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Nature and Conservation

Is it Legal to Shoot Crows in the UK?

9th November 2024

In the UK, controlling certain bird species, including crows, is governed by the General Licences—permissions issued by government agencies that allow for specific actions without the need for an individual licence.

These licences help manage bird populations in cases where they pose risks to public health, agricultural interests, or other wildlife. However, the legality of controlling birds under these licences varies between nations, with rules regularly reviewed to reflect conservation needs and legal requirements.

This article explains the concept of General Licences in the UK, discussing why they exist, how they change, and what they allow.
We will also touch on the ethics of using these licences for wildlife control and reference recent legal challenges, such as those brought by advocacy groups like Wild Justice.

Is shooting crows legal in the UK?

In the UK, it is generally not illegal to shoot crows as, like all wild birds, they are protected by law – but this depends on specific conditions and purposes outlined in the country’s General Licences.

General Licences permit certain bird species, including crows, to be controlled in order to prevent serious damage to crops and livestock, protect public health and safety, or aid conservation efforts.
However, these licences vary between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, each with unique conditions for legal crow control.

Under current regulations, people controlling crows must adhere to strict guidelines. These include:

Purpose: You must be able to demonstrate that control is for an authorised purpose, such as protecting livestock or promoting conservation.

Non-Lethal Methods: Before resorting to shooting, you must first attempt non-lethal methods (e.g., scaring devices, habitat modification) to deter crows.

Location Restrictions: Certain protected areas, like Special Protection Areas (SPAs), may have additional restrictions or require further permissions before crows can be legally controlled there.

Responsibility of Knowledge: Anyone carrying out control measures must understand the relevant laws and licensing requirements for their area, as regulations are updated annually and vary by region.

In summary, while shooting crows is allowed under General Licences, it is strictly regulated and conditional. Those wishing to control crows are legally required to follow the licence terms carefully, ensuring that they are compliant with both humane standards and conservation laws. Failure to do so can lead to penalties, so it is essential to review and understand the specific requirements for your region each year.

Essential Points Summary

General Licence Framework:

General Licences allow people to control specific bird species without needing individual permits.
Each UK nation—England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—issues and manages its own General Licences, which differ in terms of species included, allowed purposes, and restrictions.

Permitted Purposes:

Conservation: To protect other vulnerable species from predation by specific birds.

Public Health and Safety: To prevent risks posed by birds in populated or sensitive areas.

Prevention of Serious Damage: Primarily for agriculture, allowing control where birds damage crops or livestock.

Species and Restrictions:

Commonly controlled species include the carrion crow, jackdaw, rook, and feral pigeon, although species lists and conditions differ by nation.

Non-lethal methods (e.g., scaring devices, habitat management) must be attempted before lethal control is considered.

Regional Differences:

England: Managed by Natural England, with distinct licences (GL40, GL41, GL42) for conservation, health and safety, and damage prevention.

Wales: Overseen by Natural Resources Wales, recently updated to remove species like the magpie from certain licences.

Scotland: Under NatureScot, with licences GL01, GL02, and GL03, emphasizing non-lethal methods and habitat protections.

Northern Ireland: Governed by DAERA, with restrictions such as limited Sunday and night-time control.

Legal and Ethical Considerations:

Legal challenges, notably by Wild Justice, have led to regular reviews and revisions, promoting stricter humane and ecological standards.
Users must follow guidelines to minimise harm, balancing bird control needs with wildlife conservation priorities.

What Are General Licences?

General Licences are issued annually by regulatory bodies in each UK nation, allowing people to control specific bird species without applying for individual permits. They are typically used for:

  1. Conservation: Protecting vulnerable wildlife from predators.
  2. Public Health and Safety: Reducing risks posed by certain species.
  3. Preventing Serious Damage: Protecting crops, livestock, and property from damage caused by specific bird species.


These licences allow control only where non-lethal methods have proven ineffective. Each species included on these lists has been assessed for its impact, and changes to licences occur regularly to reflect conservation priorities, legal challenges, and research on humane control methods.

Regional Differences in General Licences

Each UK nation—England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—issues its own General Licences, which may differ in terms of species listed, purposes permitted, and conditions applied.

The following tables outline bird control regulations by nation as of November 2024. The link in each table title takes you to the BASC website, which should be up to date with the latest licences.

General Licence - England

PurposeLicencePermitted SpeciesKey Restrictions
Conservation of Wild BirdsGL40Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, JackdawControl allowed only where non-lethal methods have been exhausted. Excludes Special Protection Areas (SPAs) without further permissions.
Public Health and SafetyGL41Feral Pigeon, Canada GooseControl requires evidence of health risk; humane methods emphasised.
Prevention of Serious DamageGL42Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, RookDeterrent methods must be used first; additional restrictions near conservation sites.

General Licence - Wales

PurposeLicencePermitted SpeciesKey Restrictions
Conservation of Wild BirdsGL40Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, JackdawControl allowed only where non-lethal methods have been exhausted. Excludes Special Protection Areas (SPAs) without further permissions.
Public Health and SafetyGL41Feral Pigeon, Canada GooseControl requires evidence of health risk; humane methods emphasised.
Prevention of Serious DamageGL42Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, RookDeterrent methods must be used first; additional restrictions near conservation sites.

General Licence - Scotland

PurposeLicencePermitted SpeciesKey Restrictions
Conservation of Wild BirdsGL40Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, JackdawControl allowed only where non-lethal methods have been exhausted. Excludes Special Protection Areas (SPAs) without further permissions.
Public Health and SafetyGL41Feral Pigeon, Canada GooseControl requires evidence of health risk; humane methods emphasised.
Prevention of Serious DamageGL42Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, RookDeterrent methods must be used first; additional restrictions near conservation sites.

General Licence - Northern Ireland

PurposeLicencePermitted SpeciesKey Restrictions
Conservation of Wild BirdsGL40Carrion Crow, Magpie, Jay, JackdawControl allowed only where non-lethal methods have been exhausted. Excludes Special Protection Areas (SPAs) without further permissions.
Public Health and SafetyGL41Feral Pigeon, Canada GooseControl requires evidence of health risk; humane methods emphasised.
Prevention of Serious DamageGL42Woodpigeon, Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, RookDeterrent methods must be used first; additional restrictions near conservation sites.

Legal Challenges and Ethical Considerations

The General Licence system in the UK has faced significant scrutiny and legal challenges from Wild Justice, a conservation advocacy group that argues for more restrictive licences to better protect biodiversity and ensure humane treatment of wildlife. These challenges often target the inclusion of certain bird species on the General Licence list and advocate for stricter evidence requirements to justify lethal control.

In response, organizations such as the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) have expressed concerns about potential over-restrictions, highlighting the need for responsible, evidence-based control to manage wildlife impacts on crops, livestock, and conservation areas. BASC and GWCT argue that General Licences are crucial for land and wildlife management, noting that the current system already mandates the use of non-lethal deterrents as a first line of control, aligning with humane and practical management practices.

Annual reviews by relevant authorities in each UK nation take these differing perspectives into account, often updating licence terms to better balance conservation objectives with land management needs. These revisions highlight the importance of both humane control and ecological impact awareness, reflecting the evolving standards around ethical wildlife management.

It is essential for anyone engaged in species control to understand that it is their responsibility to be fully aware of the specific laws and licensing requirements in their area.

General Licence conditions and species lists can vary between England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and changes are made regularly. Those using the licences must ensure compliance with their area’s guidelines, including the requirement to exhaust non-lethal methods before resorting to lethal measures.

Failure to adhere to these legal obligations can result in penalties, emphasising the duty of licence holders to stay informed and act responsibly.

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