what is the Law with regards to shooting pheasant with an air rifle?

[shaun the sheep]

I have to laugh at the irony of people who say shooting pheasants in the head with an adequately powered airgun at a sensible range is unethical but that it is acceptable with pigeons.Is the pheasant more deserving of a more noble() fate?
Remember that the pheasant was imported and bred for the purpose of being shot for goodness sake.For every pheasant 'dead in the air' with a shotgun how many hit the ground running with a broken wing or continue flying with several pellets in the rump or gut ?
Now I am not knocking any kind of shooting,since,as a participant,it would be very hypocritical of me but I would suggest that people have a good think before getting on their moral high horse.--Shaun.

[AdamA]

To date I have found a series three land rover a very very success full projectile. The square front and lack of aero dynamics really helps take them out of the air. The roof rack does a perticually good job too (not so good with high value furniture like items up there mind you). I have no idea of the ftlbs of a 1 1/2 tons of land rover doing 60mph, but its always a quick, even if not very clean kill :-) Normally get about one a month. Mind you I have lost 2 wing mirrors to the buggers!

Honestly with rearguard to the notion its not sporting to maim them in flight with a shotgun so your dogs can then have a chew, well i really don't have much of a answer to that one :-(

[timmytree]

If you are the landowner, or have permission from the landowner then there is nothing to stop you taking pheasants with an air rifle. The perception that it's "unsporting" is ridiculous, it's an introduced bird, bred and reared to be shot so if you are capable of taking one with a headshot and have the rights then go ahead.
Personally I think a headshot with an air rifle is more ethical than using a 12g or similar, I've done it in the past and as a beater years ago I saw far too many wounded runners that I would be finding in the woods for days afterwards and then have to shoot them cleanly, with an air rifle.
As an introduced species pheasants should be treated the same as grey squirrels, or maybe we should treat grey squirrels like pheasants?
Could someone invent a catapult that will launch a squirrel 100 yards or more over the trees?

[AirMad]

What absolute bull.... pheasants are fair game with an airgun! Rabbits are cleanly taken at 40 yds with head shots and modern airguns along with a good scope in the hands of a seasoned hunter can be easily take pheasants to 30 yards and beyond, head shots being a must. As long as they are in season and your permissions are in order and you are capable go for it. Very tasty they are too. There will be couple complimenting the turkey on my table this year. However you can see why shooting them with an airgun is frowned upon,they cost money to rear as captive sport for people with more money than sense. Gamekeepers really get their knickers in a twist if non payers are having a bit of sport for the pot. If they are on your permissions and it is ok by the owners then shoot them as they eat as well as rabbits. I know of several stud farms where pheasants are hated with a vengance. The clatter of them rising at the feet of thoroughbred horse has been the downfall of many a thrown jockey, and in some cases injury to bolting horses. And stud farms can be a good source for permission if they have pheasant problem.

[EnglishKris]

If you are the landowner, or have permission from the landowner then there is nothing to stop you taking pheasants with an air rifle. The perception that it's "unsporting" is ridiculous, it's an introduced bird, bred and reared to be shot so if you are capable of taking one with a headshot and have the rights then go ahead.
Personally I think a headshot with an air rifle is more ethical than using a 12g or similar, I've done it in the past and as a beater years ago I saw far too many wounded runners that I would be finding in the woods for days afterwards and then have to shoot them cleanly, with an air rifle.
As an introduced species pheasants should be treated the same as grey squirrels, or maybe we should treat grey squirrels like pheasants?
Could someone invent a catapult that will launch a squirrel 100 yards or more over the trees?

Hilariously well said!

[secretagentmole]

To date I have found a series three land rover a very very success full projectile. The square front and lack of aero dynamics really helps take them out of the air. The roof rack does a perticually good job too (not so good with high value furniture like items up there mind you). I have no idea of the ftlbs of a 1 1/2 tons of land rover doing 60mph, but its always a quick, even if not very clean kill :-) Normally get about one a month. Mind you I have lost 2 wing mirrors to the buggers!

Honestly with rearguard to the notion its not sporting to maim them in flight with a shotgun so your dogs can then have a chew, well i really don't have much of a answer to that one :-(

Most of my childhood transport seemed to involve travelling along the verges as my dad attempted decapitation with the metal number plate of a Vauxhall Victor FD2000. The "thuck" of head on number plate told you when dinner was ready to be picked up, I was trained to get the bird, check the head was either loose and flopping about or removed and chuck in the boot of the car! Happy days!

[AdamA]

Most of my childhood transport seemed to involve travelling along the verges as my dad attempted decapitation with the metal number plate of a Vauxhall Victor FD2000. The "thuck" of head on number plate told you when dinner was ready to be picked up, I was trained to get the bird, check the head was either loose and flopping about or removed and chuck in the boot of the car! Happy days!

Just imagining how much more fun it must have been to open said car boot with one prior to your floppy neck training that had regained conciousness!

As to catapult launched squirrels, I will happily make the catapult, but no way in hell am i going to load it. I keep pet gerbils, they can bite clean through thick welding gauntlets, i can only imagine what a squirrels jaws are capable of!

[secretagentmole]

Just imagining how much more fun it must have been to open said car boot with one prior to your floppy neck training that had regained conciousness!

As to catapult launched squirrels, I will happily make the catapult, but no way in hell am i going to load it. I keep pet gerbils, they can bite clean through thick welding gauntlets, i can only imagine what a squirrels jaws are capable of!

Why do you think my father trained me to make sure it was dead? We could tell the damned thing was alive an drunning round the boot, so dad had to take the back seat out, reach through and wring it's neck! After that I was trained to make sure the neck was broken! Any doubts and to the driver's window where dad would do the honours! When I was about 10 he taught me how to pluck and gut the bird! Great days!

[sunndog]

I have to laugh at the irony of people who say shooting pheasants in the head with an adequately powered airgun at a sensible range is unethical but that it is acceptable with pigeons.Is the pheasant more deserving of a more noble() fate?
Remember that the pheasant was imported and bred for the purpose of being shot for goodness sake.For every pheasant 'dead in the air' with a shotgun how many hit the ground running with a broken wing or continue flying with several pellets in the rump or gut ?
Now I am not knocking any kind of shooting,since,as a participant,it would be very hypocritical of me but I would suggest that people have a good think before getting on their moral high horse.--Shaun.

as a life long hunter and ex keeper. this say's it all IMHO.....well put fella

[Slurm]

ive shot a small number of pheasants with my air rifle, alway a headshot. I have no qualms about admitting if the landowner doesnt mind and I am able to ensure a headshot I will kill one, sorry to say but its my favourite meat.

[Geoffc]

As I put in my earlier post, if it's a good headshot, and I have permission then I'm happy to take a Pheasant with an air rifle. 'Sporting shot' doesn't come into it for me. I want to eat the bloody thing not stroke my vanity as a hunter. That also means I want to walk over and pick it up, I don't want it running into an overgrown bramble ditch with a pellet in the breast. Pointless.