All they care about is satisfying their blood lust. They probably do leave dead and dying birds to attract foxes and carrion so they have an excuse to kill them too. Depraved doesn't even cover it!
Apparently gamekeepers are proud to state that they “shoot, trap and poison natural predators to protect the pheasants”. Who gave them the right to play God? The predators (hawks, foxes, etc) are part of our natural wildlife, and also need protection.
I find similar near grouse moors….including plastic bags of dead young pheasants. The moors are now a disgrace to anyone else but gamekeepers, shooters , the royals and their ilk.
Great article. Having lived for 8 years on a shooting estate in Scotland I’ve seen firsthand the devastation wrought by ‘shooting’ gamekeepers. It’s the ‘wild west’ where cruel, unpleasant people can abuse wildlife, the environment and non-shooters without let or hindrance. But it’s more than just a vile activity; it’s a vile way of life and it needs to be revealed for what it is as you say.
Then again, I guess it’s a ‘statement activity’ that represents how people of power abuse the whole planet as if this was their primary aim; to say “f*ck you” to those of us who care. So despite all the ballyhoo about species extinction and climate change they just spoil away regardless.
Unless we ‘change the system’ - and the role such bad actors play in it - we’re lost. The rest is just tinkering around the edges.
Yes, reading the comments below, our species is not very nice one way or another other than those of us who really do care. Social behaviour is breaking down horribly but I am a strong believer in things going in phases, swinging like a pendulum, and with the persistent work of those of us decent it will change, but we need the support of the government to properly make things work with punishment where applicable, but a great deal of the barriers to all this is with the House of Lords, they were the ones who scuppered the recent Animals Rights Bill and much more previously through the ages. Abolish the House of Lords, have confiscation laws in place and stop using tax payers money to pay titled and wealthy landowners unless they can categorically prove they are behaving environmentally correctly would be a good start.
I echo what has been said previously, thank goodness for bodies like Protect the Wild - thanks for all you do.
I agree with John that a lot of damage is from city-dwellers, I live on an inner London council estate and the amount of fly-tipping in my street is horrendous, especially with being a 'Dales-man' (Born in the N York. Dales ;-) )!
But (there's always a 'but' ;-) ), most folks don't go around claiming to be 'protectors of the Countryside' or responsible for wildlife conservation areas like a lot of the offenders in this article.
There's been plenty of media coverage about how the countryside is declining, from social media to TV news to newspapers to online magazines and blogs etc. folks can no longer honestly claim ignorance of the situation.
The law definitely needs updating, with stronger sentences from heavy fines and imprisonment to ideally confiscating lands and properties for those who abuse the land that's supposed to be in their care.
These large Land owner care little about the land or what goes on. I would like to see it all taken from them. They probably aquired it quite illegally many generations ago! Just let them keep the house and a few acres and leave the rest to nature!
Whilst agreeing with the right to roam, as a Horse rider, I have seen the mess a lot of ramblers leave in the countryside and people visiting from the cities. Many are responsible, many are not. I think there's a need to educate people more on the consequences of their actions and maybe some harsh punitive measures against irresponsibility.
When I use footpaths I see very little litter, however I do see lick buckets chucked in hedges, plastic feed bags, black plastic sheeting, bits of twine everywhere. Most farmers are no respecters of the land, just as 60% of marine litter is from fishermen.
Now, when I walk on quite roads, that’s quite a different story, litter everywhere chucked out of cars.
Those with money and power have always hunted animals, and severely punished anyone else who did so. The saddest thing is that people who want to join their ranks, will do the same just to be like them.
All they care about is satisfying their blood lust. They probably do leave dead and dying birds to attract foxes and carrion so they have an excuse to kill them too. Depraved doesn't even cover it!
This is why landowners don’t want us on their land, because we would find out about all the misuse, snares, stink pits, litter, burning etc.
Thank the heavens for organizations like yourselves..
Keep up the good work !
Apparently gamekeepers are proud to state that they “shoot, trap and poison natural predators to protect the pheasants”. Who gave them the right to play God? The predators (hawks, foxes, etc) are part of our natural wildlife, and also need protection.
Yes,
totally right and imported poor little pheasants just so some morons can kill them. Truly sick people!
WHY DON'T THESE "SHOOTERS" JUST SHOOT EACH OTHER??? MUCH MORE FUN. ARSEHOLES!
I find similar near grouse moors….including plastic bags of dead young pheasants. The moors are now a disgrace to anyone else but gamekeepers, shooters , the royals and their ilk.
Great article. Having lived for 8 years on a shooting estate in Scotland I’ve seen firsthand the devastation wrought by ‘shooting’ gamekeepers. It’s the ‘wild west’ where cruel, unpleasant people can abuse wildlife, the environment and non-shooters without let or hindrance. But it’s more than just a vile activity; it’s a vile way of life and it needs to be revealed for what it is as you say.
Then again, I guess it’s a ‘statement activity’ that represents how people of power abuse the whole planet as if this was their primary aim; to say “f*ck you” to those of us who care. So despite all the ballyhoo about species extinction and climate change they just spoil away regardless.
Unless we ‘change the system’ - and the role such bad actors play in it - we’re lost. The rest is just tinkering around the edges.
Yes, reading the comments below, our species is not very nice one way or another other than those of us who really do care. Social behaviour is breaking down horribly but I am a strong believer in things going in phases, swinging like a pendulum, and with the persistent work of those of us decent it will change, but we need the support of the government to properly make things work with punishment where applicable, but a great deal of the barriers to all this is with the House of Lords, they were the ones who scuppered the recent Animals Rights Bill and much more previously through the ages. Abolish the House of Lords, have confiscation laws in place and stop using tax payers money to pay titled and wealthy landowners unless they can categorically prove they are behaving environmentally correctly would be a good start.
I echo what has been said previously, thank goodness for bodies like Protect the Wild - thanks for all you do.
I agree with John that a lot of damage is from city-dwellers, I live on an inner London council estate and the amount of fly-tipping in my street is horrendous, especially with being a 'Dales-man' (Born in the N York. Dales ;-) )!
But (there's always a 'but' ;-) ), most folks don't go around claiming to be 'protectors of the Countryside' or responsible for wildlife conservation areas like a lot of the offenders in this article.
There's been plenty of media coverage about how the countryside is declining, from social media to TV news to newspapers to online magazines and blogs etc. folks can no longer honestly claim ignorance of the situation.
The law definitely needs updating, with stronger sentences from heavy fines and imprisonment to ideally confiscating lands and properties for those who abuse the land that's supposed to be in their care.
These large Land owner care little about the land or what goes on. I would like to see it all taken from them. They probably aquired it quite illegally many generations ago! Just let them keep the house and a few acres and leave the rest to nature!
Whilst agreeing with the right to roam, as a Horse rider, I have seen the mess a lot of ramblers leave in the countryside and people visiting from the cities. Many are responsible, many are not. I think there's a need to educate people more on the consequences of their actions and maybe some harsh punitive measures against irresponsibility.
When I use footpaths I see very little litter, however I do see lick buckets chucked in hedges, plastic feed bags, black plastic sheeting, bits of twine everywhere. Most farmers are no respecters of the land, just as 60% of marine litter is from fishermen.
Now, when I walk on quite roads, that’s quite a different story, litter everywhere chucked out of cars.
There is a world of difference between litter louts and blood thirsty killers. I hate both.
Those with money and power have always hunted animals, and severely punished anyone else who did so. The saddest thing is that people who want to join their ranks, will do the same just to be like them.
They are a vile and evil bunch of sadistic perverts.