New licences have been produced for, among other things, the control of geese in the Isle of Man.

They replace previous versions which ran out at the end of 2008 and include a number of amendments and clarifications.

Under the new system, 3 inch magnum cartridges will be the minimum shot size for use on geese, but rifles are also permitted.

The aim is to allow the destruction of domestic geese, which can cause crop damage.

Under the regulations, the use of Larsen traps is retained but only a single decoy bird can be used in each one.

The licences have been drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and are designed to remove any unnecessary paperwork.

They will last for two years, unless revoked or replaced.

(Image: A Larsen trap with decoy bird, from gundeals.co.uk).