U K badger war

[redrock ranger]

Wally Bennett , i see there is a war on badgers over there. You involved in the culling of those disease carrying varmints ?

It might fill in for the lack of wabbits.

[Vermincinerator]

I read somewhere that the whole thing was a travesty with only 600 badgers killed, at a cost to the tax payer of £16,000 per beast ($24,000):eek::eek:

Ian.

[visiter1]

i cant speak for england but here in ireland the hole process is a joke as well as the licensing system for guns!!!

[OHShooter]

I read somewhere that the whole thing was a travesty with only 600 badgers killed, at a cost to the tax payer of £16,000 per beast ($24,000):eek::eek:

Ian.
Sounds about right. If you want something done ineffectively and at the greatest possible cost, get the government to do it. And it doesn't matter what government it is, they can screw it up.

[redrock ranger]

I seen it reported that our GOVY has $50000 in each Black Footed Ferret. I enquired at the visitors center in Badlands Park about ferrets getting the plague,answer was we vaccinate them .

[17varminter]

anything gubment touches is bound to be disaster, most famous example was when they took over a whore ranch in Nevada... How can a business that specializes in cookies fail!!!! answer: let the gubment run it

[redrock ranger]

MUSTANG RANCH i believe.

[Alycidon]

Cull only was targeted to remove 70% of estimated number of resident badgers in two areas, despite extending the time in one area 58% were killed and in the other 30%.

It was widely reported that 5% of the badgers took more than 5 mins to die when shot by govt approved 'marksmen'. Quite how that can be using a decent centerfire is beyond me, wack them through the centre chest like a fox.

I saw no advertisements for 'marksmen' anywhere so suspect they hired local pest control companies who may or may not have relevant firearms experience. Shooting a fox in a humane trap is a bit different to something at 200 yards on a windy night in a lamp.

Cant see why they could not use the free services of local Firearms Cert Holders with relevant experience. Mind you the antis were out in force so that would probably not bode to well for known local vehicles or people.

I did shoot next to a guy at a well known West Midlands target club some 20 years ago, he told me that during the recent Foot and Mouth disease outbreak he was employed to shoot any sheep missed on the hills in the slaughter round up. He used a 223, when i had a quiet look at his target as you do sometimes his groups averaged about 6 inches at 100 yards, yes 6 inch not .6.

Shooting sheep at 300 yards with that was inhumane in my opinion, no doubt a govt approved marksmen.

A

[English Marv]

The reported estimated length of time the culled badgers took to die has to be wrong. There can be no explanation other than that those opposed to the cull have claimed this to prevent further culling.

[Alycidon]

Agreed unless some gassing took place using Cymag or Phostoxin.

Cant see Badgers being any harder to kill than small deer although they are incredibly solid. Anything 204 and up will do the trick.

A

[tuck2]

The last two badgers I shot at about 75 yards were shot with a 17 HMR 17 Gr bullet , it was a bang dead deal. It was a short time after I first got the rifle . I wonted to see what the little 17 Cal would do. Since then I v stopped shooting them.

[Alycidon]

If you were based in the UK that would be highly illegal unless you were one of the govt approved marksmen in the areas concerned. Even then HMR is nowhere near good enough for the job at hand.

If identified you would be at risk of prosecution and certain loss of your firearms ticket, your guns would be confiscated, thats the UK for you, no doubt the USA sees things differently.

A

[gunner]

This cull was a fail . I nearly went on the coarse so i could help, and get paid for it , travelling expenses etc and being in Gloucestershire 1 of the 2 countys that had been cleared for cull . But im glad i didn't , the antis, late nights , crap money etc i thought naa , oh there was a minimum caliber too 224 centre fire and up , (222+) someone recently nearly had there rifle taken by a group of antis .The only decent thing to come out of it would of been new ground to shoot over ...

[cavscout68]

Years ago I shot a 4ft badger with a 243 in the head at approx 20yds.bullet lodged in the skull. But Didn't penetrate.badger was really loopy ,it took 2 shots to the body to put it down. Tough animal.

[Alycidon]

Friend of mine hit one with his 1969 Mini.

It moved the front subframe back into the foot well, wrote the car off.

A

[Qaz]

Years ago I shot a 4ft badger with a 243 in the head at approx 20yds.bullet lodged in the skull. But Didn't penetrate.badger was really loopy ,it took 2 shots to the body to put it down. Tough animal.

I hope to have the oppotunity to shoot a badger some day either the English or American version. I have heard how tuff they are, but I think that has been exaggerated somewhat. I know they are tuff animals, but a 243 bullet to the head @ 60ft would crack that skull like a coconut, if it did not explode!

[Gary in Illinois]

The only badger I've seen killed was at around 75 yards. My brother used a 17 hmr and at the shot the badger just slumped over dead - no movement at all.

Lucky shot? Maybe