Illegal shooting taking place in woodland - what to do about it.

[Rob D]

27 minutes ago, Haironyourchest said:

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

 

 

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

[Paul in the woods]

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.

[Oldfeller]

2 hours ago, Rob D said:

 

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.

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. 

 

[BillQ]

4 hours ago, Rob D said:

 

 

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

 

 

 

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 

[Joe Newton]

I've known of the odd unscrupulous gamekeeper to shoot owls with a shotgun, but setting out to take an owl with a rifle seems like a bit of a non starter.

 

Ocams Razor: the simplest solution is generally the correct one.

 

To me there are a good few other potential causes. 

[Joe Newton]

5 hours ago, AHPP said:

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.

I concur on both counts.

 

Out of interest, what's your "good reason"?

 

I'm going in with both bases covered but it looks like I'll be limited to rimfire for a while at least. 

[AHPP]

Very, very ordinary rabbits, fox, deer on a farm. Nothing weird.

 

There are two phases of my firearms licensed life. Down south, I was deferent and meek and rewarded with a mentor, closed ticket, knocked back for things etc. Up north, I took a different approach from the start. They firmly know they work for me and that I expect to get what I want, on time or I machine gun letters off to anyone who can make their life hard. MUCH better results.

 

But if you're a bitch and only get rimfire, take heart. Rimfire is the best.