Tips On Decoys For Rooks / Crows

[kanny 20,480]

Not that I've ever done it, but my understanding is it is NOT illegal to bait for Corvids with carrion. I could be wrong and will re-check the GLs in due course. Others here may have views. I think it might be for pigeons.

 

The maddness of the GLs makes it very tricky as I think you can bait for trapping.....

yup the GL is a mine feild and has a few grey areas that can have different interpretations from how you look at it... Everyone does but everyone should be aware also Is what I'm saying.

 

Atb Kanny

Edited June 2, 2015 by kanny

[mark williams 7,550]

Guys would this grey area mean - no baiting for rats or squirrels also ?

[treecreeper 1,136]

No laws on baiting rats or squizzers mate, can't say iv ever bothered baiting for corvids I only realy shoot them off feed troughs so never looked into it.

Edited June 2, 2015 by treecreeper

[kanny 20,480]

Guys would this grey area mean - no baiting for rats or squirrels also ?

I would say not as squirrel and rat tend to be of fixed abode so if you have a problem with them they need sorting.. However with birds of the top of my head every effort other than shooting needs to be applied first so it could be argued that baiting birds is actually adding to your pest problem by bringing them in.. Your attracting not deterring. Edited June 2, 2015 by kanny

[Stoater 21]

Find it difficult believe that if this (baiting) tactic is illegal, that it has not been raised as a "significant issue" before now. Surely, would there not have been legal proceedings against those using this tactic by now? Conceivably, this would change the whole practice of vermin control, surely? Pheasant feeders, squirrel feeders, livestock feed etc……. this does not make sense to me, and I just cannot believe that widely available Airgun magazines (stocked in all newsagents) could get away with openly suggesting it as a "go to" method of vermin control?

Maybe this should be looked at as a matter of importance.

[treecreeper 1,136]

If your feeding other animals your not baiting for vermin, ill have a read up when can get on computer

[pianoman 3,587]

The things you learn here!

 

It doesn't make sense to me either Stoater.

 

 

Find it difficult believe that if this (baiting) tactic is illegal, that it has not been raised as a "significant issue" before now. Surely, would there not have been legal proceedings against those using this tactic by now? Conceivably, this would change the whole practice of vermin control, surely? Pheasant feeders, squirrel feeders, livestock feed etc……. this does not make sense to me, and I just cannot believe that widely available Airgun magazines (stocked in all newsagents) could get away with openly suggesting it as a "go to" method of vermin control?

Maybe this should be looked at as a matter of importance.

 

I've been baiting corvids with carrion since I was a lad with me dad. Now, we can't? illegal? Then what's the point of decoying birds if not to emulate a feeding pattern? It sounds like lawyers tricks to make money underwriting this rubbish.

 

A baby owl deek is a good one to use, I hear, from what I've heard from other fellows using them but, never tried one myself.

[Elliott 436]

I use a little owl decoy over a dead magpie/crow to good effect. In fact I recently posted a brief video in the rimfire section

[Dr B 186]

My understanding of the GLs is that they are only for birds (obvious, but needs saying) and so putting up feeders for squizzers (for example) is perfectly legal. Its also legal to put out liquidized cat food for rats to bait them in. So the principle of baiting and luring in this way is perfectly fine for these species.

 

I cannot find anything in the GLs against baiting for Corvids as part of decoying. I read on another forum sometime ago, that it might be different for pigeons - but again, not seen that in the GLs. Also, I think its fine to bait Larsen Traps (which is in the GL) so why not decoying? I've been reading the GLs today and cant find much pertinent to this - so it may be an interpretation thing. I'm sure some of you on here will be more expert on this.

 

Thoughts welcome. To get back to the main topic, I will be buying some decoys as a start and will add to this with a hide in due course. I'll leave the owl decoy for now, though I'm curious about it.

[Dr B 186]

I use a little owl decoy over a dead magpie/crow to good effect. In fact I recently posted a brief video in the rimfire section

 

Thanks Elliot

I'm making notes of all the tips here. My perm is really for rabbits, but the farmer gets rooks / crows in the morning and they make a racket and are bothering him.....so he said pop them off when you get the chance....

 

The frustrating thing is, they nest in woodland not that far away, but I cant get permission for that (which would be much easier).

Edited June 2, 2015 by Dr B

[Elliott 436]

A predator decoy over a dead corvid should do the trick! Establish a decent hide and you'll have cracked it

[random 659]

Turned into a good thread this with some good points and questions to give me some things to think about and google! Shows how wide the interpretation of the gl can be though and how careful we need to be in applying what we understand of it...