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Certainly looks like a Tawny but I don't think its a bullet hole, I think a fox or similar has taken the head but without getting hands on it is not easy to tell

foxes often find road kill, and bury or partially bury it, intending to return, but quite often do not, as they can be legally shot, and even become roadkill themselves, also undertaker beetles can quickly dispose of a carcass leaving holes that can look like a small bullet or pellet wound, if a shotgun was used the pellets are within the remains after the beetles have done their job, same for a non exited pellet or smallbore rifle, even sintered rounds will leave a trace.

I've had to deal with a few problems over the years and know of a few dodgy people in the area. I've found a suspicious dead own on my woodland about this time of year but when I looked into it it is not uncommon. Young owl fledglings can struggle to feed themselves and with the recent poor, wet, weather may starve to death. I'd look closely at the remains and see if there was anything in them. If someone has shot it I would guess unlicensed air rifle or catapult as I don't think owls tend to be persecuted. You could raise it with your local police wildlife crime officer, one I've met was very knowledgeable, but I've also dealt with other police (as a witness) who left a lot to he desired. Or a local owl charity. It would be worth getting to know your neighbours as they may well know what goes on in the area, legal or otherwise.

Big wheels are off and standards back on. It means I can turn a corner now 😂

Sany tend to have joystick controls. Bobcat sometimes do. Doosan not often.

Open wooden gate Reverse in (there is a small area of hardstanding, but not enough to turn around in if its wet/muddy) Tip woodchip straight behind

I'll do this is prob best course of action.

It wasn't torn open or anything like that it seemed pretty intact other than the hole in the front - as it's been moved the hole looks bigger than it did because of the body decomposing.

Ahh I should of said as well it was in a hole (I'm planting some walnut trees in this area) - I know it could of fallen there but I'd say more likely it was put there.

The only thing to eat on an owl is basically the insides. Under all that fluff and feathers is basically next to nothing.

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It didn't look like any parts were eaten..

Yep feet def there and pretty sure the head - it's decomposed but nothing seemed to have been eaten

Call the wildlife ranger for your area and have him/her take possession of the owl. They with know better than the police how to proceed and also tell you if it was shot or killed by something else

was the head present, or the feet.

Could have died of anything and then been pecked in situ. Not a (pardon the pun) smoking gun in my eyes. You should get some guns btw. They're great.

Buzzards eat damn near anything around here, only exception seems to be dead corvids, even the fox or badger refuses to eat them.

Good point.. It's more because the guy who used to manage the estate said it was a bullet hole - he has a gun and seemed to be pretty certain.

As above Rob. That’s not necessarily a bullet hole.

Sure it’s not just another raptor taking it out (not with a gun)

I'm not sure I didn't check the other side

Good point - I didn't check for an exit wound but the bullet hole in the front chest I'd say it would not have survived that. In a small hard standing area off road can see that a vehicle got very badly stuck so that could of been them. It must have been a very tough job getting it out.

They can be but hopefully me reporting it and not owning a gun would make it difficult.

Plus also bear in mind possibility that the owl got shot (or otherwise injured) elsewhere and then flew onto or was carried (by human or animal) onto your land to die. Any other signs of intruders?