Canada Geese

[danny2012 3]

Hi can you shoot Canada geese with 22 air rife

[hedgerow pete 25]

as far as i am aware it is not legal to do so, its shotguns and FAC only for geese .

as air rifle shooters we can do most vermin and fowl, up to crows and the like, but even at crows unless its a perfect head shoot your not really going to stand much of a chance of a clean dispatch.

[danny2012 3]

Oh thanks thought id ask

[villaman 9,983]

Its a bit of a grey area ,but I think you can ,head shot only at a sensible range

[Nobby8126 96]

It is legal to take them with a sub 12ft/lb rifle. The argument is the ethical side. A goose's skull is thinner than that of a rabbit but the target area smaller. The movement of the head is another issue. If you are at the right range with the right shot then personally I can't see the issue but if you do clip it it won't be an easy dispatch. Another thing to consider is if onlookers see you although it is legal you can still be had for causing suffering ect. Once again it is whatever you feel comfortable with everyone on here will have strong opinions but the majority of us take game with rifles and all have fluffed a shot if you are happy to wrestle a 3 foot bird with a very bendy neck to dispatch it then crack on.

 

In short it is LEGAL

Edited February 19, 2015 by Nobby8126

[treecreeper 1,136]

i looked into it abit back when 50 odd of the buggers dropped onto one of my perms and came to above conclusion.

[Lid 194]

It's not considered sporting to shoot wildfowl and game birds when they are stationery. It is best to use a shot gun when they are in flight.

[treecreeper 1,136]

it aint about being sporting its about pest control, but how is letting tonnes of shot fly at a bird in flight more sporting than a clinical head shot exactly?

Edited February 19, 2015 by treecreeper

[mark williams 7,550]

I shoot shotguns as well as air rifles and find air gunning far, far more enjoyable and requiring far more skill and fieldcraft.

Kept to true air rifle ranges i would think any calibre more than capable with a clinical head shot only.

 

atb

[Nobby8126 96]

Depends on who's shooting I spose, I'm guessing a paid pest controller is a good shot but a chav with stoners eyes and a bent smkb2 would wound a lot in the same way a die hard sporting shooter and pissed up Lord of the manor. I'd say air rifle purely on accuracy. Be an interesting test say damage at 35 yd with a goose head target for the rifle and a whole moving goose for the shotgun. Surely there's someone on here that can do it on film.

[jocky 198]

i have shot them with both 22 and 177. and had good clean kills with head shots at 30/35 yards. also shot ducks IN SEASON on flooded fields.

[mark williams 7,550]

Lads if you know your rifle, field craft and calibre my money would be on the true air rifleman with the clinical headshot , long before the shot gunner with a mass of any where that hits will do, shot on geese.

 

atb

Edited February 19, 2015 by mark williams

[flynndog 543]

Shot loads of canadas over years nice head shot does em perfect

[charlie caller 3,654]

I shoot shotguns as well as air rifles and find air gunning far, far more enjoyable and requiring far more skill and fieldcraft.

Kept to true air rifle ranges i would think any calibre more than capable with a clinical head shot only.

 

atb

Mark, I would agree with most of your post, apart from the far more "skill, and field craft" if you think that being out on a saltmarsh waiting for Teal to drop into decoys on a splash 30 yards in front of you does not require field craft, or hitting a Pheasant doing 40mph, curling at 40 yards does not require skill, then I dont think you have done the same kind of shotgun shooting as me

[charlie caller 3,654]

Depends on who's shooting I spose, I'm guessing a paid pest controller is a good shot but a chav with stoners eyes and a bent smkb2 would wound a lot in the same way a die hard sporting shooter and pissed up Lord of the manor. I'd say air rifle purely on accuracy. Be an interesting test say damage at 35 yd with a goose head target for the rifle and a whole moving goose for the shotgun. Surely there's someone on here that can do it on film.

If anyone would like to set that up, I will rise to the challenge, shotgun every time and I do love my air rifles.