Hunting Dealing with pigeons.

[PistolDan]

GL41 may be appropriate if there is an health or safety issue with feral pigeon cr4p. Similar rules to GL42 regarding alternative actions but netting a whole garden is less likely to be practical.

But they aren’t feral, the OP quite clearly stated that they were Wood Pigeons from the fields behind, not Feral Pigeons.

Also, he isn’t shooting them because the shit is unsanitary or a slip hazard, he wants to shoot them because they are eating his pears.

 

[Bighit]

GL41 may be appropriate if there is an health or safety issue with feral pigeon cr4p. Similar rules to GL42 regarding alternative actions but netting a whole garden is less likely to be practical.

If its ferals then Yes you can use GL41 , As the post above mine states , The OP has not mentioned ferals , Woodpigeons was the only ones he mentioned in his first post
Ferals only on GL41 unless you apply for a specific license to control the woodies for that reason.

 

[Hollowpoint]

One of these required!

Wow. Is that yours? If so what a beauty.

 

[Steve sxs 1;]

I would study the general license before worrying what sort of money HW77 's cost

Yep take a good look at the GL and then shoot the Buggers jmho, this is my attempt at humour

 

[slotter]

Wow. Is that yours? If so what a beauty.

Yes, had her from 16 weeks old.
Just short of a hundred catches in total so far in 2 seasons of hunting.
Its nice having curry with a hawk caught cock pheasant!

 

[Hollowpoint]

Yes, had her from 16 weeks old.
Just short of a hundred catches in total so far in 2 seasons of hunting.
It’s nice having curry with a hawk caught cock pheasant!

She is stunning. Always loved birds of prey. Find them about fascinating. Fantastic that she can go off and catch like that. Have done any more post about her on the forum? Would love to know more about her.

 

[BarryA]

I'm still waiting for DEFRA to reply to a query on the definition in regards to it being only commercial or back garden growing .
They are normally quick to reply but it seems not so this time.

I work with protected species and the laws around them have many grey areas. If you ask for clarification from DEFRA or Natural England they usually state something like: It's your decision to interpret the law and act accordingly. However if you get it wrong you could face legal action.

I'm not saying you won't get a clear, straight answer; but if you do I'll donate a tenner to the forum.

Cheers
Barry

 

[Bighit]

I work with protected species and the laws around them have many grey areas. If you ask for clarification from DEFRA or Natural England they usually state something like: It's your decision to interpret the law and act accordingly. However if you get it wrong you could face legal action.

I'm not saying you won't get a clear, straight answer; but if you do I'll donate a tenner to the forum.

Cheers
Barry

Your probably correct . I have asked them about relocating trapped rabbits onto another ground , someone asked if they could trap them and relocate them to the permission they were on and there was none on his . I don't think his landowner would be happy at that .

They replied with this .

Thank you for your email of 29 November about catching and releasing rabbits. I apologise for the delay in replying.

There is no specific offence of catching and releasing rabbits under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, but abandoning an animal in circumstances in which it is likely to suffer would be an example of poor welfare and may constitute an offence under section 4 (unnecessary suffering) and/or section 9 (failing to provide for the welfare needs of an animal) of the 2006 Act. Anyone wishing to release a rabbit would therefore have to first be sure that it was able to look after itself in the environment into which it was being released.

Furthermore, translocations (moving rabbits from one area to another) have the potential to result in the spread of disease, particularly myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD-2), to disease free rabbit (and in the case of RHD-2, hare) populations. Indeed, under section 12 of the Pests Act 1954, it is an offence to knowingly use or permit the use of a rabbit with myxomatosis to spread the disease among uninfected rabbits.

Rabbits can be a significant agricultural pest. Those thinking of moving rabbits from one property to another must consider their obligations to prevent rabbit populations from causing damage elsewhere. Section 1(2) of the Pests Act 1954 places a continuing obligation on occupiers of land in a rabbit clearance area to kill or take any wild rabbits living on, or resorting to, their land, unless they can establish that it is not reasonably practicable to do so. In the latter case, they have an obligation to prevent the rabbits from causing damage elsewhere by, for example, fencing them in with rabbit-proof fencing. Most of mainland England and Wales is designated a rabbit clearance area under Rabbit Clearance Order No. 147 (England and Wales). Other rabbit clearance orders cover Scotland. Also, depending on the circumstances, it may also be the case that a person who suffers loss as a result of damage caused by released rabbits is able to bring civil proceedings in order to recover that loss.

For these reasons we do not support or encourage the relocation of rabbits into areas where there are little or no rabbits present. Natural England's Wildlife Management and Licensing Service offers expert practical wildlife management advice to the public and provides a series of information notes that cover frequently encountered wildlife management issues, including those relating to rabbit control. See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rabbits-...ontrol-numbers for further information.

Yours sincerely,

Name removed to protect identity
Ministerial Contact Unit

As you say in regards to the GL , Their answer may be what you posted .

 

[Sarge]

The land owner next door can only give permission to shoot on their property and not another.

You will then have permission to shoot over both lands.
Same if the birds were roosting in my woods next to another farmers field. I can take them in my woods to help protect the crop of the neighbour if they ask.

 

[terry1001]

There's a lot of jumping to conclusions without knowing all the facts. Netting trees may not be possible for various reasons, obviously the tree may be too big or it may not be possible to actually carry it out safely using the equipment available to most homeowners - bot everyone has acess to a Simon platform.
A while back we had quite a few fruit trees including 2 pear trees which produced lovely pears some of which weighed 12 ounces, these trees were about 40-50 ft tall and were impossible to net.
As @Sarge has pointed out if the next door neighbour asks you to deal with his pigeon problem you can shoot from your property to address this.
It's brilliant that people are willing to give advice to others and is central to the ethos of the forum. BUT there is no need to go off on a tangent and start attacking the OP when you don't know the full facts. For an example nobody in this thread has asked if netting the second tree is a viable option but have just assumed that because one could be netted then so could the other. Unfortunately these unwarranted attacks are all too common, often in response to an innocent enquiry, it's always best to read carefully the question and to think twice (or more) before pressing the 'post' button.

 

[MikeyB]

I really don’t understand why the current General License is so restrictive with regard to Wood Pigeon. RSPB says there are over 5 million breeding pairs in the UK this year and that their ‘conservation status’ has not been assessed https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/woodpigeon. That not only seems to be a hell of a lot of birds but, you only have to look around to see them everywhere - they outnumber every other bird I see both in my own garden and when I’m out and about. The BTO gives much the same information but says they’re on the Amber list! https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/woodpigeon. Why for goodness sake - what’s ‘endangered’ about over 10 million birds? Blackbirds are currently reckoned to number slightly fewer than Wood Pigeon but, their conservation status is Green. As I say, makes no sense.

 

[Bighit]

For an example nobody in this thread has asked if netting the second tree is a viable option but have just assumed that because one could be netted then so could the other.

I have said it may not be possible , so at least one person has brought it up that it may not be possible to net both .

Hunting Post in thread 'Dealing with pigeons.'

May 6, 2025

He has already demonstrated that he can protect his fruit trees by netting them, so there is no reason for him to target pigeons

I agree unless there is a reason why it can't be netted . Netting one and not netting the other if it's practical to do so could go against you if you are investigated.

• Bighit

• 

so I would assume that covers what you posted above .

 

[Bighit]

I really don’t understand why the current General License is so restrictive with regard to Wood Pigeon. RSPB says there are over 5 million breeding pairs in the UK this year and that their ‘conservation status’ has not been assessed https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/woodpigeon. That not only seems to be a hell of a lot of birds but, you only have to look around to see them everywhere - they outnumber every other bird I see both in my own garden and when I’m out and about. The BTO gives much the same information but says they’re on the Amber list! https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/woodpigeon. Why for goodness sake - what’s ‘endangered’ about over 10 million birds? Blackbirds are currently reckoned to number slightly fewer than Wood Pigeon but, their conservation status is Green. As I say, makes no sense.

This may have something to do with it .

As seed-eating birds, Wood Pigeons play a crucial role in seed dispersal and ecosystem maintenance. They feed on a variety of plant materials, including seeds, grains, fruits, and buds, and aid in the dispersal of seeds through their droppings. This process helps to regenerate plant populations, maintain biodiversity, and facilitate the spread of vegetation in natural habitats.

Another source that says similar .

Winged wonders: How birds shape the biodiversity of UK woodlands by Annie Button — 9Trees CIC

Birds are integral for maintaining and promoting biodiversity in woodlands in the UK. Annie Button investigates for 9Trees.

www.9trees.org

• Seed dispersal and germination​

Many woodland birds feast on fruits, berries, and nuts during the late summer and autumn, dispersing seeds throughout the forest in the process. The likes of thrushes, blackbirds, and wood pigeons, all consume copious amounts of seeds which are excreted intact in their droppings, ready to germinate upon landing in a suitable spot. The seeds of plants like rowan, holly, beech, and other native trees, are commonly spread in this fashion. However, this is not the only method of successful germination. The jay is a prime example, with their common caching of acorns often never returned to, leaving the hidden store free to develop their potential as new oak trees.

The general mobility of birds certainly allows for longer-distance seed dispersal, enabling the colonisation of new areas. By transporting seeds well beyond the vicinity of the parent plant, birds expand the ranges of woodlands and increase the connectivity between isolated forest fragments. This creates an essential partnership between birds and the regeneration of woodland plants, with many species having specifically evolved fruits adapted for avian consumption and dispersal.

Notice is also mentions Jays .

They were removed also from most of the GL .

 

[slotter]

It may be of surprise to know that just a few years ago the Woodpigeon went onto the orange list as a bird of conservation concern.
I wonder if a little bit of politics came into this?
It certainly would make it more difficult to add it to the normal quarry list.

In some other European countries it can be shot " in season" and without excuses of why you did shoot it!

 

[Ascham]

I really don’t understand why the current General License is so restrictive with regard to Wood Pigeon. RSPB says there are over 5 million breeding pairs in the UK this year and that their ‘conservation status’ has not been assessed https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/woodpigeon. That not only seems to be a hell of a lot of birds but, you only have to look around to see them everywhere - they outnumber every other bird I see both in my own garden and when I’m out and about. The BTO gives much the same information but says they’re on the Amber list! https://www.bto.org/understanding-birds/birdfacts/woodpigeon. Why for goodness sake - what’s ‘endangered’ about over 10 million birds? Blackbirds are currently reckoned to number slightly fewer than Wood Pigeon but, their conservation status is Green. As I say, makes no sense.

I read a few years ago that the UK woodpigeon population was so large that it represented a significant portion of Europe's total population - thus a serious drop in the UK population would result in a significant drop to the continental population.

I would have assumed the European woodpigeon population had increased similarly to the UK's, due to environmental reasons (agricultural changes, being the same on the continent as the UK, etc), but I have no data on European woodpigeon numbers over recent years in Europe. If the European woodpigeon population has plummeted in the same way as many other avian species in Europe, however, this might explain the amber status of woodpigeon in the UK.

 

[mitch21]

The bit that puzzles me is if you had,rats,mice,squirrels, invading or damaging, your property, foodstuffs, etc. You would trap poison ☠ or whatever to eradicate the problem, but a Woodpigeon is treated so differently, so are you supposed to sit on your patio and watch them destroy all your crop,if totally netting is not possible, very confusing Mitch21

 

[Lee71]

The bit that puzzles me is if you had,rats,mice,squirrels, invading or damaging, your property, foodstuffs, etc. You would trap poison ☠ or whatever to eradicate the problem, but a Woodpigeon is treated so differently, so are you supposed to sit on your patio and watch them destroy all your crop,if totally netting is not possible, very confusing Mitch21

Well

 

[pjgtech]

Agreed, you cannot shoot them just because you want to.

I disagree with this bit.
According to the government, the damage to crops must be "Serious damage" and that "means damage to .... crops, vegetables, fruit, .... that exceeds mere nuisance, minor damage or normal business risk." (quoted from the GL itself).

Try arguing that for a punnet of strawberries or a few pears.

The fact it states "or normal business risk" seems to indicate it is aimed at a "business, eg: commercial operation, not just a private garden.
But I agree its still vague and open to interpretation.

 

[Sarge]

I could give my neighbouring farmer permission to take pigeons from/on my farm to control pigeons that are attacking his crops.

Same situation.

 

[terry1001]

I have said it may not be possible , so at least one person has brought it up that it may not be possible to net both .

Hunting Post in thread 'Dealing with pigeons.'

May 6, 2025

He has already demonstrated that he can protect his fruit trees by netting them, so there is no reason for him to target pigeons

I agree unless there is a reason why it can't be netted . Netting one and not netting the other if it's practical to do so could go against you if you are investigated.

• Bighit

• 

so I would assume that covers what you posted above .

Unfortunately you are in the minority, most have not even considered the possibility.