Is this bad practice

FUDGEY · #1 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 10:05 PM

Over the last couple of weeks I have picked up a couple of road kill KFs ( my name for cock pheasants :-) ) and kept them in my freezer at work. I am planning to set my hide up and put one out in a nice area to entice either Raven, Buzzard, Red Kite or any other bird or mammal that may come along. Can I just ask before doing so a. Is this legal? b. Is there any reasons why this could be seen as a bad idea ( if so why?) and c. Has anyone tried this before? Thanks.

ron1863 · #2 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 10:08 PM

I don't see a problem, it's not as if the Pheasants are likely to object

FUDGEY · #3 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 10:21 PM

Lol that's true Ron. if I see fresh dead animals or birds on the road I always stop if it's safe to do so. I throw them into the next available field to decrease the chances of carrion eaters being ran over. The reason I do this is that I nearly killed 3 red kites last year as I came round a bend. They were feeding on a dead pheasant. Goodness knows how none of them were killed or injured as I'm sure two of them brushed the edge of the car. Luckily it wasn't a fast driver so I think it's well worth the little effort required to throw them in a safer envoirment. Maybe I am taking things a bit far, but it's the way I am.

Kayleigh · #4 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 10:25 PM

I think if you hit them in your car you have to leave them alone but if another car hits them its ok for you to take them..
Some stupid law lol..

FUDGEY · #5 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 10:27 PM

You are correct Kayleigh. Probably put in place to stop people doing so deliberatly for the pot?

ron1863 · #6 (**permalink**) 27-07-2009, 11:37 PM

Just shows how intelligent the Crow family is. I regularly see them eating road kill on country roads and motoways and they are experts at avoiding traffic.

MartynA · #7 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 09:59 AM

On the Gigrin website it does say that "It is now illegal to feed kites without a licence. This has come about due to EEC legislation. "

However... the Kite is now so widespread around here I don't think it's a problem. I know that in several local villages, residents regularly leave out carcasses for the Kites to feed on.

I've thought of doing a similar thing myself... you are, after all, only dealing with dead animals they would eat anyway (and moving it away from the road is probably doing the kite a favour!)

I'll be interested to know how you get on !

Martyn

muldonach · #8 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I think if you hit them in your car you have to leave them alone but if another car hits them its ok for you to take them..
Some stupid law lol..

This point has been aired a few times, and the above is a very common misconception.

Strictly speaking the body of the roadkill beongs to the estate on which it lies and it is illegal for anyone other than a person authorised by the estate to remove it. In practical terms however no one is going to bring a civil action against you over the price of a pheasant - it would be a civil action rather than a criminal prosecution.

Should you however run something down and then stop to collect it then you might render yourself liable to criminal action for killing by illegal means. That having been said I have certainly never heard of such an action against a car driver.

What the OP is doing is not legal but is well worthwhile imho

Cheers
mac

muldonach · #9 (**permalink**) 28-07-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FUDGEY

Over the last couple of weeks I have picked up a couple of road kill KFs ( my name for cock pheasants :-) ) and kept them in my freezer at work. I am planning to set my hide up and put one out in a nice area to entice either Raven, Buzzard, Red Kite or any other bird or mammal that may come along. Can I just ask before doing so a. Is this legal? b. Is there any reasons why this could be seen as a bad idea ( if so why?) and c. Has anyone tried this before? Thanks.

Keep it very quiet and pick a site well out of the public view, preferably do not leave bait unattended unless you know that no one else has access to it.

Cheers
mac

aland · #10 (**permalink**) 30-07-2009, 05:40 PM

When our fox cubs were younger my silly wife drove around warickshire collecting fresh road kill pheasants and rabbits just because we never saw the vixen and she wanted to make sure the four cubs in our hay shed survived, i expect the vixen was laughing her tail off, women, aland