Would you pay a Land owner to shoot?

[silentshot1 206]

Wow, OK...

 

I know shooting permission can be hard earned and those of us that persist can endure a lot of time, travel and rejection for their effort, but I don't think that admitting on an open forum that you are so stuck for options that you commit armed trespass, is a good idea at all.

 

As a forum I feel we have a responsibility to present ourselves and our sport in the best light possible. Admitting publicly, that in order to shoot, you have to break the law which carries it's own consequences and also risks turning another land owner to an 'anti airgun' view point; whilst underlining a public/ police perception of the danger of unlicensed 'firearm' ownership is irresponsible.

 

I'm not judging you as a person and appreciate your financial/ location situation, but not sure advertising your willingness to disregard the law is a really good move.

 

If you've found land to shoot on without asking permission to be there and quary available, why not put on some jeans, smart shoes and a shirt, knock on the door and ask if you can? Or volunteer your time helping out in exchange for a mornings shooting and then work on the relationship from there?

[Phantom 631]

I would agree there SS

 

It does not really matter where you come from, yes some people will have preconceptions about an estate that is less than "Desirable"

But I don't see that a genuine problem at all.

If you were to either write a letter to the land owner or perhaps dress smart-casual (no suits, no trackies, trainers or oversized baseball cap on sideways or backwards) and approach the land owner I think you may be pleasantly surprised.

Have some little business cards made up (you can get a few hundred done for free online) and leave them with the landowner.

If you really want to leave an impression with them, get the insurance and mention it like so

"Even though I am a safe and responsible shooter, who knows my limitations and wont take risky shots, I am also insured with ##### to the tune of 5million public liability"

 

I made a fuss of the insurance when getting some of my permission, it swung it in my favour

 

Phantom

[darren watson 14]

Hmm, didn't really think of the knock on effects of posting such stuff on an open forum The last thing i want to do is to bring the sport into disrepute. Apologies.

[darren watson 14]

also, thanks for the advice guys. i've realised i've opened myself up for a right lynching on ere.....

[pianoman 3,587]

Nobody's lynching anyone here Darren but the fact is, it's true mate you can get into serious trouble taking an air rifle onto land you don't have permission for.

 

But if you are stuck for shooting permission mate, I'm just up the M1/A1M from you. I'll have a word with my Landowner mate and you can come on to my permission with me. Ian's a great bloke I've known since junior school when his dad used to shoot with mine!

 

I don't want to see anyone on this forum of great lads being kept left out of this sport.

 

Simon

[darren watson 14]

Simon, is your inbox full? i've tried to PM you but it won't send.

[darren watson 14]

Ok, pm sent. and, sp for being a good samaritan.

[Marksman 934]

Top Notch Simon. fair play to you mate!

 

 

Darryl

[redial 81]

yes yes yes

[pianoman 3,587]

Right Darren mate. Got your PM and sent one back in reply!

Meantime, it really would help your cause if you try to seek out who owns the land you go on and make an approach. Take Phantom's advice about how to approach the landowners. You might be pleasently surprised! The offer to shoot with me on my permission stands for you whenever you can get up mate.

 

Thanks Darryl mate. Where would we all be if every bugger was saying "No you can't, No you won't, Not a chance" all the time. Darren seems a decent fellow by the tone of his posts. It's a bloody shame a good lad has nowhere to hunt and shoot legitimately.

 

ATB

 

Simon

[matt_hooks 188]

Diver, sounds like a great setup you have. Now wouldn't you be p####d off if someone came in and offered the landowner more money for the shooting rights? Also what you are talking about is game shooting, rather than pest control. The land owners don't really gain much from your shooting deer, other than what they charge you.

 

The kind of shooting most on here do, with air rifles for what are considered vermin species, the landowner gains a great advantage by having good, responsible hunters on his land, in terms of reduction in crop loss, and also in terms of having someone with a bit of nous on the ground regularly, who can make him aware of any potential problems before they become a big issue. Most farmers won't see all of their farm very often, so having someon out who can let them know about downed trees, damaged fences etc. is invaluable to them. In situations like that, where I am providing a valuable service to the farmer, I wouldn't pay to shoot. I even managed to blag some free deer stalking a couple of weeks ago on some land in Scotland!

 

As for the lad who said he shoots without permission, I'm afraid by doing that you are becoming one of the "council estate scum who you wouldn't want on your ground with a rifle" even if you are the safest shooter in the world. A responsible shot makes sure he is legal at all times. If you get caught shooting on land you don't have permission on, the least that will happen will be the loss of your guns, and quite likely you will be facing court, a criminal record and possibly losing the right to hold or use guns, of any kind, ever again. It's simply not worth the risk. Kudos to Simon for helping the lad out!

[olim 28]

there was a thread on here a while ago about the usefulness of camouflage and someone said its only good for hiding from other humans. there are no chances of permission up my end and if there were, i'd probably get turned down cos i live on a scummy council estate, full of the types of people that folk won't want wandering round their land with an air rifle. i can't drive, and im skint so i'd not be able to pay anyway. my only option to go shooting is to just go, and be as inconspicuous as possible.

 

 

Mate it shouldnt make any difference, thats the great thing about shooting and air rifles in particular it doesnt matter if your rich or poor. As long as you present yourself well the land owner will not know where you are from, give it a go and I am sure that you will end up with some permission, it will be more enjoyable as you dont have to worry about getting arested every time you go out, and also if you are caught you could be kissing good bye to shooting for the rest of your life so it makes sense

 

good luck

[Phantom 631]

Just as a side note,

 

Camo, is to break up your outline/solid shape so that the animals find it harder to spot you, NOT to hide you from human eyes.

 

Darren, if you would like a sample letter to send out (alter it to your own needs) let me know or do a search on here for Grim Reapers permission forms and letters, they are good and well written. I use one myself that I have tailored to meet my own requirements so far its been sucessful

 

Phantom

[LAMZY 0]

Hi lads, it would have to be a yea from me because I'm in a simular position to darren watson live on a council estate but I do have permission on one piece of land 48 achers of land but not heavily populated so have to be careful how many rabbits I shoot because of breeding purposes would hate to run out and rhen have no where to go at all. So a BIG YES from me...p.s if [NO TEXT TALK] can help I do drive and would love to have some better sport as a option plz msg me if ya can help

thanks Lamzy..

[DIVERD 34]

Diver, sounds like a great setup you have. Now wouldn't you be p####d off if someone came in and offered the landowner more money for the shooting rights? Also what you are talking about is game shooting, rather than pest control. The land owners don't really gain much from your shooting deer, other than what they charge you.

 

The kind of shooting most on here do, with air rifles for what are considered vermin species, the landowner gains a great advantage by having good, responsible hunters on his land, in terms of reduction in crop loss, and also in terms of having someone with a bit of nous on the ground regularly, who can make him aware of any potential problems before they become a big issue. Most farmers won't see all of their farm very often, so having someon out who can let them know about downed trees, damaged fences etc. is invaluable to them. In situations like that, where I am providing a valuable service to the farmer, I wouldn't pay to shoot. I even managed to blag some free deer stalking a couple of weeks ago on some land in Scotland!

 

We have had people asking the land owner where we pay to shoot on their grounds, this has always been turned down for the very reasons you say. We look after the fences, do odd repairs and help where and when we can. It is not a money thing it is a trust thing, and we are now friends. I was just answering the question honestly, explaning why at times money needs to change hands.

 

we have i think 14 permissions. We pay for two, both have red deer on them, and they are way more damaging than bunnies believe me. The others are mostly vermin control, where we do not pay, but in most cases simply control the rabbits and foxes. We also control ferals on 4 farms. I dont pay for this, it is a service. We have air rifles for this. but also use 22lr with shot or shotguns if it is more suitable.

 

Some of our best game shooting and deer shooting came after controling the vermin for a time, building up a trust. Telling farmers and owners about poachers, fly tipping, stuck live stock and anything else you see all helps.

 

The land i pay for is very remote, and as i said is very useful (or was) for getting and guaranteeing our FAC. It was not shot for a decade or so before we took it so is probably not as desireable as some in the area but suits our needs well.

 

If you have no permission, and cannot get started then paying is one way of getting a foot in. Once you have some land, can show you are trust worthy and even get a reference i suppose then permission finding gets far easier. we now have people contacting us, asking us to control the vermin species, including deer. All this came from leasing some ground.

 

Everyones situation is different. In some areas, such as up here where goose guides drive about offering the farmers money to shoot the geese with guests, then this makes the situation different. The land owners know what their land is worth. We are lucky enough to have a folder, a portfolio with our permission letters in, maps and boundaries drawn. Insurance documents and laminated business cards. This makes a huge difference when we meet a land owner. They know we are regular shots, insured and competant. I have a reference letter from a very large estate where all we do is control the rabbits with .22lr and hmr, and this certainly has got us permission. So i certainly understand what you are saying. what i am saying is that at times money has to change hands to finilise a deal, without it we would not have what we have worked hard to get.

 

Finally at this time of year, pay all a visit, with a suitable bottle and a box of home made jam and the like and this guarantees the following year. This is what we do certainly

 

dave