Shoot it or watch it??????

[widu13]

I've always known they were vermin. I used to only watch them but one year when they has expanded in number our wild bird boxes were attacked and the birds and eggs killed/destroyed. The boxes are now screwed down and I shoot the squirrels on sight in the garden. Up to 3 so far this week. (It's kind of the neighbour to put food out for them to bury in my garden!)

 

[thewanderer]

shoot to kill the tree rat our native species needs us too cull the greys for their survival.

 

[elma]

watch it, shoot it, eat it.

 

[Pict]

I have never thought it mutually exclusive between shooting and watching game animals. I have done both all my life. Man, left to his own, hunts and eats meat. In order to hunt and eat meat you have to watch and watch out for animals. I'm fine with that.

Here in Pennsylvania we have loads of grays. I used to hunt them as a kid in a huge forest behind my house just about every day during the season. It was great fun. Out of the season (hunting season is the Fall) I would just watch them. In fact the only ones I've ever killed out of season were pest animals that had invaded structures. Here they are not a problem animal as long as they stay in the woods. Mac

 

[Opal]

I only shot rats in the past but would like to taste woodpigeon after reading about it. I wouldn't kill anything for the fun of it, I've heard squirrels are tasty but being akin to the rat, freaks me.

 

[riggers]

shoot it then eat it keep the skin but first find its drea and poke it then kill whats in it bloody vermin red squirell now i could watch alll day sorry just my personal opinion

 

[NatG]

i like watching animals, but i like eating them too.

if i can eat it, then i'll probbably shoot it, if i can't i'll probbably watch it.

 

[Melonfish]

shoot, gather, shoot more of em, eat.
if its red its happy to go free but the greys are so prolifant its worth shooting to eat.

 

[BigShot]

Every time I see a grey I think about the air rifle I'm saving up for and various kinds of trap - I also think about food.

I do get a kick out of watching them - but I'd not bat an eyelid about shooting one for the pot or otherwise - give me reds any day. The damage the greys do gets to me, I doubt I'll love to see the day the greys are gone and the reds repopulate the lost lands, but I'll play my part in making it happen.

 

[pauldr]

shoot it , eat it , shoot more eat more , make a hat from there fur ahhhhh hats

 

[AnnieSantiago]

Squirrel stew!

 

[gunslinger]

Been shooting and eating them for over 30 years,long before Heston Blumenthal etc.

So no contest

GS

 

[marshall4771]

Watch it - I used to shoot everything that moved but then learned to appreciate what we have around us.

each to their own I guess

Shaun

 

[Melonfish]

Shoot it then eat it.
otherwise just watch it.

if i want to shoot something for fun, well thats what target or consoles are for.
pete

 

[Claudiasboris]

I'm a vegetarian! Which do you think I'd rather do?

I fully agree with Pablo: watch and learn. I like to see any wildlife.

I agree that they're a problem for our indigenous types, but it's not their fault! We probably forced the HS Neanderthals into extinction and have certainly done so for many, many other species. Should we then shoot humans?

Claudiasboris

 

[Tye Possum]

I usually watch it but when I had my slingshot I would go and try to hunt grey squirrels, although I never succeeded. I think for alot of people, at least the ones that grew up with hunting, there was a time where you just wanted to shoot something and get your first kill. I went through that (though definately didn't grow up with hunting) and would go after everything, even sparrows with my bb guns. I was so caught up in it that I didn't even think, what the heck would I do with it if I had of killed one of those sparrows. Now I wouldn't kill anything unless I intended to eat it. Once I get new bands for my slingshots I'll probably go hunting again but that's the thing, squirrels can be eaten, sparrows can't. I still enjoy watching more than killing and wouldn't slaughter every squirrel in town or anything.

 

[hog]

Shoot it then watch the others while you dine.

 

[jamie18thmo]

watch it, shoot it, eat it.

Same here, and this month I are mostly be eatin' hares and geese.

 

[Lee Wright]

I tend to watch them when I'm out walking the dog and learn where they feed, come to ground and generally gather (little heathens!) and I enjoy doing so. When out with the gun I shoot any that a get a clean, guaranteed shot at. I can also relate to wanting to shoot anything that stops still long enough when starting out, not long until I realised that there's more satisfaction to be had from hunting a specific animal and being able to get a clean, humane kill every time

I don't know where I sit on the moral ground of killing to thin the grey population out. I'm definitely an animal lover and that's why I'll only pull the trigger when it's a guaranteed kill, but I can't deny that I'd like to see reds in my area, likely or not! On a related note, taking the Explorers to Brownsea Island in July

 

[OldFingersGreen]

I'm a vegetarian! Which do you think I'd rather do?

I fully agree with Pablo: watch and learn. I like to see any wildlife.

I agree that they're a problem for our indigenous types, but it's not their fault! We probably forced the HS Neanderthals into extinction and have certainly done so for many, many other species. Should we then shoot humans?

Claudiasboris

shooting humans is slightly illegal and therefore not up for moral debate wheras shooting tree rats isnt.........