fenboy Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 (edited) I must have called in on about 30 farms over the last two or three weeks with still not a hint of a permission ,even when pigeon are plainly battering some of the crops, I am polite,dressed smart casual not cammoed up when I approach ,45 years old so hopefully would not come across as the irresponsible type , insured through BASC and can shoot in the week quite often,I try and approach people when I can see they are not too busy,I visited one farm that had a good 500 birds feasting on the peas and the farmer just said "we have someone come when he thinks its needed" ! I am quite shy by nature until I get to know people but I still go round regardless,but must say I am starting to find it depressing and am begining to wonder if I should call it a day and sell up the only thing that stops me is a small permission that I do have where I can get a few shots now and again but the best bag I have had on there for the last 8 years is 43 I can also go on one more small farm but that is now badly overshot as the farmer is th opposite type to those I am coming across at the moment and says yes to anyone !! I can understand that as the more often someone is there the better his crops are protected , but it is not much use towards getting a decent bag. Edited June 12, 2011 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
proTOM1 Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Dont give up hope ,do follow ups on the farms which have said no it shows your keen which works ive done a few times . Just keep plugging away some thing will happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markyboy Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Mate I've been there! But in this world it's about who you know! For the life of me I can't find a flight pond anywhere local! Slowly I am starting to get plenty of permission for pigeons, lamping and couple of bits to shoot wild geese now awswel! I've done the rounds countless drives round farms! But somthing will turn up for you! I know it seems crazy but even offering a few quid if you can afford it to secure the shooting is somthing to think about! Or if you have a trade offer them your services if needed! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kidney505 Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Prehapse get some buisness cards printed showing your number, name, that your insured, your age and how long you've been shooting for (if it's a long time), and post them to the places you've already been Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason airarms tx Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 keep going at it mate .you say that you already have a small permission ,but it doesnt produce much sport,have you thought about trying different ways to entice the birds on to your area ,such as making more pigeon friendly .i know a chap in the same sort of position as yourself and he scatters bags of seed and i do mean quite a bit around the farm to get there confidence up and to make them return.nothing germinates because its not on the ground long enough,the birds hammer it....he used to get small bags 30 -40 per session and now its more like 100 + per session.try changing there habitat on the permission youve already got if ok with farmer,and see what develops! :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deputy dog Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Keep plugging at it mate and don't give up. Most of if not all the farms i have gained permissions to shoot on have been while out with the gun or coming from other permissions. Nearly always iv been dressed in full camo clothing sort of looking the part as they say. I have heard the supposedly right way to do it is as your good self as stated, go neatly dressed up to the front door an ask in a polite manner. Perhaps you should try going in said camo gear. Then some of the farm owners who have said no, may look at you in a different light and think well he's got all the kit and may give you a try. Sort of revers phsycology on them so to say. If you have tried all other means, then in a way you have nothing to lose but may have a lot to gain. Hope your luck changes in the future mate and you get a nice bit of land to shoot over. DD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retromlc Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 i had the same problem,2 years I tried,eventually it came.For me I just was polite,sometimes in camo others in business clothes,you just gotta get them talking,not always about crop shooting,but introduce it into the conversation early,but chat about other things,tell them your local(if you are),I said I'm sure they had other shooters but asked if they had room for another shooter.worked for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 (edited) keep going at it mate .you say that you already have a small permission ,but it doesnt produce much sport,have you thought about trying different ways to entice the birds on to your area ,such as making more pigeon friendly .i know a chap in the same sort of position as yourself and he scatters bags of seed and i do mean quite a bit around the farm to get there confidence up and to make them return.nothing germinates because its not on the ground long enough,the birds hammer it....he used to get small bags 30 -40 per session and now its more like 100 + per session.try changing there habitat on the permission youve already got if ok with farmer,and see what develops! :good: Thanks for the idea and I would like to entice more birds,but unfortunatly its illegal to bait birds as far as I am aware and I like to stay on the right side of the law. Edited June 12, 2011 by fenboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Thanks for all the advise and encouragement guys I guess I will just keep plugging away at it for a few more months if nothing turns up after that I will sell the guns and take up knitting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaiyn Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Thanks for all the advise and encouragement guys I guess I will just keep plugging away at it for a few more months if nothing turns up after that I will sell the guns and take up knitting Fenboy, please don't give up. In a years time, you could get to the point that you can't take any more land on. I started a few years ago with a couple of paddocks and through referal, good old fashioned name-dropping and a fair amount of cheek, I shoot over about 900 acres. I would definitely advise you to ask your present landowner if he knows of anyone else who could benefit from what you do. Good luck to you, Zaiyn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 keep going at it mate .you say that you already have a small permission ,but it doesnt produce much sport,have you thought about trying different ways to entice the birds on to your area ,such as making more pigeon friendly .i know a chap in the same sort of position as yourself and he scatters bags of seed and i do mean quite a bit around the farm to get there confidence up and to make them return.nothing germinates because its not on the ground long enough,the birds hammer it....he used to get small bags 30 -40 per session and now its more like 100 + per session.try changing there habitat on the permission youve already got if ok with farmer,and see what develops! :good: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 (edited) Yeah do some other shooting too clays or join a syndicate or local club. You will find getting to know folks will help. I asked one guy with a big farm three times over five years got it in the end! Edited June 12, 2011 by utectok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unapalomablanca Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Dont be timid. Remember its a two way street. You want sport he wants profit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hushpower Posted June 12, 2011 Report Share Posted June 12, 2011 Me and a mate went door knocking 5 weeks back for about 5 hrs in cheshire called at 12 farms 4 no answer, 8 farmers we spoke to an bingo rabbits every where got permmision wenta few times an there was potential for pigeon shooting as there were plenty of rape an corn about ,but mate lost us that permission am still ****** off about it ,dont ask.i address the farmer after pleasantrys ,have you got any problems with corvids ,rabbits pigeon or foxes that we could help you with,dont ask for woodpigeon straight away.Best of all forget about farms on the main roads every tom **** an harry has knocked at them doors,. get on the lanes miles from anywhere to the farms out of the way ,you stand more chance.sometimes you will see some likely looking farm but can you find the lane to it no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stace1g Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Tryfinding out where the farmers and their farm hands go for a drink. Go there and join in, become a regular. It is a lot of the time all about networking. As as been said 'who you know'. friends of friends is another one worth trying as people may know landowners and be able to ask on your behalf and put a good word in at the same time. Also have you thought of the NPPC? Gaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike525steel Posted June 13, 2011 Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Have you tried doing a bit of beating during the pheasant season and maybe a bit of help rearing poults for the game keeper thats the type of thing that gains you good permissions. it is a two way street and you have to put a bit in to get the best shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 unfortunatly beating is not much of a option for me as my shift pattern of work does not give me the regular days off needed ,I may be available one week but not the next , and to be honest what gamekeepers I have met have more than enough "friends" who want pigeon shooting. I have tried most things ,I am considering telling my daughters they must marry a farmer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 13, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 13, 2011 Tryfinding out where the farmers and their farm hands go for a drink. Go there and join in, become a regular. It is a lot of the time all about networking. As as been said 'who you know'. friends of friends is another one worth trying as people may know landowners and be able to ask on your behalf and put a good word in at the same time. Also have you thought of the NPPC? Gaz I did think about the NPPC but they have no shooting available in my immediate area . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignoel Posted June 14, 2011 Report Share Posted June 14, 2011 next time you visit a farm after asking for permission if you get refused .then ask him does he know of anyone looking for a shooter or could do with one .it does sometimes work out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpip Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Try this approach, first find were the pigeon are feeding, or crops that are flagged off gas guns etc, then find out whoes land it is (its allways better to have a name it breaks the ice). My inital conversation goes along the lines off, Mr XXX is that your land at xxxx theres alot of pigeon feeding on it, would it be possible to have a days pigeon shooting on it. Drop a few names of were you shoot (they all know each other) tell them your insured, safe shot etc fully respect there land won't touch the game only interested in the pigeons. Theres not many farmers about who will give you full permission to roam about with a gun if they don't know you, until you build up trust, just ask for 1 day, if all goes well ask if they won't you to keep your eye on it while theres any chance of pigeon damage or have they any more fields that need crop protection. Over the years its worked for me I've got farms with full permission to roam at will, others were I call & ask were the rapes going to be this year & only shoot those fields. Hope this works for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barney 66 Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Also try finding out who the feilds are and write a letter explaining where you shoot what you have seen and that you are insured respect all livestock and close gates,the vehicles you drive and respect there wishes either way,put in a return sae and leave your phone number. This worked for me with a farm i tried twice to get shooting and i was told somebody did it,i never saw anybody the whole winter on the rape 3 years go niether had the neighbours,so i wrote a letter and received a phone call a week later, dont give up, Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Alot of good replys above, When I was 14, (23 now) I knocked on a gamekeepers door, asked to help out, did a bit here and there, 9 years on hes a good mate, go beating, help with all therearing and shooting when I can, look after his house and the estate when he goes away ect. I now know all the farmers now and have 6 farms and 2000 acres to shoot over, whenever I want, its only me on all the farms too. My best one is I get all my ammo paid for, I go to the shop, get what I need, take him the receipt, he writes me out a cheque, but best of all he lets me use his quad anytime I want. But for this permission I asked 4 times, on the 4th time he said good job you are persistent because I say no to everyone, he has a really nice farm, excellent shooting land, rammed with everything. If I hadnt of kept asking politely I would of never got it, hes a really nice bloke and well glad when he said yes, I had a huge smile on my face when I left.Just go up to the farms and build up conversation, be different, friendly. tTHe more you try the more they will get to know you, your face and your vehicle, wave to them on the road when passing. I know its easy to say, if you where closer I would say come down to mine now and again for a bang. Good luck mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Try this approach, first find were the pigeon are feeding, or crops that are flagged off gas guns etc, then find out whoes land it is (its allways better to have a name it breaks the ice). My inital conversation goes along the lines off, Mr XXX is that your land at xxxx theres alot of pigeon feeding on it, would it be possible to have a days pigeon shooting on it. Drop a few names of were you shoot (they all know each other) tell them your insured, safe shot etc fully respect there land won't touch the game only interested in the pigeons. Theres not many farmers about who will give you full permission to roam about with a gun if they don't know you, until you build up trust, just ask for 1 day, if all goes well ask if they won't you to keep your eye on it while theres any chance of pigeon damage or have they any more fields that need crop protection. Over the years its worked for me I've got farms with full permission to roam at will, others were I call & ask were the rapes going to be this year & only shoot those fields. Hope this works for you This is pretty much the approach I take at the moment ,still no luck yet though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted June 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Alot of good replys above, When I was 14, (23 now) I knocked on a gamekeepers door, asked to help out, did a bit here and there, 9 years on hes a good mate, go beating, help with all therearing and shooting when I can, look after his house and the estate when he goes away ect. I now know all the farmers now and have 6 farms and 2000 acres to shoot over, whenever I want, its only me on all the farms too. My best one is I get all my ammo paid for, I go to the shop, get what I need, take him the receipt, he writes me out a cheque, but best of all he lets me use his quad anytime I want. But for this permission I asked 4 times, on the 4th time he said good job you are persistent because I say no to everyone, he has a really nice farm, excellent shooting land, rammed with everything. If I hadnt of kept asking politely I would of never got it, hes a really nice bloke and well glad when he said yes, I had a huge smile on my face when I left.Just go up to the farms and build up conversation, be different, friendly. tTHe more you try the more they will get to know you, your face and your vehicle, wave to them on the road when passing. I know its easy to say, if you where closer I would say come down to mine now and again for a bang. Good luck mate. Sounds like your a lucky guy, there are not many if any estates with keepers in my local area mostly small farms and holdings,,got sandringham about 20 miles away not got round to asking there yet but I might just get desperate enough :lol:. will be doing the rounds and dropping off letters after I get back from my holiday early July,then I will a least have harvest to look forward to on my small permissions ,not been for three weeks now so gagging for some shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
12borejimbo Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 All the best mate, goodnthings come to those who wait, be keen and you will get results! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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