matt fieldcrafter-uk Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 I walked away from 2,000 acres of land I have shot for 4 years this weekend , simply because of the keeper who neighbours the land calling the police on us and generally causing as much trouble as he could. We had the armed response turn up on me and my son about 2 weeks back , then he sent the police again this Saturday , I don't know why but the land owner seemed most annoyed at us and I just said I would rather not go through this any more s I am totally lawful person and have no wish to be persecuted by anyone in the name of sport . Anyway so far I have spent 6 hours driving round asking land owners and farmers for permission in total over 29 farms , so far nothing, not one interested person . This is not the first time I have done this , I fact it's the 3rd time in 4 years ... I don't really want advice or help , I think I just need to vent my frustration !! Sorry pigeon watch , but you are my audience for my vent ! Ps I ****ing hate pheasant shooting , it's the blight of the country side !! You gussed it , mostly uptight syndicate land ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 I walked away from 2,000 acres of land I have shot for 4 years this weekend , simply because of the keeper who neighbours the land calling the police on us and generally causing as much trouble as he could. We had the armed response turn up on me and my son about 2 weeks back , then he sent the police again this Saturday , I don't know why but the land owner seemed most annoyed at us and I just said I would rather not go through this any more s I am totally lawful person and have no wish to be persecuted by anyone in the name of sport . Anyway so far I have spent 6 hours driving round asking land owners and farmers for permission in total over 29 farms , so far nothing, not one interested person . This is not the first time I have done this , I fact it's the 3rd time in 4 years ... I don't really want advice or help , I think I just need to vent my frustration !! Sorry pigeon watch , but you are my audience for my vent ! Ps I ******* hate pheasant shooting , it's the blight of the country side !! You gussed it , mostly uptight syndicate land ... A wise choice I would say as the land owner you shot for obviously couldn't give a toss about you, I would have done the same after I had a word or two with the keeper next door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt fieldcrafter-uk Posted August 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 The keeper has threatened me with being beaten up , and allways threatening police etc . It's a huge shame after 4 years I felt like I had a good working relationship with the landowners but it seems not . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 The keeper has threatened me with being beaten up , and allways threatening police etc . It's a huge shame after 4 years I felt like I had a good working relationship with the landowners but it seems not . There's one simple answer for that but best not to post it on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt fieldcrafter-uk Posted August 19, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Ha ha last summer it came to a head , me and my son where in the hide and he came across the field shouting at us etc , he was shoving me all sorts threats of this n that and in ashamed to say I lost it at him and it was all pretty awkward . But after he shook my hand and said if I had hit him he might have died because he had recently recovered from having bowl cancer .... That time he called the farmer and they said that they wouldn't have him dictate what happened on the fields that had nothing to do with him but I think he just wore them out with the last two episodes and seemed to want it all to stop ! A few years back the keeper bragged to me that when he was younger, some guys poaching (probably totally innocent) beat him so bad he was in intensive care for 6 weeks . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danger-Mouse Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 That sucks Matt. Best of luck in finding some new land to shoot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben0850 Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I would keep in touch with the landowner, Christmas cards etc, from what you say about the keeper he wont be on that patch for ever (either moved on, retired or something else!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt fieldcrafter-uk Posted August 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 Thanks guys. I think I will just leave the land in the past , I'm going to miss shooting there a little bit in happy to switch to range shooting , Clays and paid days if I have to , I may get an air rifle yet as I have never struggled to get permission to shoot vermin with one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 Really sorry to hear this story matt, such a shame. Sometimes it just isnt worth the agro. Good luck with your search for land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 Really sorry to hear that.........it happens more than you think............it happened to me 5 years ago.....it got to the stage that instead of enjoying my day i was just waiting for something to happen............a year previous to that i had a very bad run in with the keeper next door...he threatened my dog on my land to which..he had no access to....and it then went downhill after that...to the effect if he looked at my dog wrong..he would be disabled for the rest of his life......then he started making trouble with the landowner who are personal friends of ours for more than 30 years..........they didnt want that aggro at their time of life so i backed away...and have never been back since........ so im sorry to hear of your situation, but im sure you are not alone......................my turn out that your cloud might have a silver lining....did to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontastic Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I would keep in touch with the landowner, Christmas cards etc, from what you say about the keeper he wont be on that patch for ever (either moved on, retired or something else!) Good idea, it can't do any harm to keep in touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackpowder Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 The keeper has threatened me with being beaten up , and allways threatening police etc . It's a huge shame after 4 years I felt like I had a good working relationship with the landowners but it seems not . Surely a person who issues those threats is not a fir person to hold shotgun license or firearms certificate. When you say always threatening police, does he trespass from his own ground to issue these threats? This gamekeeper sounds like someone with severe mental problems to me and perhaps for safety you are better keeping well clear. Blackpowder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E.w. Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I wouldn't call him a keeper that's not how a good keeper works, it's in his interest to get you on side as vermin is his enemy so would need you to help control them. You should contact BASC as he should be registered with the game keepers association, and make a formal complaint, on the other hand if our keeper spoke to you like that I would have ripped his ears off no messing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Savhmr Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 (edited) That's a shoddy and shocking way to have been treated Matt and my sympathies are with you. I know that you're a decent human being from my past dealings with you, which makes this even more sad really. The gamekeeper is the one who has broken the law, not you by the sounds of things. In your shoes, I would report him for threatening behaviour and for trespass, claiming that his actions were deliberately aimed at causing nuisance which goes against everything preached in various approved shooting codes of practice. As above, the BASC are there to help so use them too! Why not return and seek a meeting with the landowner and bring him a bottle of Scotch or something (held in reserve!) and apologise for the behaviour of the keeper and for the nuisance caused to himself as the landowner? If you show him that you recognise fully that he could do without the hassle but that you are carrying out vermin control for him, and would like the opportunity to remain shooting on his land, he may be supportive. You could offer to keep away from the land boundary and any situation which might give the neighbouring keeper grounds to moan (such as spent shot landing around him. I know a few keepers and they do tend to get sensitive about those shooting close to boundaries of neighbouring permissions especially come pheasant season as they do not like seeing birds migrating to neighbours land being shot. The law's the law though, and as long as you're in the right, I'd put up a fight and don't let them bully you off! Edited August 20, 2015 by Savhmr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 There are some funny keepers about but most are the total opposite to what you say you experienced There are some funny keepers about but most are the total opposite to what you say you experienced There are some funny keepers about but most are the total opposite to what you say you experienced There are some funny keepers about but most are the total opposite to what you say you experienced Oops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 Matt You have a PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zx10mike Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 i mean this with no dispespect pal but your bieng a pussy,stay legal enjoy your shoot and don't let another man kill it for you.if your in with the farmer that is all that matters.unless you bieng dodgy the police won't take long to learn the keeper is a *****. good luck however it turns out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarecrow243 Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 as above go back and see the farmer that keeper is most likely up to no good if he wants you off the land we had the same thing happen the keeper was shooting deer that he was not allowed to shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted August 23, 2015 Report Share Posted August 23, 2015 as above go back and see the farmer that keeper is most likely up to no good if he wants you off the land we had the same thing happen the keeper was shooting deer that he was not allowed to shoot Very true statement...............it happens here....and a lot of other places too, i bet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powler Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 You could try phoning the local police and informing them of the situation that this guy is harrasing you and intentionaly wasting police time, and everytime you go out just phone plod and let them know your out, then if he calls the police they can see whats happening. All the best Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) We have a bloke on neighboring land (a huntsman) telling us to stop shooting the foxes & leave them for the hunt.Going to film his mug next time and its going to the wildlife leason officer. Edited September 3, 2015 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentalmac Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 I used to have trouble with the keeper next door to where I shoot - he had a altercation with my friend and also didn't like me etc... In the end I just approached him when I saw him in his vehicle and had a good chat and told him I meant no harm to his birds or his way of life and I even told him I'd not shoot the bit bordering his land etc... since then we've been good and talk a bit. In your instance, I'd be looking to pick any holes in him legally and would report his behaviour to his FEO and police etc... I would also speak to others on his shoot about it, i.e owners? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted September 3, 2015 Report Share Posted September 3, 2015 Matt sorry to hear your story, a shame the keeper on the neighbouring land is such an idiot. Bowel cancer of not, he needs someone to put him in his place, without violence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 get a body camera and speak to the plank ,when he F,s and rants save it and then give your FEO a ring.anyone who has a go in front of your son is a candidate for being an ex firearms owner.the police will went evidence of aggro not 1 man vs another.tell him straight any and all conversations will be recorded and shown to the police.if his firearms go no job ,maybe this will make him think twice . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokinggun Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 I also walked away from the permission I had because the farmers friend who hadn't been there in two years see I was and turned up after a year or so of me going, moaning about how he is the only one who shoots there, the farmer came and said we can both shoot no problem but he wasn't happy kept picking holes in everything questioning our technique etc and said he would be going all the time now to get there first so me and my dad just stopped, to me its just for fun and when there's idiots like that its not so why bother its not worth it, now just clay shoot and get invites for group pigeon and squirrel days which I'm happy with, gives me more time for fishing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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