Northern Ireland to consult on general licences
DAERA is to revoke existing general licences in Northern Ireland, replacing with interim licences prior to launching a public consultation.
Get information on the legal shooting season for mammals and birds in the UK.
Learn about our current conservation projects and how you can get involved.
Comprehensive information and advice from our specialist firearms team.
Everything you need to know about shotgun, rifle and airgun ammunition.
Find our up-to-date information, advice and links to government resources.
Everything you need to know on firearms law and licensing.
All the latest news and advice on general licences and how they affect you.
BASC is urging members and countryside users in Northern Ireland to be aware of the impact of severe weather on wild birds.
Northern Ireland is currently on day seven of consistent severe weather, which would normally invoke a protocol which would see BASC call for ‘voluntary restraint’ in the shooting of wild birds.
Although all recreational shooting is currently prohibited under Northern Ireland’s Covid lockdown regulations, BASC is keen to make the wider countryside users aware of how disturbance can still cause issues during severe weather. This is especially relevant with increased public usage of remote areas during lockdown.
BASC NI director Tommy Mayne said: “While BASC recognises that current Covid restrictions do not permit recreational shooting, the association is calling for its members and wider countryside users to avoid causing unnecessary disturbance to wild birds.
“BASC liaises closely with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) on a range of issues affecting shooting and conservation. We have been contacted by the department in relation to the recent prolonged spell of severe weather and freezing conditions, which make both feeding and roosting very difficult for wild birds. This can cause them to lose condition quickly.”
Under Article 4 paragraph 10 of the Wildlife Order 1985 (as amended) NIEA has the power to introduce a period of special protection for the waterfowl species listed on Part 2 Schedule 1 and Part 1 of Schedule 2. Similarly, under Article 7 paragraph 3A of the Game Preservation Act 1928 (as amended) the department has the power to introduce a period of special protection for game birds such as woodcock and snipe.
DAERA is to revoke existing general licences in Northern Ireland, replacing with interim licences prior to launching a public consultation.
BASC Northern Ireland has called for a Ministerial Directive that limits the number of firearms a registered firearms dealer may hold to be scrapped.
Following years of campaigning, BASC Northern Ireland has welcomed the introduction of a firearms certificate condition known as ‘Any Other Lawful Quarry’.
Sign up to our weekly newsletter and get all the latest updates straight to your inbox.
© 2023 British Association for Shooting and Conservation. Registered Office: Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham, LL12 0HL – Registered Society No: 28488R. BASC is a trading name of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under firm reference number 311937.
If you have any questions or complaints about your BASC membership insurance cover, please email us. More information about resolving complaints can be found on the FCA website or on the EU ODR platform.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!
More information about our Cookie Policy