Thread: White swan shot

Originally Posted by Maca49

These arnt native to NZ are they? Why are they excluded?

I was wondering the same thing. I recall hearing that in Britain there is a rule they are only allowed to be shot by the royal family, or something like that.

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I was wondering the same thing. I recall hearing that in Britain there is a rule they are only allowed to be shot by the royal family, or something like that.

Throw back to old English origins and recognition of low numbers/slow breeding. They are somewhat unique. Different people will value them differently. I reckon they are pretty cool and dont mind adhering to the rules of our bird licences

Originally Posted by gadgetman

I was wondering the same thing. I recall hearing that in Britain there is a rule they are only allowed to be shot by the royal family, or something like that.

Close, but not quite right. Every swan actually belongs to the reigning Monarch. Every year, there is the annual "Swan Upping" ceremony, (quite different from the sheep upping exercise our Ozzie cousins accuse us of) which involves much ritual and pageantry, where all the swans are caught, uplifted, tagged and counted to ensure that HRS 's stock is increasing.

Originally Posted by Tussock

Pretty sure that is only the white swans of the Thames.

Yup, spot on, I should have been more specific as to which birds are being "upped". :>)

Originally Posted by Tussock

Pretty sure that is only the white swans of the Thames.

Actually, after further Googling "yes" and "no".......I thought so also, but the fact is:

"......Today, the Crown retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but The Queen only exercises her ownership on certain stretches of the Thames and its surrounding tributaries."

Ain't historical ceremonies great.

Originally Posted by Maca49

These arnt native to NZ are they? Why are they excluded?

I'm with Maca49.
Okay, I understand that they are protected etc and muppets shooting them are dealt the same as any other F&G regulation breakers, it still doesn't explain why?

As far as I see it.

They are introduced.
Are out competed by Black Swans
Are agressive (didn't one drown a toddler at Lake Pupuke in Auckland years ago?)
Are unlikely to ever be a sustainable game bird in NZ

Why bother keeping them in NZ, let alone protect them?
Is it because of some sentiment associated with Europe, i.e. property of the Monarch? Or because of classical ballet dances/kids fairy tales?

Originally Posted by dogmatix

I'm with Maca49.
Why bother keeping them in NZ, let alone protect them?
Is it because of some sentiment associated with Europe, i.e. property of the Monarch? Or because of classical ballet dances/kids fairy tales?

I'm being very lazy by not Googling this, but I'm fairly certain they're protected by the queen... for some reason.

Also did you know the swan is the only bird with a knob? well... that is... other than those ones that stand on K road in the morning

I was the second gunman on the grassy knoll.....oh wait wrong thread.

What a muppet!! Some guys deserve to lose ALL THEIR GEAR!!! Max Penalty. As we are facing tougher times ahead from the anti's, this shit needs to be dealt with harshly. Just have to look at SAFE on facebook, 14,000 members against duck shooting. we as we bought 40,000 licences. hmmmm.

Anyway, hope they find and deal to the fool.

Originally Posted by WhistlingWings

I was the second gunman on the grassy knoll.....oh wait wrong thread.

What a muppet!! Some guys deserve to lose ALL THEIR GEAR!!! Max Penalty. As we are facing tougher times ahead from the anti's, this shit needs to be dealt with harshly. Just have to look at SAFE on facebook, 14,000 members against duck shooting. we as we bought 40,000 licences. hmmmm.

Anyway, hope they find and deal to the fool.

That ratios about right for a minority that everyone will listen to

Originally Posted by Maca49

That ratios about right for a minority that everyone will listen to

Great contribution there

Its light enough at legal shooting time to tell colour difference. If people are still.unsure they shouldnt be shooting. Wonder howany teal were shot if people cant even tell a white swan from a black one

Originally Posted by horihunter

Great contribution there

Its light enough at legal shooting time to tell colour difference. If people are still.unsure they shouldnt be shooting. Wonder howany teal were shot if people cant even tell a white swan from a black one

Couldn't agree more, so stopped shooting at least half an hour before the official cut off time. It's pretty easy to NOT shoot.

Learn alot of cool things from you smart lot.

Instead starting a new thread I thought I would share this here.

More fuckn muppets............reporters

Duck season is killing for fun | Stuff.co.nz

Originally Posted by Dundee

Instead starting a new thread I thought I would share this here.

More fuckn muppets............reporters

Duck season is killing for fun | Stuff.co.nz

That person who wrote the artical and the guy commenting ArronC really piss me off reading that.

Originally Posted by Dundee

Instead starting a new thread I thought I would share this here.

More fuckn muppets............reporters

Duck season is killing for fun | Stuff.co.nz

Should spam the animal lovers pages with videos of pigs killing lambs, animals starving in over browsed bush and general reality of wildlife and real world living. See if it changes their perspective a little. I grew up on the farm, used to take sheep to the killing shed when freezer was empty etc. Once they smell the blood they know whats coming. I much prefer hunting to killing in the sheds. Animal hapoily flying/grazing one minute, dead the next. Some people think meat grows on little blue trays.