Hobby hunter shoots deer in residential area

Shots fired in the residential area of Cavigliano

Two deer, one male and one female, killed.

What took place last Tuesday in Cavigliano, a hamlet in the municipality of Terre di Pedemonte, made headlines. The 50-year-old hobby hunter who killed the two ungulates between the rows of a vineyard acted in a manner that could have endangered the residents of the area, writes tio.ch.

According to witness statements, two loud shots were heard at around 7 o'clock in the morning in an area where hunting is prohibited. The shots apparently came from a location not far from the houses.

Bullets can kill at 3 km

A further aggravating factor is that the weapon used, a carbine, fires bullets that, according to experts, are capable of killing at a distance of 3 km and of penetrating doors and windows. According to Art. 45 of the Hunting Act of the canton of Ticino, only shotguns are permitted during the open hunt.

The Office for Hunting and Fishing has confirmed the incident and promptly launched an investigation. The reckless behaviour of the hobby hunter will in all likelihood result in a fine and the revocation of his hunting licence.

Precedents are not lacking

Precedents involving stray bullets near houses have been far from rare in Ticino in recent years either. In Sessa, for example, in December 2020 bullets fired by a hobby hunter struck the wall of a private property. In Comano, the shooting of several escaped wild boar caused concern among residents last year, precisely because the rifles were being discharged in the vicinity of houses and public roads. IG Wild beim Wild systematically documents hunting accidents and criminal offences.