General Licences - Wales

Welsh general licences consultation

Natural Resources Wales is consulting on its proposals for the shooting and trapping of wild birds and the destruction of eggs and nests under general and individual licences in Wales. The consultation runs from 19 August to 11 November 2021.

BASC is currently reviewing the 87-page consultation document and the 70 questions in the response form. We will publish our initial position and advice on responding to the consultation soon on this webpage.

Click here to view the proposals

2021 Welsh general licences

Rook and collared dove

You may not kill or take rooks or collared doves under the Welsh general licences.

If you need to kill or take rooks or collared doves you will need to apply for an individual licence from NRW. If you are a BASC member and need advice on applying for an individual licence please email our game and gundogs team or call 01244 573 019.

Protected sites

The general licences are not valid in, or within 300 metres of, 203 protected sites in Wales. In addition, for one protected site – the Dyfi Estuary SSSI – general licences are not valid within 500 metres of the site boundary. A list of protected sites where the new general licences are not valid can be found in an Annex at the end of each of the general licences.

If you need to carry out pest bird control within any of the listed protected sites you will need to apply for an individual licence from NRW. If you are a BASC member and need advice on applying for an individual licence please email our game and gundogs team or call 01244 573 019.

GL001 – Prevention of serious damage to crops and livestock (valid from 1 January)

This general licence is for the purpose of preventing serious damage to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit, or to prevent the spread of disease to livestock, foodstuffs for livestock, crops, vegetables or fruit.

It authorises the killing or taking of Canada goose, carrion crow, jackdaw, feral pigeon, magpie and wood pigeon. This includes damaging or destroying their nests and taking or destroying their eggs. It also authorises the use of carrion crow, jackdaw and magpie as decoys in cage traps.

Click here for more information on GL001 – Prevention of serious damage to crops and livestock.

GL002 – Preservation of public health (valid from 1 January)

This general licence is for the purpose of preserving public health and preventing the spread of disease.

It authorises the killing or taking of feral pigeon. This includes damaging or destroying their nests and taking or destroying their eggs. It also authorises the use of any device for illuminating a target or any sighting device for night shooting; the use of any form of artificial lighting or any mirror or other dazzling device; or of any hand held or hand propelled net to take birds whilst not in flight.

Click here for information on GL002 – Preservation of public health.

GL004 – Conservation of wild birds (valid from 1 January)

This general licence is for the purpose of conserving wild birds.

It authorises the killing or taking of carrion crow, jackdaw, jay and magpie. This includes damaging or destroying their nests and taking or destroying their eggs. It also authorises the use of carrion crow, jackdaw, jay and magpie as decoys in cage traps.

The above control methods are authorised to conserve only the chicks and eggs of bird species listed in Annex 1 of the licence.

Click here more information on GL004 – Conservation of wild birds.