Celebrating 75 years of wildfowling tradition and conservation
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Woodpigeon on the quarry list
BASC’s Conor O’Gorman explains the rationale behind proposals to add woodpigeon to the quarry list while retaining the species on the general licences.
The government is reviewing bird quarry species and seasons for England, Wales and Scotland and the consultation closes on 17 May.
While most proposals are for bans or reduced shooting seasons for eight quarry species, there is a positive proposal to place woodpigeon on the quarry list and Defra is inviting suggestions for other species additions.
Woodpigeon on the quarry list AND general licences
As part of the quarry species review Defra is proposing that woodpigeon be added to the quarry list in England, Wales and Scotland with an open season from 1 September to 31 January while remaining on the general licences.
This means woodpigeon would be both:
- a quarry species during the open season (no requirement to justify your reasoning if challenged), and
- a species still covered by general licences for year-round control subject to terms and conditions.
Defra summarises the reasoning as: “The UK, Scottish and Welsh governments all propose the hunting of woodpigeon for recreation and harvest for food should be distinguished in law from control carried out to manage crop damage”.
This dual approach already works well for Canada goose and gives shooters greater legal certainty while maintaining full flexibility for shooting and other control methods where needed.
A seven-month open season for woodpigeon
Species on the bird quarry list require close seasons to cover the peak breeding season. Defra proposes: “A close season period is introduced covering its main reproductive period. This is provisionally recommended as 1 February to 31 August, which is the default closed season for species listed on Schedule 2”.
However, the review acknowledges that: “A shorter closed season which protects the period of peak of breeding activity may be acceptable as an alternative”.
BASC will therefore be proposing a close season from 1 April to 31 August. This captures the peak breeding season for woodpigeon. Or to put it the other way round, in our consultation response we will be recommending a seven-month open season from 1 September to 31 March.
Let’s be clear, you will continue to be able to carry out all control methods all year round for woodpigeon under the relevant general licences for purposes such as prevention of serious damage to crops, fruits and vegetables, foodstuffs for livestock etc.
What could change is that for seven months of the year we will be able to shoot woodpigeon with legal certainty as per other species on the quarry lists in England, Scotland and Wales without any of the overly complicated terms and conditions of the general licence to be concerned about.
How to respond to the consultation
If you wish to comment solely on the woodpigeon proposal you can do so by emailing WildlifeManagementAndCrime@defra.gov.uk
You could state that you support the addition of woodpigeon to the quarry lists in England, Wales and Scotland, with an open season from 1 September to 31 March.
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Conor OGorman
Conor O’Gorman has worked in a variety of conservation, policy and campaigning roles at BASC over the last 20 years.
A zoology graduate with a PhD awarded for grey partridge research, he has over 25 years’ experience in conservation and land management.
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