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Fenn Man
Senior Member
Ireland
449 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Jan 2008 : 20:26:50
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Yeppers. Shooting things. This is a carry over from an issue raised under the Warfarin discussion. I'm fasinated to compare notes with you guys.
See, Gavin mentions the " Excitement " of shooting a feral cat, and compares it favourably to shooting a squirrel. Both of which - I believe - he is saying - provide a testing and so " Exciting " Hunt?
Now being ~ as I'd guess a good many of us may be? ~ from a Field Sports background, I can certainly appreciate " The thrill of the chase ". Pitting ones wits and Field Craft against a creature determined not to let you win and kill it can certainly be an enjoyable experience. Some of us do that. Others play Darts or Chess for stimulation.
But, without laying myself down on any couches here, Lol! I've registered a really quite major shift of perception in myself of latter years. What I'm wondering is this:
I no longer get Any 'Buzz' out of coming up with and nailing Anything, really. I seem to have become the most straight faced killer I've ever known. I no longer have a grin on my face as the cross hairs rest on that exact point. I look at a full trap much as I'd look at a box that needs moving aside. I really do seem to have objectified the whole process. It's like I'm an examiner watching someone else do it. Simply studying technique and result.
So, what's the craic here? I know it's nothing remotely unusual. Lots of us feel the same way, I believe? Yet, surely, those of us who now squeeze the trigger 'On Auto' must have once got some form of intrinsic pleasure out of making that shot? Otherwise, why would we have started doing it in the first place? And when / what makes us switch to Auto?
That's what I'm seeking definition for here. At what point - and for what reason - do ye think our minds stop yelling, " Got him! Great shot! " as we watch the quarry fall, and start grunting; " Mmph."
Where does the " Excitement " go?
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gavin
Junior Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 01 Jan 2008 : 20:51:38
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I have not got that far yet fenn i have only been shooting about 4 yrs and still get that buzz from hitting a difficult target more so when it is edible and sit down to eat the catch!.that includes squirrels which are quite tasty,how many out there have tried them?.
Gavin |
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Dusty
Hyperactive Member
Australia
685 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 07:39:27
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I think I am right there beside you Steve. I get no joy in seeing anything die these days. Even dead cockroaches, which I despise when alive, brings me no satisfaction, just indifference.
Gavin.
Eating squirrel? Give my regards to Ellie Mae and Granny lol
Eating rodents doesnt appeal, but maybe I really am missing something
JAFA
Don't feed them, get Rid of them - visit us on www.ridpest.com.au
or blog us on http://blog.ridpest.com.au |
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gavin
Junior Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 08:05:51
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Dusty the USA has a hunting season for greys and are popular eating over there,also in the uk many'upmarket restauraunts'serve squirrel dishes of various types.I know it may not sound very appealing but squirrels are very different from
rattus spp.
Another question for you dusty can you still use 1080 over there and if so what for and what bait types?.
Thank you
Gavin |
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ABPest
Senior Member
United Kingdom
318 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 08:13:27
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I only shot an animal for pleasure once, when I was about 12 years of age ( yep a long time ago! ). The experience turned out to be not at all pleasurable and I can still recall the experience clearly.
So my shooting has always been for reasons of pest control, when no other means possible. And with other forms of killing during pest control operations, Dusty sums up my feelings, one of indifference As a different Steve would say " It has 2 be done!" ).
Not having a hunting background and being Local Authority raised in an urban situation also probably colours my judgement, so I would never shoot a feral cat. Trapping of feral cats has always been my only method of control, with humane destruction by a veterinary surgeon after all other avenues have been explored ( RSPCA, Cat Protection league etc. ). Problem with shooting is that you can never be sure the cat does not have an owner. It could be microchipped!
Adrian.
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Edited by - ABPest on 02 Jan 2008 08:15:51 |
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Paulf
Member
61 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 13:11:54
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I agree entierly with adrian ref ferral cats, whilst If the money was right i would be prepared to trap them as a cat owner I would want them scanned for microchips before destruction.
I dont do any bird work and whilst I do have an air rifle since all of my squirel work is now done by kill traps it is notcurrently used.
As someone who worked on farms during the time when there was no market for bull calves I dispatched a fair number of bull calves both with a 410 and also captive bolt and pithing rod. As a consequence whilst Im prepared to shoot live quarry I dont as sutch enjoy it and never will. |
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gavin
Junior Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 13:58:27
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Adrian i am a bit confused about your policy of destruction of feral cats.You say that you take them to a vet for lethal injection WHY.If you caught a rabbit or squirrel in a live trap how would you dispatch them,would you take them to a vets to be destroyed?.If NOT why treat them differently to a feral cat afterall a pest is a pest be it a rat,rabbit or a cat!.
Gavin |
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ABPest
Senior Member
United Kingdom
318 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 16:00:06
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Ah! Paulf, the old Cash Captive Bolt, electric tongs etc. I remember it well! Spent many happy!! years working in a slaughter house.The canteen served up the best bacon sarnies ever!
Working in the slaughter house, or should I say abattoir, certainly hardened me to many things in life. Good preparation for a life in pest control :o)
Adrian. |
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Paul W
Member
United Kingdom
80 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 18:11:09
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Shooting a cat is a tricky subject as you must be able to prove it was feral! Killing a pet cat is theft!
Personaaly i loathe cats and their unnecessary destruction of small birds and the fact they crap in my flowerbeds and garden.i would happily get rid of the lot using traps,guns anything to be rid of them! They have no purpose in the modern way of life other than sitting on laps of people who have no idea how much damage they do, and providing exercise for my terrier.
I don't usually get the rush of killing anything,but a sneaky fox or big buck in the scope still gives a lil flush of adrenaline,but i usually get a small buzz after the tricky shot has been taken after a long or difficult stalk.
Normal pesty work is just that,normal,something that just gets done. |
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gavin
Junior Member
United Kingdom
51 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 19:33:25
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I agree with you completely paul regarding the usefullness of cats in todays world.How many other 'pet'animals would be able to roam at will causing so much death and destruction for 'pleasure'.Imagine what a cat 'owner'would say if your dog were to constantly roam around their property killing and causing damage?.
I am sure some would disagree with this view maybe we could start a new post on this subject?
Gavin |
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Paulf
Member
61 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jan 2008 : 22:21:40
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| lol adrian. |
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ben
Senior Member
United Kingdom
162 Posts |
Posted - 05 Jan 2008 : 00:33:59
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the only animal that can crap all over your garden while having the rights of being owned by someone yeah right a pest is a pest and should be dealt with in the same way. cats should be housed in a cage or run so their so called owners can clear up the crap instead of everyone else.
ben
you learn as you go |
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Mephistopheles
Starting Member
France
1 Posts |
Posted - 09 Jan 2008 : 18:16:57
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Well...been hunting and such for 41 years..never gotten tired of it.
My first "real kill" took me 10 rounds of ammo which I was ejecting from my BAR thinking I was pulling the trigger.."Buck Fever"...until my mate whacked me in the shoulder asking what the hell was I doing...then I actually pulled the trigger..it bolted then rolled down into a 800ft gorge, took me two days to haul it out in pieces, don't use supplus full metal jacket anymore!
My latest was 2 Sitka bucks on Prince of Wales island using my pistol.
As far as varmints and such, many a rat, pidgeon, furry cute squirrels and such have fallen before my sights and I still get...I guess some refer to it as a "buzz" from making the shot...squirrel and larger I eat, otherwise I would never pull the trigger. Never shot'n a cat smaller than Bobcats, just don't see the point of kill'n them, too easy to trap, also might be someones sweetie.
Guess I may always be "buzzed" by it...I've seen "tough-guys" shot something then get up nice and close to their "kill" and cry, seen'em wobble to their knees with something in their sights..seen one shoot himself in the knee and clean through his own foot excitedly runnin after his quarry, some just can and some just can't and some just should't...and others just "lose it"... like my dad, once he got back from the Pacific war...never touched his firearms again..cept to give'em to me for keeps...liken I guess alot of things are in this world...subject to change. |
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When Ye Squeeze The Trigger ....?
