shanekiely Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 So lately ive been to circa 30 farms in a single week. Only one said they may be interested and that was from 1 of around 200 emails. I live in coleshill north warwickshire and apart from some friendly offers from pigeon watch of club/syndicate shooting I have had not a sniff. Before you say it I am courteous, I have some paperwork and I have insurance and I have experience. Just seeems like the area is saturated. Anyone else experienced this? Should I give up and join a few clubs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Same here... welcome to the club! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ayrshiretaxidermy Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Don't want to rub it in lads, but up here its very rare I get a knock back when I ask for some new pigeon permission. Edited May 3, 2014 by ayrshiretaxidermy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 get yourself some beating and go from there, the doors will open once you are known Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortune Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 There is ground out there but it is difficult to get known. My son in law and I have just been invited to go on 300 acres and 150 acres of wood. Tonight is our first wander and I am taking the 22rf so we can trim up a few rabbits. good luck to you and keep trying. just make a pest of yourself after all they can only say >>> OFF. And they are saying that at the moment so things can only go one way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turbo33 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Door knocking is a pita. Generally, people go door knocking this time of year, as you did op. And equally, there's nothing going on, (pest damage), so the farmers aren't really that interested. My advice, for what its worth, is to concentrate your efforts when damage is being done. Look over the hedgerows for rabbits early evening, keep an eye out for the last remaining drillings and corvid damage. Look also for freshly sprouted barley......corvid damage. Other than these, your next opportunity to bag a perm is when/if the wheat and barley goes flat. The pigeons will pile into this and that gets the farmers going Mid to late june Good luck, hope you land something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 My experience for what its worth is that most farmers are dubious of letting unknown persons with guns on their land.If you are lucky enough to land one permission,possibly through beating,personal contacts or whatever,and prove yourself you will generally find it easier to get further permissions.As an aside although I shoot on 4 farms only one will allow me to take anyone else on with me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon1979 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 same here to good luck simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinach Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Local farm suppliers, put up a sign or/and wait and ask people as they come and go. Secondly drive about and look for fields being ploughed and ask when they stop ! Good luck. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootgun Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 On 03/05/2014 at 18:12, ayrshiretaxidermy said: Don't want to rub it in lads, but up here its very rare I get a knock back when I ask for some new pigeon permission. Where abouts is this ''up here''? I might move house soon.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malantone Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Are you saying that you sent 200 Emails to ask permission? You`ve got to get to know farmers, would you let a total stranger on your land with a gun, they need to get to know you, who you are, are you safe? are you going to turn up with a gang, are you going to tidy up after yourself, not many farmers like plastic wads, did you mention the fact that you know about animals choking on wads and cases and you`d never leave them lying around. As has been said get into the farming community, beating is good, you might ask if you can help in any way around the farm. good luck mate but I don`t think Emails are going to do it. Edited May 3, 2014 by malantone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remimax Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) shootin partner drove past a patch which had just been rolled , had a carpet of crows tucking in. quick knock on the door and were shootin it monday. farmer was made up ,should be a good day. don't think he's been refused anywhere yet . surpose being a local farmers son with a huge family might have summit to do with it . . feel for the guys trying to get a foot in the door must be really hard going. can't see any farmers replying to an e-mail . Edited May 3, 2014 by Remimax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bullet1747 Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 I've been lucky asked five got five ,keep trying mate it will happen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanekiely Posted May 3, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Yeah ive knocked on 30 doors and sent lots of emails to stables etc. Incidentally ive found a lot if stable owners to be very anti hunting. Odd with the damage rabbit holes do to horses legs but hey hum. Ive left a few cards with contact details and insurance details (country side alliance) Good tip on the farmers suppliers. Will keep trying. My one permission I do have is definitely air rifle only which is sad. Foot path is too risky. Ill keeep going! Edited May 3, 2014 by shanekiely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleeh Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Get yourself known then ask favors.Go beating, be able to go mid week, or somehow involve yourself in farmers (Pubs, parish council meetings), rather than being some stranger asking for a massive favor. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 Your best bet is to find where your local shoots are and like one or two members said put your name down for beating and helping on work parties if and when required , are you in a farming area ? if so check out the crops that pigeons are likely to be feeding on., this time of the year you would be looking at peas, beans if recently been drilled and any late cereal drilling. I don't think emails being sent is a lot of good as some of the old farmers round my way wouldn't know how to turn a computer on, or you can try your local wildfowling club if your got one near you as the two near me have pigeon shooting on rape and peas for there members............Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Farmers are paranoid, if your knocking take as much id as poss,plus liability insurance and it may seem extreeme but a character ref with a contact number is handy . If your luck and you land a perm,make it your priority and get out and get numbers,dont just turn up when you feel like it and just shoot a few.Also never ever go without informing the farmer 1st,usually a text is all thats required. When I 1st got my perm the farmer gave me 600 acres 5 mls away from his main farm.3yrs later after building up a relationship he eventually invited me to shoot his main farm.Keep a log of what you shoot, what I do is give him 3 monthly reports.My main advise would be,not to get too many permissions as you will put yourself under too much pressure to cover the farms. REMEMBER it can take years to find a permission and a second too loose it. Edited May 3, 2014 by Davyo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 On 03/05/2014 at 19:13, malantone said: Are you saying that you sent 200 Emails to ask permission? You`ve got to get to know farmers, would you let a total stranger on your land with a gun, they need to get to know you, who you are, are you safe? are you going to turn up with a gang, are you going to tidy up after yourself, not many farmers like plastic wads, did you mention the fact that you know about animals choking on wads and cases and you`d never leave them lying around. As has been said get into the farming community, beating is good, you might ask if you can help in any way around the farm. good luck mate but I don`t think Emails are going to do it. I have never heard of animals choking on wads and I've never met a farmer who insisted on me using fibre wads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 On 03/05/2014 at 21:31, Davyo said: Farmers are paranoid, if your knocking take as much id as poss,plus liability insurance and it may seem extreeme but a character ref with a contact number is handy . If your luck and you land a perm,make it your priority and get out and get numbers,dont just turn up when you feel like it and just shoot a few.Also never ever go without informing the farmer 1st,usually a text is all thats required. When I 1st got my perm the farmer gave me 600 acres 5 mls away from his main farm.3yrs later after building up a relationship he eventually invited me to shoot his main farm.Keep a log of what you shoot, what I do is give him 3 monthly reports.My main advise would be,not to get too many permissions as you will put yourself under too much pressure to cover the farms. REMEMBER it can take years to find a permission and a second too loose it. My advice would be the opposite. Get as much shooting land as you can. You will shoot far more if you have plenty of land to go at. I've never really had a problem getting permission to shoot. It does help if you know what you're doing. I'm sure if I could be bothered that I could get plenty more farms to shoot on. I do feel for people who have nowhere to shoot, but don't stop trying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 As has been previously said, not the best time of the year to pick up shooting land. You have to keep at it, you will get there mate. It can be disheartening, but its a case of "he who dares" ... its notoriously difficult around were l live on the Wirral. Good luck, lm sure you will find land though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted May 3, 2014 Report Share Posted May 3, 2014 (edited) Which way did you travel to ? Hurley,atherstone of which has the oldest air gun club I'm the country , Nuneaton my mates,cousins shoot a lot of. Tamworth I shoot a lot of as my school mates were farmers sons . The main problem is at the moment the hs2 cuts through a lot including 5 of the farms I shoot. Their is places out there but I'm lucky as I cover a lot of farms the word gets round but theirs no rabbits my way :( Farmers seem happy to have one or two shooters to save problems Edited May 3, 2014 by team tractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 On 03/05/2014 at 19:13, malantone said: Are you saying that you sent 200 Emails to ask permission? You`ve got to get to know farmers, would you let a total stranger on your land with a gun, they need to get to know you, who you are, are you safe? are you going to turn up with a gang, are you going to tidy up after yourself, not many farmers like plastic wads, did you mention the fact that you know about animals choking on wads and cases and you`d never leave them lying around. As has been said get into the farming community, beating is good, you might ask if you can help in any way around the farm. good luck mate but I don`t think Emails are going to do it. I have to agree with this post. I'm not a big lover of e-mails to try to ask for permission to shoot because (as the post says) farmers need to meet you in person and get to know you which is something that they can't really do via an e-mail. The farming community is a close knit thing and once you get one permission and show that you know what you are about and are perfectly safe and willing to help out whenever possible the chances are that other permissions will come, often through recommendation from the farmer whose land you already shoot. I know it's darned hard to get permission nowadays but every new shooter needs to persevere! I am in the process of cutting right down on my shooting but I will still retain my permissions for when I am up to getting out and about. I have a great working relationship with the farmers and at times help them out with lambing, calving and things like that (I spent an hour the other day helping to save a ewe that was in real trouble lambing, so much so that we thought she was going to have to be put down - as luck would have it we saved one lamb and the ewe after managing to extract a mumified lamb that had died inside her some time earlier) - It's things like this that farmers tend to remember most! As such they trust me and know that I will help them out whenever I can and in return they trust and allow me to take guests out on their land with me. This is how I have introduced a couple of very good trustworthy friends (Who I mentored a little time ago) to the farmers and am in the process of getting these two lads signed up to share most of my permissions with me (Which the farmers are more than happy with) in readiness for when I can no longer get out and about - As such these two friends have in fact "landed on their feet" so to speak and will eventually have as much permission as they can handle without having to go door knocking - But that is what friendship and trust is all about!! To the OP I really do wish you luck, the permissions are still out there, all be it that they might be few and far between, but there is nothing like personal contact rather than just e-mail or phone contact. Persevere and I am sure that things will work out for you eventaully! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Stop messing about Just marry a farmers daughter All the best Of 😗😗 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie-fox Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 Still loads about in Lancashire.. I've started turning it down again..been offered 2 positions beating for the new season but had to say no to both due to other commitments.. Doors will open if you act properly and show your safe ect... I've seen lads out door knocking and they look like idiots, big gold chains on, land rovers covered in spot lights, with a fag hanging out there mouth as they knock on the door...my dad gets them knocking on the door all the time, we only let people train there dogs on our land ( only 10 acres) but it's the nice and polite ones that get permission.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted May 4, 2014 Report Share Posted May 4, 2014 On 03/05/2014 at 17:52, shanekiely said: So lately ive been to circa 30 farms in a single week. Only one said they may be interested and that was from 1 of around 200 emails. I live in coleshill north warwickshire and apart from some friendly offers from pigeon watch of club/syndicate shooting I have had not a sniff. Before you say it I am courteous, I have some paperwork and I have insurance and I have experience. Just seeems like the area is saturated. Anyone else experienced this? Should I give up and join a few clubs? Go and join the young farmers....as it will put you right in the middle of people who own land, It will be a slow process and in the mean time you will have a good laugh. Don't go boots in just join and join in.... If you learn any thing it will be how they are, which in turn might well help with a better approach when asking for some where to shoot. TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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