SIR - Re shooting rabbits at Letchworth GC. OK I can live with boring but as for the rest of Mr Laird s comments I must take issue, I was simply pointing out in a helpful manner that there are other alternatives to the problem and also in a way I hoped

SIR - Re shooting rabbits at Letchworth GC. OK I can live with "boring" but as for the rest of Mr Laird's comments I must take issue, I was simply pointing out in a helpful manner that there are other alternatives to the problem and also in a way I hoped would cause least offence.

The subject of shooting is for some people a thorny one, and one that can lead to misunderstanding. Maybe I was not clear enough in my short response but I did mention responsible shooters. Like anything in life there are always a minority of irresponsible people who tarnish the reputation of the many causing knee-jerk reactions like this.

I mentioned a legal limit 12ft lb for which you do not need a licence, you do not but we are still governed by the law of the Open General Licence. The government issue this every year and it states we must be insured, we must gain permission to shoot, we can only target that which appears on the list of pest species and then only when all other methods of control have failed.

Neither can we shoot in the direction of public footpaths or roads maintaining a safe distance and shooting away from these obvious dangers, the rules are long and for good reason.

As for hoping to hit our target, again a responsible hunter practises for many hours to be able to hit their target and sets strict limits on the type of shot undertaken. If there is any doubt as to a hit or miss situation the shot is not taken. As hunters we undertake to dispatch our quarry with one shot so again if that shot is liable to miss or only wound the animal it is not taken. Having undertaken the responsibility of shooting on any land it would be for the owner and myself to post signs saying shooting was taking place in the area and at what time.

GARY CRAIG

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