Seals

[JoeD 24]

Right this is not a wind up by the way, but I have always wondered, Is it illegal to shoot seals?

I have looked on the internet and I know that some are protected around Britain, but just want to know if there is any type of seals that are legal game. Not that I am going to go out and shoot a few.

I was just wondering because there is a lot of things you can do with one, like food and you can make things with the blubber.

I know at certain times of the year you can shoot them in Canada and around the Polar regions, just not sure about in the UK.

Cheers,

JoeD

[Deker 3,478]

You got me there, but NO Direct laws to stop you shooting lots of things that swim in the sea as far as I am aware!!

 

But the FAC tends to list things like small GROUND game, etc, don't recall any section that talks about underwater life!!!

 

Shotguns ...a whole different ball game..........................Air Rifles...I think NOT!!

 

Perhaps I am about to learn something new!!

[JoeD 24]

You got me there, but NO Direct laws to stop you shooting lots of things that swim in the sea as far as I am aware!!

 

But the FAC tends to list things like small GROUND game, etc, don't recall any section that talks about underwater life!!!

 

Shotguns ...a whole different ball game..........................Air Rifles...I think NOT!!

 

Perhaps I am about to learn something new!!

It has puzzled me for a while, atleast I now know I am not alone.

[woz 260]

theres a lad on hear that has just had a 22-250 to shoot seals .....i think you can only shoot them if they are bothering fish?? im sure if/when he reads this thread he will correct or fill us all in on the law....

[riohog 5,750]

all seals are protected under the marine mammals act 1972

[David 9]

i bought my old cz 243 from a lad from whitby who used it for seals when they where in the nets whilst he was salmon fishing

[Guest JohnGalway]

I suspect it'll turn out to be one of those situations you'll need special licence to shoot them after providing evidence of them causing a certain nuscience.

[kirky 0]

[:

if u do shoot one make sure the seal is about to dive because they exhale so when u hit it it sinks and doesnt wash up so easyly so u dont get caught

[harry waudby. 10]

my uncle told me off a man he knows that shot a seal with a 12 bore after it had eaten lots of samon out of the river

not sure if it's legal though :

he didnt mention how they got it out either

Edited December 1, 2008 by harry waudby.

[JoeD 24]

if u do shoot one make sure the seal is about to dive because they exhale so when u hit it it sinks and doesnt wash up so easyly so u dont get caught

Yeah but if I ever did get the chance to shoot one, I would eat it, I have heard it's great tasting meat.

[spiderpig 39]

you can shoot them only on salmon nets.the fisherman has to have a licence from defra all quite easy.you have to be at the end of the net though not just wandering about and you cant shoot grey ones,its hard work from the boat.i shot loads for a team of netters,its ok as long as you have it down on your ticket to be used on any other suitable land ect,there is a minimum calibre too but i used the 22 with hv,s. your there at about 430 am so imagin letting off a 243 at that time in te bay!!! i usedto get plenty of shit from bird wathcers as it was,had police to me loads of times but they where ok about everything.they are big though,one was 12foot long. also very very hard to judge range as you have no reference point. they are pretty easy though they just stick there head up.looks like a scene from jaws too as blood everywhere, a lot of netters now tie a inflatable shark to net that helps.them seals are cheeky often chasing fish into the net,they rip the net to bits and arnt afraid of ppl.they would get more fish out the net than the fisherman.its the bloody sanctuarys who rear up abandoned pups then release them when in natural enviroment they would die.i loved it as was paid 50 quid a seal too haha shot 6 one morning and home for half7!

[spiderpig 39]

and its a loadof shite about exhaling! they pop up how the hell can you tell when they are gona dive???? they are quick and sly,best when they have just cauht a fish as lay on there back eating it while holding it wi there flippers. can you imagine dragging one back up the beach to chuck in ya car boot!!! to take home and eat,you would get linched,tide and current deals with them as no way you could even get them out the water.its a good crack like but do gooders and bird watchers are up suprisingly early,i was so f****d off with one sat wattching me with his binoculars one morning i started watching him through the scope hahhaha he soon f****d off. its a job where your likely to get ya car blown up though too.i used a old banger not in my name as some nasty ppl about if they found out where ya lived

[JoeD 24]

and its a loadof shite about exhaling! they pop up how the hell can you tell when they are gona dive???? they are quick and sly,best when they have just cauht a fish as lay on there back eating it while holding it wi there flippers. can you imagine dragging one back up the beach to chuck in ya car boot!!! to take home and eat,you would get linched,tide and current deals with them as no way you could even get them out the water.its a good crack like but do gooders and bird watchers are up suprisingly early,i was so f****d off with one sat wattching me with his binoculars one morning i started watching him through the scope hahhaha he soon f****d off. its a job where your likely to get ya car blown up though too.i used a old banger not in my name as some nasty ppl about if they found out where ya lived

I would be in a boat probably, like a fishing one, so I can catch a few fish, shrimp and anything else and then have a seal on the side. So no dragging it through a beach just load it up straight into back of the van that pulls the boat in from the waters edge.

[spiderpig 39]

and its a loadof shite about exhaling! they pop up how the hell can you tell when they are gona dive???? they are quick and sly,best when they have just cauht a fish as lay on there back eating it while holding it wi there flippers. can you imagine dragging one back up the beach to chuck in ya car boot!!! to take home and eat,you would get linched,tide and current deals with them as no way you could even get them out the water.its a good crack like but do gooders and bird watchers are up suprisingly early,i was so f****d off with one sat wattching me with his binoculars one morning i started watching him through the scope hahhaha he soon f****d off. its a job where your likely to get ya car blown up though too.i used a old banger not in my name as some nasty ppl about if they found out where ya lived

I would be in a boat probably, like a fishing one, so I can catch a few fish, shrimp and anything else and then have a seal on the side. So no dragging it through a beach just load it up straight into back of the van that pulls the boat in from the waters edge.

near on imposible.no matter how flat the water looks try looking through a rifle scope from in a boat,way way to much movement.

[bigears 205]

MY MATE IS A SALMON FISHERMAN SHOOTS SEALS HAS A LICENSE FOR IT . PROBABLY SHOOTS GREY'S AS WELL AS HE IS ONLY 8/9 NAUTICAL MILES FROM THE FARN ISLE USES 243