For instance, it is common to see gardens adorned with CDs or other shiny surfaces. You can’t shoot birds in the closed season. Re: OK to shoot Pigeons in my back garden? They are on the open licence from DEFRA and maybe shot as a last resort. Neighbour shooting wood pigeons with an air rifle Are there any laws that I can be armed with when making a complaint to the police about a neighbour who kills wood pigeons. Yes, it is perfectly legal to shoot some wild birds in your own garden, or anyone else's garden with their permission. In order to shoot birds in your garden you would require a licence from the Department for Food Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Tuesday 15th February 2011. 2 3 Next Reply Author. if it is done safely without the pellet leaving your property. You will need to invest some money to do it the right way but it will be worth it. Tweet; How useful did … super61. They will never address the issue directly or reveal themselves to you. which carries a 10 year … To prevent serious damage to crops… If you have bird feeders, pigeons can easily infest your garden. I ask because there has been some misunderstanding on a thread currently running. In winter, flocks of up to 50 birds can descend on allotments but, at other times, they are seen in smaller numbers. The poor birds sit in a large beech on the fence line of our properties, in an urban area of London (the neighbour attracts them in with bread) and are then targets for this man's air rifle. A complaint had been made by a neighbour about air rifle pellets being shot into his back yard and named me as the … its nice to see wood pigeons in my garden.they are a nice bird shame they do so much damage. Please see the website for DEFRA (in related information) for a full explanation of these licences. In these circumstances pest control companies will often recommend lethal control in the form of shooting, cage trapping and killing operations due to the fact that these methods of control, although ineffective in anything other than the short-term, will cost … Bird Shooting Laws UK. Relevance. But you must wait for the 'shooting season' to shoot game birds, quarry birds, and waterfowl. The lethal control (killing) of pigeons, seagulls and other wild birds in the UK is legislated by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), courtesy of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (Chapter 69), which effectively reports that it is illegal to kill or injure any wild bird, including pigeons and seagulls, unless general licensing regulations are complied … How to Get Rid of Pigeons in Your Garden With Sound. It might also be worth noting that there is also an offence of "Threatening others with an air weapon (even if unloaded) to cause them to fear unlawful violence". Wildfowling Seasons (dates are inclusive) England, Scotland, and Wales: Above the mean high water mark from the 1st of September to 31st of … These are the pest birds you can shoot in England until 31 December … … 18:03 Sun 23rd Mar 2014 gness Wood pigeon are classed as a pest species in the UK. Discussion. It is illegal to shoot the majority of wild birds. Reply Prev 1. of 3. Leave a Reply … Shooting these birds without a license would be a criminal act and any insurance claim would not be covered, so getting the license is important to make sure you remain fully covered by your policy. Here are my tips for getting rid of pigeons. In the UK, the 'pest' birds covered by the DEFRA Open General Licence include feral pigeons, Canada geese (not in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland), carrion crows, herring gulls, house sparrows (not in England), jackdaws, magpies, rooks, starlings (not in England) and woodpigeons. If so Rifle or Pistol, I have a fairly small garden and would be shooting them from about 10-15ft. Share. Unlike rat and mice poisons which can be precisely and safely targeted with the use of bait stations, there’s no way of poisoning pigeons without also poisoning other birds. Ledges can be protected by fitting specially designed spike strips or metal coil, or converting the ledge to a slope. why do you want to shoot pigeons in the garden for,i have lots of pigeons in my garden they dont do any harm i only shoot them in the fields. They apparently have a voracious appetite for brassicas, including spring cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts (watch out this Christmas! Pigeons are also feed on winter brassicas, especially when snow or frost makes other vegetation unavailable. Maximum effective mesh size will be 2.5 inches. The licence is only granted for specific purposes and there are many different types of licences. Unlike game birds, such as pheasant and grouse, which may only be hunted during open season, magpies are grouped with crows and woodpigeons in the category of pest and may be controlled at any time of year. Hi im 15, My mum has a problem with Pigeons and Seagulls stealing food that she puts out for other birds. Be careful with your choice of deterrent. At least that's how my … Shooting. 13 Answers. Pigeons make their nests in trees and tall hedges, laying several clutches of usually two eggs during mid to late summer. Full story here. On reading the licensing act it can become unclear and confusing. The reflective surfaces create a prism effect that, when subjected to sunlight, can temporarily affect the pigeons’ eyesight and make your garden a location that birds bypass. You don't need to apply for a licence to shoot magpies, as they are covered by general licence issued by … You must get a falconry licence to hunt birds with a falcon. Many of us have seen this in use. Tuesday 15th February 2011. Potentially a can o’ worms, but if you felt that the Pigeon pooh was a danger to human health ( kids playing in garden city on swings covered in pigeon pooh as an example) and you had tried other methods to scare them then you could shoot them under GL but you might find neighbours get upset and call plod citing ‘ suspicious man waving a rifle out of the window shooting … There are no laws the Council can use to stop people feeding birds. You can legally shoot crows, rooks, magpies, jays, wood pigeons, collared doves, brown rats, grey squirrels and rabbits (but not your neighbour's pet). Emsman. I want to shoot pigeons in my garden with an air rifle. Audible repellers produce frightening bird sounds that scare pigeons and other birds. Answer Save. Follow the air rifle pest control rules and you can usefully rid an area of corvids, greys and rats and play your part in giving the songbird population a safer habitat.. An air rifle is an excellent tool for vermin control. Sometimes, you need to get rid of pigeons without repelling beneficial birds. Is it legal for me to use an Air Rifle/Air Pistol to shoot them in my garden. Equipment . That’s up to judges in a court of law, advised by the RSPB. Can I shoot pigeons in my parents back garden? Shooting Pigeons in Garden, Legal in UK? You can use this general licence if you grow crops on a sufficient scale to have financial value, or you act on behalf of a grower. Original Poster. Neil. This is an old gardeners’ trick to deter birds. Sounds can prove to be one of the most effective ways to keep birds away. In my experience there is always one pigeon pest loving neighbor who will call the police and try to create a major issue. They’re known to scare off smaller birds and stealing as much food as they can get. Exceptions to this are: Birds listed on Schedule 2 Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985. Pigeon poisons are not commercially available, and are hardly ever used even by professionals. Because airguns are hushed and have limited power they can be used in a confined space – like a garden – more safely and discreetly than a shotgun. There are a number of sounds that can do the trick. Discussion. As an aside my neighbour a few doors down was fed up with pigeons crapping on him when in the garden from the trees above so he bought an air gun and kept shooting them till …