Ethics of Digital

[Merlyn]

I shoot a lightweight Tikka .243 mounted by a Pard DS35 - 70 digital day/night scope for deer. The reason for this choice of equipment is that I am nigh on 85 and don't want to have to give up stalking until I absolutely have to. Weight is paramount. All my gear is as light as I can possibly make it and I do more highseat work than anything else. However, I still enjoy the thrill of the stalk as long as the drag wont be too far!

Although I have been stalking for many years I had never done any formal training so just recently I did a DSC1 course - No reason except I wanted to. It was excellent value and I learnt a hell of a lot. Now thinking about the DSC2.

After the shooting assessment, which I passed, the assessor, who was not our course instructor, commented that on 'his' estate I would not be allowed to shoot deer with my digital scope. When I asked why ever not he said that it was not ethical and didn't show respect.

I wanted to get off home, a three hour drive, as the weather was dire and I was soaking wet, as was the assessor, and he had many more candidates to deal with so I did not pursue the matter.

Now I thought that the idea was that we should be shooting more deer at the moment - Not worrying about the 'ethics' of the modern legal equipment that is now on offer.

A scope allows one to see the target and take an ethical shot to ensure the rapid death of the quarry. Whether it uses relatively heavy glass lenses and mechanical levers and widgets or a small microchip and a screen does not seem to matter to me.

Your comments please.

 

[jacre1993]

As long as you are shooting within the legal hours of daylight , I would suggest that you’ve taken precautions to ensure your shooting is ethical.

Good on you.

 

[mealiejimmy]

Your assessor sounds like the type of person who, in earlier eras would have said:
a. Glass scopes are unethical - only iron sights are ethical
b. Rifles are unethical - only smooth bores are ethical
c, Smoothbores are unethical - only bow and arrow is ethical
d. Bow and and arrow is unethical - only spears are ethical
etc, etc
The guy's a fanny

Cheers

Bruce

 

[deerstalker.308]

Just someone stuck in the past, probably didn’t like sound moderators when they became available for the same reasons, ignore and move on, ethics = legal, humane. You’re fine

 

[jall55]

Dont let him worry you
Just a Jobsworth

 

[Tim.243]

I shoot a lightweight Tikka .243 mounted by a Pard DS35 - 70 digital day/night scope for deer. The reason for this choice of equipment is that I am nigh on 85 and don't want to have to give up stalking until I absolutely have to. Weight is paramount. All my gear is as light as I can possibly make it and I do more highseat work than anything else. However, I still enjoy the thrill of the stalk as long as the drag wont be too far!

Although I have been stalking for many years I had never done any formal training so just recently I did a DSC1 course - No reason except I wanted to. It was excellent value and I learnt a hell of a lot. Now thinking about the DSC2.

After the shooting assessment, which I passed, the assessor, who was not our course instructor, commented that on 'his' estate I would not be allowed to shoot deer with my digital scope. When I asked why ever not he said that it was not ethical and didn't show respect.

I wanted to get off home, a three hour drive, as the weather was dire and I was soaking wet, as was the assessor, and he had many more candidates to deal with so I did not pursue the matter.

Now I thought that the idea was that we should be shooting more deer at the moment - Not worrying about the 'ethics' of the modern legal equipment that is now on offer.

A scope allows one to see the target and take an ethical shot to ensure the rapid death of the quarry. Whether it uses relatively heavy glass lenses and mechanical levers and widgets or a small microchip and a screen does not seem to matter to me.

Your comments please.

Well done for passing, couple of things, 5 out of the six fallow of late then I would have not been able to see well enough with my Swro z6 but very clear with the drone 10. The muntjac are coming out late so a small brown deer against a dark back ground.
Using my thermal spotter took the muntjac ratio up by 50% in my friends wood as he struggled in the summer months to see where they were in cover then work a shot.
The assessor's quote is no more than a cross section of opinions on here so do what in needed and shoot more deer as some of us have to.
Just crack on...Happy Easter.

 

[Heym SR20]

Personally I don’t want to use a thermal imaging device whilst out stalking. It’s not the device per se, it’s the intrusion of yet more electronics in my life. I can see deer with the naked eye. I am blessed with good eyesight and ability to see wildlife. I get huge pleasure from this.

I don’t want to walk around the countryside staring a little electronic rendition of the wild places.

Thermals are a useful tool in the armoury for some people.

Ethics are in the hands of the individuals who use the tools.

 

[Merlyn]

As long as you are shooting within the legal hours of daylight , I would suggest that you’ve taken precautions to ensure your shooting is ethical.

Good on you.

Always stick to the regulations mate. Old fashioned.

 

[Merlyn]

Dont let him worry you
Just a Jobsworth

I don't worry - I was just curious.

 

[Mike L]

Personally I don’t want to use a thermal imaging device whilst out stalking. It’s not the device per se, it’s the intrusion of yet more electronics in my life. I can see deer with the naked eye. I am blessed with good eyesight and ability to see wildlife. I get huge pleasure from this.

I don’t want to walk around the countryside staring a little electronic rendition of the wild places.

Thermals are a useful tool in the armoury for some people.

Ethics are in the hands of the individuals who use the tools.

I guess you don’t stalk dense woodland.

 

[The Singing Stalker]

I don’t let anyone shoot on my land unless they use a moderator. Thems my rules. Perfectly legal without. I am just keeping noise levels down.
Their estate has their own rules. Fine for them.

As long as you are in the legal time using a legal device, then, your call. I know some people who use a day scope and would risk the shot at a blur rather than leave it for another day. The digital scope makes it very clear to take a safe ETHICAL SHOT.
I use glass on my deer rifle, but have no issue with someone using a C50 or similiar device as long as it is legal. In fact, I have a C50 and that is going on my 243 (foxing rifle) but will let me take a deer as well, between the defined hours.

 

[VSS]

I guess you don’t stalk dense woodland.

I think you're missing the point that @Heym SR20 is making.

 

[Tazz]

I shoot a lightweight Tikka .243 mounted by a Pard DS35 - 70 digital day/night scope for deer. The reason for this choice of equipment is that I am nigh on 85 and don't want to have to give up stalking until I absolutely have to. Weight is paramount. All my gear is as light as I can possibly make it and I do more highseat work than anything else. However, I still enjoy the thrill of the stalk as long as the drag wont be too far!

Although I have been stalking for many years I had never done any formal training so just recently I did a DSC1 course - No reason except I wanted to. It was excellent value and I learnt a hell of a lot. Now thinking about the DSC2.

After the shooting assessment, which I passed, the assessor, who was not our course instructor, commented that on 'his' estate I would not be allowed to shoot deer with my digital scope. When I asked why ever not he said that it was not ethical and didn't show respect.

I wanted to get off home, a three hour drive, as the weather was dire and I was soaking wet, as was the assessor, and he had many more candidates to deal with so I did not pursue the matter.

Now I thought that the idea was that we should be shooting more deer at the moment - Not worrying about the 'ethics' of the modern legal equipment that is now on offer.

A scope allows one to see the target and take an ethical shot to ensure the rapid death of the quarry. Whether it uses relatively heavy glass lenses and mechanical levers and widgets or a small microchip and a screen does not seem to matter to me.

Your comments please.

Did he show you his collection of spears ( Bow and arrow too advanced)

 

[timbrayford]

I shoot a lightweight Tikka .243 mounted by a Pard DS35 - 70 digital day/night scope for deer. The reason for this choice of equipment is that I am nigh on 85 and don't want to have to give up stalking until I absolutely have to. Weight is paramount. All my gear is as light as I can possibly make it and I do more highseat work than anything else. However, I still enjoy the thrill of the stalk as long as the drag wont be too far!

Although I have been stalking for many years I had never done any formal training so just recently I did a DSC1 course - No reason except I wanted to. It was excellent value and I learnt a hell of a lot. Now thinking about the DSC2.

After the shooting assessment, which I passed, the assessor, who was not our course instructor, commented that on 'his' estate I would not be allowed to shoot deer with my digital scope. When I asked why ever not he said that it was not ethical and didn't show respect.

I wanted to get off home, a three hour drive, as the weather was dire and I was soaking wet, as was the assessor, and he had many more candidates to deal with so I did not pursue the matter.

Now I thought that the idea was that we should be shooting more deer at the moment - Not worrying about the 'ethics' of the modern legal equipment that is now on offer.

A scope allows one to see the target and take an ethical shot to ensure the rapid death of the quarry. Whether it uses relatively heavy glass lenses and mechanical levers and widgets or a small microchip and a screen does not seem to matter to me.

Your comments please.

A humane kill is of paramount importance, you have to wonder about the so called ethics of not equipping yourself to do so

 

[Mike L]

I think you're missing the point that @Heym SR20 is making.

Probably

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Thermal at last light lets you see/check if any walkers are lurking behind the so called safe backstop?

 

[Tim.243]

Thermal at last light lets you see/check if any walkers are lurking behind the so called safe backstop?

What thermal do you use?

 

[Selous]

Last night I could have done with a digital scope. If the deer hadn’t have stepped in front of pale coloured grass I would have had to leave it despite being 20 minutes short of last legal shooting. So long as the proper hours are observed I can see no issue ….. other than looking like a poacher

 

[Smellydog]

I shouldn't be surprised if the assessor was a decendant of a member that sat on the committee that dreamt up our dumb laws regarding deer shooting......

 

[Pete6.5]

I shouldn't be surprised if the assessor was a decendant of a member that sat on the committee that dreamt up our dumb laws regarding deer shooting......

Do you mean the people that allowed this problem to happen on their watch. The rules that were made to help increase the deer population which was struggling at the time but don't get changed at a fast enough rate as things change.