Fired freehand from the shoulder — and no larger than gauge 12 on birds
Only firearms that can be fired freehand from the shoulder are allowed; on birds a shotgun bore larger than no. 12 is forbidden.
Article 9 sets the basic rule: in hunting, only firearms that can be fired freehand from the shoulder may be used, subject to the exceptions the article itself lists and regulations set out in more detail. For bird hunting, a shotgun with a bore larger than no. 12 may not be used. The article then lists prohibited means. Forbidden are, among others, poison and soporifics, except for taking mice and rats; explosives, petrol or other substances used to smoke or gas animals out; stones, blunt weapons, edged weapons, harpoons, stabbing weapons and similar objects — blunt weapons remaining permitted for the traditional taking of young fulmars, gannets and cormorants. Nets are likewise prohibited, apart from the hand net used for puffin hunting and subject to the reservation made for razorbill, common guillemot and Brünnich's guillemot. Birds that die in nets set for fishing or for seal hunting may neither be offered for sale nor sold.