Dicky 82,this might be the tread you'r talking about.

posted 30-12-2010, 16:46

Terrier
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Galway
Posts: 634
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A little bit more going on behind the scenes with the NPWS & NARGC

Quote:

Further to previous communications in relation to the cold weather temporary
hunting ban, I wish to confirm the view of the NARGC, having taken advices
from around the country regarding the current conditions, and having regard
to the weather forecast, that the current temporary hunting ban should be
lifted immediately following the review on Thursday next, the 30th of
December. It is quite clear that the thaw which set in on St Stephen's Day
has been rapid and is already complete for most parts of the country. Birds
are recovering extremely well. Also, the weather forecast from Met Eireann
does not herald a return to the severe conditions, or to any freezing
conditions for the foreseeable future.



There are three other related matters we wish to raise.



1. We wish to formally apply for an extension to the hunting season
into February. The basis for this is that most clubs have reared and
released pheasants and mallard and did not apply to shoot them during the
cold period. Many felt, despite the provision which would have allowed
hunting of these to continue, that it would have been unsporting while a far
greater number of clubs simply were not aware that such application to shoot
could be made. And as you are aware from one application which I discussed
with you, the application was refused. While I do not propose to make an
issue of the particular case, the decision to refuse was based on matters
which were, or should have been, irrelevant to the consideration i.e. the
fact that the club had a large area; the existence of an SPA in the locality
to mention but some. One of the most important periods for game hunters,
Christmas, was missed as a result of the temporary ban. As you know, an
extension to the season does not create any precedent as the NPWS has
routinely granted extensions to the season to commercial shoots.



2. The second matter I wish to raise is the criteria by which
decisions for future temporary bans are arrived at and the implementation
and policing of future temporary bans. It is no secret that the decision to
include areas of the country in the initial ban where the stated criteria
had not been met i.e. Munster and parts of Connaught, created a groundswell
of opposition and the support for the ban in those regions evaporated
instantly. It also brought much criticism on NARGC and on several of us
involved in promoting and defending the ban to the point where the previous
support enjoyed in other areas also became affected. To our mind, this was
a mistake and one which will make it extremely difficult for us to gain
future support, even for a voluntary ban. We simply cannot contemplate a
situation where any future temporary ban is applied on a countrywide basis
when the conditions for the ban do not exist countrywide. It may be
convenient administratively, but it only has the effect of bringing the
system into disrepute and for that reason, pushes people towards
disobedience.



3. During the period of the ban we received numerous calls from our
members of tourist shoot operators and/or their agents continuing their
shooting in defiance of the ban with little evidence of any on the ground
policing. In my own area in Cloghan, I was accosted by both shooters and
farmers on several occasions, even in the local shop, complaining of the
shooting of wildfowl on the nearby Shannon almost daily during the ban. I
advised all to report these incidents but I was met with almost derision at
the suggestion, with most stating they could not raise the local wildlife
ranger. I do not want this to be interpreted as me criticising the local
ranger. I am merely relating was has been related to me. I do know that
the local club did in fact make a report to the Gardai. I have received
similar reports from the West of Ireland and from Kerry i.e. the apparent
ease with which tourist operators were able to continue their activities
while NARGC clubs were observing the ban. Again, the apparent invisibility
of policing simply brings the statutory process of implementing a ban into
disrepute and makes compliance by ordinary law abiding hunters more
difficult to achieve.



These are matters we need to discuss with you and I would be obliged for an
early appointment in the New Year to meet. In the meantime, I look forward
to a resuming of the season on the 30th.



Best wishes for the New Year,



Des Crofton

National Director

NARGC

Not a hope in hell of this happening. Birds are preparing for breeding in early spring!