What wouldn’t you shoot?

[Millerich]

Once went to deal with a brood of fox cubs one evening years ago, got in a nice spot overlooking the den, few cubs out playing , about 20 mins later the vixen came back to them, they all ran over and started suckling from her, i unloaded the rifle , watched them for ten mins and left quietly , just couldn't pull the trigger on them, just seemed wrong at that moment in time,

Different quarry obviously, but often the memory when you tip your hat to them and let them walk on by, is as good as the trophy on the wall or the meat in the freezer.

 

[NP435]

You see it's a good job we are all different .I would love to hunt bear, lynx or bobcat and also coyotes

Around here coyotes are shot on sight, by me and many others.

 

[User00038]

For me shooting should be for food, welfare, pest/predator control, and planned herd/population management: it just needs to be planned and justified.

And to choose one example, in areas of ground nesting birds eg curlew, I think it is the responsibility of all of us to shoot foxes.

 

[Primate]

Once went to deal with a brood of fox cubs one evening years ago, got in a nice spot overlooking the den, few cubs out playing , about 20 mins later the vixen came back to them, they all ran over and started suckling from her, i unloaded the rifle , watched them for ten mins and left quietly , just couldn't pull the trigger on them, just seemed wrong at that moment in time,

Shoot her first before the cubs hatch?

 

[VSS]

Different quarry obviously, but often the memory when you tip your hat to them and let them walk on by, is as good as the trophy on the wall or the meat in the freezer.

Well said

 

[Drum123]

One tends to get more selective with age I find.

This is very true.

 

[Klenchblaize]

One tends to get more selective with age I find.

I think you’ve nailed it, and just like I did a wee robin back in 1969 on the driveway of my boarding school with 5 witnesses. The poor thing was in full flight when I simply raised my catapult and loosed a nicely shaped pebble. For possibly the first time I thought to follow through with my swing and the rest is history/legend!

I can still recall that moment in slow-mo along with the look on each pre-teen face as the feather ball exploded, yours truly pocketed a shiny Milbro and strolled ever-upwards without looking back as if I did this kind of thing on a daily basis.

Happy days but not for the local wildlife!

K

 

[Mungo]

Anything more than 100m downhill of the truck.

 

[camodog]

Anything......with 'copper' ! ....oops, sorry, that's a whole different 'thread'.

 

[barbel]

Fox, mink, squirrels, rats, magpies, anytime, other than that only shoot to be eaten.

 

[potshotpat]

My self in the foot . I've aimed and pulled the trigger on here, I'm running ( pun) out of foots
.

 

[Woodsmoke]

Its the perfect shape for a one piece hall and stairs carpet?

That really made me laugh. Thanks for that

 

[Dunwaters]

That really made me laugh. Thanks for that

You’re welcome

 

[Heym SR20]

And I would only shoot something where I was confident that a) it was either a sustainable surplus, or b)there was a clear need fir the better of the wider environment and c) that its carcass would not be wasted.

 

[20-250]

Once went to deal with a brood of fox cubs one evening years ago, got in a nice spot overlooking the den, few cubs out playing , about 20 mins later the vixen came back to them, they all ran over and started suckling from her, i unloaded the rifle , watched them for ten mins and left quietly , just couldn't pull the trigger on them, just seemed wrong at that moment in time,

I would definitely have done the same. Yet would undoubtedly have killed the lot as time passed and they grew to independence.

 

[25 Sharps]

I’ll shoot anything legal in the uk, provided there’s a good reason to do it. Was asked to thin out some feral cats last year, luckily they got homed so I didn’t need to in the end, wasn’t keen but would have done it if the landowner wanted me to.

Abroad, I think I’d struggle for big cats, elephant, rhino etc. but would be fine with wildebeest, antelopes and warthogs, that side of things.

To answer the post above about feral dogs in Australia, I’d have no issue, nor for any non native species anywhere causing an issue.

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Compassion is the mark of the true hunter. Choosing not to shoot, whether that be a particular species or individuals within a species, is what sets the hunter apart from the person who simply kills things because it's legal and because they can.

For the majority I shoot things that either are or are likely to cause issues. Big stag, 12-14 point? Why would I shoot it. For my own gain, nothing more. Fox cubs running around now lambing where I am has finished? No need, live and let live...

 

[hendrix's rifle]

I wouldn't shoot anything I wasn't legally allowed to kill. Nor would i shoot anything that wasn't sustainable. No intentions of going abroad to shoot.

Learning to think twice about shooting red deer in sh1t hole awkward places

99.9% sure anyone who deals with reds has made that mistake and learned a very valuable lesson very quickly!

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Once went to deal with a brood of fox cubs one evening years ago, got in a nice spot overlooking the den, few cubs out playing , about 20 mins later the vixen came back to them, they all ran over and started suckling from her, i unloaded the rifle , watched them for ten mins and left quietly , just couldn't pull the trigger on them, just seemed wrong at that moment in time,

I know that feeling... Quick snap and see if they cause issues next year

 

[User00043]

Muntjac Does, Unless juvenile or heavily pregnant.