Advice on poaching laws in the uk

[hedgerow pete]

There is an old view of a single poacher taking one for the pot , in todays market its more like shot guns and hand guns and whole fields of sheep and cows, so one's head is not in the clouds

but what are the modern day rules for the illigeal taking of game, I wish to know what they are so I can be sure not to break them, I would also like to know about goose hunting rules, season, caliber, breed type etc

can anyone help clear away the rumours from the facts??

 

[hedgerow pete]

Forgot to say does anyone know what the rules and ownership are of the canal systems and for the taking of bunnies

 

[scubapauly]

As far as I know, you need landowners permission for just about everything.

 

[Klenchblaize]

You'll be breaking the law whichever way you look at it without landowner permission although method of capture will play a role in whether a custodial sentence is on the cards! Get caught taking a rabbit with a firearm and you're in a large pile of the brown stuff.

Don't get caught is one way of looking at it but not recommended.

Cheers

 

[Rob_Beek]

I've got a book that pretty much covered everything about countryside laws from back in the gamekeeping days.

Fair Game by Charlie Parkes n John Thornley

http://www.alibris.co.uk/search/books/qwork/2233413/used/Fair game

 

[njc110381]

In my opinion anything firearm related should be forgotten about. I'm a keen shooter and the sport doesn't need another numpty causing trouble. I don't mean to sound rude, but look at the wider picture. It makes legal sportsmen look bad and it's not going to do you any favours either! The possible sentences are quite serious.

If you're out with a few snares I can't see the problem. It's a bit rude but if you check them regularly and don't set them where someones dog is likely to get stuck in one then it's hardly the crime of the century.

Have you tried approaching land owners to ask if you can trap their ground? Shooting rights aren't the easiest to come by but then the risks involved for the landowner are greater.

If you ever find yourself in my area and want a bunny or two for the pot then give me a shout. You're welcome to come out on my permissions and shoot something if you fancy the experience. But please keep things legal, the ownership of firearms is a world of hoops to jump through already and we don't need more statistics suggesting it should be even harder.

 

[Front Room Woodlander]

If approached the right way many landowners will allow folk to take bunnies, usually in return for pot ready ones and a bottle of sloe gin at Christmas.
Find the country pub where landowners / workers gather and start nattering with them. Just now we're coming to the end of pheasant season and attention will turn to pigeons (friday afternoon right through feb). Ask if you can come along to watch, fetch and carry. An extra hand is always welcome.
Don't be suprised if their a little gaurded at first as the anti's often use similar tactics to gather their intel. Be polite, be persistant.
As for caliber I'd suggest practice with a catapult. When you can consistantly hit a two pence piece at reasonable range then you can move onto the bunnies.

 

[hedgerow pete]

Thanks for the tips so far , but I did not explain my self correctly.

I originate from south warwickshire and spent most of my childhood in the fields. I have been with and trained and learned many mant hunting and traping meathods(all non fire arm)
I am looking at several bunny colonys that are along the canel system of birmingham, for me to go to the real country side is beyond my pocket money at the moment as work is very short on the ground, so I am looking to remove bunnies from the canal, I know aboy asking for land owners permission but who owns the canel side banks not the canels , british water ways or the council or someone else and where do i find out?

second part was all along the canal are canadian geese, so the next question was are there season dates to uphold what are the laws about takeing geese, ( foxes you need certian caliber rounds as so the same with deer) so can I use an air riffle or say what about using a large net and no guns, there are many ways of taking a goose without a gun but are they legal?? and would i be breaking any laws with hunting the said geese.

As I said I dont know the laws and want to find out what they are before breaking them, words are better than actions

 

[FGYT]

heres a good place to start

http://www.basc.org.uk/

ATB

Duncan

 

[slowworm]

For seasons look here: http://www.basc.org.uk//en/departments/game-and-gamekeeping/game-shooting/shooting-seasons.cfm

It would also be worth looking around the BASC site to give you some more info on what's legal etc.

 

[Bushwhacker]

Get some ferrets and a few nets mate.

 

[hedgerow pete]

that is what i was planning for the rabbits, nets and ferrets, It just seems to me that as no one patrols the canal banks and one could spend a few hours playing with a ferret that why should i miss an opurtunity , but thats the bit when i get transported to austrailia for 20 years( hummmmm)

as for the geese there are hundreds of them again all un patroled, but since i dont like austrailia I have yet to do any thing about it

the thing is just because it is not patroled i dont want to rish it, I have tried the bsac site but was unable to get anyone or anything concrete in the way to ask and to behave, thats why i was wondering does anyone here know what to do

 

[mysecretlife]

As other people have said have a look at the BASC web site. I would be carefull about trapping, this is a public place and you may find yourself on the reciving end of an 'anti' hunting member of the public

 

[decorum]

... who owns the canel side banks not the canels , british water ways or the council or someone else and where do i find out?

I've no idea about the hunting bits but I've asked someone for advice on the ownership question(s) you asked ...

The basics - ownership of one side of the canalside will (usually) be different from the other. The side with no tow path is usually owned by a riparian (??) landowner . The side of the canal that has the tow path is usually owned by either British Waterways or the Environmental Agency.
That might sound useful - unfortunately, without enquiring about each section, there is no hard and fast rule as to whether The E.A, B.W or the landowner owns the hedge and/or bank on the side of the towpath.

Disclaimer: The above info came from someone else - It could be wrong, out of date, or poorly communicated.

 

[njc110381]

Just a thought, but if you were to approach the local fishing club they could tell you who owns the bank.

 

[British Red]

, there are many ways of taking a goose without a gun but are they legal?? and would i be breaking any laws with hunting the said geese.

No they are not, and yes you would. Its that simple. All wild birds are protected under the WCA and the legal quarry species are listed under Schedule 2. There is no legal justification for hunting wild birds for food, even under the general licence permitted species (which cover certain geese only outside the closed season).

As a minimum by taking one for the pot on a tow path you would breach the WCA - an imprisonable offence.

Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway having vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered.

To shoot across a footpath or bridleway may constitute a public nuisance or wilful obstruction. There may also be a liability in negligence if it is known that people are on, or likely to be on, the path.


Without permission you would be comitting armed trespass under the Firearms Act 1968.

Short Version
It is illegal to shoot geese for food (if this is the primary reason), it would be impossible to gain any form of legal permission to do so and to do it without is armed trespass.

You would breach any number of laws in this endeavour. It is not sensible to shoot in a built up area, nor is it legal to do so with this as a quarry. You may not go to Australia but it is extremely likely that you will encounter an Armed Response vehicle and then a prison if you tried this without permission (which cannot legally be given for the purposes described)

Red

 

[peasantchurl]

poaching is illegal but it is NOT unlawful (HUGE difference) as long as you are taking wild game and not some farmers livestock or people's pets your fully entitled to take from the land this way in a common law jurisdiction, using what methods you see fit ie: guns, traps, snares, bow's etc.....now the problem will be other people's and maybe your own perception of legal legislation. It can only be given the force of law if you consent to stand under byelaw of corporation's that are fictional enities trying to get you to contract with them.........let see where this leads

 

[British Red]

Would you care to explain what you believe the distinction to be pc? It is certainly a criminal act under the WCA to hunt with a bow. It is also an act of criminal armed trespass to use a firearm on land without permission. You will certainly be imprisoned for doing so - with, or without, your consent.

Whatever distinctions exist in your mind, do not exist in law or practical reality

Red

 

[Adze]

If I'm not mistaken he's suggesting that you need not be bound by statute law in the UK as this applies only to The United Kingdom of Great Britain CORPORATION. There's a little speach you're supposed to give in the court about denying the right of the court to try you as a human being and a freeman upon the land and upon hearing it they're supposed to say something along the lines of "It's a fair cop guv, you're free to leave!"

In reality what happens is they remand you in custody for contempt of court and a big lad will extract you to the cells.

If the big lad isn't big enough, they get another one and both of them take you away. If two of them isn't enough... in short they just get more and more people until you end up in the cells.

Have a Google of TPUC (The People's United Community) there's a fair bit about it on there.

 

[hedgerow pete]

british red thanks for the advice but you now bring evan more questions , 1 what is wca ?
secondly you go off on one about firearms like many other s below you , who said any thing about fire arms????? i did not, all i asked was can i ferret and net bunnies and what are the rules for killing geese, everyone goes on about the basc but they dont have the information i require so lets try again shall we

I ask here if someone knows the rules and law for hunting bunnies using NETS AND FERRETS on a canal , I also ask is there away WITHOUT FIREARMS, OR SHOTGUNS, BOWS AND ARROWS, MACHINE GUNS, TANKS AND ANTI AIR CRAFT WEAPONS OF ANY SORT to remove geese from the said canal,

and dont forget to stop ranting on about flippin guns