wymberley Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Pretty much in common with all farmers, the one whose land I shoot over considers paperwork to be an anathema. Anything that drops through his letter box to do with shooting (he doesn't) ends up in my lap to sort out. Usually, it's something from the estate, but occasionally, it's a request for shooting permission. Just had a cracker. The writer appears to be of no fixed abode or for some reason doesn't want the farmer to know where he lives. Consequently, the farmer doesn't know whether or not the guy can turn up speedily when required. Bin. Couldn't be bothered to find out the farmer's name. Bin. He works 6 nights a week so fox and rabbit are out. Bin. Seems that he's a bit of a deer specialist but the estate keep the deer in house. He says that the farmer probably doesn't know that it's not just badger but also deer that can carry bTB. Now in this neck of the woods that's akin to telling the farmer who was born on the farm 70 years ago, that he's been doing his ploughing all wrong for the past 50 years. Bin. He doesn't want paying for all the expertise he's going to offer to prevent the farm - and I quote - "the farm business suffering an ugly downfall". Not all bad then! Quote again, "there would never be more than 2 people on your land, and no one without the same respect or a (sic) firearm/shotgun licence will step foot with me on your land as I will not abuse any permission you have given me". No mention of just who this second person might be - could be that he's running a nice little earner offering accompanied shooting/stalking. Sounds abusive to me. Bin. Have politely replied (e-mail [the only address he seems to have]) pointing out that the deer is kept in house by the estate, hunting with the hawk is not on because of the presence of game which the existing vermin controllers are authorised to maintain and shoot as a reward for their efforts. No thank you for taking the time to do this, though, which might just have stood him in good stead if something were to change had it been a sensible request. So, yep, final time, the bin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Nice one Mate, I wonder how many of those he sends out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 Its always best to speak face to face, specially over a pint in the local, 1 that way they aint busy, and 2 not having dinner and you never know you may actually know each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 So I never got the permission then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRNDL Posted November 3, 2014 Report Share Posted November 3, 2014 So I never got the permission then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 4, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2014 So I never got the permission then? Seems you tend to block gateways. The more I think about this - I'm not nit picking on spelling or grammar as it was fine but some of the wording and phrases did not sound right - I'd like to know who he was as I can't help feeling that he might be trouble re poaching and particularly so in view of the lack of address/e-mail reply. Yep, paranoid perhaps but I can't help it. Might just tip the estate stalker the wink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Perhaps you should have arranged to meet him on "neutral" ground, that way you could see what sort of chap he was! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footu Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 Andbget his car details if a sudden increase in poaching occurs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdsallpl Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) We have a fixed but simple introduction process. The applicant writes telling us a bit about himself. Experience etc etc. he is then invited to meet up with myself and one other and told it is not an interview situation just an informal chat. We arrange to meet in a pub car park near some of our land. We have a drive around showing him some of the crops and having a general chat. We don't ask specific questions but bring topics like quarry identification, crop rotation etc into the conversation. We get a general feeling about their openess and honesty. If he doesn't know much but demonstrates that he would like to learn that is fine. If he is personable and looks like he will fit in well with the rest of the team that is great. When we get back to the pub, I suggest we have a quick pint, where they usually start to relax a bit more. This gives us plenty of time to assess the applicant and importantly for the applicant to understand how we do things. Touch wood this has worked well up date and we have introduced some cracking people into crop protection shooting. Edited November 5, 2014 by birdsallpl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted November 5, 2014 Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 (edited) Seems you tend to block gateways. Don't go there, it seems I have passed it on in my jeans to my daughter She called 2 days ago to tell me she couldn't find her car (only been driving a few weeks), after some questioning about yellow/red lines, I asked if she had blocked a driveway. "no dad", " are you sure", "yes dad"..... Done some ringing about and found the council had towed it for blocking the drive I asked if they had pictures and was ready for a row thinking the bumper was overhanging or something like that. I asked if he could tell me how much of an overhang it was and he told me from the wing mirrors Edited November 5, 2014 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wymberley Posted November 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2014 We have a fixed but simple introduction process. The applicant writes telling us a bit about himself. Experience etc etc. he is then invited to meet up with myself and one other and told it is not an interview situation just an informal chat. We arrange to meet in a pub car park near some of our land. We have a drive around showing him some of the crops and having a general chat. We don't ask specific questions but bring topics like quarry identification, crop rotation etc into the conversation. We get a general feeling about their openess and honesty. If he doesn't know much but demonstrates that he would like to learn that is fine. If he is personable and looks like he will fit in well with the rest of the team that is great. When we get back to the pub, I suggest we have a quick pint, where they usually start to relax a bit more. This gives us plenty of time to assess the applicant and importantly for the applicant to understand how we do things. Touch wood this has worked well up date and we have introduced some cracking people into crop protection shooting. Yep, as per. There is a well written application beside me where just that was the routine. Provided the guy wishes to buy the guns that are essential for the job (offered to mentor him for the rifle if necessary, hopefully not) then he's cracked it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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