Air Rifle -Magpies

[Pete]

Hi All,

I live semi rural ( zoned rural but urban properties next door) we are plagued with magpies - they tap on the windows and crap all over everything. i am thinking about geting an air rifle to try and thin them out a bit.
have done a little bit of shooting in the past - but don't have as firearms license.

Any thoughts ? Probably need something with a bit of range as they are difficult to get close to - they seem to be fairly cunning.....

Cheers,

Pete

[Sawdoc]

Look for a trap as they work really well, ya put something black and white in to start with then leave a live one and kill off the others as you catch them. A mate had one in rural West Otago and caught 100's. No gun or licence required and no run in's with the law

[curly12]

DOC used to sell distress calling tapes for them ( don't ask how they recorded them ) that brings them in. Also Hunting and Fishing used to sell owl decoys that work well. I would consider ring DOC to see if they have traps you can borrow as magpies are number 3 ( ???? ) on their hit list.

[chrome]

get your licence, download the mp3 of the pie distress call and then buy a 17hmr or if your neighbours dont like the sound of one of those a suppressed 22 will whack em good. while your at it get the spur winged plovers too

[skid]

air rifle wont slow them down

makes a thud as the pellet hits them, then they fly off

only to return

need bigger shooters

[basics]

while your at it get the spur winged plovers too

becareful tho, their a 2000 dollar fine i belive

[Swamped]

I'm pretty sure they've been on schedule 5 since 2010 or 11. Can shoot em whenever you want like magpies. They aren't listed as a pest, just not protected. Will pay to look it up but I think thats the case.

[oljamesyboy]

plovers use to be protected are not now talked to doc a while back about it

http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/prot ... ldlife-act

[chrome]

they are fine to shoot now, as long as you consider them a pest.

[callum007]

Off topic, but does that rule apply to other races/nationalities? Shoot if considered a pest?

A good air rifle and a good eye will knock them down

[imsohi]

does that rule apply to other races/nationalities? Shoot if considered a pest?

[xj]

Off topic, but does that rule apply to other races/nationalities? Shoot if considered a pest?

A good air rifle and a good eye will knock them down

Gold, candidate for quote of the week!

[ant-neil]

Hunting and fishing 1000lb .22 knocks magpies over easy get the magnesium pallets it's like a poison so just have to hit them . Mine was only$350 on special scope included . Dropped rabbits hares stray cats works well and my 8 yr old son can use it with ease. Crazy ya don't need a licence and anyone can get one over the age of 18.

[tuk]

i had 5 or 6 always around the bush at the back of my house, they would have a go at the kids, got a new $70 slug gun (with a free sight, slugs and target lol) off trade me and it sorted them out, a head shot dropped it easy as, and the others took it in the body, even though they never droped from a body shot they didnt like getting hit and now stay away.

[Dirtydog]

get a crossbow, just a little 80pound one, they can be fun and ya ont need a licence for them at all.

[Moriarty]

I hope the phrase, "Discharging a firearm in a built-up area" reminds you of something.

Please do not try to tell me that an air-rifle is NOT a firearm because theres no fire, the Firearms act states that for the purposes of the act, an air rifle is deemed a firearm.

I just now, 2,30PM spoke to the firearms officer, Palmerston North, who advised me to advise you that you would be far wiser to approach your council to do something about your Birds.

All it takes is some little old lady to see you and you are a in one BIG pile of shit.

If you doubt me, make a call to your local firearms officer or approach ALUX, ORE member and ex-policeman.

But, go for it!! We will send files in cakes when they loack you up!!!

[cbfb]

Following on from Moriarty's post, this is from the Arms Code:

Every person commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months or to a fine not exceeding $3,000 or to both who, without reasonable cause, discharges a firearm, airgun, pistol, or restricted weapon in or near—

(a) a dwellinghouse; or

(b) a public place,—

so as to endanger property or to endanger, annoy, or frighten any person.

Best to check with your neighbours first. Last thing you need is the cops turning up!

I find even with a rimfire they're a bit shy to come within easy range and the only thing I use a slug gun for is offhand practice on my indoor range, had a 1000fps .22 and found it inhumane. Someone mentioned a 17hmr, if your neighbours are cool with this that might be the go although those rounds can go some distance. Or the caller as mentioned, have heard of these but not used one. Would be interesting to know how you go.

Good luck

[Moriarty]

[quote="cbfb"]

Best to check with your neighbours first. Last thing you need is the cops turning up!

quote]

I broached THAT too with the Arms officer, and he pointed out that even WITH the neighbours consent, you are still breaking the law. Good luck with getting written consent from ALL neighbours within earshot, and even if you do, are you going to advise them ALL that the shooting they MAY hear, is you, and not some dimwit?

If these poofbirds are a listed pest, you should use your time more wisely by getting a petition up from those neighbours to force the council into action.


POOFBIRDS because the go POOF!! in a cloud of feathers when the .222 hits them from 300 yds!!

[oljamesyboy]

a wise old man once told me to kill one then leave it hanging on the fence scares them away apparently.

much more fun shooting them though

[hosehustler]

We have a magpie trap at my work, it's made out of some small pipe and covered in mesh, bread is used to attract them in and the can't get out.
They are then disposed of.........it's very successful so if you build one you will get busy with disposal
I'll get you a pic or two

[cbfb]

I broached THAT too with the Arms officer, and he pointed out that even WITH the neighbours consent, you are still breaking the law. Good luck with getting written consent from ALL neighbours within earshot, and even if you do, are you going to advise them ALL that the shooting they MAY hear, is you, and not some dimwit?

Not sure how that works in practice... so I could do 3 months jail time because someone living near the range didn't like my noisy centerfire?

[Dirtydog]

just use a a silenced 22 with subsonic amunition, depending on how well they are set up thy sound like an airgun....

otherwise, just get a crossbow, little hand one.

ya dont need a licence or anything, and im damm sure they aint no restricted weapon.

one of those hand ones would be perfect, and ya wouldnt have to spend more than $100 to get a decent one.

[Fakey]

I used to have a 1000fps air rifle when I was farming. It was a bit in humane in that it would go straight thru them an I'd have to hit them a few times just to slow them down.
For your area I think the trap idea would be the go if you don't want your neighbours to see you chasing mag pies around with a rifle. Think they'd be just as worried if they see you with a cross bow

[Moriarty]

I broached THAT too with the Arms officer, and he pointed out that even WITH the neighbours consent, you are still breaking the law. Good luck with getting written consent from ALL neighbours within earshot, and even if you do, are you going to advise them ALL that the shooting they MAY hear, is you, and not some dimwit?

Not sure how that works in practice... so I could do 3 months jail time because someone living near the range didn't like my noisy centerfire?

Nice try, but of course not, you are at a gazetted range etc. such ranges are not, in my experience, built in urban places. The one in Silverstream was once farm land and the urban sprawl overtook it. EVERY NZDA range I have been to is on a farm or the like.

[Jerry]

have a chat to your local council

http://ecan.govt.nz/advice/your-land/pl ... gpies.aspx

http://www.gw.govt.nz/assets/Our-Enviro ... chure2.pdf

http://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/Servic ... s/Magpies/

edit or eg
http://www.easytek.co.nz/birdstop.asp

[Pete]

Hiya,

I'm not in a built up area - but we are adjacent to one. We are zoned rural. Theer is a lot of shooting up our way on adjoining properties.

I was only looking at an air rifle becuase I didn't want to bother getting a firearms licence.

I will conatc the council and see if they can help - because i think they are too cunning for me to get anywhere near anyway. I tries a few times during the weekend.

Cheers,
Pete

[Mckev]

And Air Rifle should be fine if you can get close enough. I've shot them before with my air rifle. Once they were setting on the fence along with the driveway, and they didn't fly away when i drove past. So I went and got my rifle, and drove back up and shot one.

As others have mentioned, they can take quite a few shots to the body, so it's best to go for a head shot.

[1justin]

"Moriarty"
wrote

"Please do not try to tell me that an air-rifle is NOT a firearm because theres no fire, the Firearms act states that for the purposes of the act, an air rifle is deemed a firearm. "

i used to shot my slug gun in my back yard all the time never had a problem,

just googled it

http://www.police.govt.nz/services/fire ... -section-3

heres a quote on the page

"Airguns
Airguns are used for target shooting, either at club, national or international competitions or on private property. More powerful airguns may be used for bird and small pest control.
Airguns may be used safely at home by setting up a properly constructed range in your backyard or basement. In this way you can enjoy your airgun in a safe and responsible way.

Your range must have a ‘backstop’ e.g. a solid fence or wall.
No one should be able to walk between the target and your airgun while you are shooting.
The target needs to be fixed to a ‘pellet trap’ e.g. a cardboard box full of sand.
Think about where the pellet will go if it misses the target or ricochets off paths, walls and other hard surfaces."

so acording to this its fine to use in a urban area, so that discharging a firearm in a urban area dosnt apply to a air gun, probably because they dont have any fire!