Shooting Pest Control in Wiltshire

Ethical, Efficient and Environmentally Friendly Pest Control by a Qualified Expert

Meet Your Specialist: Shooting with Skill, Backed by Certification

I’m Adam Surridge—owner of Grass Cutting Swindon and a fully certified RSPH Level 2 Pest Controller, specialising in firearm-based pest control across Wiltshire. Before that, I served in the British Army, where I honed the discipline, fieldcraft, and precision that now define my professional pest control services.

I’ve been shooting since I was a lad, and today I bring decades of safe, legal and environmentally responsible shooting experience to private estates, farms, and rural properties throughout Swindon, Wiltshire and surrounding areas.

This isn’t your average pest control service. I don’t lay poison and walk away—I assess, track, and ethically dispatch pests in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, and I hold full insurance and permissions for every job I take on.

What Is Shooting-Based Pest Control?

Shooting pest control is the practice of targeting live pest species using air rifles or shotguns in a safe, lawful and humane manner. It’s especially valuable in rural and agricultural settings, where invasive pests can:

• Destroy crops and grassland
• Undermine building foundations and banks (e.g. from rabbit burrowing)
• Disrupt native species
• Contaminate food stores
• Spread disease (e.g. rats, feral pigeons)

Where traps and poison can fall short—or introduce risk to pets, livestock, or wildlife—shooting is immediate, selective, and avoids chemical use.

Legal and Ethical: What Can Be Shot in the UK?

I operate strictly within the boundaries of UK pest control law, primarily the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and its various updates. You can read the full legislation here: Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 – Legislation.gov.uk

The Act allows the control of certain pests that pose a threat to crops, livestock, or public health. Under these guidelines, the following are legally shootable with permission from the landowner:

• Rabbits
• Rats
• Grey squirrels
• Foxes (subject to location and safety considerations)
• Moles (via trapping or dispatch, depending on the situation)

Rabbit Control in Swindon

Rabbits may look harmless, but unchecked populations cost UK agriculture over £100 million per year, through crop destruction, soil erosion, and structural damage from burrowing.

If you’re experiencing damage to your paddocks, hay fields or vegetable plots, I offer professional rabbit shooting services in Swindon using shotguns or air rifles, depending on the terrain, proximity to livestock or buildings, and the time of day.

• Shotguns are typically used for broad open areas, especially at dawn or dusk when rabbits are active above ground.
• Air rifles can be used for more discreet work around buildings, stables, or sensitive areas.

➡️ Every job is risk-assessed and tools are chosen to suit the setting, ensuring safety and effectiveness above all else.

Rat & Grey Squirrel Control: Silent, Targeted & Clean

Rats and grey squirrels aren’t just a nuisance—they’re dangerous:

• Rats transmit disease and damage wiring, insulation, and buildings.
• Grey squirrels are invasive, displacing native reds and harming trees by stripping bark.

Shooting with air rifles allows for precise pest removal, especially in outbuildings, barns, or loft spaces where poisons are risky or ineffective. This is a quiet, low-impact solution that keeps control on your terms.

Pigeon Control in Swindon – What You Need to Know About General Licences

Controlling birds like feral pigeons, woodpigeons, and corvids (magpies, crows, jackdaws) is covered under the UK General Licences (GL) issued by Natural England.

These licences allow for control without needing individual permission, providing the shooter follows strict criteria. Control is permitted to:

• Protect crops (e.g. woodpigeons in arable fields)
• Prevent disease (e.g. feral pigeons fouling grain stores)
• Protect native bird species

🔗 View the current General Licences on GOV.UK

Common birds I control under the GL scheme:

• Feral pigeons – urban and rural grain store invaders
• Woodpigeons – huge threat to brassicas and cereal crops
• Magpies & crows – known egg thieves and threats to songbirds

➡️ All bird shooting is carried out with full awareness of local wildlife activity, nesting seasons, and licence conditions. I report any questionable observations to DEFRA where appropriate.

Tools of the Trade – Safe, Precise & Legal

I use a variety of weapons selected for the job and setting:

Air Rifles

• Ideal for close-range, silent shooting
• Effective for rats, squirrels, feral pigeons
• Sub-12ft/lb models used in built-up or sensitive areas

Shotguns

• Best for fast-moving or flocking birds
• Used for pigeon control, corvids, or rabbit drives
• I use appropriate cartridges for the setting—non-toxic options available for eco-sensitive zones

Moderated Rifles

• Used in open rural spaces for longer-range rabbit or fox control
• All rifles are legally owned, registered, and used under landowner permission

➡️ Every shot I take is justified, safe, and within legal constraints. There is no indiscriminate or casual shooting—only skilled wildlife management.

Why Shooting Beats Poison or Traps

Let’s compare:

Method	Effectiveness	Collateral Risk	Environmental Impact
Shooting	✅ Immediate & targeted	❌ None when used properly	✅ Minimal
Poison	❌ Delayed, secondary kills likely	✅ High (pets, raptors)	❌ Long-lasting residues
Traps	⚠️ Varies by pest and placement	⚠️ Medium (non-targets)	⚠️ Can cause suffering if misused

Shooting is more humane, environmentally sound, and reduces suffering when done by a trained professional.

Fully Insured & Certified for Peace of Mind

• RSPH Level 2 in Pest Management
• Armed Forces Veteran with years of rural fieldcraft
• £2 million Public Liability Insurance
• DBS-checked for estate and school properties
• Friendly, responsive, and fully transparent—no hidden fees

Areas Covered

I provide shooting pest control services across: Swindon, Highworth, Wroughton, Wanborough, Marlborough, Royal Wootton Bassett, Broad Hinton and all surrounding farms, estates, and equestrian properties

Get in Touch Today

For urgent pest control on your land or an expert site survey, contact Adam directly:

• ☎️ 07851 843 255
• 📧 hello@grasscuttingswindon.co.uk
• ✅ Free quotes and honest advice—no pressure

Whether you’re battling pigeons in your barn, rabbits in your pasture or rats in your feed shed, you won’t find a more skilled or conscientious solution in Wiltshire.