Legal Use Of Shot Guns?

[whipbed 42]

whilst out recently for an early morning walk with my dogs i bumped into a polite chap with his shot gun and dog

i had just passed another couple of dog walkers and this location gets busier later in the day but at this early [daylight] hour there are not many folks about.

the location was on a marked public walkway that passed near a private estate.

shotgun was not in a bag and he had fired off a couple of shots before i met him.

we chatted for a couple of minutes whilst the dogs had a play about then parted company.

it,s always nice to meet someone and have a chat when out for a walk and this was no exception.

i had no problem with the fact that he had a gun and it was being carried openly in this location and did not really give it much thought but on telling this to some friends they were horrified .

so i am now wondering if someone in this section can tell me if this is legal or not as i have knowledge on shotguns?

 

[smithie 2,443]

legal if he has permission from land owner

[bunny tickler 876]

perfectly legal but to walk openly amongst public is something i personally wouldnt do .one of my perms is full of footpaths ,i allways keep away from them & if i see or here anyone on the estate ,i gently dissapear as not to be seen or heard , less chance of any encounter ,too many busy bodies out there nowadays

[shropshire dan 467]

I've walked on a couple of roads before now with rifle on my back or shotgun cocked over the arm.

[whipbed 42]

thanks for the replies.

i can set a few people straight on this matter who thought i should have reported this.[ not that it even entered my head]

you are correct about busybodies.

[3175darren 1,100]

Its funny I was loading the car up on Wednesday, I walked across a lane with the gun down by my side to the car immediately opposite me,dogs pissed around for minute or so,while we were trying to get them in the back of the pickup,then from nowhere came a bloke on a pushbike,I know I had the gun with me on my shoulder on a sling,empty and barrel down and empty, it was on the opposite side of my body from him, but he clearly turned and saw me lifting the lurcher in, anyway we drove on behind him caught him up in about 1/2 a mile, and he was on his phone while riding,as he approached a junction he looked around and saw us behind him, he just stuffed his phone in his lycra top pocket,and rode off,its not like we were poaching as I have permission on all the farms around there,and most of the locals stop and fuss my dogs,but it made me stop think about it,the worlds paranoia is gathering real pace,

[Alsone 789]

As an aside, this is 2 good examples of why it's a good idea to inform the police before you go out.

 

Had this been one of the OP's friends and they had reported the matter it could have resulted in an armed response. A simple phone call before hand to the local control room, and the police know it is an authorised shooter with permission to be on the land. Personally, I'd even mention the fact the land is criss crossed with paths.

 

The problem here is many people don't realise that many footpaths actually cross private land and that people can be authorised to shoot there. Similarly there are a lot of people who are paranoid about guns out there who's only concept of gun ownership is what they see on the news from criminals and incidents in the US.

[nasher1 258]

People get confused by the right to roam term i have been involved in several incidents with members of the public where they are adamant that I shouldn't have a gun with me and I have to try and explain to them that the footpath is the other side of the field and it is them who at that point whilst arguing with me are breaking the law.

[nasher1 258]

Also I might add if you do become unlucky enough to become involved in a dispute with a member of the public while out shooting make sure you do so while standing on the private land. Do not argue with them on the footpath you will be breaking the law

[SportingShooter 0]

Also I might add if you do become unlucky enough to become involved in a dispute with a member of the public while out shooting make sure you do so while standing on the private land. Do not argue with them on the footpath you will be breaking the law

 

The footpath is still owned by the land owner, it is not in public ownership.

[DeerhoundLurcherMan 997]

I don't like people seeing me with guns if I can help it. Too many "do gooders" and antis about. Not worth the hassle...

 

If I did ever have words with someone while out shooting, the first thing I would do is put my gun in a slip and second would be get my phone out and film everything. I'm not loosing my FAC over what some numpty might say...

[nasher1 258]

 

 

Also I might add if you do become unlucky enough to become involved in a dispute with a member of the public while out shooting make sure you do so while standing on the private land. Do not argue with them on the footpath you will be breaking the law

The footpath is still owned by the land owner, it is not in public ownership.

but both of you arguing on footpath means you are not using it for its intended purpose and fall foul of bylaws

[whipbed 42]

i suppose it may be the case that there are no inbetweens in a situation like this .

someone with a gun may encounter someone like myself who doesn,t give it a second thought and can see no problem and then there are the other folks who would be on the phone immediatley to the police.

i,m not a shotgunner so don,t know much about the laws but i,m glad i posted this so at least if i,m in a situation like this again and a doogooder comes along and makes a fuss at least i can defend the shooter .

thanks for all the info

[Alsone 789]

 

 

Also I might add if you do become unlucky enough to become involved in a dispute with a member of the public while out shooting make sure you do so while standing on the private land. Do not argue with them on the footpath you will be breaking the law

The footpath is still owned by the land owner, it is not in public ownership.

but both of you arguing on footpath means you are not using it for its intended purpose and fall foul of bylaws

 

 

My understanding is that if the path is on land owned by the landowner then you can legally shoot from the path provided you don't obstruct a walker from using it.

 

I can't see any offence from a shooter arguing with a member of the public on a footpath on private land provided they don't obstruct their passage or threaten them, (Obviously arguments are best avoided), as the shooter has permission to be on the land. Do you know of something in this regard to the contrary?

 

Equally, if they stop to argue with you from a path in a way that interferes with your shooting, eg by virtue of them deliberately loitering to prevent you resuming, then THEY are committing a Criminal Offence as it's an offence to interefere with a shoot.

 

The BASC has a document descibing rights of way here:

 

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fbasc.org.uk%2Fwp-content%2Fplugins%2Fdownload-monitor%2Fdownload.php%3Fid%3D49&ei=3zCoVOmrEcbdavflgvgG&usg=AFQjCNGyf8mDhAtlBxo49ktj7qSFUOwh1A&bvm=bv.82001339,d.d2s&cad=rja

Edited January 3, 2015 by Alsone

[3175darren 1,100]

The sad thing around this is we are not tolerated any more,people look judgingly at anyone carrying a gun or partaking in country sports,but we have as much right to be there if not more in some cases, and the thought of haveing to phone the police when I go anywhere, seems to stick in my throat as an infringement of my civil liberties,I do ring the police when lamping, And I am always courteous when I speak to anyone, everyone knows me in the area of my permission,