NSW: Call for no recreational duck shooting in NSW

AAP General News (Australia)
02-15-2000
NSW: Call for no recreational duck shooting in NSW

SYDNEY, Feb 15 AAP - Recreational duck shooting is a cruel sport that should never
be re-introduced in New South Wales, the RSPCA said today.

More than 123,000 ducks were legally shot last year, many having died after weeks of
suffering from horrific injuries, the animal welfare group claimed.

Under existing laws, ducks are permitted to be shot by licensed shooters if they are
damaging crops.

Recreational shooting was outlawed in 1995, but the RSPCA said the government was planning
to re-visit the decision in May this year.

RSPCA deputy chief inspector Brett Bell said the legislation to ban the sport included
a stipulation that the laws be reviewed three years later.

"Duck shooting is a very cruel sport and we are campaigning to ensure it is never re-introduced
in New South Wales again," he said in a statement.

"We are concerned, however, about a pending scientific review of duck shooting.

"It would be tragic to see any ban on duck shooting lifted in the future."

Launching a national public awareness campaign against the sport, Mr Bell said even
licensed duck shooters could not guarantee the aninmals could be killed humanely because
of the scattering effect of pellets.

"Duck shooting is cruel because the way shotguns operate make it impossible to ensure
that a duck is killed outright," Mr Bell said.

"Legs and wings can be left dangling and bills smashed.

"A live bird with no obvious external injuries may die days or weeks later after suffering
prolonged pain."

Mr Bell said shooting was a poor method of controlling duck populations which were
largely determined by water levels.

AAP ls/sb/ej

KEYWORD: DUCKS NSW

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