Saint John police are investigating complaints of a shooter in the city’s north end who appears to be targeting cormorants.

But even if the shooter is making too much noise and violating municipal bylaws, police say there may be little they can do if he has the proper provincial licence.

Homeowners in Millidgeville say they've been hearing shotgun fire along the scenic St. John River at all hours of the day.

Judy Eatmon says last weekend the gunfire was going off from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. (CBC)

“It sounds like somebody skeet shooting — like pulling back and, 'Pewh! Pewh!'," said Judy Eatmon, imitating the sound.

"But it's a really harsh report."

Last weekend, Eatmon says she and her neighbours endured gunshots from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

“It just startles you awake. And if you're walking around like my neighbour, putting out her laundry, it just startles you," she said.

Workers at the nearby sewage plant believe it's a long-time hunter, who returns every year to shoot cormorants out of the sky.

Jeff Melanson says he stumbled across hundreds of shotgun shells on the beach across the river from Millidgeville. (CBC)

"I've seen him sitting over there shooting,” said Scott Mason, a city worker.

“He shoots right across directly from that beach. The rocks right in front of the beach to the right side,” said Mason.

“He just stands along there and shoots, the boat parked in there in the morning.”

Jeff Melanson, a long-time resident, recently discovered the beach Mason mentioned, which is littered with shotgun shells. He stumbled across hundreds of the shells while he was out for a hike.

"I guess my first reaction was — why are they here? And you know, they seem to be going off quite close to the neighbourhood just across the river here,” Melanson said.

Department of Natural Resources officials say cormorants are classified as varmints and can be legally hunted in New Brunswick between March 1 and Sept. 20.

There is no limit to the number of cormorants someone can kill.