Trigger happy Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 After finding the farmers house is it really ok to just go and knock on the door?Would a letter sent the week before introducing youself and explaining that your calling,or maybe a phonecall.I`m in the process of finding farmland in South Manchester/Trafford/Carrington areas to shoot airguns.I intend to offer free pest control around my current job,I also have a few friends and family who can fill in at other times.Any info on these questions is greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 There is a right way and a wrong way. I tend to try and find Mr Giles out and about and ask him then. If I do nock on the door I like to know what his name is first which helps, a lot. Walking up and asking for "the farmer" when it might be him answering the door, isn't great. There is a nack, and its hard to say how to do it. Some you get off on the wrong foot, some you don't. If you know his name and get him at the right time, you tend to get success. I know a lot on here send letters but most farmers I know don't hold much truck with all that. Go armed with a smile, looking smart and with a few cards with your name / number on them. If you nock on the door and he looked ****** off just say sorry to disturb, hand over a card and ask if there is a better time to call back. Farmers don't tend to respond well to waffle, get to the point and don't be afraid to come out and ask for what you want, I find they appreciate honesty and brevity Knowing his land and his style of farming, armed with a knowledge of what he may have been doing recently, will help. If he's been flogging his guts bailing all day and you nock at 10 he's probably in bed Don't nock too late, or a dinner time or .. I could go on. Think about it, if you were going to have a stranger nock on your door, what time would **** you off the most for him to call? Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Always find out the farmers name and don`t knock on his door if he`s called Tony Martin Only joking, pin`s advice is spot on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Always find out the farmers name and don`t knock on his door if he`s called Tony Martin Only joking, pin`s advice is spot on [/quote Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Evilv Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 It's true. Think about how you feel when these people phone up trying to sell something. The only way to get shooting is to either turn up when the guy is desperate for someone to shoot a swarm of pests that are troubling him, or to be able to quickly establish a relationship. He has to like you - why else will he let you loose around his property and his stock with a firearm. You are a stranger - so you need to make him trust you. I can't tell you how to do that, smiling, honest, straightforward manner will probabbly be a good start. You have to sell yourself without coming across as over familiar and pushy. Above all, he has to think you won't shoot up his fence posts, poach game or worse, shoot like a cowboy and endanger the stock or his kids. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 and don't turn up in cammo gear. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 and mind the dogs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wild dogman Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 yes look out for the dogs i was asking a farmer years a go for permission as we was talking his collie sneaked up behind me and bit my leg the ******* got permission thou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 There is a good point about dogs. If he's arable only its probably not so much of an issue, but when you first nock don't take your dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trigger happy Posted August 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Cheers for all the advice guys,sounds like a dangerous task obtaining permision.Anyway gonna go cycling today round and about,get some addresses and try to find out some names.Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurcherboy Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Cheers for all the advice guys,sounds like a dangerous task obtaining permision.Anyway gonna go cycling today round and about,get some addresses and try to find out some names.Thanks again. Err, leave your bike out of view mate. LB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldandnew Posted August 26, 2006 Report Share Posted August 26, 2006 Read my post i sent out letters , basically telling them what i was looking for and what i could do for them , ie reduce injurys to cows horse's etc through less rabbit holes being around if you write a really good letter put your mobile number and home number on there and then send it to as many local farms as you can anyway all the best oldandnew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old rooster Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 This is an old chestnut and has been answered quite a few times. I spend quite a bit of time driving around looking at both my existing permissions and for new ground. Writing is a waste of time IMHO. Face to face is best but never seem to "keen" or anxious to get on with it. A bit of a chat and a summing up of the personality you are dealing with is good. It's also quite interesting at times and if you spend the time to listen it's amazing what some will chat about. If I find a field under pigeon attack I look for the nearest farm and knock on the door. Usual tack is "Hello, wonder if you can help me, I'm trying to find out who that field of rape/wheat/beans (delete as applicable) belongs to as the pigeons are giving it a good old hammering at the moment." If you've found the right farm you take it from there and see how it pans out. I reckon that being middle aged, driving around in an appropriate vehicle and being open to discussing how bad the crops have done right down to what a t*at Mr. B.Liar is usually does the trick. Be a bit laid back, take some busines cards that have your insurance details on the back. If I'm going on a serious recce session I'll stick all the gear in the back but wear a pair of moleskin trousers and non cammo shirt for doing the chatting, it only takes a mo to change if you get the immediate go ahead. Once you've picked up one farm you can go to the neighbours and say you are shooting the next farm and noticed the rabbit/pigeon/goose (delete as applicable) problem and wondered if you might be of service in sorting it out. It really does work and you'll get to the point, if you are any good, where you have built up a good name for yourself in the area. Let the farmer know what you've achieved; I had a moderate day recently on some rape stubble and saw the farmer harvesting in a nearby field as I was leaving. I pulled up in the 4x4 and had a chat. "How many have you got then ?" he asked, "Oh only about 45 today" says I, at which he seems surprised. "As many as that !!!" so I dump them on the deck and procede to count 48 back into the sack. Apparently he isn't a great shot and was amazed that I got so many, I didn't menton it but I was amazed that I hadn't shot 100 but I got there a bit late in the day. Upshot of that was that he left disking in the stubble for another week during which we shot a total of another 150. Also got an invite to go and do a bit of game shooting on the farm later in the year. It really is that easy, be polite, be reasonable, respect the land and landowner and you won't go far wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markbivvy Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 unlike farm dogs most farmers dont bite, go talk to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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