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Hunting and Pest Control
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If rabbits weren't controlled in part by air rifles, England would be totally over run.
Pigeons are really flying rats, a menace with their droppings which spread disease as well as an unsightly mess. However,you must proove the nuisance - either consuming your crops, or causing a health hazard. we recommend you take a dated digital photo of the damage caused prior to shooting pigeons.
Rats carry disease.
Squirrels - the grey ones are not natural to England. They raid nests of songbirds, dig up the lawn, destroy attempts to feed the song birds, and destroy tree saplings.
Pheasants and other game birds are chattels of a farmer and shooting these without consent of their owner is like stealing.
Magpies are a difficult issue it is not wholly clear to what extent these are pests. They have their advantages and their perceived disadvantages.
Crows & Rooks can cause nuisance.
You require 4.5 ft lbs to kill a pest, therefore most air pistols are unsuitable. Rifles, not requiring a license and purchased only by person over the age of 18, Most rifles will deliver up to around 11.5 ft lbs, Imported Rifles are limited to 16Joules ( see useful information). A full power .22 air rifle will deal with pests up to 35+ meters for the experienced shooter, and 30 meters for the rest. .177 is only advisable for use by experienced shooters, as wounds to creatures cause distress, leaving nothing achieved. A recent report from the Game Conservancy Board reports that .177 is a better calibre for close range despatch than .22 - tests have shown.
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