tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post3973565054363543987..comments2024-03-29T05:21:11.278+00:00Comments on Ambush Predator: Should Have Gone To Specsavers....JuliaMhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-6082167894640047472017-03-26T06:01:01.375+01:002017-03-26T06:01:01.375+01:00"Personally I wouldn't use a shot gun on ...<i>"Personally I wouldn't use a shot gun on a fox unless it was either trapped or snared, preferring .243 calibre myself, for an ranging target."</i><br /><br />I was under the impression most pest controllers used a rifle with suppressor. So as not to disturb the resident's sleep.<br /><br /><i>"So if I have understood this aright, the shooter fired a shotgun in the direction of a known public footpath at night from a distance where he could no longer be at all sure of what he was shooting at?"</i><br /><br />That would appear to be the case. Must be an off-duty Yorkshire police firearms officer... :D<br /><br /><i>"Things have changed since I did any shooting but the first rule was always 'you never point a gun at anyone or anything unless you intend to shoot them..."</i><br /><br />First rule of hunting - identify your target!JuliaMhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844126589712842477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-46796328463049113402017-03-24T16:52:32.623+00:002017-03-24T16:52:32.623+00:00" Personally I wouldn't use a shot gun on..." Personally I wouldn't use a shot gun on a fox unless it was either trapped or snared"<br />-MitB<br /><br />Thank you (your comment and mine were published at the same time) I was hoping someone who might actually know what they were talking about would confirm what I said.<br /><br />I used get annoyed with the local teenage 'tearaways' who thought a .177 air pistol was suitable for hunting rabbits. The Blocked Dwarfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-70029199967458534422017-03-24T13:47:15.062+00:002017-03-24T13:47:15.062+00:00So if I have understood this aright, the shooter f...So if I have understood this aright, the shooter fired a <i>shotgun</i> in the direction of a known public footpath at night from a distance where he could no longer be at all sure of what he was shooting at?<br /><br />Professional shooters may disagree but I think the only time a 'normal' shotgun is sufficient for something the size of a fox is if you've stuck the barrel in it's ear. Certainly not from a distance where the target survives after having a few pellets removed, pellets which hit its ear? "Humane dispatch", much? If I were out shouting foxes at night I'd want something with a night scope and enough power that it'd kill the target if the bullet just sailed past it's ear.<br /><br />Everytime I think the gun control laws (or the 'making sure only criminals are armed' Acts) in this country are stupid, someone comes along and proves me wrong :(<br /><br />Things have changed since I did any shooting but the first rule was always 'you never point a gun at anyone or anything unless you intend to shoot them, nor do you point a gun at anywhere someone <i>might</i> conceivable be dogging'...or something like that. <br />And people wonder why the Police go all 'nazi' or 'overboard' when they hear that the person 'of interest' has a shotgun or even just an air rifle in the house? <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The Blocked Dwarfnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-627081175329856970.post-49084301241448969822017-03-24T13:12:24.101+00:002017-03-24T13:12:24.101+00:00Vermin is a broad term and from the fact that a sh...Vermin is a broad term and from the fact that a shotgun was being used I'm guessing that foxes were not the main target species. Personally I wouldn't use a shot gun on a fox unless it was either trapped or snared, preferring .243 calibre myself, for an ranging target.<br /><br />This is a bit of a non story though as it seems the dog was off the footpath and on private land. Incidentally, I've found that the amateur shot, whether enthusiastic or otherwise often has a better level of field craft and shooting safety than the 'highly trained professional',some times alarmingly so.<br /><br />MitB (1069 foxes and counting).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com