The British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) provides downloadable information to help you find out what is legal and illegal about wild birds. 2. The use of lead shot for all wild birds has been declared illegal in England and Wales and for all hunting on or over wetlands (including the coastal foreshore) in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, the resident of the country or persons authorised by him may kill rabbits all year round on heathland and unfenced land (which is not agricultural) by any legal means, but only with firearms, during the period from 1 July to 31 March inclusive (Article 1(3), of the Ground Game Act 1880, as amended by the Agriculture (Scotland) Act 1948). Hares are subject to a closed season (Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011) (see above). • Make sure you know all local rules for managing and controlling wild birds. For example, not all clubs allow raven or pigeon shooting on their premises. Always ask if there are any restrictions. It is very important that members are able to correctly identify the types of legal careers both for their own peace of mind and for sport, especially in the current political climate. It is equally important that we are perceived responsibly both in our behavior and in our attitude towards our environment. That`s why, as a club, we have introduced this guide to help our members and will update the information where possible and necessary.
A detailed code of conduct for wild birds is published by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation. This concerns both the rules to be followed and what is considered good practice, such as respect for the career. Click on the image opposite to download a copy, or visit the BASC website by clicking on the logo below for more information on wild birds. • All felled quarries must be recovered and, if necessary, shipped immediately and humanely. For detailed information on how to identify all types of quarries, including wild birds and mammals, check out this handy guide from the British Association For Shooting And Conservation • Tips to follow to enable sustainable shooting. Unless otherwise stated, the term “shall” refers only to compliance with the standards set out in this Code of Conduct and does not refer to any legal obligation. • Many wild birds now opt for an 89 mm (31/2 inch) shotgun, in the form of a double barrel or, more commonly, semi-automatic. This type of gun is designed to handle large steel pellets in modern wild bird loads (provided the weapon is steel-proof).
It is illegal to sell or offer for sale a game after ten days after the end of the open season. In addition, it is illegal to own or control a game 14 days after the end of the respective season, unless it has been legally acquired and frozen or legally imported dead game. Rabbits can be sold all year round. Wild bird hunters need certain traits to succeed, such as patience. Wild bird hunters also need to quickly identify if a potential career (a bird you want to kill) is legal to hunt, sometimes in poor visibility. Just because wild birds are usually miles away from civilization doesn`t mean we`re free to get what we want. The bird species that we can legally cull outside the closed season are regulated by law and listed in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Wildlife and Country Act, 1981. • Following the ratification of the Convention on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) by the UK Government in 1999, the use of lead shot was declared illegal for all wild birds in England and Wales and for all shooting on or over wetlands (including foreshore) in Scotland and Northern Ireland. • The range of lead-free shooting solutions is expanding and information on suitability for use in shotguns is available from In Jersey, it is illegal to release pheasants, red-legged partridges or grey partridges or escape into the wild except under a licence (Conservation of Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2000 Article 15(1)(b) and (3)).
• The use of sound recordings and live decoys tied, blinded or mutilated is illegal. Incitement or allowing the use of such methods is also a criminal offence. • If you don`t have a hunting dog on the wild bird, go with someone who takes pictures or simply shoots, causing the birds to fall where you can reach them. Recover all birds killed immediately. You will need to do some research to familiarize yourself with a legal career. • Always complete all bag returns required for your day shoot and return all permits within the required time frame. This may be a condition of the lease for the foreshore you have turned. Accurate catch data is essential to ensure the preservation of wild birds in the future. It is illegal to sell protected wild birds, which include pheasants. Rabbits can be sold at any time. The quarry, which can be taken over by wild birds, is controlled by laws and also by good practices.
The most important regulation is the Wildlife and Country Act of 1981, which allows duck species, four species of geese and three species of wading birds during certain prescribed seasons. This and other laws also define what methods can be used, for example, it is illegal to use automatic weapons that have more than two rounds of ammunition in their magazine.