Poaching raises tragedy fears

"I am outraged," says Katie Milne, Federated Farmers rural security spokesperson and the farmer on whose property the calf was shot.

"Words cannot express my anger. Our calf was shot yesterday morning at 3.15am in a paddock with a prominent 'no shooting' sign in it.

"I presume a poacher mistook our calf for a deer, but who really knows.

"What I do know is this was illegal and bloody dangerous. Our calf, which was on private property, was shot from a vehicle less than 60m metres from a public road.

"We understand a freight truck disturbed them before they could wreck more havoc."

When Milne was elected to Federated Farmers board earlier this year she told Rural News then she was concerned poaching would end in a tragedy.

"You cannot tell me these hunters properly identified the target before pulling the trigger. When we control deer we would rather see one scamper off than fire without knowing what we are firing at," she says.

"As farmers we constantly work among stock at all hours. I would never grant hunting permission to a stranger because of the real potential for another deadly shooting incident.

"I am also concerned that a neighbour saw hunters 'spot lighting' between houses earlier that night. Among houses for heaven's sake. This stupidity leaves me speechless.

"A bullet keeps travelling until it runs out of energy or hits something or someone. Incidents like this give good hunters a bad name. However, I seriously doubt these scumbags have bothered with a licence.

"Federated Farmers is working with the Police on rural crime and we record licence plates where we can. Sadly, these morons scarpered before we could get it.

"I am also sad to say the calf's injury was so severe, it was euthanised on veterinary advice. I hope these poaches are proud of themselves," Milne says.