Glenshooter

Why are you being so evasive?

Yes it would. Because if you're not a member of BASC, I'll be asking you what your organisation is doing about the issues being raised concerning lead in the environment.

Interesting. Far, far higher than I would have thought. And I did buy a Beretta SP3 20b that year....

Can I ask your reference for this data please? It sounds very high at 68%.

This has been answered so many times that I'm now thinking you're being deliberately obtuse. And well done for avoiding the question.

Exactly. But you shouldn't give them a roasting - (general point not to the above quote!) There are many ways to tell somebody or an organisation something. And to flame them is usually not the best way. It is usually counterproductive. Well done to the company for 'seeking to understand'. Bigger well done if they act on the comments.......

Yes, and that's exactly what they do. Are you a member?

It's actually an interesting one, IMHO. An ex labour MP - from the party who hates shooting and field sports in general due to the spiteful class prejudice that poisons their minds. Is that background good or bad for this BASC position? - I can see two sides. Always good to have someone who understands the enemy. And there are (only) a few decent people in the labour party. Anti fox hunting - I'm with Kent - "Shoulder to shoulder we stand but divided we fall (I have never rode to hounds) ........ I don't really care what the legal field sport is I will defend it for this very reason' - and despite the track record of some CA people accusing shooting of being cruel to further their own (horseback fox hunting) ends. Will have to do my own research on this one. Can anyone suggest who WOULD be a good person to vote for? I've got several votes in my house. Thanks indeed for the heads-up on this one

Exactly. They've asked. Keep factual, giving examples where you can. Don't give opinions if you can avoid doing so. Don't get personal or emotional. Re-read it and if you wouldn't want your views to be publically known, then read it again and see if you can improve it. Nobody can argue with facts. It is great that your management are 'seeking to understand'. Many don't.

The suicidal weasel was trying to put paid to the old adage - 'Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines' - but he couldn't get the woodpecker to go high enough.....

Lucky sod with a great ground like Doveridge on your doorstep And I know you said you're wanting to start hunting....

Truth is most of us probably don't vote anyway but I probably now will after I read for myself all the stuff alluded to above. So by voting for someone else........

Well done for posting. After reading over the years maybe 10-15 reports about GMK, I think this is the first positive one and it's good to hear. (You've just prompted me to post a new thread re another importer....)

I was thinking more of a shotgun blast ripping through young plants!! Seriously, get to know the farmer and try to make it as less obvious as you can that your long (short) term objective is to get shooting. By the sounds of it, you're 80% there, if you can just build some trust. Popping back with a greeting like, "I know you don't want me to shoot, and that's no problem but you could maybe do with some help in fixing the damage that you showed me last time, planting new seedlings for you, fixing fences, carrying bags/any sort of stuff, weeding amongst the plants" or indeed anything he wants. But, if you've never been on a farm before, get to know the protocols and by that I mean things like hygiene, keeping gates closed, not standing where you shouldn't, safety etc etc

He needs the rabbits sorted. Can you help him replant seedlings/whatever to replace the ones that have been destroyed and that gives you a chance to show him what you're like? I've got **** fishermen who walk across my land, leaving gates open, damaging fences, trampling crops, leaving hooks laying about - hence my reticence for having strangers on my property. Or simply ask him, how can you help him, without initially mentioning shooting. (I take it you'll be planning to use an air rifle/rimfire among the young plants?) And being a member of BASC may help as well.

Mike, upon reflection, my reply may sound a bit harsh. Honestly, it's not meant to be. I'm just trying to give you another perspective so that you may in future, maximise your chances of getting a permission.

Did his son know you're offered to do odd jobs? However, if I'm being honest, I still think you may not appreciate the 'big deal' it is, at least for me, for strangers/people to wander around a/my property with guns. The offer of maybe doing some 'odd jobs' wouldn't wash with me either. You're asking a lot from him and giving nothing in return, IMHO.

I wouldn't give someone with whom I'd no previous contact shooting permission on my land. Please don't take this personally, but you'd be mad to let a stranger onto your property with a gun. Can I suggest you consider re-contacting the farmer, acknowledging his concerns and helping him out on the farm as a way of building a relationship. If you were a farmer, with gates, fences, animals, other equipment, buildings, crops, legal responsibilities to anyone on your land - would you let someone you didn't know walk about with a gun? Again, please don't take this personally - just trying to offer advice to understanding the other side of the coin. Good luck.

You've obviously ****** off ebay as your listing has been removed.....

Well done indeed! Make sure that in addition to your future wife signing the register on the big day, she also signs a shooting consent form for you as well....

I'd love to know what all those who are complaining about BASC (non-members presumably) are doing themselves to make sure that lead shot isn't banned or have THEY given up? And what are their shooting organisations doing?

You're right. Top bananas to those 'intermediate' shooters who had the balls to have a go at such a difficult and public shoot. Hats off to them. They have all 'won'.

I bought a Hunter stock and it fitted my T3 lite perfectly. HTHs

I don't want to develop this any further on a public forum, especially as I don't want to see lead banned but I'm not sure, from what you have said, that the writing is flawed. And there are more data out there - both animal and human. Whatever you do, make sure you do all you can to ensure there is a conservative majority government at the next election.

How would you answer DEFRA coming to you for an opinion with this in their hands? http://escholarship.org/uc/item/6dq3h64x#page-1 or http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1306945/#r14