Catapult incident
Discussion
I was walking through a nearby copse and noticed a newish bike that looked like it had been dumped. I glanced about to see if there was an owner and saw nothing so I nearly got to the point of telling the police but then I saw a bloke in about his early 20's looking up a tree firing a hunting catapult up at something about 50m away partially hidden behind foilage.
So instinct kicks in and I shout "oi what you doing" the twerk replies "I'm shooting squirrels"....he then walks towards me and I walked off briskerly as I'm thinking this idiot will start to shoot at me. He tries to catch up and shouts "why" as to question why I'm challenging him.
I decided to try 101, utter waste of time and was given a number of different options to press and nobody to log an "actual" crime with...so dialled 999.
They took details but should public be doing this? I had no choice tbh.
Before you jump down my throat and say no, the area has had cars shot at with catapults, other acts of cruelty so it's happening a lot and I live at the back of this copse so certainly wouldn't want my partner and toddler son running into this.
So instinct kicks in and I shout "oi what you doing" the twerk replies "I'm shooting squirrels"....he then walks towards me and I walked off briskerly as I'm thinking this idiot will start to shoot at me. He tries to catch up and shouts "why" as to question why I'm challenging him.
I decided to try 101, utter waste of time and was given a number of different options to press and nobody to log an "actual" crime with...so dialled 999.
They took details but should public be doing this? I had no choice tbh.
Before you jump down my throat and say no, the area has had cars shot at with catapults, other acts of cruelty so it's happening a lot and I live at the back of this copse so certainly wouldn't want my partner and toddler son running into this.
Interesting turn of events, near my parents you can have a wonderful walk down grass trails used by equestrians etc.. now and again you come across local lads lawfully shooting pheasants with guns and catapults, or setup for some reindeer shooting.
You can literally turn a tight bend thinking it was bird scares popping off and lads are there with guns not too far from an off road beast, and find them looking at you uncertain if you have an issue, just walking or want to see official documents.
It's unclear if the guy just wanted to know if you were police, owner etc or was up to bash you in the face.
You can literally turn a tight bend thinking it was bird scares popping off and lads are there with guns not too far from an off road beast, and find them looking at you uncertain if you have an issue, just walking or want to see official documents.
It's unclear if the guy just wanted to know if you were police, owner etc or was up to bash you in the face.
Edited by NFT on Saturday 9th December 18:31
If it was 50 metres up that's a bloody tall tree any some very good eyesight . . .
If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Donbot said:
If it was 50 metres up that's a bloody tall tree any some very good eyesight . . .
If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Hunting squirrels with a hunting catapult ? So what ?If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Perhaps the guy had permission to control the vermin.
Perhaps not starting your exchange with 'Oi, you !' next time may prove a little more enlightening and you may learn something of the ways of the country.
Irresponsible/dangerous ? Perhaps if the guy had been using a .308, a Flamethrower or grenade launcher you may have a point, but the chances of a ball bearing missing Mr Fluffy and ricocheting into the OP were slimmer than a branch falling from the same tree on a windy day.
Better buy a helmet.
Pelicula said:
Donbot said:
If it was 50 metres up that's a bloody tall tree any some very good eyesight . . .
If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Hunting squirrels with a hunting catapult ? So what ?If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Perhaps the guy had permission to control the vermin.
Perhaps not starting your exchange with 'Oi, you !' next time may prove a little more enlightening and you may learn something of the ways of the country.
Irresponsible/dangerous ? Perhaps if the guy had been using a .308, a Flamethrower or grenade launcher you may have a point, but the chances of a ball bearing missing Mr Fluffy and ricocheting into the OP were slimmer than a branch falling from the same tree on a windy day.
Better buy a helmet.
People can only fire birdshot from shotguns in the air because they are small light pellets.
NFT said:
Interesting turn of events, near my parents you can have a wonderful walk down grass trails used by equestrians etc.. now and again you come across local lads lawfully shooting pheasants with guns and catapults, or setup for some reindeer shooting.
You can literally turn a tight bend thinking it was bird scares popping off and lads are there with guns not too far from an off road beast, and find them looking at you uncertain if you have an issue, just walking or want to see official documents.
It's unclear if the guy just wanted to know if you were police, owner etc or was up to bash you in the face.
Do what? And this was the edited version!You can literally turn a tight bend thinking it was bird scares popping off and lads are there with guns not too far from an off road beast, and find them looking at you uncertain if you have an issue, just walking or want to see official documents.
It's unclear if the guy just wanted to know if you were police, owner etc or was up to bash you in the face.
Edited by NFT on Saturday 9th December 18:31
sean ie3 said:
The only thing that bothers me about this is using small arms let alone a catapult to kill anything at distance, the most important thing being a clean kill, the OP might have opined 'oi you, what do you think you are going to kill with that'.
You need only 3.5ftlbs to kill most animals with a shot to the head, I kill rats with 12ftlb air rifle and you get a very clean kill, I have known people to use 5to 6 ftlb pistols. A standard black widow catapult delivers around 8 ftlb. I wouldnt take a shot with an air rifle at a rat much beyond 50 metered myself.
I have seen people hit coins off tree limbs with catapults at a range that I might wonder about with an air rifle unless I had the rifle rested (I.e. not confident just free standing). They can be very effective weapons in the right hands.
Donbot said:
Pelicula said:
Donbot said:
If it was 50 metres up that's a bloody tall tree any some very good eyesight . . .
If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Hunting squirrels with a hunting catapult ? So what ?If you are concerned about damage to property / safety all you can really do is report it. Doesn't matter if is public or private land. Unless you fancy an argument with someone with a weapon.
It is irresponsible / dangerous to be using a catapult to go after stuff in trees regardless.
Perhaps the guy had permission to control the vermin.
Perhaps not starting your exchange with 'Oi, you !' next time may prove a little more enlightening and you may learn something of the ways of the country.
Irresponsible/dangerous ? Perhaps if the guy had been using a .308, a Flamethrower or grenade launcher you may have a point, but the chances of a ball bearing missing Mr Fluffy and ricocheting into the OP were slimmer than a branch falling from the same tree on a windy day.
Better buy a helmet.
What if though, there was f
k All to hit beyond the squirrel ?I'm guessing here but if there was a giant glass skyscraper or a party of school children enjoying an aerial trapeze outing the OP would've mentioned it.
BertBert said:
NFT said:
Interesting turn of events, near my parents you can have a wonderful walk down grass trails used by equestrians etc.. now and again you come across local lads lawfully shooting pheasants with guns and catapults, or setup for some reindeer shooting.
You can literally turn a tight bend thinking it was bird scares popping off and lads are there with guns not too far from an off road beast, and find them looking at you uncertain if you have an issue, just walking or want to see official documents.
It's unclear if the guy just wanted to know if you were police, owner etc or was up to bash you in the face.
Do what? And this was the edited version!You can literally turn a tight bend thinking it was bird scares popping off and lads are there with guns not too far from an off road beast, and find them looking at you uncertain if you have an issue, just walking or want to see official documents.
It's unclear if the guy just wanted to know if you were police, owner etc or was up to bash you in the face.
Edited by NFT on Saturday 9th December 18:31
sean ie3 said:
The only thing that bothers me about this is using small arms let alone a catapult to kill anything at distance, the most important thing being a clean kill, the OP might have opined 'oi you, what do you think you are going to kill with that'.
If not small arms to kill a squirrel, what calibre would you suggest ?Don't get me wrong, people f
king 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.To put some global context on this. I was recently in Quebec, Canada, for a photography trip.
I was told in all seriousness as I was going mainly into a national park, that I should be fine. It being hunting season, if I decided to go outside the park, I was strongly advised to wear at least a bright orange cap. And the hunters weren't using catapults.
I was told in all seriousness as I was going mainly into a national park, that I should be fine. It being hunting season, if I decided to go outside the park, I was strongly advised to wear at least a bright orange cap. And the hunters weren't using catapults.
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?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 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".
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