Waterfowl Shooting and Severe Weather

In periods of severe winter weather (usually when freezing weather conditions are persistent) the relevant Government ministers have the power to make a protection order suspending the shooting of wildfowl and waders under Section 2 (6) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981.



When is a ban enforced?
The shooting of wildfowl and waders is normally suspended after 15 consecutive days of severe weather. The criteria for triggering severe weather procedures are based on the state-of-ground data collected daily by 23 coastal National Climatological Message Stations around Britain. The procedure leading up to a wildfowling ban is as follows:

When more than half of the climatological stations have recorded seven consecutive days of frozen conditions (determined from minimum air and grass temperatures) in Scotland or England/Wales or both, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee informs BASC accordingly.

If the severe weather looks set to continue BASC informs the secretaries of its wildfowling and gameshooting clubs, joint councils and syndicates that, if the weather conditions continue for a further 6 days and look likely to continue, then a protection order suspending the shooting of wildfowl and waders in the appropriate country is likely to be signed on the 13th day, and will take effect at 00.01am on the 15th day.

Throughout this period, information on local weather conditions and waterfowl numbers and behaviour is closely monitored all around the country, through BASC regional offices.

Voluntary Restraint
Prior to the above procedures being brought into action, BASC calls for voluntary restraint, where appropriate, from day eight of severe weather, up to the time when any statutory suspension takes place. Such restraints are an integral part of the arrangements for waterfowl shooting during periods of prolonged severe weather. There are guidelines available from BASC, but there are no set rules as conditions and requirements vary around the country. Waterfowl shooters are best placed to consider all the facts relevant to their particular locality and to decide the most appropriate action. It is a voluntary restraint that is urged by BASC, not a ban, although if necessary a self-imposed ban may be the best course of action.

Who decides that there should be a ban?
The criteria for deciding when there should be a suspension of waterfowl shooting have been decided jointly by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and BASC. All of these bodies are consulted, and particularly BASC, before a protection order is signed.

Does a ban affect the whole country?
This depends on the extent of the severe weather. A ban can be instituted throughout Great Britain, in Scotland alone or in England and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own, similar, arrangements. If you are in any doubt, contact your regional BASC office.

What if the weather changes before the ban?
After five days of severe weather when more than half of the climatological stations have recorded frozen or snow-covered ground, short periods of thaw (one or two days when fewer than half the stations are frozen) have no effect on the lead up to a ban. A thaw of three or more days terminates the severe weather process. The short periods of thaw are 'neutral' in terms of counting days towards a ban; they neither count nor terminate the process.

Even if the weather changes for the better before the 13th day a ban may still follow (to allow birds to recover any lost condition or return to their normal habitats), although it may not last so long (see below).

How long will a ban last?
A statutory suspension of waterfowl shooting is for an initial period of 14 days. The suspension is examined after seven days. If the weather conditions have improved and the forecast is for a continuation of this improvement, then, in consideration with other factors, the lifting of the suspension can be recommended. However, if there has been no thaw and the weather is still severe then the statutory suspension continues for the full 14 days.

Any lifting of the suspension before the full 14 days will take into consideration the need for a period of recovery for waterbirds after the end of the severe weather itself. In this event, DEFRA, Welsh Government and/or Scottish Government undertake publicity campaigns as extensively as possible to inform the shooting community of the fact.

There can be an extension of the statutory suspension beyond 14 days, through the signing of a second Statutory Instrument, if there is still severe weather and no improvement in weather conditions is forecast. The management of the second period of suspension is undertaken in the same manner as the first. Information on the condition of waterfowl should continue to be reported through completion of the bird condition form to aid review.

How will I know if there is a ban?
Calls for voluntary restraint of waterfowl shooting will be publicised by the British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the relevant country-based statutory nature conservation organisations. Other organisations who are party to the scheme may also publicise such events. In addition, BASC will email all its wildfowling clubs and shooting syndicates calling for voluntary restraint in waterbird shooting in those parts of the country where necessary (and warning of the possibility of a statutory suspension if conditions persist).Once a case has been presented to the Secretary of State(s) advising of a statutory suspension of wate

rfowl shooting, the impending suspension will be publicised widely. BASC will inform all its wildfowling club secretaries, Joint Councils and game shooting syndicates, and it will institute a 24-hour telephone information service in all regions of the country. Defra, Scottish Government, Welsh Government, JNCC and relevant country-based statutory nature conservation organisations will publicise statutory suspensions on their websites. Other organisations who are party to the scheme are likely to do the same. In accordance with Section 26(5) of the Act, when the suspension affects England and Wales an advertisement is placed in the London Gazette.

Local wildfowling clubs and game shooting syndicates will inform their members of details of any voluntary restraints prior to a statutory suspension.

Which species are affected?
When a protection order is signed, it becomes an offence to kill or take any of the following species, whether on the coast or inland:

Ducks: mallard, teal, wigeon, pintail, tufted duck, pochard, shoveler, gadwall, goldeneye
Geese: greylag, pink-footed, white-fronted, Canada
Waders: golden plover, woodcock, snipe

Others: moorhen and coot

Game birds are not affected, but reared duck are included.

NB: Shooting of geese for crop protection during any statutory suspension period is also prohibited unless it is otherwise permitted by licence. Any such shooting should be conducted to minimise unnecessary disturbance to other waterfowl.

Who else is affected?
Following BASC efforts, the press notices and media coverage by DETR, RSPB and others, call on all people, not just waterfowl shooters, who might otherwise disturb waterfowl during prolonged severe weather, to avoid doing so.

In conclusion
It is in the shooting community's interest to be seen to respond responsibly during prolonged severe weather, even though wildfowl and waders may not always show signs of suffering from the conditions. We have gained much respect by our actions in the past, and must not jeopardise this by thoughtless or irresponsible behaviour.