Mentalmac Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2415603/Why-did-kill-Wilma-Dog-owners-agony-beloved-pet-shot-dead-pest-control-hotel-golf-course.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Balian Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Yea read that one this morning, not really good PR for the sport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Mistaking a whippet for a rabbit... i know with lamping it can be hard, but you just need to properly identify your target before pulling the trigger.Sad news for us guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aris Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 The article implies they hired a professional pest control firm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 The article implies they hired a professional pest control firm. I saw that and wondered which firm it is - doubt it's one of the big players as it's really difficult to get H&S to allow you to even use an airgun without a pretty lage pile of risk assesments and method statements (I used to be a surveyor for a large firm and ended up spending whole evenings writing H&S stuff to shoot one ferral inside an empty silo or such like). So probably a smaller but national player? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 It also implied that both dogs were habitually allowed to roam free on the course, so perhaps better control of the dogs, would have averted this. Mistaken for a fox? No excuse either way. The article implies they hired a professional pest control firm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted September 9, 2013 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 It also implied that both dogs were habitually allowed to roam free on the course, so perhaps better control of the dogs, would have averted this. Mistaken for a fox? No excuse either way. I often get the landowners cats out whilst I’m out shooting (one even curls up and sleeps on my back when i’m laying prone in the winter waiting). And a few times I have lit them up with the lamp and looked twice and then moved on. Perhaps his dogs shouldn’t have been there in the first place but even still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Terrible incident and yes the dogs probably shouldn't have been on the course, I certainly would have fenced them in if I knew people were regularly lamping next door but the fact remains that the shooter was clearly careless and didn't identify his quarry properly before pulling the trigger - surely this indicates a lack of awareness as it was an easily preventable accident and so his FAC status really ought to be reviewed if not revoked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southeastpete Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 They have suspended pest control over all there hotels. I wonder how many other hotel owners will read that and do the same, how many shooters will lose land due to one shooter being complacent/lazy/stupid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 There can be no excuse for this - I thought we all absolutely identified our targets before shooting ? If some numpty shot my dog because it strayed onto a local golf course accidentally he would certainly be pursued legally. Hopefully he will lose his guns as well as his contract. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadioles Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 How on earth can you mistake a whippet for a rabbit? These days I use night vision rather than a lamp but I can distinguish a rabbit from a cat or a dog or a fox or a badger or a deer.... or a human being lying concealed in a hedge watching the wildlife!! It is pretty darned obvious!! If in any doubt, you just don't shoot. Frankly I don't see how the shooter has any excuse whatever for his incompetence and at the very least should have his license suspended pending an investigation. I shoot (pest control) on council land and it was difficult permission to get as many councillors are against shooting and many more are extremely "risk aware". This just raises the bar yet again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 And what about the Canada geese found shot dead on a golf course lake in Worcester and just left floating about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penelope Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Was it shot there, or was it a pricked bird that landed and died there? And what about the Canada geese found shot dead on a golf course lake in Worcester and just left floating about? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Not good for any of us. He should have been able to tell the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 The guy may well have though he had identified his quarry correctly yet he made a mistake. We dont know any details about the how the incident happened and under what circumstances. We all make errors of judgement at times. Its so easy to get all righteous and justified like the above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Was it shot there, or was it a pricked bird that landed and died there? See today's Telegraph. There were 8 Canadas left floating in the lake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 The guy may well have though he had identified his quarry correctly yet he made a mistake. We dont know any details about the how the incident happened and under what circumstances. We all make errors of judgement at times. Its so easy to get all righteous and justified like the above. A totally unacceptable mistake which should be his last where firearms are concerned. We don't need to know the details to know he didn't take sufficient care / precautions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 A totally unacceptable mistake which should be his last where firearms are concerned. We don't need to know the details to know he didn't take sufficient care / precautions. really? Hows about this scenario, maybe he actually shot at a rabbit and either missed, ricocheted or the round went through the rabbit and hit the dog which was out of visual range (could have been in bushes or the like) but due to the shooter believing that nothing was between him and his backstop he took the shot. again, its so easy to be righteous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oscarsdad Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 really? Hows about this scenario, maybe he actually shot at a rabbit and either missed, ricocheted or the round went through the rabbit and hit the dog which was out of visual range (could have been in bushes or the like) but due to the shooter believing that nothing was between him and his backstop he took the shot. again, its so easy to be righteous. Bit of a spurious scenario but if that happened to me then I would be handing in all my guns and would not be shooting anymore. As I say, an unforgivable mistake which should we dealt with harshly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Bit of a spurious scenario but if that happened to me then I would be handing in all my guns and would not be shooting anymore. As I say, an unforgivable mistake which should we dealt with harshly. I agree, own up, realise you arent safe and pack it in. I dont know about you but I think - correct target? full backstop? no other unforseen issues ? this before I set up sticks not after I take the safety off and certainly not after I've fired There is no excuse except stupidity. What if in the above scenario, there might have been a person behind the rabbit - its not a safe backstop is it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Bit of a spurious scenario but if that happened to me then I would be handing in all my guns and would not be shooting anymore. That scenario is far from spurious, I bet the guy is devastated and he may well have done as your good self would do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 I agree, own up, realise you arent safe and pack it in. I dont know about you but I think - correct target? full backstop? no other unforseen issues ? this before I set up sticks not after I take the safety off and certainly not after I've fired There is no excuse except stupidity. What if in the above scenario, there might have been a person behind the rabbit - its not a safe backstop is it ? So at night when you're lamping there shouldnt be anything in the hedge (backstop) but you go around and check them all before you set up just to make sure? and then by the time you've back and set up something could have gone in the hedge again so you check again just to make sure? Have you NEVER had a ricochet? actually, dont bother answering. I'm out. p.s. I am simply opening up options as to not being so black and white as so many of you believe, I have not voiced any opinion on how the incident should be dealt with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDog Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 (edited) The pasty It would appear that you are either 'out' or on a decidedly sticky wicket. Edited September 9, 2013 by JDog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kes Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 So at night when you're lamping there shouldnt be anything in the hedge (backstop) but you go around and check them all before you set up just to make sure? and then by the time you've back and set up something could have gone in the hedge again so you check again just to make sure? Have you NEVER had a ricochet? actually, dont bother answering. I'm out. p.s. I am simply opening up options as to not being so black and white as so many of you believe, I have not voiced any opinion on how the incident should be dealt with. A hedge is not a backstop, I hope we can agree that much. I know what you are trying to do and its commendable to look for a reasonable explanation but NOT when the error results from the obviously unsafe use of firearms - the dog is dead and they are not on the General Licence - last time I looked.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thepasty Posted September 9, 2013 Report Share Posted September 9, 2013 Just to clarify a hedge in Cornwall consists of being over 6ft high, 4-5ft thick built from rock and earth and makes for a very good back stop. I wasnt talking about the excuse for hedges you have up north. Now I really am out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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