Dangerous Idiot Shooting Pigeons

[Alsone 789]

Deker's right, there's no law to that effect I know of.

 

I'm sure what your FEO is talking about is a recommendation.

 

However simply, it's best not to provoke a response and far better simply to shoot away from boundaries.

 

If you still believe 300 yards is the law, then you'd do well to read up on the 50ft law because you'd find its possible and legal to shoot from a public footpath that runs over private land or even across one at person height ie directly, without committing an offence provided certain criteria are met and certain circumstances are avoided. ie even 50ft doesn't have to be avoided in some circumstances. That doesn't mean its wise to do it, but it does somewhat rubbish the 300 yard "LAW".

 

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CC8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.basc.org.uk%2Fdownload.cfm%2Fdocid%2F8201D2D3-E4B1-4333-B24BA94A9790765C&ei=7B_KUZ6ME-nu0gW474CYAw&usg=AFQjCNFEkKalL9PKeYKMQazy1392A58R0w&bvm=bv.48340889,d.d2k

 

I think you'll find 300 yards is the recommendation made to clay shooting clubs by the police for a fallout zone. The situation in the countryside as such with general shooting is rather more fluid but here the rule is simple, use common sense and don't shoot in a direction whereby shot can fall on someone else's land and common sense there would say leave at least a few hundred yards to ensure that doesn't happen and if you don't have a safe shot in a direction, don't take it, either wait for the prey to fly into a safe zone or don't take the shot....

[SportingShooter 0]

I think Alsone has hit the nail on the head to use common sense and shoot in as safe a direction as possible. Unfortunately, common sense doesn't seem to be that common these days.

 

Hawkeye - I could ask my department who could give a completely different answer to yours and to Deker's and to everyone else on this thread, FACT is until they become legally enforceable they are null and void and only serve to scare law abiding shooters because of a very risk averse culture caused by the every increasing threat of being sued for something.

[misty1 2]

I do belive you are not allowed to discharge any fire arm weather shotgun or rifle with in 1oo yds of any public highway that why the police fire arms cops now ask for grid references to the land you have permission on to see if in fact their is public accsess hope this information helps ya misty

[paulus 26]

I do belive you are not allowed to discharge any fire arm weather shotgun or rifle with in 1oo yds of any public highway that why the police fire arms cops now ask for grid references to the land you have permission on to see if in fact their is public accsess hope this information helps ya misty

read the whole thread or the road traffic act that relates to the offence and then you might want to edit your post

[Alsone 789]

I do belive you are not allowed to discharge any fire arm weather shotgun or rifle with in 1oo yds of any public highway that why the police fire arms cops now ask for grid references to the land you have permission on to see if in fact their is public accsess hope this information helps ya misty

Click on the link in my post at the top of the page and you'll have the BASC guidance to the law relating to shooting on / near highways.

 

You'll find in some circumstances 50 ft applies. In many circumstances there is no restriction. It all depends on the definition of "right of way" and the thus the type of path you're shooting on or across, the type of permission and whether or not anyone is inconvenienced or endangered.

 

Once more I'd say that whilst you should know the law, common sense goes a long way as even shooting within the strict guidelines of the law can still land you in trouble. eg. With a 3.5 inch magnum heavy load cartridge you might find 300 yds is not enough. The best method of safe shooting is law + common sense and if there's any doubt, don't shoot.

[Hawkeye. 26]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

you must be more than 300 yards in the direction of firing from a public place.

 

 

Where did that come from?

 

Cheers!

 

rules about shot fallout mate. Fact. Ask your firearms dep't .

 

 

Rules......

 

FACT, what fact?

 

I take it you mean rules like a .22lr not being a fox gun!

 

I don't make the rules , i'm only telling you what they are. The fact is , the 300 yard rule exists. Don't question me , ask the firearms dept like I said earlier. As for a .22lr , I wouldn't know anything about that. Why do you ask ?

 

 

Chap,

 

I'm not looking for an argument, I hear all sorts of baloney on forums and it is best to prove or disprove asap or rumour gets out of hand. I know the Law well, I have to when I am walking around with a gun etc., but I do not pretend to know it all.

 

You made a statement, you tell us the "rules" ...and just whose rules are these?

 

Which Firearms Act, Bye Laws, Club rule book or whim of a FEO, etc does this come from!

 

 

How many times do I have to tell you ? If you want to know the details ask you feckin firearms department

 

I asked mine today and his reply was "what fu**ing half wit is spreading all these daft rumours and saying it is the law"

Geordie

 

I'll have to ask the FEO where he got it from then

[Deker 3,478]

 

 

I asked mine today and his reply was "what fu**ing half wit is spreading all these daft rumours and saying it is the law"

 

 

Geordie

 

I'll have to ask the FEO where he got it from then

 

 

Hawkeye

 

Don't take it to heart, you will not be the first who has had duff info from their FEO and "fu**ing half wit" is very descriptive of the previous guy I had, and no doubt many others as well!

 

Some FEO spout off with the authority of their job in the CERTAIN knowledge that few will have the balls to challenge/question them!

[C.J.W 12BORE 2]

A public foot path running accross private land is syill owned by the land owner! And there is no law whatsoever that say you canot shoot on it accross it or any distance from it! It is perfectly legal to stand right there on the footpath and discharge a gun all day long! However this is provided it is safe to do so! If for instance there a pheasant drive in orocess and guns are on the foot path the pedestrian would be breaking the law if they interupted that drive by crossing the path!

 

Look it up

[TWOTWOTHREE 152]

A few years ago a friend was shooting pigeon on his land.he was positioned with his back to the road behind a hedge shooting away from it.after about 30 mins the old bill turned up.aparrently. A neighbour was not happy about the noise.anyway they came and politely asked him to move further away.they said we can't make you as your not posing any issues on the public highway but if you did it would shut the old girl up and not cause any future animosity.so he did and that was that.im not saying that's right but just a scenario I can offer.and in the above post about a public footpath owned by the farmer/land owner! I was told by my feo that they can be shot over, near or on but use common sense and an incident would end in trouble for all parties involved. There's not many places I shoot that don't have public rights of was on then.but in 19 years shooting they have posed no issues.just be cautious and a safe shot won't fall foul of the law.

Atb

[cookiemonsterandmerlin 145]

Just a question is a this a bona fide footpath not just one made by the locals ????

[Deker 3,478]

Just a question is a this a bona fide footpath not just one made by the locals ????

 

Is there a difference, in what sense, where are you going on this?

 

Wikipedia

A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended primary for use by pedestrians, but not other forms of traffic such as motorized vehicles and horseback. They can be paths within an urban area that offer more expedient or safer routes, or rural paths, such as a trail through the countryside.

[cookiemonsterandmerlin 145]

 

Just a question is a this a bona fide footpath not just one made by the locals ????

 

Is there a difference, in what sense, where are you going on this?

 

Wikipedia

A footpath (also pedestrian way, walking trail, nature trail) is a type of thoroughfare that is intended primary for use by pedestrians, but not other forms of traffic such as motorized vehicles and horseback. They can be paths within an urban area that offer more expedient or safer routes, or rural paths, such as a trail through the countryside.

Just wondered if its one of them self made doggy walking paths ,it does not change the fact it dangerous,EG are thay as in the walker technically tresspassing ??? this maybe not the case in this case.

[Alsone 789]

Again if you read the doc I posted above Cookie, all will be revealed:

 

 

 

For the purposes of Section 161 (2) of the Highways Act 1980 (as amended), a
‘highway’ is restricted to a public right of way for the passage of vehicles and does
not include footpaths, cycle tracks or bridleways. Therefore the fifty feet rule
described above does not apply to rights of ways that cross private lands e.g.
footpaths.

 

 

When the footpath runs across private land the ownership of the land and sporting
rights are unaltered. Therefore a person with the shooting/sporting rights may
shoot on or over footpaths on their land equally to public having the right to walk
(to pass and re-pass) along it as a means of communication. So the public and the
shooters have a concurrent right to the footpath and it is up to both parties to not
obstruct the other.

 

 

If a member of public is using a public right of way that crosses or is in the vicinity
of your shoot or drive, the member of public has the right to pass and re-pass
along the right of way without hindrance. Therefore any shooting should be
refrained from until they are at a distance where your activity should not cause any
concern. This is particularly important if a bridleway is in use as a horse rider could
be endangered by a startled horse. If a member of public approaches a
path/bridleway a method for ceasing to shoot should be in place. One example of a
proven method is:

 

I'm not going to copy any more as its not fair on the BASC and the full doc is in the link above.

 

I would suggest you read the full doc anyway as its dangerous to take quotes in isolation.

 

Edited July 10, 2013 by Alsone

[SportingShooter 0]

Cookie, I think what you're trying to get at is was the footpath an official footpath, entered on a map and recognised by the Rights of Way authority, rather than one which has "always been used" as a footpath by those who know about it.

 

If the path is not official, it has no bearing in law and anyone without permission in England and Wales would commit the civil offence of trespass. It would also mean that you would not need to allow anyone to pass without hindrance or cease your activity as they have no "right" to be there in the first place.

 

Though common sense should apply in all situations, legally binding or not

[cookiemonsterandmerlin 145]

Correct SS

 

I dont think this is the case here but you never know

 

Cookie