Catapult incident

[Evanivitch]

Caddyshack said:

Catapults are not illegal and not classed as an offensive weapon.

I do not think there is any law about not hunting squirrels

As long as any missed shot is managed then I don’t think there was an issue personally. Lots of people eat squirrel.

Anything can be an offensive weapon in the UK, catapult would definitely be considered one in many circumstances, but perhaps you meant it's not a firearm?

You definitely can't shoot red squirrels.

You definitely must provide humane dispatch to grey squirrels.

You cannot use stones in a hand catapult.

But really, shooting grey squirrels is probably near the bottom of "things people kill".

[NFT]

Evanivitch said:

Caddyshack said:

Catapults are not illegal and not classed as an offensive weapon.

I do not think there is any law about not hunting squirrels

As long as any missed shot is managed then I don’t think there was an issue personally. Lots of people eat squirrel.

Anything can be an offensive weapon in the UK, catapult would definitely be considered one in many circumstances, but perhaps you meant it's not a firearm?

You definitely can't shoot red squirrels.

You definitely must provide humane dispatch to grey squirrels.

You cannot use stones in a hand catapult.

But really, shooting grey squirrels is probably near the bottom of "things people kill".

Anyone actually taste them?, curious now as they damage/kill trees and have a lot near me, cat just bops them on head and lets them go again.

[Evanivitch]

NFT said:

Anyone actually taste them?, curious now as they damage/kill trees and have a lot near me, cat just bops them on head and lets them go again.

Can't say I'm over the Rats with good PR viewpoint, but some are...

https://www.greatbritishfoodawards.com/blog/should...

[JonnyWhitters]

Pelicula said:

If not small arms to kill a squirrel, what calibre would you suggest ?

Don't get me wrong, people fking about with any type of firearm etc need a good hiding (I'm fed up of replacing glass panels in my gatepost lamps...) but someone engaging in lawful activity without endangering anyone but his quarry should not be pestered by busybodies.

12 bore shotguns are particularly effective and better at destroying their nests. Whichever method is used the shooter needs to be sure of safe backstops and be aware of their surroundings and what else wanders into their arc. “Whatifs” are commonplace in safe shooting

[Caddyshack]

JonnyWhitters said:

Pelicula said:

If not small arms to kill a squirrel, what calibre would you suggest ?

Don't get me wrong, people fking about with any type of firearm etc need a good hiding (I'm fed up of replacing glass panels in my gatepost lamps...) but someone engaging in lawful activity without endangering anyone but his quarry should not be pestered by busybodies.

12 bore shotguns are particularly effective and better at destroying their nests. Whichever method is used the shooter needs to be sure of safe backstops and be aware of their surroundings and what else wanders into their arc. “Whatifs” are commonplace in safe shooting

Does that leave much to eat?

[jeremyh1]

Go back with a bow and arrow and shoot him in the balls

[Narcisus]

[Caddyshack]

jeremyh1 said:

Go back with a bow and arrow and shoot him in the balls

It’s illegal to hunt with a bow and arrow so I think hunting a teenager might be frowned upon.

[nute]

A 10mm steel ball bearing is probably one of the most common types of catapult ammo. Its going to be heavy enough to hurt or damage something if it comes down on a person/car etc. I have a catapult around somewhere, I can't hit a barn door with it & no chance at 50m.

[Caddyshack]

Evanivitch said:

Caddyshack said:

Catapults are not illegal and not classed as an offensive weapon.

I do not think there is any law about not hunting squirrels

As long as any missed shot is managed then I don’t think there was an issue personally. Lots of people eat squirrel.

Anything can be an offensive weapon in the UK, catapult would definitely be considered one in many circumstances, but perhaps you meant it's not a firearm?

You definitely can't shoot red squirrels.

You definitely must provide humane dispatch to grey squirrels.

You cannot use stones in a hand catapult.

But really, shooting grey squirrels is probably near the bottom of "things people kill".

What I meant was, a catapult is not automatically designated as an offensive weapon. If you had a knuckle duster it is automatically an offensive weapon. Same with a flick knife etc…ie a catapult is not illegal to have in public in your possession.

I think everyone knew the post was about grey squirrels.

Lots of people eat grey squirrels.

There is an active reduction in grey squirrels in many conservation areas.

Edited by Caddyshack on Sunday 10th December 20:46

[Caddyshack]

Here is a link to a map of the numerous grey squirrels culling areas

https://www.britishredsquirrel.org/red-squirrels/r...

[R6tty]

Think of the children. The squirrels' children.

[Caddyshack]

nute said:

A 10mm steel ball bearing is probably one of the most common types of catapult ammo. Its going to be heavy enough to hurt or damage something if it comes down on a person/car etc. I have a catapult around somewhere, I can't hit a barn door with it & no chance at 50m.

I think you mis understood the post.

I said I had seen people hit a coin in a tree at a distance I was not sure I could hit the coin with an air rifle when I was not In a rested position.

The 50m was another sentence and I was explaining that I would not take a shot at a rat at over 50m

[Caddyshack]

Loads of YouTube vids of amazing catapult accuracy

Here is the very first one I found….oddly enough hitting coins and sound like Caddyshack by his username but both are just coincidence

This is a more traditional catapult so no sights, no weights and no arm brace

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gGwINGsJNE4&pp=y...

[FazerBoy]

Narcisus said:

That Rylan’s bulked up a bit…

[Caddyshack]

Evanivitch said:

Caddyshack said:

Catapults are not illegal and not classed as an offensive weapon.

I do not think there is any law about not hunting squirrels

As long as any missed shot is managed then I don’t think there was an issue personally. Lots of people eat squirrel.

Anything can be an offensive weapon in the UK, catapult would definitely be considered one in many circumstances, but perhaps you meant it's not a firearm?
quote]

There is a list of offensive weapons under The Criminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) Order 1988, a catapult is not on the list which is very long.

Yes, a stick could be an offensive weapon if used in a threatening manner but I did not mean that.

[Quattromaster]

My late father used to shoot squirrels with shotguns with his pals while growing up in Brentwood, then sell the tails to local butcher.

This was the 50s, can you imagine 4 lads running round with shotguns now.

He loved the woods and that time of his life, he’s currently sitting in my wardrobe, when Mum goes I’ve to mix them together in a cement mixer, he was a builder, lol, and then sprinkle them both in the woods.

[Caddyshack]

Quattromaster said:

My late father used to shoot squirrels with shotguns with his pals while growing up in Brentwood, then sell the tails to local butcher.

This was the 50s, can you imagine 4 lads running round with shotguns now.

He loved the woods and that time of his life, he’s currently sitting in my wardrobe, when Mum goes I’ve to mix them together in a cement mixer, he was a builder, lol, and then sprinkle them both in the woods.

I have heard of the butchers paying before, what did they do with the tails? Was it some form of incentive to reduce the numbers and the butcher paid the fee?

I heard of someone on the Norfolk broads buying a house for cash after there was a bounty on some invasive rat thing and his dad used to hunt but became a sort of intermediary.

[Caddyshack]

Evanivitch said:

Caddyshack said:

Catapults are not illegal and not classed as an offensive weapon.

I do not think there is any law about not hunting squirrels

As long as any missed shot is managed then I don’t think there was an issue personally. Lots of people eat squirrel.

You cannot use stones in a hand catapult.
".

Yes you can.

You cannot hunt with stones in a catapult as that is classed as stoning an animal to death which is illegal.

[Evanivitch]

Caddyshack said:

Yes you can.

You cannot hunt with stones in a catapult as that is classed as stoning an animal to death which is illegal.

Is that a 5-part response now?