new permission Roads and footpaths

[Shocks 0]

I would like some advice from the more experienced of you. I just got myself a new permission here in Devon for vermin. Its a great 300 acres 5 mins from home. The farm borders the Dartmoor national park. I plan to go for mostly rabbits with a moderated 22. My FAC is closed and I checked with D&C firearms team and the land has been cleared for centerfire so my Rimy or HMR if I need wont be a problem. The issue as I see it is there is an enormous dual carriage way running through it and a couple of footpaths.

 

Apart from the extra caution to ensure I'm not shooting across or towards the road/ foot path are there any specific laws I need to be aware of? I'm a bit nervous of being out for an afternoon shoot an finding some little old lady calling in an armed response unit. One of the foot paths looks to be pretty busy.

[rjimmer 4]

Just don't cause any way-user any distress or hinderence.

You could get a few signs made up to hang at each end of the footpaths while you are shooting.

[dave1372 83]

Here is a link to the basc website which you can download and read - You don't want to get this one wrong!

http://www.basc.org.uk/en/utilities/docume...24BA94A9790765C

[Guest jt750]

You must check to see if you can use a moderator on this land seeing as its so close to public rights of way

[Shocks 0]

You must check to see if you can use a moderator on this land seeing as its so close to public rights of way

I have a moderator on my .22 and was planning to use it. Why might there be a problem?

 

Thanks for the other comments and links

Edited August 8, 2009 by Shocks

[Guest jt750]

Some of the land i walk has the coast to coast route passing through it and the lads that shoot it are not to use moderators on it Now i can't be sure but if you have a moderator on your ticket for other land you might be able to use it but i do know one person who applied for his ticket for .22 and moderator stating this piece of land was told he was not to use a moderator on it but would be fine on his other permission

[martin 332]

Some of the land i walk has the coast to coast route passing through it and the lads that shoot it are not to use moderators on it Now i can't be sure but if you have a moderator on your ticket for other land you might be able to use it but i do know one person who applied for his ticket for .22 and moderator stating this piece of land was told he was not to use a moderator on it but would be fine on his other permission

 

Well that is a new one on me,I have never heard of any force doing that before,most of them are so worried about H&S nowadays that they wouldn't want anyone putting in a claim for hearing damage.

 

I would,and,do already in certain places put out a sign to say that there is 'Deer Control' and firearms in use,and,for people not to stray from the footpaths,and,I think that would definitely be a good idea in your case...........Martin.

[cyclonebri1 8]

The only law you have to be aware of is and I roughtly quote from memory "It is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50feet of the ceantre of a footpath/bridle path, carriageway or highway, if by doing so you cause distress or alarm to a member of the public". This is total bollox. It means if someone is a mile away and you shoot from within the 50 ft you have commited an offence if they complain. If you wait untill they are level with you take 1 step further back from the footpath and fire over there heads you have not commited the offence

Real sound law that one.

 

As an example many years ago when still on a closed ticket I took the FEO out to pass a new farm I'd got. The MI runs along the farm boundary. In his words "the law really is an ass on this one, you could legally shoot on the embankment of the motorway if you had permission from the highway peeps".

 

The land was passed, but I now keep well away from the boundary as I was "pulled" by a patrol car on the motorway as I walked the edge of the field. Of course I was doing nothing illegal so no action taken, but you do need to be aware of the legal situation in such situations

Edited August 9, 2009 by cyclonebri1

[Shocks 0]

The only law you have to be aware of is and I roughtly quote from memory "It is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50feet of the ceantre of a footpath/bridle path, carriageway or highway, if by doing so you cause distress or alarm to a member of the public". This is total bollox. It means if someone is a mile away and you shoot from within the 50 ft you have commited an offence if they complain. If you wait untill they are level with you take 1 step further back from the footpath and fire over there heads you have not commited the offence

Real sound law that one.

 

As an example many years ago when still on a closed ticket I took the FEO out to pass a new farm I'd got. The MI runs along the farm boundary. In his words "the law really is an ass on this one, you could legally shoot on the embankment of the motorway if you had permission from the highway peeps".

 

The land was passed, but I now keep well away from the boundary as I was "pulled" by a patrol car on the motorway as I walked the edge of the field. Of course I was doing nothing illegal so no action taken, but you do need to be aware of the legal situation in such situations

 

 

I just tried shooting is this afternoon / evening. Its a right b*****d. The best field has a cycle path on one side and the dual carriage way on the other. I saw 15 rabbits but barely took a shot. As the rabbits stay on the boundary there is a small chance that my round would end up wrong side of the fence. With all the cyclists and walkers I'd have a hard time convincing a non shooting person it was safe. I think the only way to shoot it will be to lamp it. `no one will be around and the rabbits wont hug the boundary fences so much. Gutted as this is my first permission.

[cyclonebri1 8]

The only law you have to be aware of is and I roughtly quote from memory "It is an offence to discharge a firearm within 50feet of the ceantre of a footpath/bridle path, carriageway or highway, if by doing so you cause distress or alarm to a member of the public". This is total bollox. It means if someone is a mile away and you shoot from within the 50 ft you have commited an offence if they complain. If you wait untill they are level with you take 1 step further back from the footpath and fire over there heads you have not commited the offence

Real sound law that one.

 

As an example many years ago when still on a closed ticket I took the FEO out to pass a new farm I'd got. The MI runs along the farm boundary. In his words "the law really is an ass on this one, you could legally shoot on the embankment of the motorway if you had permission from the highway peeps".

 

The land was passed, but I now keep well away from the boundary as I was "pulled" by a patrol car on the motorway as I walked the edge of the field. Of course I was doing nothing illegal so no action taken, but you do need to be aware of the legal situation in such situations

 

 

I just tried shooting is this afternoon / evening. Its a right b*****d. The best field has a cycle path on one side and the dual carriage way on the other. I saw 15 rabbits but barely took a shot. As the rabbits stay on the boundary there is a small chance that my round would end up wrong side of the fence. With all the cyclists and walkers I'd have a hard time convincing a non shooting person it was safe. I think the only way to shoot it will be to lamp it. `no one will be around and the rabbits wont hug the boundary fences so much. Gutted as this is my first permission.

 

In that case you are probably right, Sounds like late eveming would be best. Whatever you do don't give anyone cause to complain, even if you stay the right side of plod, farmers in general don't want hassle from folks complaining, believe me it can cost you your shooting. Happened to me a long time ago simply because a neighbour of the farm, who incidentally had lost his licence for shooting at someone on his land, held a grudge with the system

 

Make sure the farmer is ok with you lamping, even that can cause complaints at times

 

Take care

[bobndog 0]

From the BASC site;

 

The public highway

 

* Shoot managers and Guns must ensure that shooting does not obstruct, cause danger or alarm to users of the public highway, including roads, bridleways, footpaths and other rights of way.

* Guns should note that to shoot across a footpath or bridleway that is in use by walkers or riders may constitute a public nuisance or wilful obstruction. There may also be a liability in negligence if it is known that people are on, or likely to be on, the path.

* In particular, care should be taken when siting Guns near roads. Section 161 of the Highways Act 1980 (England & Wales) makes it an offence to discharge a firearm within 50 ft of the centre of a highway with vehicular rights without lawful authority or excuse, if as a result a user of the highway is injured, interrupted or endangered.

* The Highways Act does not apply in Scotland but Procurators Fiscal may use common law offences of 'culpable and reckless conduct' and 'reckless endangerment' in situations in which the 1980 Act would be contravened in England and Wales.

* Information signs, if appropriate, should be erected on shoot days on footpaths or bridleways.

* The siting of release pens and feeding of game near highways should be avoided. Game managers should collect and dispose of road casualties where possible