What type of firearm would this be? Idiots targeting animals
Discussion
That’s a very big scope if it’s an air rifle - surely anything 12ftlb wouldn’t be useful at the ranges that scope is designed for?
Are you in the middle of nowhere? If the time is correct on your cctv it’s surely very risky to be wandering round with a rifle and a balaclava if there will be people about?
Are you in the middle of nowhere? If the time is correct on your cctv it’s surely very risky to be wandering round with a rifle and a balaclava if there will be people about?
Looks like an air rifle to me. The fact that he has a lamp on it suggests that he is shooting rabbits or rats. The size of the scope doesn't determine what range he is shooting at, as Defcon suggested, nor do we know if it is a 12 ft/lbs rifle or is shooting at FAC energy levels. All a large scope does, generally, is gather more light making it more suited for shooting in low light conditions.
Are you 100% sure that he isn't there shooting legal quarry (aforementioned rabbits or rats?) I've shot in fields holding sheep and cows, but as magpie215 has said, that wasn't what I was shooting.
Are you 100% sure that he isn't there shooting legal quarry (aforementioned rabbits or rats?) I've shot in fields holding sheep and cows, but as magpie215 has said, that wasn't what I was shooting.
Edited by DIW35 on Monday 2nd November 09:55
the size of scope is irrelevant to type of firearm. the scope appears to have an add on IR night vision device, or is an nigh vision scope. you'll see frig all through a scope in the dark otherwise. i suspect air rifle. said arse may not be targeting what you think, could be legit rabbit control to protect livestock from holes all over the place. could be surveying field through scope for big eared diggy t
ts. poor practice pointing firearm to scan fields though.
ts. poor practice pointing firearm to scan fields though. magpie215 said:
Looks like an air rifle of some kind......what makes you think hes going for the Alpacas?
I used to shoot on a pig farm.....doesn't mean my quarry was pigs though.
I'm as sure as I can be, short of witnessing it first hand. reported by a local business. We have a high tI used to shoot on a pig farm.....doesn't mean my quarry was pigs though.
t quota here, sadly:
Here's the FB (I know, I know....) quote:
"Hi everyone. I have sadly tried to inform you of a horrific incident at my alpacas , but it was declined as 'inappropriate content ' .
This 'man' was caught on camera for the last few nights with a gun, shooting at my alpacas.. they seem ok so hes clearly a bad shot.
He drives an old silver astra and I was appealing for help to catch him...."
That whole scope is emitting IR, so it is likely to have active electronics in it - I’d suspect an image intensifier. The illuminator is at the back, you can see it lighting up the fence post - it may be a rear mounted intensifier, and the “hot” scope may simply be reflection off the illuminator. I’m saving up for a proper thermal imager, the problems with IR reflections are a PITA.
As to the calibre - god knows. There is a horizontal blob of light where the end of the barrel is which could look like a big moderator. So it might be someone foxing with a .223. They tend to be the guys with night vision set ups.
As to legality - depends whose land it is. If it is your land and you haven’t given permission, he could be in a world of hurt. But if it isn’t your land and the farmer has given permission, then all is well.
Edit - second picture is much clearer. The guy is also standing behind the fence - so is he even on the land in question?
As to the calibre - god knows. There is a horizontal blob of light where the end of the barrel is which could look like a big moderator. So it might be someone foxing with a .223. They tend to be the guys with night vision set ups.
As to legality - depends whose land it is. If it is your land and you haven’t given permission, he could be in a world of hurt. But if it isn’t your land and the farmer has given permission, then all is well.
Edit - second picture is much clearer. The guy is also standing behind the fence - so is he even on the land in question?
Edited by rxe on Monday 2nd November 13:24
Defcon5 said:
That’s a very big scope if it’s an air rifle - surely anything 12ftlb wouldn’t be useful at the ranges that scope is designed for?
Are you in the middle of nowhere? If the time is correct on your cctv it’s surely very risky to be wandering round with a rifle and a balaclava if there will be people about?
Very near civilisaiton, but also decades away juding by the look of some of the locals.Are you in the middle of nowhere? If the time is correct on your cctv it’s surely very risky to be wandering round with a rifle and a balaclava if there will be people about?
We have, put it this way, very regular patrols of MOD Police around here so the balaclava and rifle getup is not the work of a genius, for sure.
CloudStuff said:
"Hi everyone. I have sadly tried to inform you of a horrific incident at my alpacas , but it was declined as 'inappropriate content ' .
This 'man' was caught on camera for the last few nights with a gun, shooting at my alpacas.. they seem ok so hes clearly a bad shot.
He drives an old silver astra and I was appealing for help to catch him...."
Quite clearly he is not shooting at the alpacas if none of them have been harmed. He is more likely lamping for rabbits, this doesn't make him not an arse though, since it would appear that he doesn't have permission. Standing outside the fence and shooting onto property doesn't mean that it's remotely OK either.This 'man' was caught on camera for the last few nights with a gun, shooting at my alpacas.. they seem ok so hes clearly a bad shot.
He drives an old silver astra and I was appealing for help to catch him...."
MKnight702 said:
Quite clearly he is not shooting at the alpacas if none of them have been harmed. He is more likely lamping for rabbits, this doesn't make him not an arse though, since it would appear that he doesn't have permission. Standing outside the fence and shooting onto property doesn't mean that it's remotely OK either.
I don’t think you can tell from a still photo. He may well be standing on land that he has permission for, but looking using the scope onto land that he doesn’t have permission for. If he took a shot, then that is bad. If however he was simply wondering where the rabbits/foxes had gone, then he’s done nothing wrong.
From a still photo, you have no idea of the direction a shot was fired in, or if there was even a shot.
If Alpaca man owns the land in front of and behind the fence, then the bloke is out of order, and plod come down pretty hard on such things.
Air rifle with a NV setup on the scope.
Find it hard to believe a bell end with that much invested in kit would start shooting at Alpacas!
Might be worth sharing it on to https://www.airgunforum.co.uk/community/index.php
They are a good bunch and can probably identify everything in the pic!
Find it hard to believe a bell end with that much invested in kit would start shooting at Alpacas!
Might be worth sharing it on to https://www.airgunforum.co.uk/community/index.php
They are a good bunch and can probably identify everything in the pic!
Under the Night Poaching Act 1828 it is an offence at night to unlawfully take or destroy any game or rabbits on any land, open or enclosed, this includes public roads, paths and verges. Night is one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise. I had a feeling that any motor vehicle used in Night Poaching can also be seized?
Under section 30 of the Game Act 1831 it is an offence for any person to trespass in the daytime by entering or being upon any land in search or pursuit of game, woodcock, snipe or rabbits.
It is also an offence under the Firearms Act 1968 to enter or be on any land or building as a trespasser whilst in possession of a firearm without reasonable excuse, or without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to have a loaded shotgun or loaded air weapon, or any other firearm loaded or not together with suitable ammunition, in a public place.
Under section 30 of the Game Act 1831 it is an offence for any person to trespass in the daytime by entering or being upon any land in search or pursuit of game, woodcock, snipe or rabbits.
It is also an offence under the Firearms Act 1968 to enter or be on any land or building as a trespasser whilst in possession of a firearm without reasonable excuse, or without lawful authority or reasonable excuse to have a loaded shotgun or loaded air weapon, or any other firearm loaded or not together with suitable ammunition, in a public place.
rxe said:
That whole scope is emitting IR, so it is likely to have active electronics in it - I’d suspect an image intensifier. The illuminator is at the back, you can see it lighting up the fence post - it may be a rear mounted intensifier, and the “hot” scope may simply be reflection off the illuminator. I’m saving up for a proper thermal imager, the problems with IR reflections are a PITA.
As to the calibre - god knows. There is a horizontal blob of light where the end of the barrel is which could look like a big moderator. So it might be someone foxing with a .223. They tend to be the guys with night vision set ups.
As to legality - depends whose land it is. If it is your land and you haven’t given permission, he could be in a world of hurt. But if it isn’t your land and the farmer has given permission, then all is well.
Edit - second picture is much clearer. The guy is also standing behind the fence - so is he even on the land in question?
I'd say air rifle with night vision add on. I have similar for rabbiting, the large scope is all about getting the light in, with the sensor attached, although I use an IR torch and don't cast a visible beam. Not sure about using a torchAs to the calibre - god knows. There is a horizontal blob of light where the end of the barrel is which could look like a big moderator. So it might be someone foxing with a .223. They tend to be the guys with night vision set ups.
As to legality - depends whose land it is. If it is your land and you haven’t given permission, he could be in a world of hurt. But if it isn’t your land and the farmer has given permission, then all is well.
Edit - second picture is much clearer. The guy is also standing behind the fence - so is he even on the land in question?
Edited by rxe on Monday 2nd November 13:24
Edited by Byker28i on Monday 2nd November 14:04
I would try and find out from the landowner of the land he's on if he has permission to hunt rabbits, rats etc. He could simply be scoping out runs on that side of the fence rather than actually engaging anything there. If he's returning to the same place each night, perhaps leave a note in an obvious location with a contact number asking him to clear up what exactly he's doing and what permission he has.
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