cloudsurfer wrote:I'm one of the few ppl around the local farms here who is licensed A and B (incl for rec. hunting/vermin control) and I have gotten a few calls lately from the local WIRES asking me to put down animals like roos etc that have been injured in car accidents.
So far I've gotten around it every time as the animal was always DOA.
My choice would be my 223 for the job however it's very loud and can scare or upset onlookers.
There is also the question of legality of shooting outside your property...
So I guess my question is twofold:
1) What is the legal implication for me to shoot an animal on the side of the road, basically on public property? Do I need to drag it onto my property first in order to shoot it? Also to shoot it on the nearest property, do I need written permission from the owner to shoot it or is verbal good enough?
2) What caliber do you recommend to shoot at close range? I would imagine even a 22LR is deadly to large animals like roos at 2-3m range and my 223 would be too loud and overkill?
Oldbloke wrote:Bladeracer is right. It's a mine field.
But vets and cops do it..?
Perhaps ask the local vet, he may know something. Perhaps you can get some sort of written authority from a government department, say the cops. Repeat, get it in writing. Do your due diligence.
Good luck.
Fionn wrote:• Understand the Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of kangaroos, wallabies and
wombats; and...
bladeracer wrote:cloudsurfer wrote:I'm one of the few ppl around the local farms here who is licensed A and B (incl for rec. hunting/vermin control) and I have gotten a few calls lately from the local WIRES asking me to put down animals like roos etc that have been injured in car accidents.
So far I've gotten around it every time as the animal was always DOA.
My choice would be my 223 for the job however it's very loud and can scare or upset onlookers.
There is also the question of legality of shooting outside your property...
So I guess my question is twofold:
1) What is the legal implication for me to shoot an animal on the side of the road, basically on public property? Do I need to drag it onto my property first in order to shoot it? Also to shoot it on the nearest property, do I need written permission from the owner to shoot it or is verbal good enough?
2) What caliber do you recommend to shoot at close range? I would imagine even a 22LR is deadly to large animals like roos at 2-3m range and my 223 would be too loud and overkill?
The big issue is that roads are prohibited places to even have a loaded firearm...a knife or club may be a legally-safer option.
Combine that with it being illegal to harm native animals or to take dead native animals from the road side and it's a minefield if you happen to be spotted by a moron. It's possible that some states might have added an exclusion for humanely ending an injured animal so check your Animal Welfare Acts, Regs and Codes.
And the road surface is perfect for ricochets which you must be mindful of with low-velocity bullets (a nasty onlooker could make the claim that this makes shooting "dangerous" or "reckless" - I've known actual shooters(!) make this claim about shooting toward or across water as well). Straight down into the top of the head so the bullet stays inside the body is good, otherwise hopefully the roadside has a bit of berm you can aim toward. I would be hesitant to drag it onto somebody's property to shoot it if I don't know them, or at least believe that they would be okay with it.
Basically, the idiot ideology we've been lumbered with would prefer to see animals die the most drawn-out and painful deaths possible than have a right-minded person end an animal's suffering the most humane way possible. Even the RSPCA acknowledges that shooting is the best way - but _only_ when done by "professionals".
But, we live on a road to a stone quarry, big heavy vehicles zoom past at 100kph every twenty minutes on weekdays. And they often start coming at 0400. A lot of 'roos and wombats get nailed. Most of the time they're close to death by the time I find them and can get, and return with, a rifle. A .22LR at near-contact (so the muzzle blast follows the bullet into the wound) generally finishes them off. But some can be very feisty, you just rile them up getting close to them making it very difficult to shoot them cleanly. For these I prefer the .204 with reduced loads, similar to .22 Hornet (or WMR/HMR) so I can shoot from further away. The tiny high-velocity bullet tends to break up so no risk of anything hefty enough to cause trouble making it out the other side. If it's scoped, do some practice at 5m and 10m so you're aware how high you have to aim due to the bore offset. For bigger beasts, like calves and cows, I have used .22LR but it is far below what I consider the minimum required. My preference there is a pistol chambering (.38, .357, .44 or .45) or a shotgun slug (a rifled pistol adapter in a 12ga. is perfect - you can grab a gun and a couple of adapters and rounds and decide when you get to the scene which is most appropriate).
IanSM wrote:About 12mths ago, was faced with tis same situation in rural SA. Rang local cop and explained the situation. He said he was unavailable to attend. Asked if we were competent and comfortable to do the job. I said "Yes" but would need to shoot from main road and was concerned about legality or if someone driving past reported me. Officer gave me his badge number and contact details and told me to pass them on to anyone who was concerned and he would confirm that he authorised me to perform the task.Fortunately there where no complaints and roo was put down with single headshot at about 80 mtrs with 22.250. Good outcome for all.
IanSM wrote:About 12mths ago, was faced with tis same situation in rural SA. Rang local cop and explained the situation. He said he was unavailable to attend. Asked if we were competent and comfortable to do the job. I said "Yes" but would need to shoot from main road and was concerned about legality or if someone driving past reported me. Officer gave me his badge number and contact details and told me to pass them on to anyone who was concerned and he would confirm that he authorised me to perform the task.Fortunately there where no complaints and roo was put down with single headshot at about 80 mtrs with 22.250. Good outcome for all.
northdude wrote:I recon the 22lr has probably put down more animals in above situation than any other caliber