Protected species?

Day Lewin

How can I know if a certain bird enjoys legal protection? If any do?

I found a List online ("Red List") but not sure what legal status it has, or if this is just a recommendation

The reason I ask is because I have heard of hunters shooting woodcock for sport recently. And I had thought that woodcock are pretty scarce these days.

Anyone out there know of the legal position on these?

OpenYourEyes

It's legal to shoot Woodcock, and that's unlikely to change unless a) there's evidence of a significant population decline, and b) after that, if the government changes the law.

All birds are protected, though there are some which can be shot during a certain season (certain ducks, woodcock etc) and others that can be shot to protect crops and livestock (magpies, hooded crows etc) - if you want to find what can and can't be shot they're listed in the Wildlife Act 1976 and Amendment 2000 I think!

magicbastarder

katemarch wrote: »

I found a List online ("Red List") but not sure what legal status it has, or if this is just a recommendation

the red list is just a classification of risk to the survival of the species rather than a legal definition of protection.

Capercaille

In other European Countries there are bag limits for woodcock. No limits in Ireland you can shoot 100's in a season if you wish. Plenty of people at it. Pure greed.

dodderangler

Agreed
There should be a bag limit on them.
In few years they're numbers will be right down and the blame will be out on bops foxes and mink or man-bear-pig.

OpenYourEyes

I think something like bag limits are something that a lot of hunters would happily get behind. Most hunters grasp the concept of harvesting a sustainable surplus i.e. enjoying their shooting during the season, but making sure there's enough there for the next year and for their kids in future years etc. I don't know what the people who run the shooting organisations in Ireland are like, but it would be great to see bag limits and bag returns in law - a lot of scientific evidence could be gotten from mandatory bag returns like they have in Iceland!

Half-cocked

Most hunters I know are happy if they shoot a brace (two) woodcock in one season. And then you hear about a small minority that shoot 100's each year. As a hunter, I don't shoot woodcock myself and I would have no objection to woodcock being subject to strict bag limits.

Day Lewin

Are they actually an edible species? I mean, if hunters shoot them as game, do they eat them too? Has anyone here ever tasted one?

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'd like to try one just out of curiosity!

dodderangler

katemarch wrote: »

Are they actually an edible species? I mean, if hunters shoot them as game, do they eat them too? Has anyone here ever tasted one?

I'm ashamed to admit it, but I'd like to try one just out of curiosity!

It's a lovely sweet meat to eat I found. Bit similar to pigeon.
I just wouldn't shoot 10 or 15 a day. That's just a joke.
1 or 2 if I was lucky to see that many.

homerhop

The NARGC give every club a form to return species and no's that have been shot. This has to be returned by the club secretary every year. It may not be perfect but it is a start. They also were big supporters of this
http://www.woodcockwatch.com/index.php

Capercaille

homerhop wrote: »

The NARGC give every club a form to return species and no's that have been shot. This has to be returned by the club secretary every year. It may not be perfect but it is a start. They also were big supporters of this
http://www.woodcockwatch.com/index.php

How many woodcock wings handed in per year?

homerhop

Capercaille wrote: »

How many woodcock wings handed in per year?

I think it's on the NARGC webpage somewhere