uk.environment.conservation

Gamekeeper sacked after shooting geese
A gamekeeper has been sacked after shooting Canada geese in front of a
horrified mum and her family. The man, who worked for the Denton-based
Welby Estate, was dismissed after killing a number of birds with a
shotgun at Denton Reservoir.

Hannah Bristow, who lives in Grantham, witnessed the killings while
walking with her sister and her children on Saturday.

As the family was walking along the shore of the reservoir a man sped
past on a quad bike and began shooting at the sky

Hannah said: "The man got off his quad bike and without warning fired
into the sky again and again. He then began to shoot at the geese as
they landed back on the water.

"He became almost like a man possessed and began shooting again and
again at the birds as they flew overhead and the ones that were on the
water.

"At this point the children became very upset and started crying. It
was horrific.

"The man then took aim and fired at a bird that landed in the water
near him, but he only wounded it and we had to watch as it flapped and
drowned in agony as he didn't do anything more.

"It made me so angry to watch this man shooting these innocent animals
dead in front of me, but I didn't dare to confront him as he had a gun
and I was carrying my son."

Hannah was told by fishermen nearby that the man was the gamekeeper
for the Welby Estate, which has offices in Denton.

Welby Estate resident land agent Martin Crush took action after
hearing about the incident from the Journal.

He said: "Under the circumstances I had no alternative but to dismiss
the keeper responsible, as I view this seriously."


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Taken From:
http://www.granthamjournal.co.uk/news/Gamekeeper-sacked-after-shooting-geese.3240568.jp