General licences

General licences are issued by government agencies to provide a legal basis for people to carry out a range of activities relating to wildlife.  By definition you do not need to apply for general licences but you are required by law to abide by their terms and conditions.

General licences are renewed annually in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.  These general licences are made available on the websites of the relevant government agencies and include those general licences relevant to the all year round control of ‘pest birds’ such as carrion and hooded crows, magpies and woodpigeon.  Control methods allowed under general licence may include shooting; the destruction of eggs and nests; and the use of cage traps such as larsen traps, larsen mates and multi-catch traps.

The rest of this webpage contains the latest information for general licences in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

England

Click here for the 2013 English general licences

The general licences were renewed on 1st January 2013 and there are no changes to the terms and conditions relevant to shooting interests.

Scotland

Click here for the 2013 Scottish general licences

The general licences were renewed on 1st January 2013 and there are a number of significant changes to the terms and conditions relevant to shooting interests.

Click here for a BASC briefing on the 2013 Scottish general licences

Wales

Click here for the 2013 Welsh general licences

The general licences were renewed on 1 January 2013 and there are no changes to the terms and conditions.

Northern Ireland

Click here for the 2012/2013 Northern Ireland general licences

General licences in Northern Ireland were renewed on 11th September 2012 and are valid until 10th September 2013. There are no changes to the terms and conditions.

FIND OUT MORE

More general information is available from the BASC website on the control of avian and mammalian pests and predators, including relevant BASC codes of practice. 

Click here for information on Pest and Predator Control