Land Requirements For Firearms Application?

[J_Edwards 70]

Hi everyone, I'm not new to hunting but I have a few questions regarding a firearms application.

 

I'm 20 years old and I've been shooting with air rifles and shotguns for since I was 7/8. In the last few years I haven't been shooting much due to other commitments.

 

I live on a homestead smack bang in the extremely rural Yorkshire countryside, and own 5 acres of unused grassland which backs onto our house. I also have permission to use roughly 35 acres of grassland which backs onto our land. The land around it is owned by local farmers who are also personal friends, from whom I could obtain permission if required. There are no houses or roads within at least 500 yards of the edges of the land, and the edges are tree and bush-lined the whole way round.

 

The land is covered with rabbits, pigeons and corvids, but lately we have a fox infestation, and currently we are losing a chicken per night. Fencing and other attempts have failed, and I believe it to be inhumane to keep a chicken cooped up considering the land we have. After speaking with other locals, they too have a major problem with foxes.

 

An old friend who I used to go shooting with has hinted that he will be retiring from hunting in the near future due to illness, and he wishes for me to inherit his FAC air rifle and shotgun when he does.

 

I intend to apply for a shotgun certifcate, and FAC air rifle for the inherited guns, and a .17HMR for pests and corvids, and possibly a rifle to deal with foxes, so I was advised a .223 Remington.

 

I have seen lampers in the fields around us and heard gun-shots, so I presume it has been granted for centrefire use.

 

Does anyone have any wisdom as to whether this is a just application, and if I stand a chance of obtaining the licence I require?

 

Thanks...

[walshie 2,804]

Sounds fair. If the land has already been cleared for a certain calibre, the police will know this. If not, they will need to come and check the land for suitablilty.

 

Suitability is based partly on the size of the land and partly on features like hills etc.

[J_Edwards 70]

Thanks Walshie,

 

I'll be speaking to local landowners tomorrow to see if I can aquire permission for anymore land, just for good measure.

 

I've researched the topic and it seems people have been granted licences for significantly less land, with significantly more hazards, so I'm confident our land will suffice.

 

A friend advised me against applying for a .17 and .223. He lives in another town and was rejected a .22LR for a similar area of land. However, the A1 motorway borders one edge, there are two pubs in the corners, a public footpath, and it backs onto a golf course, so it seemed a bit of a silly application anyway. A .22 seemed slightly pointless, considering he has an 80ft/Ib air rifle!

[walshie 2,804]

Thanks Walshie,

 

I'll be speaking to local landowners tomorrow to see if I can aquire permission for anymore land, just for good measure.

 

I've researched the topic and it seems people have been granted licences for significantly less land, with significantly more hazards, so I'm confident our land will suffice.

 

A friend advised me against applying for a .17 and .223. He lives in another town and was rejected a .22LR for a similar area of land. However, the A1 motorway borders one edge, there are two pubs in the corners, a public footpath, and it backs onto a golf course, so it seemed a bit of a silly application anyway. A .22 seemed slightly pointless, considering he has an 80ft/Ib air rifle!

 

Easiest way of course is to find out what that land is cleared for then apply for that calibre, if it's suitable for your needs.

[dadioles 68]

Given that the noise of an hmr at night is unlikely to be too intrusive given your distance from neighbours, it sounds as though the hmr will compliment fac air quite nicely and mean that you can skip the .22lr.

 

From what you have described you should not have any problem getting a fac on that basis with your land and the only slight question mark may be over centrefire for foxes. Apply for centrefire and see what happens, you do not have anything to lose.

 

You would not be wise to put down foxes against your hmr as it is not generally recognised by the police for that purpose, justify its purchase for rabbit control. Do make sure that for the hmr your licence is worded "... and any other lawful quarry...." as you will then be able to use it for foxes without any legal difficulties at sensible ranges.

[J_Edwards 70]

Thanks Walshie and Dadioles,

 

On my application I have "pest and vermin control" for the FAC air rifle and .17HMR. For the .223 I have "fox control". I have also specified about the fox problem in the other information section.

 

If the .223 is rejected then so be it. But as I previously said, there are lampers who go on the fields around us hunting for foxes, so I can only presume that the land is granted for centerfire use, unless they shouldn't be there.

[The one 8,479]

As said it sounds like the land has been checked and passed the main thing is safe back stops and size shouldn't really come into it , but my F.A.O. used to say i have a guy with a 243 fires 5 shots a year and i would have no hesitation going up in front of a judge saying he doesnt need it , so if you get more land and use the guns whats the problem ?.

[SportingShooter 0]

You have the land and good reason a centrefire for shooting Foxes, job done. If they turn it down, query it with them first of all and then a shooting organisation if you don't get anywhere,

 

They can't expect you to live with a Fox problem just because they refuse to grant you the tool to do the job,

 

Like I say, you have the Good Reason and land, they cannot refuse you.

 

SS

[J_Edwards 70]

Thanks everyone,

 

I spoke with a friend who lives half a mile away from me, who has 21 acres of land and was granted a .17HMR, so he says that I should have no difficulties getting one with 35-40 acres of land.

 

I also found out that the village is in turmoil over foxes, as people are losing chickens left, right and centre, so there is definitely a good reason for an application.

 

My friend also gave me the business card of the local firearms officer, so I might send him an e-mail as to ascertain whether the land has been certified for centerfire use or not.

 

Is it correct to contact an officer with this sort of enquiry, such as by stating the problem, what I intend to apply for, and if the land is already certified for centerfire use?

[SportingShooter 0]

No harm in asking him, that's what he and his department are there for,

 

If he says it hasn't been then don't let it put you off applying for a centrefire and if he expresses his opinion that you won't be granted one, apply for one all the same.

 

Ultimately he will have influence on the decision but the final say is with the department's manager and above him/her, the Chief Constable.

[J_Edwards 70]

I will e-mail him this week, after all, I may as well get my taxes worth!

 

I had a walk around the land today, and it's bigger than I remembered. I used an online acreage calculator, and it turns out to be 41 acres, so slightly bigger than I calculated.

 

I will apply for a .223 anyway, as like you previously said, there is a definite problem with foxes, and there are no hazards within a fair distance, so any rejection would be purely bureaucratic.

[charlie caller 3,654]

Why not just ring your firearms licensing dept up and ask if the land is passed, all land that is cleared for firearms use is recorded on a national computer, they will tell you what if anything it is cleared for, if not you will have to get it cleared for .223, if I were you I would try and get some additional land from a local farmer that is already passed for .223 or above, as you might struggle with a .223 on just 40 acres or so, not saying you wont get it just that you might struggle, if he has to check the land out, and ums and ers about a .223 ask him to pass it for a .22 hornet, a brilliant little fox round out to 200 yards, good luck.

[J_Edwards 70]

A .223 is not necessary, that's just the calibre that I was reccommended, but anything that can effectively and humanely deal with a fox will do.

 

I'll have a word with a friend tonight, he's a farmer and has a few hundred acres to play with, so I'll see if I can persuade him with a few bottles of home-made wine!

[charlie caller 3,654]

Good plan

[ZacB 114]

We found by being up front with our FEO did no harm. Told him what and where we wanted to shoot, similar to yourself a fox problem around us at the time. He advised on a calibre for fox that he would be happy granting. This was a first time application for FAC - no problems and granted