ukkat Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Hi all, as the title suggests i am in need of advice, i have tried a few farms in the local area, im well presented, come from a farming/shooting backgroud and am friendly and polite, why is it that i am having so much trouble finding somewhere to shoot, any tips on Wooing a farmer would be great, i have been flat out refused, offered and then told that i would have to pay for the privilage and ignored, i cant be the only person having this issue.. can i.? i am obviously out of touch as when i lived down south a couple of pints and a bottle of single malt as a thanks went a long way, i dont mind stumping up some money to the farmer but one wanted to charge me £100 each time i shot on the land. a little excessive i thought seeing as its already going to cost me for shells etc. and i am doing them a favour. any Help guys and gals?. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theoben fenman Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 I also get a bit mithed as you are trying to help these people and alot expect quite a bit in return. My suggestion would be look at game shhots in the area and see if the keeper can put you in touch with the relevant person. It could even be the keeper organising thepigeon shooting in the area. With a shoot it is easy to pay them back so to speak by beating or work parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evo Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 keep trying bud,,it will eventually come your way,,all the best,evo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Essex Keeper Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Don't give up stick with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukkat Posted January 2, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Thanks all, and if your in the area, or need a partner !!! let me know, i still have the bottle of single malt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swiss.tony Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 you need to change your avatar pic cause if you go to see farmer with a face like that you have NO chance lol On a serious note it just more leg work more you ask more chances its that simple could you not offer free work ? just a thought its a way in i got 1 farm by helping him bag peas up at 8.30 pm till 12 am i was going home from shooting full camo on saw him in a field with tell porter , trailer and a flat bed bagging peas up ready for morning called in just for a chat never evan asked about shooting we just helped him and rest was history so go"s to show its out there hope you get sorted swiss Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stiggy84arsenal Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 Iv done that helped a farmer a day... started chatting about pigeons now we shoot regularly together, good freinds as well, he often puts roofing work my way aswell.. just goes to show a little bit of free help goes along way.... happy hunting buddy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdSolomons Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 I think a lot of the time its not what you know, but who you know. Keep askng and get involved with the right people, sooner or later you will be all set! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 as has been said,its about who you know , i was working beside a farm and asked the farmer if he wanted any shooting done but he said he had a syndicate on and couldnt offer me anything,next day he said he had two feilds wih rabbit problems away from the farm which the syndicate didnt shoot and would i be interested,from those two fields and knocking on doors around the area and mentioning his name i now have 5 farms and an estate.Keep knocking and asking once youve got one youll be surprised how much easier it is atb dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooooper1 Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 (edited) as has been said,its about who you know , i was working beside a farm and asked the farmer if he wanted any shooting done but he said he had a syndicate on and couldnt offer me anything,next day he said he had two feilds wih rabbit problems away from the farm which the syndicate didnt shoot and would i be interested,from those two fields and knocking on doors around the area and mentioning his name i now have 5 farms and an estate.Keep knocking and asking once youve got one youll be surprised how much easier it is atb dave true telf, your luck will hopefully change soon ukkat just keep knocking, like to day farmer asked me to shoot a rape field which i`ve never seen before(new land)of his, found the land set up then like it`s been for the last month or so RAIN, so not wanting to be there no pigeons flying because of poor visibility and feeling pretty down about it all,next thing a man came across the field not looking very happy to boot and started ranting on about me shooting on his estate which after i calmed he down i told him mr x(farmer) told me to shot this field(3 fields)which i now know he`s leasing of the estate, well this man total change and after a half hour of talking to him he now wants me to meet the estates manager on saturday to sort some squirrels out around estates grounds plus pigeon shooting IF i want it, just luck uttat so keep going and good luck with it. Edited January 2, 2013 by cooooper1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted January 2, 2013 Report Share Posted January 2, 2013 This is the letter I send out and it has proved to be very successful. The layout is much better than it shows on the thread, due to me not being able to copy it over very well. If you would like to see the original, please PM me your e mail address and I will forward it to you. I hope it helps someone, or at least gives you a start in getting a permission. Dear Sir We shoot week days! Pigeons eat every day Let me introduce myself, my name is xxxxxxxxx. I am 64 years old, a retired businessman and available to shoot whenever the need arises; accompanied with 2 other retired businessmen we give regular updates on what we observe as we walk about the property, we are fully insured and most importantly safe, reliable and trustworthy. Currently we shoot at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, and numerous small farms in the Herts and Beds area. . We are very tidy shooters, use felt wads and train new and novice shooters on how to decoy, respect the environment and the quarry they shoot plus most importantly gun safety. We appreciate that you must receive numerous requests to shoot over your property, and apologise for being one more nuisance letter, but feel we can offer a service that would suit your requirements. We am prepared and happy to shoot when " you" require us to, working around sowing, harvesting, drilling and spraying, not just turn up when it is convenient to us. Early mornings, late nights or even a mixture of the two are not a problem. We believe we can offer to you more than just pigeon shooting, but a service to suit your very personal requirements. We are prepared and happy not to shoot at weekends leaving your property free for other shooters that you may already have allowed to shoot over your land. We look forward to hearing from you and if you feel you would like to meet and vet any or all three of us we would be most pleased to attend at your convenience. Yours faithfully xxxxxxxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukkat Posted January 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Thanks for the letter, i am going to adapt it and give it a whirl, Cheers guys Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 This is the letter I send out and it has proved to be very successful. The layout is much better than it shows on the thread, due to me not being able to copy it over very well. If you would like to see the original, please PM me your e mail address and I will forward it to you. I hope it helps someone, or at least gives you a start in getting a permission. Dear Sir We shoot week days! Pigeons eat every day Let me introduce myself, my name is xxxxxxxxx. I am 64 years old, a retired businessman and available to shoot whenever the need arises; accompanied with 2 other retired businessmen we give regular updates on what we observe as we walk about the property, we are fully insured and most importantly safe, reliable and trustworthy. Currently we shoot at xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, and numerous small farms in the Herts and Beds area. . We are very tidy shooters, use felt wads and train new and novice shooters on how to decoy, respect the environment and the quarry they shoot plus most importantly gun safety. We appreciate that you must receive numerous requests to shoot over your property, and apologise for being one more nuisance letter, but feel we can offer a service that would suit your requirements. We am prepared and happy to shoot when " you" require us to, working around sowing, harvesting, drilling and spraying, not just turn up when it is convenient to us. Early mornings, late nights or even a mixture of the two are not a problem. We believe we can offer to you more than just pigeon shooting, but a service to suit your very personal requirements. We are prepared and happy not to shoot at weekends leaving your property free for other shooters that you may already have allowed to shoot over your land. We look forward to hearing from you and if you feel you would like to meet and vet any or all three of us we would be most pleased to attend at your convenience. Yours faithfully xxxxxxxxx sinve when have you been a retired "business man"" :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD1927 Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 I was very much in the same boat as yourself and now have 2 farms with 9 fields and approx 800 acres to cover. I tried everything from business cards, letters, knocking on doors and local shoots with absolutley no luck. I decided one day to just have a drive about the local area and watched the fields soon enough pigeon started to feed in big numbers so I took a photo on my phone found the farm owner/manager and showed him. This worked a treat only got the odd day here and there but now the land is mine to shoot when i pretty much want, just show willing and if you do get a chance make best use of it show the farmer your keen and the usual bottle of the good stuff dont go a miss. Happy hunting and good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 sinve when have you been a retired "business man"" :lol: 3 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 and to think I thought you were a retired Master Baker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bakerboy Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 and to think I thought you were a retired Master Baker You are correct. Please be careful how you say "Master Baker" especially if you have an accent :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steveg01 Posted January 4, 2013 Report Share Posted January 4, 2013 Hello I did a lot of knocking and walking and more knocking and got nowhere - however I then joined a local Clay Shooting Club and started to ask the members at the at the club about pigeon shooting and they gave me a few farms that may need to help. My next round is to go and try again ~ even got some business cards sorted with my details on......if at first you don't succeed.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowblind66 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Or get a tip off eh brad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAD1927 Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 Very true snowblind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted January 5, 2013 Report Share Posted January 5, 2013 you need to change your avatar pic cause if you go to see farmer with a face like that you have NO chance lol That made me smile. Coming from Leyland there must be loads of shoots in your region?A bit late in the season now I know,but have you been round your local pubs etc to see if there are any shoots where you could get a 'toe in' as a beater?Are there no grouse shoots up on the tops? If and when you get somewhere to shoot,don't be afraid to give the odd hand about the farm if the need arises.We've done everything from changing tyres and felling trees, to erecting cyclones on top of silos in the past.All unpaid work but it pays dividends, and you'd be surprised how word gets about.Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ukkat Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Thanks for all the replies gents. Very much apreciated. Glenn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hopper Bopper Posted January 9, 2013 Report Share Posted January 9, 2013 Ukkat, Just keep trying as already mentioned. Be polite and keep knocking the same doors from time to time without becoming a pest yourself. If you cant join in beating cos it is a bit late in the year then try and find your local where the guns and beaters go for a pint after their day out. Ask they got on and see where the conversation goes. Be careful not to look like a troll as you will be ushered away. I have a young springer that i take out socialising around the local pubs on a Saturday afternoon. you will surprised what you can learn while talking about dogs. Best of luck with it all as we all know it can be hard work. ATVB HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paddywack Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 contact your local game shoots offering pest control & help with summer work parties. also it helps to contact farmers when you have identified a certain area of crop damage etc.many farm workers are contractors,give your details/card to any body you see driving farm machinery! keep at it mate,i had 1 former who turned me down 3 times in 2 years, now i shot around 150 rabbits a year for him! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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