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 Ours is a managed landscape and a managed wildlife. If we wish to maintain the richness of that wildlife we must manage it wisely.
The control of pest species are covered by strict laws and BASC produces codes of practice to cover these activities. Agricultural pests - primarily rabbits and pigeons - are among the most important shooting quarry and without continual culling would inflict millions of pounds worth of damage on farmers' crops.
General licences for certain bird species are issued by relevant statutory agencies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. These cover a wide variety of bird management scenarios such as the shooting and trapping of crows and the retention of bird tissue samples in laboratories. General licences are issued to allow certain management activities involving bird species to occur that would otherwise require users to apply for individual licences.
By definition you do not need to apply for a general licence but you are required by law to abide by the terms and conditions of each licence. Thus, it is extremely important to be aware of the terms and conditions relevant to your situation.
To assist potential users of licences, namely those involved in the shooting, trapping and the destruction of nests and eggs of bird species as relevant, BASC has provided this internet resource for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
To download BASC’s information sheet on general licences for the control of certain bird species in the UK please click here to read 
To download general licences relevant to you please follow the links below.
Available online at:
www.naturalengland.org.uk/conservation/wildlife-management-licensing/genlicences.htm
These licences are not currently available on the Welsh Assembly website. BASC has provided downloadable copies of the licences most relevant to shooting and use of cage traps here:
Prevent disease & serious damage - NAW
Use of Cage Traps - WLF002
Preserve public H&S and air safety - WLF008
Use of Semi autos - WLF019
Conserve Wild Birds - WLF020
To view the full list of general licences relating to birds in Wales please click here to read
Following consultation, the licences have been revised for remainder of 2008 and there are significant changes to some of the conditions on the licences.
To download an information sheet on general licences in Scotland please click here to read
Licences available online at:
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/16330/general-licences/2008
Available online at:
www.ehsni.gov.uk/biodiversity/sap_uk/wildlife.htm
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