Blade
member
Reged: 12/10/2007
Posts: 22
Loc: West Mids.
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Just a quick query I would like the groups opinion on - I reguarly shoot grey squirrels but it was mentioned on a different thread that if I shot one and didn't kill it out right then I could be presecuted for cruelty to animals. I take every possible care in targeting the squirrels, including lots of practice at non live targets, and so far every shot taken has killed the intended target but i know sooner or later, despite everything I can do, that the first shot will only wound the animal, maybe it moves just as i pull the trigger or it is a slighty deformed pellet that doesn't fly straight or some other reason. Now if this squirrel disappears into the canopy and despite my very best efforts I cannot get it would this leave me open to a charge of cruelty?
I'm sure everyone who shoots misses occasionally even through they do everything in their power to avoid it, so i guess there are a few other people out there who would also like other peoples opinions
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Bleeh
member
Reged: 26/04/2008
Posts: 5
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Just think of it like this, no you can't, innless someone can prove that you where doing something cruel and stupid.
So, you shoot at a squirrel at 30 yards with a 11.5ft/lb rifle, it takes one of the shoulder and limps off, you did everything in your power to make sure it was a clean and safe kill, you didn't set out to do anything cruel intentionally and hence, didn't do anything cruel (Incluiding trying to retrive said quarry).
If, on the other hand you where taking 80'yard pot shots with some BB gun you bought at a local market, you might be done for the obvious reasons.
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Blade
member
Reged: 12/10/2007
Posts: 22
Loc: West Mids.
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Didn't think I could be otherwise nobody would ever shoot anything but you know what it like when someone plants a seed of doubt in your mind
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VinceGreen
member
Reged: 11/05/2008
Posts: 19
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It was me who made the comment to you on a previous thread and I would like to justify the comment now.
I don't think that its cruelty even if you do accidentally wound a squirrel. These things happen.
However, we in the shooting world have to always be aware that there are people around who will stop at nothing to try and get to us any way they can.
There is a big move afoot to try and ban air weapons full stop or impose such constraints and licencing that it would be a ban by any other name.
One of the reasons they give is because of the numerous cases of wounding caused by air weapons. These people are not fair or balanced they are on a mission.
If one of them finds out you wounded a squirrel ( and by one of them I could mean an RSPCA inspector) they will blow it up out of all proportion.
Thats why I say that invisibility is you best policy. What the eye doesn't see etc etc.
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