Sheep shooting worry for Waitawheta farm family

Clive Kinton sheared the wool from the dead sheep before seeing a bullet hole.

A mysterious sheep death has raised concern in Waitawheta.

Clive and Vanessa Kinton discovered one of their sheep dead when they checked on them a couple of weeks ago.

One of their four sheep was shot dead in one of the upper paddocks of their 8ha land while the family was at home.

The couple think this incident might have happened between February 7 and the morning of February 10.

The bullet hole in the flank of the sheep.

"We checked the sheep that Wednesday night but not again until the Saturday.

"We normally check on them every night but it was my husband's 50th so we were busy and we had made sure that they were all well fed," Vanessa says.

By Saturday morning, their daughter discovered the dead sheep in the middle of the paddock, in an open space away from the trees.

"She was very blown up by flies and maggots ... She could have been dead for a day or more," Vanessa says.

At first, the Kintons thought that the sheep might have died of natural causes.

"She has not been sick, she was not limping or anything else," Vanessa says.

But Clive's closer look showed a bullet hole on her left flank.

"We were about to bury her and Clive turned her over after he saw a streak of dried old blood on her flank.

"After he shaved around it, we clearly saw a bullet hole, like a kill shot," Vanessa says.

It is the first time that she and Clive have heard of this type of incident in the valley.

The paddock the dead sheep was found is well away from the main road.

The couple is calling for any witnesses who might know something about it.

They want Waitawheta locals to watch out for their stock and families.

"The concern is that if someone's child or youngster happens to be there during a shooting target practice, this might be fatal.

"I have my children and grandchildren often coming to see us and this is worrying, " Vanessa says.

The incident was reported to the local police but they could not comment before deadline.

CALL FOR WITNESSES

Have you heard gunshots or know of shooting practice in Waitawheta Road between February 7 and 10?

If you have any information, please contact the local police 24/7 on 0800 780 101 — ask for the Crime Reporting Line — or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 (an anonymous call), or visit the Waihi Police Station during public counter open hours Monday to Friday 8:30am to 3pm. For urgent matters call 111 and ask for police.