Police have “sent a message” to hunters at a Moray beauty spot by seizing their guns after claims they were shooting on land which has been marked as off limits.
Officers attended at Findhorn Bay amid a longstanding dispute over wildfowling at the nature reserve.
Moray Council outlawed shooting on local authority land at the start of the season in September, but ructions have continued over the alleged flouting of the ban.
Police confiscated the weapons after being alerted by a concerned member of the public – who believed the shooters were carrying out their hobby on council turf.
However, last night the force confirmed that “no criminality” had taken place and the firearms were returned to the hunters shortly after being checked to make sure licences were in place for their use.
Inspector Graeme Allan said: “Concerns were reported to police in relation to wildfowl shooting at Findhorn Bay.
“Inquiries were carried out, but it was established there was no criminality in this particular instance.”
The Friends of Findhorn Bay protest group has claimed an increasing number of police visits to the spot are taking place.
A spokeswoman added Moray Council “needed to act” by introducing a bylaw banning the practice.
The leader of the local authority, George Alexander, wrote an open letter to the shooters earlier this month – asking them to abide by the voluntary restrictions in the interests of avoiding the potential creation of a bylaw.
Last night, the Forres councillor voiced some hope the hunters were becoming more conciliatory.
He said: “Recently some guns were taken from shooters, but were given back to them.
“I think that sends a message that police are taking these complaints seriously.
“As far as I can tell, there is some growing respect for the ban on shooting on Moray Council land.
“That is to be commended, as we don’t really want to go to the law to resolve this.”
Mr Alexander also suggested that tensions between protestors and shooters could be eased if the latter took more care to pick up their litter.
The Findhorn Wildfowling and Conservation Association said an outright ban would be “excessive”, and stated its determination to reach “an amicable agreement”.
