automatic shotgun which is adapted or modified so as to render it
        incapable of carrying more than three shotgun cartridges), with
        an airgun, air-rifle, gas-rifle, pistol or revolver, or with any
        firearm fitted with a silencer device, any wild bird,

    (b) with a rifle, any protected wild bird.

Pat McGroin

I'm not sure what exactly you're trying to point out in the above post .

It says it is illegal to hunt any protected wild bird with a rifle.
Sean Doris also pointed out, that in another piece of legislation, all birds are listed as protected . Therefore it is illegal to shoot them with a rifle.

Again , I know what I heard and I'm sure a man who is chairman of such an organisation and is presenting courses for them would know more about these matters than anyone writing posts in this forum.

IRLConor

Pat McGroin wrote: »

I'm not sure what exactly you're trying to point out in the above post .

It says it is illegal to hunt any protected wild bird with a rifle.
Sean Doris also pointed out, that in another piece of legislation, all birds are listed as protected . Therefore it is illegal to shoot them with a rifle.

That's true, except for birds which can be hunted with a rifle because of the get-out clause specified in SI 254/1986 which gives the power to the minister to issue declarations like this.

Pat McGroin wrote: »

Again , I know what I heard and I'm sure a man who is chairman of such an organisation and is presenting courses for them would know more about these matters than anyone writing posts in this forum.

Given how often legislators, Gardai and other people who should know better get stuff wrong I don't accept "appeal to authority" style arguments on firearms/hunting law. You have to read the law directly and not trust anything that anybody tells you unless they're willing to indemnify you against any mistakes they make.

This also applies to me, too. You shouldn't believe anything I say about this either. You should read the law directly yourself and not believe me or the chairman or spokesperson of any organisation. I'm just pointing you in the direction of the legislation itself, you need to understand it and make decisions accordingly all by yourself.

Pat McGroin

Well all I know is, that the top man in the main organisation responsible for protecting the bulk of hunters in this country has given me the above advice and I'll be taking it and passing it on to anyone who wants to hear it .

I would rather take his word on it than lose my firearms licence over shooting some poxy magpie with a rifle but anyone who wants to take their chances arguing with the npws over some grey area of the law is welcome to it.

The big "I told you so" wont be any good to that poor sod.

Witcher

Pat McGroin wrote: »

Was at a NARGC course a while back and the NARGC chairman , Sean Doris specifically stated that the law states that it is illegal to shoot ANY wild bird with a rifle .
I cant remember the section he quoted but it's there in black and white.

I'd be taking his word for it .

Yeah the NARGC said that in an article in the Irish Shooters Digest a few months ago.

The only problem is that the month before they had an article saying it was legal.

Even the people claiming to be in the know actually don't know their arse from their elbow.

meathstevie

If shooting any wild bird with an air rifle is illegal can someone please explain under what get out close pest control companies shooting feral pigeons operate ? I've e en seen it done in a supermarket where some pest control lad was hopelessly running around trying to sort out a few starlings.

Gavin duck

Lisanew68 wrote: »

Can u go shooting with an air rifle in lakes?

No only for shooting vermon round lakes ie rats magpie grey crow