Is it correct the MOD don't allow civilians to shoot on their land?

[NewBarnFerrets 3]

A few years back I was given written permission by a relative to shoot rabbits on the land he leases from the MOD. Just for the record this land is agricultural.

 

However the MOD Range Officer / Warden now claims that he had no right to grant me permission & also that it was MOD policy that civilians were not allowed to shoot on any MOD land.

I've recently contacted Natural England & explained the situation..... Natural England confirmed that as occupier of the land he did have the authority to grant me permission......I guess based on the 1880 Ground Game act, etc....

However they could not comment either way on the MOD policy of civilians with firearms on MOD owned land.

 

I must add that the previous Range Officer did not have a problem with shooting the rabbits!

 

So my questions are......

1 - Is this really an MOD policy.........or is it this new Range Officers personal agenda??

2 - Any of you guys have authority to shoot on land leased from the MOD?

& if so any problems?

 

Regards

NBF

[mattydski 560]

No......Its bollocks.

Yes, I have 3000 acres of MOD land

No. there are no problems... we get on great with them.

[Bunny Boiler 177]

I have land leased to a farmer by the MOD. It was where the lights for the runway extended into. I had some armed MOD police come out once, but once I explained that I'd been granted permission and they spoke to the farmer, they left me to it and I've never had any bother since. I was only shooting an Air rifle mind. I was within the law.

 

Atb, Bunny.

[markha 99]

Rabbits are on the general licence to be 'exterminated to extinction' and all land owners or tenants have a 'legal obligation' to control rabbit populations on their land - MOD included.

 

However - Permission to shoot on MOD property or land that is, or was, at anythime used as a designated firing range at any point in time, even if its now agricultural, may need the person shooting to have permission from the MOD Estates and more so they may even stipulate that that person needs to hold an MOD Range Qualification, as is needed by all those, civilian or otherwise, who shoot on MOD Ranges.

 

Also in your question you mentioned 2 things, First that the land is agricultural and then that the MOD Range Officer or Warden has stepped in, so basically if there was a range officer its and MOD designated range and therefor ' by the book' you need a relevant range qualification/MOD Range Safety cert'.

Simples its no good asking the question about other shooters leasing MOD land etc, you are on land desginated as a firing range and you dont have the relevant paper work to be there.

Oh and if you have any kind of insurance in place ie BACS, CA etc then it will be null and void for shooting on MOD ranges unless you have the correct range paper work.

 

Your range officer is running it by the book, just get on the NRA range safety officer course and that ticks the boxes.

Civilians shoot on MOD ranges all the time, nearly all the long range shooting comps are done on military ranges, Bisley Ranges, Sealand Ranges just a couple, there are tons of them.

[mattydski 560]

  On 09/01/2012 at 20:26, markha said:

Rabbits are on the general licence to be 'exterminated to extinction' and all land owners or tenants have a 'legal obligation' to control rabbit populations on their land - MOD included.

 

However - Permission to shoot on MOD property or land that is, or was, at anythime used as a designated firing range at any point in time, even if its now agricultural, may need the person shooting to have permission from the MOD Estates and more so they may even stipulate that that person needs to hold an MOD Range Qualification, as is needed by all those, civilian or otherwise, who shoot on MOD Ranges.

 

Also in your question you mentioned 2 things, First that the land is agricultural and then that the MOD Range Officer or Warden has stepped in, so basically if there was a range officer its and MOD designated range and therefor ' by the book' you need a relevant range qualification/MOD Range Safety cert'.

Simples its no good asking the question about other shooters leasing MOD land etc, you are on land desginated as a firing range and you dont have the relevant paper work to be there.

Oh and if you have any kind of insurance in place ie BACS, CA etc then it will be null and void for shooting on MOD ranges unless you have the correct range paper work.

 

Your range officer is running it by the book, just get on the NRA range safety officer course and that ticks the boxes.

Civilians shoot on MOD ranges all the time, nearly all the long range shooting comps are done on military ranges, Bisley Ranges, Sealand Ranges just a couple, there are tons of them.

 

Sorry you are incorrect in some of your points.

I have permission from Defence Estates on Rifle ranges used in Scotland, with no Range Qualification.

You are confusing firing on the range as a target shooter and as a vermin controller.

When I shoot MOD land, the flags are down. There is no MOD, LADMARK or any other supervision. its down to me.

My insurance is valid........Ive checked...

 

Without wishing to be anal...

 

atb

Matty

[PlasticJock 539]

He's full of s**t I'm afraid. Been in the army 7 years and have seen civilians on the ranges/land all over the country.

If it was me I'd tell him to wind his neck in, if you know you're in the right then that's the end of it, don't let them confuse you by waffling on about 'regulations' and 'policy', you aren't in the army so if the occupier (who pays rent/a lease) has given you permission then it's got nothing to do with anyone else.