right here goes, if i find a dead bird (protected species) be it a tawny owl or woodpecker i have used these as an example as these are the 2 birds i have come across dead whilst out with my dogs. am i breaking the law by using them in fly patterns? or is keeping the skin of afore mentioned birds an offence? if it is not an offence to use them myself is it an offence to sell the flies tied using the feather? (not that i sell flies i have only just begun tying)i must state I DO NOT AND WILL NOT BE KILLING THESE BIRDS.

Not sure, I wondered this myself. Similar situation.

I do remember some speil, about road kill in that if you hit it with your car you couldn't pick it up, but the car behind could. Don't know how true that is or where you would stand legally.

I wouldn't of thought you'd get a dawn raid over owl feathers. I could be wrong of course.

Sean

I seem to remember the answer being no, not under any circumstance. Possession of protected species is illegal. That being said if you picked one up who would know?


Cheers

Andy

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Caught it on a Big Green Hairy Thing!

There was a bit of a debate about this a while ago when I found a dead Barn Owl.

Here is the link to this thread which maybe of interest.

Barn Owl Carcasse - what could I do with it?

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[COLOR="Blue"]"A fish seen is a fish nearly caught"[/COLOR]

Couple of good finds there! You'll find that the Tawny Owl tastes a bit like Golden Eagle and the Woodpecker's very much like Avocet!

It's a pretty confusing area of law and there are a couple of sites that might explain where you stand.


The protection of Birds Act 1954
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts1954...9540030_en.pdf

...and Naturenet -
Naturenet: Wild Birds and the Law

"All birds, their nests and eggs are protected by law and it is thus an offence, with certain exceptions (see below) intentionally to:

•Have in one's possession or control any wild bird (dead or alive) or any part of a wild bird which has been taken in contravention of the Act or the Protection of Birds Act 1954

The clue is whether the bird has been taken in contravention of the 1954 Act - on the basis that you've found them already dead I believe you may be ok.

However, if you're found with 6 of every wild bird of the UK in your freezer the law may take a different stance.

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

To muddy the waters even further, what if you just had individual feathers?

I believe that apart from killing it is illegal to be in possesion of feathers or skin from a protected bird. Having said that if I find a dead bird & the feathers are useful then feathers I shall have.
Tight Lines

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"The Future's Bright The Future's Wet Fly"

its like this a lorry full of stella over turns and spills contents on to the road then its a free for all recovery of contents at will

same with road kill if its deed its of no concern to law

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lets fish the clydeGuide

I know that with badgers if individual hairs are found on your person or in your car your in trouble,

Not only that ... having sex with a badger in the back of your car is potentially dangerous.

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]