Natrual Heritage area

dto001

Howaya Lads,

I'm just wondering off hand does anyone know if you can shoot in a " natural Heritage area"? or can you tell me where I can find out the list of sanctuary's designated by the state?

Cheers

cookimonster

I'm interested in this myself and have been baffled by poor information on the subject of various areas of protection.

I used the following link to direct me to an interactive map.
https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites

From there I randomly picked an established Natural Heritage Area in this case Lough Namucka Bog NHA. You then get a link to the site details-

https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/nha/000220

Here you will get the following information via download document and a copy to a statutory instrument, which is specific to the site.

Download Site Synopsis
SY000220.pdf [14 KB]

Statutory Instrument
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2003/si/555/made/en/print?q=555&years=2003

So I draw your attention to Schedule 2 (see below), were all the mentioned 'works' (activities) are deemed illegal unless granted a license by the Minister. I have highlighted the sections that I assume would, in one form or another prohibit hunting or hunting activities.

Works specified for the purposes of section 19 (1) of the Act.

1. Peat extraction

2. Drainage works or water abstraction affecting the hydrology of the site

3. Alteration of the banks, channel, bed or flow of a lake, pond, canal or watercourse

4. Burning areas of vegetation

5. Reclamation, infilling, ploughing or other cultivation

6. Reseeding, planting of trees or any other species

7. Cutting trees, scrub, reeds; removal of timber or other vegetation

8. Grazing of livestock on uncut raised bog

9. Changing of traditional use from hay meadow (to either grazing or silage making), or from grazing to silage cutting

10. Dumping, burning or storing any materials

11. Introduction (or re-introduction) into the wild of plants or animals of species not currently found in the area

12. Use of any pesticide or herbicide, including sheep dip

13. Adding lime or fertiliser to previously untreated areas

14. Any activity that may cause pollution or eutrophication

15. Recreational use of mechanically propelled vehicles

16. Operation of commercial recreation activities

17. Stocking with fish

18. Deliberate scaring or disturbance of wildfowl

19. Developing leisure facilities including golf courses, sports pitches, caravan or camping facilities

20. Removal of rock, soil, mud, gravel, sand or minerals

21. Construction of roads, new tracks or paths, car-parks or other infra-structural development

22. Construction of fences, buildings or embankments

I would say that each site would need to be researched as to any restrictions imposed.

What may be handy is the following from NPWS-

Wildfowl Sanctuaries
These sanctuaries are areas that have been excluded from the ‘Open Season Order’ so that game birds can rest and feed undisturbed. There are 68 sanctuaries in the State. Shooting of game birds is not allowed in these sanctuaries.

https://www.npws.ie/protected-sites/wildfowl-sanctuaries

Anyone else can add to or enlighten us on the subject please do so, as I belive this to be helpful when addressing applications and renewals for foreshore licenses.

athlone573

I would also be interested. Particularly around Kippure/Featherbeds which seems to be partly National Park and where I've seen hunting of grouse with shotguns.

cookimonster

athlone573 wrote: »

I would also be interested. Particularly around Kippure/Featherbeds which seems to be partly National Park and where I've seen hunting of grouse with shotguns.

There are plenty of gun clubs in and around that area. These clubs can share boundaries with the National Park where the norm is more so the trespassing onto private property by hill walkers and such rather than hunters drifting into the National park. There were or still is gun clubs involved in Grouse conservation in the wider area up there.
The great thing is that we see more Grouse during the closed season while deer stalking then we do out with the dog and guns during the short season.

dto001

I grew up in the Wicklow mountains and we used to shoot grouse up there it was un rivaled and you are right usually saw more grouse when after deer than when you were out with the dog:D:D

athlone573

Not to mention the turf cutting where there are some pretty steep banks cut away

Zxthinger

I looked at the sly inclusion of massive tracts of common ground in to these special areas.. They picked on common ground because the individual interests were diluted.. easy pickings..
What I read was that no night time shooting was permitted..

The whole thing is death by a thousand cuts.
Land usage being curtailed
Lead being banned
Vegan adds on buses suggesting that beef is murder

Everything that honest and true is being vilified.. as knee jerk reaction wins out..

Not bothered normally

athlone573 wrote: »

I would also be interested. Particularly around Kippure/Featherbeds which seems to be partly National Park and where I've seen hunting of grouse with shotguns.

the dublin side i.e. feetherbeds/kippure are part of the wicklow national park



if you go into the nwps website you will find this
https://www.npws.ie/licences/permits/shooting

Shooting of wildlife for pleasure or sport is not permitted in National Parks except in certain areas of Wicklow Mountains National Park where the shooting rights were not acquired along with the land, but these rights are lifetime rights only which will revert to the State in due course.

Shooting of wildlife for pleasure or sport is not permitted in Nature Reserves owned by the State except where the shooting rights were not acquired along with the land.