Vermin Control & Deer Stalking
Firearm Certificate holders may wish to use some Section 1 firearms, mainly rifles, to shoot deer, game, pest and other quarry species on farmland and other suitable areas, where the certificate holder has permission to shoot and it is safe to do so.
"Quarry" is a general term for live animals (including birds) shot over land, and includes game and pest species. In this context "land" means an area to be shot over for example woodland, moorland, heath, wetland, foreshore, open water or field.
"Game" is a certain covering certain birds and animals that may be shot for food and sport (rabbit, hare, pheasant, partridge, grouse, woodcock etc).
"Vermin" is a term not defined in law but may include destructive species that cause damage to field crops or property (rabbits, mink, stoat, weasel, brown rat and grey squirrel). Vermin may also be used to refer to certain species of birds as wood pigeon, rook and crow.
With reference to such shooters a condition will appear on the firearm certificate relating to the authorisation. In most cases, a first time certificate, known as a "grant" will be issued with a limited condition which includes the wording "any other land deemed suitable by the Chief Officer of Police". Needless to say, this means that those weapons specified for vermin control etc can only be used for that purpose on such land.
A less restrictive condition, in line with Home Office guidance, is not generally considered until the first renewal of a firearm certificate, or after a period has elapsed, and the holder has proved himself to be a safe and competent shooter. Once this condition is obtained, the shooter must still obtain permission of the land owner, agent or other person holding the shooting rights. Responsible shooters will, of course, satisfy themselves before shooting, that land is suitable for the firearms in question; the land owner's/occupier's and police land registers may be of some assistance in this regard.
More information on game shooting can be obtained from:
Fordingbridge
Hampshire
SP6 1EF
Telephone: 01425 652381
16 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8PQ
Telephone: 020 7235 0511
