Horses Shot

[dmccarty]

A few years ago, some idiot was shooting horses on NCSU vet school pastures. I think he was using a 9mm pistol and eventually he was caught. Seems like someone shot some horses in the center south part of the state in the last few months as well. Bad people do bad things. Until there are no more bad people, bad people will continue to do bad things.

Later,
Dan

 

[300UGUY]

When you hear shooting at night, don't call the cops, call Fish and Game. They love to catch poachers and when they do, their guns, vehicles, everything used in the poaching is confiscated. Lots more satisfying than a simple arrest by regular police.

We have similar laws here, but very little enforcement. When I reported poaching 20+ years ago, at 1 am, the local rednecks were jacklighting deer right across from my house. I was asked by the poaching hotline folks to get the licence plate #!!! Right, go out there with pen and paper, ask some drunk hillbilly "what's that plate #?" In 26 years here, I've never seen a game officer on my road or anywhere near here. I see one frequently in deer season, in the local diner. In all fairness, I read that they only have about 80 wardens for the entire state.

 

[dmccarty]

We have similar laws here, but very little enforcement. When I reported poaching 20+ years ago, at 1 am, the local rednecks were jacklighting deer right across from my house. I was asked by the poaching hotline folks to get the licence plate #!!! Right, go out there with pen and paper, ask some drunk hillbilly "what's that plate #?" In 26 years here, I've never seen a game officer on my road or anywhere near here. I see one frequently in deer season, in the local diner. In all fairness, I read that they only have about 80 wardens for the entire state.

In NC there are only a handful of Wildlife Officers in each county and I would bet some counties don't even have WO's permanently stationed in the county. I don't think this is unusual since FLA was about the same though FLA had a few more WO's than NC. I used to hike in a large park wedged between two cities. I got to the point that I was bored with the marked trails and started walking the old trails and linking them with the new. One of these older trail sections was on the border of the park and ran along side a major road before the trail went back into the park down a power line. Someone was setting up on the road and shooting deer on the power line. I found 3-4 shot deer on that power line. I called in what was happening but I have no idea if the WO's set up on that road. Unless they got real lucky, they would have had to setup and waited for days to see if the killer returned. And in the end, they might not have ever caught them.

When we lived in the city, we had some noisy, drunk neighbors who we called the POlice on frequently. I was away one evening and my wife called about the drunks and the stupid dispatcher told the wife to go next door and tell the drunks to be quiet. Ah. NO. Sorry. *** I *** am not going to deal with a drunk neighbor. Too much risk and that is the PD's job. I sure don't want my wifey dealing with a drunk SOB.

Later,
Dan

 

[TripleR]

There are many legitimate reasons to fire a shotgun at night. Coyotes, dogs chasing cattle. People trespassing. It doesn't however indicate the people are not in thier right mind. it was across the river right? Not on your property. Right.

The example above dealing with the horse is a good example of someone "not in their right mind"

Agreed, hearing gunshots at night in my part of the country is not unusual and anyone who keeps a firearm for self defense probably should do some night fire exercises. My youngest son was training my oldest son's boy night firearms shooting with a handgun and AR15 type rifle and they put a lot of rounds downrange in my back yard range.

Predator control as mentioned is also not uncommon. At most, I "might" note the time if it is just one or two shots, but usually don't even then do that.

We live in a rural, but not isolated area with neighbors about and eighth and quarter mile away.

 

[KTurner]

Yesterday, two horses were shot in WV by an idiot with an AR-15. One was killed and one survived. According to the local news, the incident is still under investigation, but the man believed to be responsible has been arrested.

Generally speaking, I'm pro-gun. However, with incidents like this becoming ever more common, I sincerely believe that something has to be done. Some of you may recall my recent thread about a neighbor finding bullet holes, once again caused by an idiot with a gun. And ironically, as I type this message I just heard two gunshots across the river from my home, which happens all the time, even at night. Now, who in their right mind has any reason to shoot at night, especially in areas where many homes exist? None.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/front-porch/270460-bullet-holes-found.html

In my experience, unless something serious happens such as horses (or worse) being shot, it's all but impossible to get the police to take things seriously, let alone investigate. It has to stop.

Is being an idiot illegal? Is having a gun illegal? Is shooting across the river illegal? Or at night? How about any combination of those? So, why is everyone posting about 'where are the cops'? The man who is believed to actually having done something illegal has been arrested.

It's not the govts job to do everything for us. Trying to do that is whats wrong. Someone else posted about full service versus self service. The problem is that with full service, nobody learned how to do those things and that those things needed to be done. THAT is why they aren't being done now. Because people forgot or never learned how to take care of themselves. And instead of trying to teach people, the govt put out these mandates that now cars have to take their own tire air pressures and light up an idiot light on the dash when pressure is low. Making cars more expensive for everyone, even those that know the need and the howto of checking the tire pressure with a gauge (as a trivial example).

Keith

 

[texasjohn]

Shooting so that the bullet crosses over the river is illegal in Texas.

 

[Tomtint]

Shooting so that the bullet crosses over the river is illegal in Texas.

In what direction.....?

 

[MossRoad]

We have similar laws here, but very little enforcement. When I reported poaching 20+ years ago, at 1 am, the local rednecks were jacklighting deer right across from my house. I was asked by the poaching hotline folks to get the licence plate #!!! Right, go out there with pen and paper, ask some drunk hillbilly "what's that plate #?" In 26 years here, I've never seen a game officer on my road or anywhere near here. I see one frequently in deer season, in the local diner. In all fairness, I read that they only have about 80 wardens for the entire state.

That's too funny. I've ice fished in Michigan many times. I think only twice I have NOT been checked by a game warden! :laughing: I stopped fishing in Michigan because the out of state licenses cost too much AND because every time I go up there I get checked. I sincerely believe they drive around looking at all the vehicles parked at public access sites and sit and wait for the out of staters to come back to their cars! Must be higher fines for out of state, too. :laughing:

 

[MasseyWV]

Is being an idiot illegal?

No, but it should be. :laughing:

 

[PoorPlowboy]

Yesterday, two horses were shot in WV by an idiot with an AR-15. One was killed and one survived. According to the local news, the incident is still under investigation, but the man believed to be responsible has been arrested.

Generally speaking, I'm pro-gun. However, with incidents like this becoming ever more common, I sincerely believe that something has to be done. Some of you may recall my recent thread about a neighbor finding bullet holes, once again caused by an idiot with a gun. And ironically, as I type this message I just heard two gunshots across the river from my home, which happens all the time, even at night. Now, who in their right mind has any reason to shoot at night, especially in areas where many homes exist? None.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/front-porch/270460-bullet-holes-found.html

In my experience, unless something serious happens such as horses (or worse) being shot, it's all but impossible to get the police to take things seriously, let alone investigate. It has to stop.

Of course something has to be done. Hold the criminal responsible for the laws he has broken in this incident. Banning the tool that he used to commit his crime isn't going to stop the crime.

By the way, I shoot at night all the time. I shoot foxes, snakes, and raccoons out of my chicken house at all hours. I'll be shooting deer out of my gardens at night this spring if my depredation permit is accepted.