jays

[greenshank1]

We were beating today and at the end of a drive we helping the pickers up find the last few birds. I sent Corbie down a bank to find a cock bird and High Up, on one of the banks they were looking for a jay which one of the guns had shot.
This sparked quite a debate about rights and wrongs about shooting jays and whether it was wise to send a gundog into deep cover to find and retrieve a jay or any other corvid.

So , who would send there dog into deep cover after a jay ?

Personally I wouldn't, but then thinking about it later I do send her into cover for 2 or 3 year old cock pheasants with obviously not the same beak / pecking danger but certainly a set of spurs.

I would be interested in what you all think

[pontbeck]

If a bird has been shot at it deserves a humane dispatch, whatever the species.

[Andy135]

Agree with pontbeck in principle, but not at the cost of a dogs eye/s, in my opinion.

I personally wouldn't send a dog for a corvid retrieve, but would make all reasonable efforts to pick the bird myself.

[Naj]

What was the consensus on shooting Jays?

[Alice]

I wouldn't send a dog for a corvid, but nor would I be delighted with a gun shooting jays on a driven day. I don't have a problem at all with shooting them per se but why do it if there's enough game? It's like people who stand on their peg shooting pigeons whilst waiting for the pheasants to start coming. Bad form IMO.

[trekmoor]

If guns want to shoot Jays and pigeons I don't mind at all but I do not approve of shooting crows during drives. Crows can and do use their claws and beaks if a dog gets hold of them.

Wullie

[Dawnrazor]

I don't think a Jay would do any more damage to a gundog than any other birds, apart from carrion crows, I've a terrier that is with almost constantly and has retrieved jays, magpies, rooks etc, surprisingly soft mouthed..... Unless you're a fox!!! Had no injuries, unless there was a spate river, barbed wire fence or such I'd have no problems with a Jay being shot or retrieved.

[Redrob70]

On 2 shoots I attend we are positively encouraged to shoot jays, the keeper is adamant they cause damage to nesting song birds and some of the guns are also keen fly fishermen and the feathers are therefore highly prized.
I personally have no issue shooting them and have never had a problem when sending any of my dogs for a retrieve.

[greenshank1]

If a bird has been shot at it deserves a humane dispatch, whatever the species.

Aye Bill , I totally agree.

Our keeper likes them shot and I don't have a problem with people shooting them but still not keen to use her to find them and retrieve them unless I know its 100% dead. As a forester, I also see the good they do stashing and planting acorns .

I take them off the game cart at the end of the day as their blue Alula feathers are stunning for tying sea trout flies.

[Naj]

.... not to mention the Invicta & Bumble series. Sometimes dyed Guinea Fowl just doesn't cut it.