All users of air guns, shotguns, Larsen traps and multi-catch traps in Northern Ireland will be pleased to know that there will be...
Case Studies
Laws which cover control of pest birds in Northern Ireland are to remain unchanged for the next 12 months. General licences are issued by government agencies to provide a legal basis for people to use a range of methods to control certain species of birds classed as pests.
The UK's largest shooting organisation, the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), monitors general licences across the UK and works with issuing bodies for the benefit of shooting. BASC has sought and received confirmation that the general licence renewals in Northern Ireland will take place with no change on 11th September this year for a further 12 months.
General licences are renewed annually in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are made available on the websites of the relevant government agencies and allow the year-round control of pest birds such as magpie and woodpigeon.
Permitted control methods allowed under general licence may include shooting, the destruction of eggs and nests, and the use of Larsen traps and multi-catch traps.
People do not need to apply for general licences but are required by law to abide by their terms and conditions.
In Northern Ireland, general licences provide a legal basis for the control of woodpigeon, feral pigeon, crow, magpie, rook, jackdaw, great black-backed gull, herring gull, lesser black-backed gull, house sparrow and starling.
To view the general licences, visit http://www.basc.org.uk/en/shooting/general-licences.cfm.
Article provided by BASC