HUNTERS who killed a goose as it attempted to land at an animal shelter to seek sanctuary for the winter have been branded “cowardly” and “immoral”.

The boss of Raystede Centre for Animal Welfare, near Ringmer, said hunters shot the bird only metres from their sheltered nine-acre lake.

Nigel Mason found the bird on Tuesday morning motionless in the snow, with blood coming from a gunshot wound.

He said: “Because of the snow we could see that the bird had struggled for some 20m after landing. Death would not have been instant so it would not have been a quick and painless death.

“The goose came down just metres from our children’s picnic area so I’m just glad I got to it before anyone saw it.”

The animal shelter is one of the largest in Sussex and a well-known site for wild birds, chickens and other animals.

As part of their 50-acre site, it has a lake with a series of islands and shelters, which offer sanctuary from the elements for birds in the winter.

Staff supplement the food of the birds to give them a helping hand through the winter months.

The shooting of certain wild birds is not illegal at certain times of the year.

However, during the past few years, shooters have taken to hiding in bushes surrounding the centre and shooting birds as they come in to land.

Mr Mason said: “It is well known birds come in here to find sanctuary in the winter months. Whoever this was almost certainly knew and I’m angry that these cowards hid behind the hedge line to kill the bird.

“The bird’s body was still warm when I found it and she had managed to fly on after being shot for over 20m before dying.

“While it is not illegal, I believe their actions are completely immoral.”

Each year, staff find a number of birds with gunshot wounds in and around the sanctuary. The sanctuary has also had problems with poachers cutting fences in an attempt to catch their kill.