Requesting Permission

[Charlie Portlock 22]

Hello all,

 

I'll shortly have the opportunity to interview the people that grant air gunners permission to shoot on their land. I've lined up a Head Keeper from a private estate, and two farmers that have a range of livestock and mixed arable crops. It's for an upcoming article but I'm keen for the community to be involved and I may post the audio interviews online (pending permission).

 

I want to make my questions relevant and useful so I'm posting this on two other forums to try and get a good idea of what people would be interested in knowing.

 

As a starting point I've come up with the following;

 

What kind of shooting do you do?

Do you currently use an air rifle on the farm? if so where and why?

What are your pest control needs?

What sort of pest control measures do you currently employ?

How many times have been approached for shooting permission in the last three years?

How can air gunners make themselves more useful to you?

Do you prefer to be contacted by post, email, phone or in person?

What can a permission seeker do to stand out rom the crowd?

What are the three big "don'ts" that permission seekers should avoid?

Can you describe the average air gunner?

Can you describe the ideal air gunner?

What extra things can an air gunner do to make you really happy?

 

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and advice.

 

Best,

 

Charlie

 

 

[charlie caller 3,654]

I think the silence speaks volumes old chap

[Charlie Portlock 22]

I think you're right Charlie! But volumes of what? Maybe many people here already have permission to shoot and a have good network of contacts. If so, then this is the wrong forum to post this in and I apologise.

[Mr Wilkes 3,040]

I would love to know what answers are given to the above questions by those interviewed.

[walshie 2,804]

I think the whole thing is too invasive. If someone was asking me for permission, I wouldn't want to feel I was being interrogated. Ask them what hey want of you and what the no-nos are.

[Rez 4,961]

Is this about asking the land owner or what the land owner might ask you?

[Charlie Portlock 22]

Hi Washie, I can see your point if it was an informal interview for a permission as it would be much to full on in that context. However, this an interview on the whole idea of gaining permission and what we can do to better present ourselves and communicate our reliability. It's for an upcoming feature in Airgunner magazine but I will share the results online in some format after publication. The landowners/famers/ keeper are all up for an in depth discussion and I'm not sure that it's been done before in any meaningful way.

 

Good point Rez. That's a crucial one I left out regarding their questions and concerns

 

My plan is to create a kind of permission pack that hunters could use as a starting point when making cold contact; things like character references, shooting club membership, insurance document, covering letter/ email etc. Obviously these things are far easier if you get chatting to a farmer in a pub but that's not an option for everybody unfortunately.

Edited May 5, 2015 by Charlie Portlock

[walshie 2,804]

Hi Washie, I can see your point if it was an informal interview for a permission as it would be much to full on in that context. However, this an interview on the whole idea of gaining permission and what we can do to better present ourselves and communicate our reliability. It's for an upcoming feature in Airgunner magazine but I will share the results online in some format after publication. The landowners/famers/ keeper are all up for an in depth discussion and I'm not sure that it's been done before in any meaningful way.

 

Good point Rez. That's a crucial one I left out regarding their questions and concerns

 

My plan is to create a kind of permission pack that hunters could use as a starting point when making cold contact; things like character references, shooting club membership, insurance document, covering letter/ email etc. Obviously these things are far easier if you get chatting to a farmer in a pub but that's not an option for everybody unfortunately.

 

I see, but the point still remains that if you incorporate all those questions and answers into a permission slip it would be pages and pages long. Landowners generally can't be arsed with all that stuff. They either want a job doing or don't.

 

Maybe if you asked those questions then condensed the best bits you might be ok.

[Charlie Portlock 22]

I completely agree Walshie. The plan is to sit down over a few ales with the farmers near me that I already have a good rapport with and various permissions from. Interview them in return for beer and then use their answers as a starting point for a concise list of dos and don't like you say.

[moxy 617]

I think the only helpful bit of information you are going to gain and offer permission seekers is that of gaining the permission in the first place.

Approach. Presentation. Manners and general conduct.

On the back of that you also introduce your experience. References and insurance details.

 

The rest you are over complicating things with all the questions.

IF you are lucky enough to get the permission YOU will then be informed of the particulars and what is required from yourself.

ie. Permitted quarry. Don't go over that wall. Don't go over that fence. Don't go in that field the Bulls are out!!! Turn up regular and not just throughout the summer etc etc, you don't need a tick list.

As with most things in life. Communication is the key.

 

Every permission will be different. Shooting on an estate or a golf course for examples, won't be anything like just popping down to your local dairy farm.

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

The three answers the farmers give to you when asking for permision to shoot there land i find are as follows

 

 

Yes,

 

NO

 

FECK OFF

 

and if you have a list of questions to ask them the last one is the answer your going to get , FECK OFF

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

Edited May 6, 2015 by bigmac 97kt

[moxy 617]

:laugh:

 

I think Charlie is trying to come up with a different approach Mac. To avoid getting the latter of your answers

[bigmac 97kt 13,807]

:laugh:

 

I think Charlie is trying to come up with a different approach Mac. To avoid getting the latter of your answers

I bet you still get the same answers

 

and i bet the latter comes first

 

atvbmac :thumbs:

[moxy 617]

Your probably right.

 

Perhaps an article on dealing with rejection. Boredom and depression may be more beneficial

 

Only joking Charlie. Best of luck

[charlie caller 3,654]

And also lets not forget farmers really DO vary in their general demeanor towards folk asking for permission from area to area, If you showed me a map of Derbyshire, as an example, I could point out areas where the farmers are both forthcoming and just the opposite, I have quite a lot of land in an area, where the rabbits could be eating them out of house and home literally, and they would still not give permission to a stranger, I have gained these areas, by being recommended by some farming friends to other farmers, and yet in the same county, I could point you to an area where you would meet with more success than failure by simply being polite and knocking on the door, strange folk sometimes farmers, and I think a list of questions would be the last thing most of them would want thrusting at them, as Moxy says, keep it simple, generally the answer will be one of Macs 3 choices.