Shooting birds with air-rifles...

[pictish]

Please dont be stupid and tell the police you dont know what gun it is, if you know its an air rifle and its kids/people shooting at birds then say so. Armed response teams have enough to do without silly calls. You could get someone killed as well as wasting a huge amount of man power.Most police forces have wildlife officers to deal with this sort of thing.

If it is private land they should have permission to shoot there and they are only allowed to shoot certain types of birds and vermin. Shooting anything else is animal cruelty and it may be worth informing SSPCA. IF its public land/ forrestry comission/protected area they should NOT be shooting there at all.

If it is a busy area an informal call to you local police station [not 999] to warn them it is happening would be wise. They will also contact anyone else responsible for the area landowner, game keeper ect.

I would be very surprised if they had permission to shoot on private land with air rifles as they are not much use for killing animals bigger than rats and need a good degree of skill both to get close enough and to make a clean kill. Farmers also tend to worry about their own animals too much to let the average muppet go shooting on their land with them.

Shooting in an area where people walk or exercise dogs is not a good Idea at all and the police will take action. I have used both air rifles and shotguns for pest control on farms and estates and you never shoot anywhere near where people are its just too dangerous. I also have a nice little scar just under my eye to remind me of being wary when idiots with air rifles are about so when you do see people shooting near you leave the area by the clearest path/track and stay out of the bushes.

[witham]

don't know if it's legal or not but could you discreetly video them and then show it to the police, would they be able to act on it, these people sound like the low lifes who go around torturing innocent birds and animals as has been discussed in detail in a recent thread, the trouble if you or anyone tries to tackle them especially if they're high you could end up injured or worse

[lovfinion]

A quick update,

I found the body of a Heron on a walk along the local riverside & after a quick examination I noticed a single hole in the upper breast area, most definately a bullet hole & by something more sinister than a simple air-rifle

I have since contacted the local Forestry commision warden about my concerns, who was going to contact the local Police wildlife crime officer, I also alerted the Rspb, this is getting infurating & needs stamped out..

My biggest concern is for the Hawk nesting not far off a public path, I observed the nest for a few minutes yesterday & it appears to have at least one, quite well developed youngster, it would be awful if these unsavoury types were to notice the nest..

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

A quick update, I found the body of a Heron on a walk along the local riverside & after a quick examination I noticed a single hole in the upper breast area

How evil . Well done on all you're doing.

Lets hope those responsible get a custodial term for it

[demicav]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

A quick update,

I found the body of a Heron on a walk along the local riverside & after a quick examination I noticed a single hole in the upper breast area, most definately a bullet hole & by something more sinister than a simple air-rifle

.

Terrible.

[DuncanE]

Hmmm.. arn't Herons protected?

I seem to remember a dept store owner in Cornwall shot a heron on his store's ground as it was eating his Koi. He was found guilty and fined.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by lovfinion

I found the body of a Heron on a walk along the local riverside & after a quick examination I noticed a single hole in the upper breast area, most definately a bullet hole & by something more sinister than a simple air-rifle

Sickening - I'm disgusted by this