Advice on the legality of using crow callers

Am I right in thinking that it is actually illegal to intentionally call in crows to shoot them?

Q: In last month’s Sporting Shooter I read about crows coming in to an electronic fox caller. Am I right in thinking that it is actually illegal to intentionally call in crows to shoot them? (I know this is not what was happening in the article, but it did get me thinking!)

THE EDITOR replies: This is a topic that seems to cause some confusion, but according to Defra, it is in fact illegal.

Under Section 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the use of ‘sound recordings’ is included in a long list of methods that are prohibited when killing or taking wild birds.

So, if you unintentionally attract crows or any other corvids when using your electronic caller, you’d best leave them well alone and return another day to shoot the birds under the normal terms of the General Licence.