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David · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 180 Location: Co. Clare

We had 7 geese, now only 6 because some irresponsible bastard shot and killed one of them last Friday afternoon.

The bullet went clean through the goose. We live on a slope, and this would-be rambo made his shot from a distance of 3/4 of a mile shooting uphill. I'd say he made a speculative shot into the middle of the group of geese. The goose was killed no more than 20 metres from my daughters slide...in our garden, if you can believe it.

I can't imagine a more irresponsible shot. My neighbour is an ex gun dealer and competitive shooter...he examined the goose and reckons it was a high velocity round, 2.2. or smaller calibre, shot from a tripod with a large scope.

Bad enough to lose a goose, but i am staggered by the stupidity of this guy. One twitch and his shot would have been in the kitchen window. One of my kids could have run across his range at the last second.

I am raging...I have knocked on all doors locally and explained that there is a maniac with a rifle on the loose...the Guards are involved, and i will be calling the local press this morning. I have no problem with hunters usually, but this incident has left me cold.

D

blowin · Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2007 2:06 pm Post subject:

I am not surprised you're raving !
I suspect your own theory -- about a chance pot-shot -- is closer to the truth . I would certainly hope that anyone who is kitted out with scopes and high-velocity rounds would have a lot more sense .
By coincidence there was an incident around here a couple of days ago . That was to do with an "organised" shooting party of about 1/2 dozen "hunters" plus beaters and dogs . They were banging off close to houses and had no consideration for domestic fowl or stock . Gards were called out in the end .
There seems to be a lot more of this activity than in previous years .

David · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 180 Location: Co. Clare

Hi Blowin

I agree that things generally are worse this year. I was actually on the point of joining the local gun club...now i'm not too sure.

There seem to be an awful lot of rambo types about. Someone told me that this year is "open season" on deer in Clare, all as a result of pressure brought by some looney councillor in Tulla (I heard him on national radio telling how he was worried the deer would interbreed with cattle...what an embarrassment). I think there might be an influx of dodgy types after the deer.

We think this guy shot at us from the far side of a lake...they go there to shoot greylag geese. Last year there were between 30 & 50 greylags, now there are only 5 or 6. Wild geese were found floating dead in the lake last year...what a bunch of idiots. I wouldn't mind if they shot a few geese for the pot, but I don't understand the mentality of shooting animals you can't even retrieve.

I don't mind responsible hunters, but this incident is ridiculous. I'm making as much noise as poss, recommending that if people see lads with rifles to ask their names and note car number plates etc.

D

keithrawlins · Joined: 18 Feb 2007 Posts: 152 Location: banbridge

i am an expert shot . but even i would not have risced that shot with a child that close. and to shot in to some ones garden is just nuts. what if the wind had cheanged over that distince that makes a big diffarence Evil or Very Mad

David · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 180 Location: Co. Clare

Yeah, I agree Keith.

My neighbour is a gun expert, and he said the same thing. The local gun club are mortified, they've been having trouble with a couple of young lads who just got rifle licences. They have been shooting straight from the car, that kind of thing. The guards are following up...the same lads were caught shooting greylag geese on the lake, when they are protected by the gun club.

It's chilling to be honest...at first i couldn't believe my eyes, but it was clearly a gunshot wound. My neighbour verified it. If I find out who did it I will be having a very serious word with them...the goose was shot 20 paces from my kids slide...

D

Camile · Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2007 11:51 am Post subject:

That's horrifying David ..

I hope they catch the culpriit and remove his/their licences straigh on ..

Camile

squirrel01 · Joined: 14 Dec 2006 Posts: 90 Location: co. roscommon

a few weeks ago 3 blokes carrying shotguns walked across our garden, luckily jnr was there and told them to @%&* off, they said oh we are members of the gun club, he said im not now do one, they looked really put out esp when a pheasent flew and they had to let it go.....

blowin · Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

You are going to think I am making this up in order to cap your own story but one of the locals has found a bullock shot dead ! Rifle-fire , presumably from the road which is two fields away.
The culprit is thought to be a lamper after foxes but nothing has been proven .

David · Joined: 03 Jan 2007 Posts: 180 Location: Co. Clare

Not surprised, Blowin...
some of these clowns would actually shoot a bullock on purpose "for the craic" if they thought they'd get away with it. The more I dig in to this murky scene round here, the worse it seems.

I've been given the same name by 2 different people, both of whom reckon he would have taken the shot into our garden for fun. I can't prove anything, but I am going to badger the guards into following up.

What are the guards playing at, giving out licences to known "dodgy" types? There should be a proper system of checks in place...better legislation. Our local guard didn't even have the phone number of the local gun club...

Happy new year, by the way!

D