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I'm not a member of PETA...but I'm interested in the reaction of other members of the forum to this story. My only thought is what would possess anyone to take pot shots at a bird sitting in a tree. Sorry if this has already been posted, I did not see it...

Isenhour charged with killing noisy bird during video shoot
Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Professional golfer Tripp Isenhour is charged with killing a bird on purpose with a golf shot.

The incident happened in December when Isenhour was filming a video segment for a television show "Shoot Like A Pro" at the Grand Cypress Golf Club.

Prosecutors say a red-shouldered hawk was making noise, forcing a video crew to film another take.

According to court records cited by the Orlando Sentinel, Isenhauer hit a number of shots, once hitting a tree trunk. The paper reported that on Isenhour's 10th swing, the ball hit the bird.

"I didn't think I would hit it," Isenhour said, according to court records.

A witness says the bird fell to the ground, bleeding from both its nostrils. The species is protected as a migratory bird.

The bird was buried on Grand Cypress property, the Sentinel reported, but wildlife officials dug up the bird in case it is needed at trial.

The 39-year-old golfer, whose real name is John Henry Isenhour III, is charged with cruelty to animals and killing a migratory bird.

He could face up to a $10,000 fine.

Isenhour hasn't played in a PGA Tour event this year. He won $471,980 a year ago and was 135th in the FedEx Cup standings.

I don't know what to say, it's so stupid to behave like that. Just like someone whom happened to hit into the group ahead exclaiming " I did not expect to hit that far ".
Have anyone noticed there is tension among us recently? Especially with the female gender?
Aggressive behavior was observed at work place, on the freeway and everywhere.
Was it the food that we';re eating or was it the pressure from recent event of war, economy......?

Let's be sure and avoid any sort of sexist, or political comments folks. Either will get the thread closed quickly.

Thank you Lowof for reminding.
No intention of stirring up any political or sexist remark

No problem release. You guys know board policy on such things, but occasionally the rules get forgotten when something that is particularly offensive is brought into a thread.

Since I live in the NW and prior to this "birdie" issue, reported from Iraq one of our soldier from this area had thrown a puppy off a moving truck into roadside rock-pile ( captured on youtube, which was posted by his combat buddy ). The local radio media was interviewing his sister, reportedly the family had received a lot of hate mail ( email ), and telephone calls threatening their safety.
Is this also mindless? Of course the young man had done something that's not acceptable, but did the war changed our young men and women's mental state?
I always believe no quick criticism until you had been in their shoes

He got it on his 10th shot: Not bad!

Of course that was a pretty stupid thing to do. I am sure he regrets it now.

It was deplorable because he tried to hit the bird on purpose. It wasn't like there was a squirrel or a goose in the fairway at 280 yards and he hit his drive anyway. If you hit one of those you would call it an accident. But he was aiming for the bird.

I'm with you on this SS. I've downed 2 birds (1 cardinal, and 1 goose), and hit a deer, but all of those were accidents. The cardinal was actually airborne when he/she got hit. I find it offensive that a professional golfer used a bird (and particularly a bird of prey) as a target because the bird was squawking a bit.

i have accidentaly killed two birds. both on the same hole in one week.!! one with a worm burner from about 150 yds and another with a 100 yd pitch shot into the green. this isenhauer incident reminds me of dave winfield(hall of fame baseballer) 15 yrs ago or so when he killed a seagull with his first throw at it from the out field. he defense was the same. "i didnt think that i would hit it". its funny how nobody cares if you "atempt" to hit an animal. they only make a big deal out of it if you acutally "hit" it. I think the people around him at the time are just as responsbile they could have stopped after the first couple of attemps if the really tried to.

That cracked me up! Was that political correctness ( ) or are you not much of an ornithologist? j/k!

The red one is the male:

And here's the red-shouldered hawk:

Beautiful!

And here is the other animal:

Glad to entertain. Since the red one is the he, I now know that it was a he that I killed.
You know I always try and be politically correct, but this was a simple case of ignorance on my part. The hawk is a gorgeous bird. I'll be shocked if he doesn't get the maximum fine.

These posts reminds me of a little fox that used to run around our college home course. He would run out in front of our carts or if we were walking would watch us from the woods. I can remember several times tossing what was left of a hot dog to him/her, I think everyone was doing the same. I'm sure there were several who thought it might have been fun to hit golf balls at it...it didn't take long for this Isenhour story to make national news.

I used to go out into the backyards and alleys of my neighborhood that I grew up in and shoot at squirrels, rats and birds with my wrist rocket slingshot...I was 8 and it was fun until I actually hit one...I put the wrist rocket away and never touched it again...taking a life isn't something to be taken lightly I found out the hard way, even if it is "only" a squirrel...