quote:

Originally posted by bald1:
I'm very effective with a fly swatter, that count?

That depends, is it hammer or striker-fired?

One could argue that Bug-A-Salt counts under the way I worded things, but that would an incredibly slim technicality, lol.

Yeah, I'm specifically addressing willfully pulling the trigger on a living being here. I've seen posts mentioning fishing, or road kill and things of that nature. That's not what I'm talking about. It's a very different thing, pointing a firearm (I'll include airguns in this as they surely can and do kill) at a living being and making the decision to pull the trigger and having something die by your hands in this way.

quote:

I am the jerk that stops his car in a neighborhood (not a highway) to grab a turtle and move him across the street so he doesn't turn into asphalt stew.

Hah! you are not the only one. I have done that several times, including a snapping turtle that was about 24 inches long.

Have also rescued a few snakes from the roads.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Elk Hunter,

quote:

Originally posted by ewills:
I am the jerk that stops his car in a neighborhood (not a highway) to grab a turtle and move him across the street so he doesn't turn into asphalt stew.

Sorry. That doesn't qualify you for jerk status. If I were behind you I'd either help or at least give you a thumbs up.

There is one squirrel in my neighborhood I have to stop for because he is challenging me and I don't want to run him over. He just stands in front my car (usually with a nut in his mouth) and says "come at me bro"

quote:

Originally posted by Elk Hunter:

quote:

I am the jerk that stops his car in a neighborhood (not a highway) to grab a turtle and move him across the street so he doesn't turn into asphalt stew.

Hah! you are not the only one. I have done that several times, including a snapping turtle that was about 24 inches long.

US-1 in Rockledge, Fl about ten years ago, I wound up holding up southbound traffic for a minute to grab a gopher tortoise. He/she was a big one, and it got a bit hairy for a minute with it hissing at me and trying to reach around for my hand while people were honking at me.

Dozens of mammals and birds, thousands of bugs, and likely billions of microbes.

The one that haunts me most was a robin in my parent's yard I shot with a BB gun.

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
Dozens of mammals and birds, thousands of bugs, and likely billions of microbes.

What caliber for microbes?

I've never shot anything living.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

quote:

Originally posted by Elk Hunter:

quote:

I am the jerk that stops his car in a neighborhood (not a highway) to grab a turtle and move him across the street so he doesn't turn into asphalt stew.

Hah! you are not the only one. I have done that several times, including a snapping turtle that was about 24 inches long.

US-1 in Rockledge, Fl about ten years ago, I wound up holding up southbound traffic for a minute to grab a gopher tortoise. He/she was a big one, and it got a bit hairy for a minute with it hissing at me and trying to reach around for my hand while people were honking at me.

Good man.

And fuck the people honking at you. They should be applauding you (I'm a bit biased as I had several desert tortoises as pets when I was a kid).

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

quote:

Originally posted by apprentice:
Dozens of mammals and birds, thousands of bugs, and likely billions of microbes.

What caliber for microbes?

Yeah, guess I was just answering the killing part rather than the method.

That said, chemical warfare for microbes.
Vee haff veppons of vich you haff never dreamed!
You know, hand sanitizer or chlorox for example.

In 13+ years on patrol I have killed countless deer. This was always a result of a vehicle vs. deer collision. Now, almost 17 years in and having an office, I don't get to many of those runs.

My first issue, Sig P220, took most of them. My issue Glock 17 has taken some. I even took a few with my Glock 42, 43 and Sig P320 9mm.

I never felt too bad about them because everyone was suffering.

I have also taken several raccoon. On one I used a Glock 23.

Rats at a dumpsite up north many years ago.

Jackrabbits in New Mexico early 80's using .22's. They are considered non game and year round open season. We were doing this as a service to a farmer, his place was overrun with them.

I voted no. I've never shot anything other than targets. Once upon a time I thought I would go deer hunting but it never happened for various reasons and now that I'm older I lost interest.

No and unless an animal (human or otherwise) is threatening me or anyone else (including pets) I don’t see myself changing that. I never saw the need to fish or hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:

quote:

Originally posted by Elk Hunter:

quote:

I am the jerk that stops his car in a neighborhood (not a highway) to grab a turtle and move him across the street so he doesn't turn into asphalt stew.

Hah! you are not the only one. I have done that several times, including a snapping turtle that was about 24 inches long.

US-1 in Rockledge, Fl about ten years ago, I wound up holding up southbound traffic for a minute to grab a gopher tortoise. He/she was a big one, and it got a bit hairy for a minute with it hissing at me and trying to reach around for my hand while people were honking at me.

I did it the other day on my street. I put him on my lawn and like 3 hours later he made his way onto my drive way

My first was killing a bird. My friend and I were just shooting a.BB gun at random things. I saw a bird and shot it. It didn't die right away. It was suffering. I put a BB in its head to stop the pain. What waste. I still feel guilty.
Since them I have hunted pheasant. No problem shooting them to eat. I dont feel bad because I am using the meat.
I also killed a opossum terrorizing my chickens.
I will not kill just to kill. I learned my lesson at least in my opinion.

I sense a trend in this thread.....something that connects us all.

Senseless killing brings on feelings of guilt.

While some use it as a means to feed family. That is a good reason.

I see this as a great balance.

I loathe trophy hunting.Killing exotics bothers me.

Hanging heads and mocking an opponent feels wrong (food goes to the locals......fine, but leave everything to the locals. They will be glad for the chance to sell tusks, or livers, or any other thing.)

I guess this is why I get a chuckle when some artsty fartsy trophy hunter gets schooled by the prey.

Shot lots of things. Tried really hard to plink a couple of two legged varmints. Unsuccessful.
The worst experiences:
Shooting all the injured cats and dogs that no one cared about, to end their suffering.

Yes. Some justifiable, one or two not. The justifiable ones give you pause, I think, even if you're using the targeted being for food, etc., if you have much of a conscience. The others I've attempted to not think on too often, or too hard.

Alaska. I shot a grouse that was flying away from me. He was about 30 feet away and receding at full speed. I pulled my MkII Ruger and dropped him with one shot. .22 LR right between the shoulders, with nothing but iron sights.

That remains the best shot I've ever taken, and likely ever will. . .

Oh, and he was delicious.

I think that the question is not clearly defined. I realize that in certain definitions “living being” is all inclusive of any organism that is “alive” as opposed to “dead.”

However, the common word “being” is more directly associated with “human being.”

Also, by “shot” this can be applied in different ways: shot with a firearm, arrow, BB gun, F-15 or a 105 howitzer.

Yes, I have “shot” and killed well over 100 people in a very intense three day period, directing 102’s, and 155s. The killing continued at a very reduced rate for several months. No, I do not regret this, but, I did stop counting somewhere around 130 because it just didn’t seem right.

I hunted deer and turkey for only a couple of years 1993 – 1995. I stalk hunted and spent the time in the woods looking for bobby tracks, and ambushes – not very pleasant when hunting.

I will only mercy shoot an animal, and this with a very heavy heart.

So, to answer the question: Yes I have “shot” a lot of “beings” and do not regret killing every one of those bastards and regret that I did not kill more and thereby save more of my people.

And yes, I have shot animals and hope I am never again placed in a situation to put down another one.

.