Advice

[finder 6]

right lads,my mate has just got a load of permission to shoot deer ,mainly roe.The land owner has just had a load of new trees planted and the carnage has started.the problem is there is a public footpath runs about 2 hundred yards from new crop.How does he stand with this,could he, if possible be able to close the footpath for a few weeks etc,the footpath is behind the wood ,so we would be shootng with our backs to the footpath if you would.and we would be at least 150 yards from said footpath.

 

[sussex 5,777]

I think you would be up against it try to close the footpath , but why bother , its not from my knowledge illegal to shoot close to or on the footpath , what your not allowed to do is in danger or alarm somebody on the footpath , where we have footpaths we put up signs informing people that this is a shooting estate & deer management is on going . Also reminding them to stick to the footpaths .

 

Given the stalking is mainly early morning or evening we tend not to have a problem ,

[finder 6]

thanks was thinking about the signs and so was the land owner.

[Bootsha 1,306]

contact BASC or similar for a qualified opinion. Better safe than a recinded fac cert. or even get "mr smith" to contact the issuing authority for that area and ask advice, worth a call from a legal perspective.

 

Pretty sure that shotguns arent alowed to be discharged within 50metres of a footpath or highway??, not 100% sure.

 

B

[MonarchCountryProducts 2]

Signage is a must at the entry and exit points near the intended management area, there should be no problem shooting from the footpath area as long as the public are not inconvenienced in anyway, so common sense prevails..

 

Rgds

[Rake aboot 4,935]

Shooting on the public pathway or road is fine, so long as you do not inconvenience other users

[Philluk 181]

Sussex is right, the law relating to footpaths is one of those unchallenged laws,

 

Rights: you have as much right to walk along a footpath as long as you have permission on both sides, you can legally walk along side a walker.

 

Morals and common sense: keep off, whilst legally you can shoot over a footpath common sense says don't, I would suggest a hide or high seat with your back to the footpath would be fine. The stupid thing is its not illegal to shoot across a footpath, changes needed there one thinks, but most shooters use the common sense approach

 

A few years ago I had a member of public complained that I was walking along a footpath with a gun which was illegal, (I wasn't I was walking parallel to it) but that way I knew who was there and where. usual story Mr plod arrives and I quoted the law and in my firearm cert which is in the jeep I keep a snippet of the law which was most handy.

 

BASC members have access to things like this and suggest you do the same if you are unsure of the law, the 50ft we keep hearing about is from a highway which is the definition of a road, where as a footpath comes under rights of way.

 

Hope that helps

[Philluk 181]

 

 

found it!!!

[hutchey 147]

Cheers Philluk, that is very handy.

[shootlodge 145]

Should we take for granted you have open ticket or the land is passed to suit your deer calibre ?

 

If so , red flags made from brush handles & red rag with a waterproof sign " firearms & land management in progress" top & bottom of the footpath ..

 

laminated A4 in half works perfect for 2 signs , stapled to the brush stick.

[air gun ant 1,666]

the 50ft thing is from the centre of a public highway so by rights if theres a four lane motorway cuts through your permission it would be legal to stand right next it and shoot aslong as it doesnt disrupt anybody on it. but common sence would suggest you wouldnt.

[roe-buck 63]

Well for certain I'd be using a moderated rifle, being that close to the footpath.The less attention you draw to yourself and activity the better.You don't want some Mumpty calling 999 and saying there's armed people adjacent to the footpath.Some good advice here regarding signage!You could also advise the local Plod you are engaged in Deer control on such and such a day.If someone does take fright,shouldn't be any problems then!

[finder 6]

all good advice lads,thankyou,