Oh fa Christ sake!. The're bloody pigeons, rats of the sky. Who gives a &#1^.

I DO! I think that if you check your facts that you will find that a considerable number of other do too.

The basic crux of the matter is not are they just 'rats of the sky' but that there is intentional mistreatment, in the form of inflicting pain and suffering, of these animals. If the birds died 100% of the time when shot there would be no issues here, sure it seems a little like cheating to kill an animal that has just flown out a box but OK fine, you wish to do that go ahead. It is that manner in which the birds that have not died are disposed of that is the issue. Try having a deer hunt where a wounded animal in bludgeoned, beaten, hacked at and generally mutilated. I doubt that you would even be able to drive home before being arrested. It is not that their pigeons it is the way that they die that is the problem.

The vocal bleading heart sooky minority cares? So who gives a &#1^. The're still rats of the sky. Spreading disease with the greatest of ease. You would be surprised how many don't care. Damm side more than care. Politically incorect. You bet!

Some humans will find any excuse for inflicting pain and suffering on another living species. How anyone could partake in the suffering of any animal as a sport or for 'cultural' or 'bonding' purposes is beyond me. Duck season results in similar casualites with many birds left to die a painful death via their wounds.

Political correctness or otherwise has nothing to do with plain and simple compassion.

Luckily I think most people so abhor these types of acts and can find within themselves some compassion for the humane treatment of animals.

The first poster is representative of the cretins who believe it's their right to torture defenceless species. Animal abuse is alive and well.

Humans, the greatest predators of all, are responsible for many of the outbreaks of disease in other species - diseases now mutating their way into the human body.

And humans, the greatest predators, are also responsible for the extinction of other species - trashing the planet's biodiversity.

We humans are now learning the hard way though many humans are too obtuse to learn anything.

In the meantime, perhaps the "bleading" poster, in post one and three, will consider engaging in a few spelling lessons?

Dickie and Pelican are absolutely right. I think we should be looking at this sort of mentality, and whether or not we want it in our society. When he banned duck shooting in Queensland, former Premier Beattie described it as "(not) an activity that is part of contemporary society in the smart state" (Mind you, his successor is actively funding rodeos!).

The particularly brutal thing about this is the mistreatment of the birds prior to their release for the "sport" of these morons.

To Jayb - ask yourself what the cause of most zoonotic diseases is. The human species has visited a plague on every other species on this planet in one way or another.

People who find tormenting animals acceptable, be it by their farming methods or their notions of "sport" really need to have a good look at themselves.

Nicky