Julian Camilleri, Sliema
Shooting alternative
Those whose hunting activities have been affected in recent times should consider swapping their guns for cameras. Both hunting and wildlife photography share a near identical skill-set of stalking, patience, accuracy, timing, stealth, wind skills and knowledge of prey. Both require equipment that must be loved and well maintained.
Both require similar clothing. Both produce a prize. Both have a trigger, but only one results in death. Only one is legal throughout the year. Only one allows you to shoot protected species. Only one has an endless future.
I can't wait to see what you shoot.
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bertu saliba
Oct 5th 2008, 23:22
@Mr Robert Garmston, you should check the RSPB web-site and read about that English gamekeeper, who shot 102 buzzards,40 ravens,and 37 badgers and was fined a mere 200 pound sterling, last Sept, 19 sept 2008 to be exact ,and you want to mention Paceville, what about those english football fans,what about those people being knife stabbed in Uk. please,please be polite
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 5th 2008, 22:00
R Garmston.
In the UK, Pheasant, Partridge (Red &French) and Mallard are the only type of birds reared for shooting.
All geese, duck, pigeon, corvids, woodcock, snipe, grouse, capercaille, plover etc. shot in the UK are wild migrating birds just like the birds we shoot in Malta.
I am indicating a site of all huntable wild birds in the uk
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/resprog/findings/huntable-birds/scientific-summary.pdf
I am doing this so that readers can see for themselves the stupidity of comments such as yours.
You are saying absolute gibberish. Before making a fool of yourself yet again, with some other "tired" comments, I suggest you too read the attached DEFRA report.
Also, try reading something about bird migration. this might help you learn why Malta is devoid of wildlife for most of the year.
Readers are awaiting your apology. Unless the embarrassment causes you to migrate to another newspaper.
tony caruana
Oct 5th 2008, 18:31
To the foreigner Mr Garmston
Wood pidgeons Ducks, Geese, Deer, Squirrels, JAYS, Stag Roe Buck, rabbits, hares and a brazilian or two.
You breed these too ?
Brigid Garroni
Oct 5th 2008, 17:44
I love the way bird killers and their familiars always call for tolerance when their "hobby" is challenged. These are the same people who yell "indhil barrani" when other European bird watchers come to Malta to ensure the legal closed season is respected, both for the sake of protecting possibly endangered bird species and so that they too may enjoy the sight of birds making it past Malta and reaching their lands. The birds these "hobby" lovers kill are not their property - they belong to all of us. Therefore their "hobby" does impinge on the rights of other human beings, but most of all, it takes away the right of the birds to life. It seems the shooters would all starve if they didn't manage to pot some game! The fact is, they do not want to compromise. They do not want to respect the right of others to enjoy birds in their natural environment and they can't bear to see birds flying freely over "their" airspace. Tolerance indeed!
Robert Garmston
Oct 5th 2008, 13:48
HUNTERS ? ? Bird shooters who just lie in wait in their outfits waiting to shoot tired, migrating birds . Before anyone starts on about the shooting in the UK, those birds shot here are reared and let loose. They are shot and killed for the pot, rather like rabbits are reared in Malta. Bird shooting in Malta seems to be just for the fun of the kill. No wonder there are so few examples of wildlife left in Malta, other than Paceville of course!!
Malta could be an absolute jewel in the Mediterranean !! Will it ever be I wonder.
Anton Portelli
Oct 5th 2008, 12:42
There are many who are keen on shooting (not photos). An alternative to shooting birds is target shooting. However it seems that the environmentalists try to find all excuses for not allowing this hobby. Why not give the necessary permits for ranges in Malta and in Gozo so that every one can enjoy his favourite sport? A comment against the opening of ranges I heard is that the shooting will frighten the birds - can't environmentalists stop being so fundamentalist and stop speaking nonsense.
Sylvana Zarb Darmanin
Oct 5th 2008, 12:25
And "only one" results in producing a DELICIOUS 'MEMORY CARD' SOUP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mr. Camilleri, that is the problem with some, trying to impose their hobby on others. I am sorry to say that you have no idea about hunting! Photography is one thing and hunting is another. I, myself, enjoy various hobbies but never try to impose what I enjoy doing on others. Hunting is not one of my hobbies, however, I can understand that hunters have a right to enjoy their traditional pastime whilst leaving me alone to enjoy mine.
This is what is known as TOLERANCE!!
MARK MIFSUD BONNICI
Oct 5th 2008, 11:34
I have been photographing birds for over 30 years or should I say ever since I've been hunting.
It is no alternative to hunting. It does not replace the pleasure derived from watching my dogs find flush and retrieve game. But above all it certainly does not replace the pleasure I get from cooking and eating the few game birds I catch.
It might be difficult for you to understand but hunting is not about killing birds for fun. Compare it to fishing and you might understand my point.
Anthony Formosa
Oct 5th 2008, 11:11
Ha Ha Ha who said we don't use the camera, either before or after we shoot,. Game birds are found in supermarkets for consumption, the difference is that we know that the quality is much inferior compared with the wild bird, however since we have the ability and licensed to hold and carry a shotgun, we hunted directly from the wild, more costly, but more fun and better quality. Then we take a lot of pictures during dinner.
tony caruana
Oct 5th 2008, 10:44
Who told you that we do not do this as well ?
But game is game !