Keith Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Noticed this story on a number of websites and I would guess in the papers in N Ireland: Peace bird shooting MLA condemned A Northern Ireland Assembly member has come under fire after returning from a holiday shooting doves in South America. Strangford DUP representative Jim Shannon was one of 17 people on the trip to Argentina earlier this month. "Over there is somewhere in the region of 60 million of them (doves). They're a pest and they're treated as vermin," he said. However, Mr Shannon's actions have been condemned by the USPCA. "We find it somewhat perverse that any local politician is motivated to fly from Northern Ireland to Argentina to shoot hundreds of doves under the banner of pest control," said a spokesman for the animal welfare charity. "For the sake of our native wildlife we trust this venture does not involve any exchange visit." Jim Shannon continued: "There is a pest control system out there and we were away participating in that. 'Only MLA' "There were people from Italy, people from the UK mainland and a lot of people from Northern Ireland from all across different religious and political affiliations, but I was the only MLA there I have to say." Mr Shannon would not be drawn on the number of doves he shot, but it has been suggested the total could have been as high as 9,000. But the MLA did say that every bird he killed was used by local people. "I ate them myself and they ate them as well, " added Mr Shannon, who said such holidays were also good for the Argentinean economy. " Do me a favour - don't they know that thousands go pigeon shooting every week across the UK and in England, Scotland and Wales you can shoot Collared Doves! What's the view from our N Ireland members? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I saw that yesterday and it really is not news worthy. Ok I can see how people could get the hump about shooting thousands of Doves which ok are vermin but going thousands of miles to do so might look bloodthirsty to the uninitiated. Seems a lot of unfounded comment that is just done to defame him personally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballymac Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 He's not that good a shot (9,000) you know politicians always expanding the truth. As long as he paid for the trip himself he should tell the USPCA to "wind their necks in", I know people who go on these holidays and have said of the massive flocks of doves which need thinning out. It provides jobs food and money for the Argentine economy and some people get to have a bit of sport. Plus should the shooting fraternity in his area need any assistance he will lend a sympathetic ear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazza Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I know Jim well, he does a lot of good for shooting and the countryside down my way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradders Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 I don't see the problem, no laws were broken..... After all one mans pet is another mans meal...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griff36 Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 He could of posted a couple of pictures and a nice write up Or may be he's a member of the Dove Watch Forum in Argentina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossenarra Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 60 MILLION doves, crikey……I’m booking my trip today…..maybe this was leaked by the Argentinean tourist board…….get a few more tourists…. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Posted November 29, 2007 Author Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 The BBC Northern Ireland news online site has the story with a very useful link to and Argie dove shooting site. Looks like there are some dam good (if expensive) shooting opportunities down there. http://www.wwwingshooting.com/argentina-dove-hunting/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 Mr Shannon would not be drawn on the number of doves he shot, but it has been suggested the total could have been as high as 9,000. Seems to me that the BIG news story here might have been missed...if Mr S shot 9000 doves then he'll have beaten Steve Marsdens (that other Irishman) world record of 7314 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossenarra Posted November 29, 2007 Report Share Posted November 29, 2007 He's not that good a shot (9,000) you know politicians always expanding the truth. As long as he paid for the trip himself he should tell the USPCA to "wind their necks in", I know people who go on these holidays and have said of the massive flocks of doves which need thinning out. It provides jobs food and money for the Argentine economy and some people get to have a bit of sport. Plus should the shooting fraternity in his area need any assistance he will lend a sympathetic ear Rumour has that it was paid for as it was a working holiday…..work made him do some training workshops in Columbia on the way back!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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