Small syndicate

[Sean Richo]

I wonder if anyone can help me am new to pigeon shooting got a small permission of my own but have been offered a place on a small pigeon shooting syndicate that the local gamekeeper put me on to. It's 250 for the year and there are a maximum of four in this syndicate I have got a place as one of the old boys has not joined this year due to health reasons. You can shoot as often as you like whenever you like. What I don't understand is if people are struggling to get permission why don't some like minded people in the same area get together and put in 250 pounds then get some letters out and get visiting farmers surely this would be worth it for all parties shooters and farmers. The shooters get there permission and can shoot all year locally for 250 pounds and the farmer gets a nice sum of 1000 cash and free pest controll. Has anybody tried this and what wasthe outcome.

[fenboy]

I dont think that this would be a popular idea for all of us that currently have permissions to shoot on for free, so you are suggesting that people should gang together and pay the farmers to turf us off ?

How would you feel if someone paid for your "small permission" and your farmer stopped you shooting ?

[Albert 888]

I understand what you mean and where your coming from,as its hard to get good permissions,but this would upset alot of people and could end up in a price war. In my opinion your permissions should be based on trust and friendship not money. But its not a perfect world. You could go down the route of joining a pheasant shooting syndicate,you could end up with shooting all year round pest and game and have a lot of fun whilst doing it.

Good luck Albert.

[Sean Richo]

No I understand fenboy what you are saying but the permission that I have got is due to me knowing farmers personally due to me renting land off them for a small business that my dad runs. Also I have known a lot of farmers over the last ten years and they are very very weary of new people I understand what you mean about trust and in the ideal world that would be great. The only reason I got asked to join the syndicate is because the farmer had a word with the gamekeeper and put a good word in for me. With rural crime on the up farmers don't like people who they don't know turning up at farms because its there home and they normally have a lot of equipment, tools plant etc that they don't like people to see as most farms are wide open in my opinion they would rather be left alone my best friend is a farmer and I know how these people think and rightly so. Would you let strangers into your back garden. However if you know the farmers like myself it's not to much of a problem as they know am responsible but not everybody knows a farmer what if you live in the city for example and have no links to the farming or rural communities. This is where things can be swayed a little if your willing to pay a little bit if money farmers will suddenly become interested as they are always looking for extra cash it's then worth the while taking a chance on you as they are getting there pigeons shoot too. My friend who is a farmer has loads of family who have got farms and the main reason for them refusing people is due to them not knowing them and also residents near their land complaining about the noise and ringing up saying there is someone on your field shooting etc farmers just want an easy life and there not going to put up with hassle etc for nothing. That's why I mentioned paying if its your hobby and you enjoy doing it what's the problem in paying. I am a member of NPPC and pay for that I don't see the problem. I always hear on this forum go see gamekeeper and ask him I think it's who you know gamekeepers are running a business always remember that they are doing it for money or to make money for somebody they are not generally in business of helping people that's why they charge 3000 a year etc why not pay 250 for your own land to shoot pigeons whenever you want.