fletcher1004 Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 Can i sign as the land owner/tenant on my own FAC application? I want to upgrade to an FAC PCP air rifle. this will be used on my horse paddocks that i have 4 horses in and mine are the only horses as i am the sole tenant. the size totals approx 7 acres between 3 joining fields. My reasons for wanting to go down the FAC route are to be able to take shots at an increased range while reducing the likelihood of injuring an animal. i live in Wiltshire if anybody has any experience in dealing with their firearms department, i am also a Shotgun Certificate holder. thanks for taking the time to read this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedster Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 Just sign a permission slip giving yourself shooting rights, that's what I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletcher1004 Posted April 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 Just sign a permission slip giving yourself shooting rights, that's what I did. cheers Ted i wasn't sure that would be ok but I've been researching it and can't find anything that says i can't...... after all i imagine thats what a farmer would do for his own rifle if he has one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedster Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 I don't think you have to but my FAO just asked me to do myself one for the file. Keeps things tidy I suppose... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
srspower Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 By sole tennant I assume you mean you rent the land rather than just pay to keep your horses there? If you just pay to keep horses there then you have no jurisdiction over the land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 In law you need good reason not written permision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbiep Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 On my FAC application (good reason is pest control on my own land) I just put a note on the continuation sheet (part E, I think) that no permission letters were enclosed as I own the land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 As a tenant you do not own the shooting rights to the land-they belong to the landowner. If the landowner has given you written shooting rights to the land then all is well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieh Posted April 23, 2014 Report Share Posted April 23, 2014 Hi As a tenant I believe you have the right to control rabbits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 Hi As a tenant I believe you have the right to control rabbits Usually but not always. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletcher1004 Posted April 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 hopefully my good reason being to control rabbits who's burrow holes are a danger to the horses will be good enough. I've been doing for the last few years with a standard air rifle but something with a flatter trajectory at a longer range would make my life easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 hopefully my good reason being to control rabbits who's burrow holes are a danger to the horses will be good enough. I've been doing for the last few years with a standard air rifle but something with a flatter trajectory at a longer range would make my life easier. It will and more humane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted April 24, 2014 Report Share Posted April 24, 2014 You may well have rabbits in abundance but that's between you and the landowner-the onus is on him to control the vermin and even then it is entirely at his discretion-you do not have any legal rights to shoot unless the landowner gives permission. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted April 25, 2014 Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Pest Act 1954 used to make it compulsory for landowners/occupiers/etc to control their rabbits. From Natural England. Pests Act 1954 Control of rabbits: Information for occupiers of land 1. Responsibilities of occupiers to control rabbits Under Section 1 of the Pests Act 1954, the whole of England, apart from the City of London and Isles of Scilly, has been declared a rabbit clearance area. Under Section 1(2) of the 1954 Act, all occupiers of land in a rabbit clearance area have a continuing obligation to kill or take any wild rabbits living on, or resorting to, their land, unless they can establish that it is not reasonably practicable to do so. If it is not practicable to destroy the rabbits, occupiers have an obligation to prevent the rabbits from causing damage elsewhere by, for example, fencing them in with rabbit-proof fencing. The obligation to control rabbits is irrespective of the use being made of the occupier’s land or that of their neighbours. 2. Enforcement of the obligation to control rabbits The Secretary of State has powers, under Section 98 of the Agriculture Act 1947, to serve a notice on an occupier requiring them to take specified action against the rabbits. If an occupier fails to take the specified action they would be liable for prosecution. In addition, the Secretary of State can also arrange for a third party to carry out the necessary control work on the occupier’s land and then recover the cost of this work from the occupier. Natural England feels it would only be appropriate to spend public money issuing and enforcing Notices in exceptional circumstances; these would not normally be damage at a holding or parish scale. 3. Methods of controlling rabbits Occupiers may use any legal method to control rabbits on their land, e.g. gassing, trapping, snaring, shooting, fencing etc. Further advice on methods of control is given in the Natural England advisory leaflet "rabbits" TAN03, "Rabbits: use of fencing to prevent agricultural damage" TAN23 and "Rabbits: use of cage-trapping to prevent agricultural damage" TAN24 which are available from Natural England at the address opposite. 4. The right to shoot rabbits The Ground Game Act 1880 gives an occupier the right to shoot rabbits on his/her land during the day and to authorise in writing one other person to do so. That person must be a member of the occupier’s household or staff, or be employed for reward. An occupier may apply to Natural England for authority to use a reasonable number of extra guns, if the owner of the shooting rights will neither permit the occupier to use extra guns, nor undertake to destroy the rabbits themselves. If you wish to apply to use extra guns, contact Natural England at the address below. Under the 1880 Act, as interpreted by the courts and as read with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, only the following are allowed to shoot rabbits at night: An owner-occupier with shooting rights; A landlord/landlady who has reserved their shooting rights; A shooting tenant not in occupation who has derived the shooting rights from the owner; and An occupier, or one other person authorised by them in writing, where the occupier has written authority from another person with shooting rights. WML-G22 Ver.01/11 WML-G22 Ver.01/11 5. Dealing with rabbit damage If you are suffering damage from rabbits coming from neighbouring land, you should identify the landowner(s) concerned and liaise with them to agree how the issue will be resolved. Natural England believes that the long-term resolution of rabbit complaints is best achieved by co-operation. Without co-operation, problems are almost certain to recur. If co-operation fails, occupiers do have options such as rabbit fencing to prevent damage. If rabbits are harbored on land owned by Network Rail you should put your complaint directly to the company using Network Rail's National Helpline 08457 114141. Natural England considers it would only be appropriate to spend public money taking on complaint cases in exceptional circumstances, as compulsion is not the best way of resolving problems with rabbits in the mid to long term. Exceptional circumstances would, for example, be a situation that had national rather than local significance; it would not normally be damage at a holding or even parish scale. Should you require further information on managing problems with rabbits, or be considering making a complaint, you should contact the Wildlife Licensing Unit at the address below: Wildlife Licensing Unit Natural England First Floor Temple House Quay 2 The Square Bristol BS1 6EB. Tel: 0845 6014523 (local rate) I remember talk of changes/discussion/review on this, but I don't have a definitive update! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fletcher1004 Posted April 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2014 Now that's what I call a comprehensive answer !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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