mike555 Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 hi over the last 3 years i have been trying to increase the number of birds on my land by using cover strips, feeders, habitat improvements and predator control its only small (140 acres) and has no where suitable to put birds down! i am really paranoid i could be upsetting my neighbours, we shoot maximum 30 birds per year so not too many the idea is to increase the wild population especially grey partridge (although we dont shoot them), its become a brilliant hobby and this year i'm seeing great results but i don't want my neighbours thinking i'm poaching there birds don't get me wrong im under no illusion and no full well that there will be a percentage of birds that will come on to my land and that we will shoot but i can also see the results of the time and money we put in too. i would really appreciated what you guys think and what you think i should be doing cheers mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Birds are wild and they will go where they please , I am sure you neighbour will also shoot birds that have come from your land I would not lose any sleep over it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adbirdy31 Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Sounds to me like you are doing all the right things, if you happen to end up with a few of your neighbours birds then so be it, your ground is obviously more to their liking and when all is said and done you are not slaughtering 100's a week. keep up the good work on the habitat improvement and vermin control and you will be putting far more in than you are taking. Atb Ade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Juicer Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 I dont see anything wrong there. thats why they sell the food and equipment in the shops. birds choose where they go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arley Posted August 30, 2014 Report Share Posted August 30, 2014 Might be worth releasing some ex layers next season? You could release them from a temporary pen made from pen sections? I have got a small shoot that is surrounded by shoots. I release 100+ pheasants and 50 Mallard every season and shoot less than 50%. Only shoot cock pheasants and have built up a nice number of birds on the ground. One of the neighbouring keepers is a real gent. By being fair I have been invited on his beaters day and got some vermin shooting. If possible its worth getting on with your neighbours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 Invite your neighbouring keepers to come and have a walk through with you to show them what work you have put in creating your little shoot. Explain you only shot 30 birds last season (unless they only release 500 birds or less) then they can't really see you as a poacher. You never know, you might get an invite their shoot. Good luck for the season Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 As someone else suggested, why not buy some ex-layers and then you can enjoy guilt free shooting. One crate holds 16 birds so two would cover your annual bag, and would cost you in the region of £2.75 per bird to buy, and then release them onto your land. A shoot near us releases about 100 ex-layers each June to supplement wild stock and they don't even have any pens. They just open the doors and let them be going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 (edited) Release a few ex layer, put a ring on their legs and ask the neighbour to let you know if he shoots any. Hope that he picks the odd one or two up and he will be well happy. Edited August 31, 2014 by markm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul T Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 You're doing nothing wrong, but to keep a clear conscience I'd be releasing a few ex-layers - just as others have suggested. Keep your records of purchase etc and if you are ever challenged then at least you have some evidence to back it up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr pigeon Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 If it was me I would, Invite keeper round to have a look and a chat. Suggest your shoot numbers Either release ex layers Or ask if you could contribute a few birds to his shoot Don't forget vermin control is helping him See how you go, maybe invite him on a day, you never know. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike555 Posted August 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 thanks for all the suggestions and feed back i think ill try and put down some birds next year into long cover it seems like the next logical step anyway ill try and get in tough with the neighbours to show them what i'm up to as well cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 The neighbouring keeper actually told me to once when I was scrounging Pheasant for dog training but still I don't that much at all, I don't put any down. That said I dont feed either IF I fed I certainly think you should release something otherwise it looks like your just baiting for his birds to come in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Essex Hunter Posted August 31, 2014 Report Share Posted August 31, 2014 hi over the last 3 years i have been trying to increase the number of birds on my land by using cover strips, feeders, habitat improvements and predator control its only small (140 acres) and has no where suitable to put birds down! i am really paranoid i could be upsetting my neighbours, we shoot maximum 30 birds per year so not too many the idea is to increase the wild population especially grey partridge (although we dont shoot them), its become a brilliant hobby and this year i'm seeing great results but i don't want my neighbours thinking i'm poaching there birds don't get me wrong im under no illusion and no full well that there will be a percentage of birds that will come on to my land and that we will shoot but i can also see the results of the time and money we put in too. i would really appreciated what you guys think and what you think i should be doing cheers mike I take it you are carrying out pest control on the foxes as well then don't worry about it............... TEH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
norfolk dumpling Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Keep onside with your neighbours - keepers can be a funny bunch especially if they are under pressure. I beat on a shoot near our small syndicate and get a lot of stick about how many of 'their birds' we shoot. Our shoot has two p/t keepers they have full time keeper plus work experience lads and other help - who has the advantage?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 IF I fed I certainly think you should release something otherwise it looks like your just baiting for his birds to come in This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Nothing wrong with what your doing, its not your fault if birds feel happier on your side of the fence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Nothing wrong with what your doing, its not your fault if birds feel happier on your side of the fence. Good job you're not my neighbor. Such behavior would go down extremely well in our small community. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shoot and be safe Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 How many birds do your neighbouring shoots put down? If they are a big commercial shoot putting 30,000 down then your 30 won't make the slightest difference. However if they are a small syndicate only releasing 200 then your 30 will make a huge dent in their returns. You are helping them out with predator control, but I would still have a chat to be polite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lordripon Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 I would try to start a good working relationship with the keeper next door , ask them for advice, most keepers like to help each other, communal activity's like fox drives / pigeon & crow roost shoots can be held on the same days on both estates making them more effective for both of you ! at least try to release some birds, it would give you more questions to ask him . if you need any pen sections and nets I have some old ones you can have ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RED BEARD Posted September 1, 2014 Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Good job you're not my neighbor. Such behavior would go down extremely well in our small community. Amen to that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr baddoo Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 Here we go again, every year. If you ask the question you know the answer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 (edited) I think on 130 acre u will always be poaching birds, BUT if ur shooting so few and with doing all the habitat work instead of just feeding them in, u could actually be doing the keeper a favour by driving them back out of ur little haven. Otherwise they would all just settle there and not move if not getting disturbed, which would actually be far worse for the nieghbouring keepers I would try and speak to the neighbouring keepers, mibee text them if u see a fox or someone snooping about there ground etc, all keepers are different some will not be bothered while others might be but in reality 30 birds a year should not really matter to any larger shoot U prob would be as well to release a few ex layers and like someone else said ring/tag them and see wot u shoot and wot ur neighbours shoot of ur's Edited September 3, 2014 by scotslad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo86 Posted September 3, 2014 Report Share Posted September 3, 2014 No such thing as poaching birds unless you are shooting them on his ground. Just gamekeeper's excuses for losing their birds. If a keeper can't keep his birds on his place then that is his fault, not yours, and he will just be looking for a excuses for failing to do his job. Crack on and tell him to do his job better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 No such thing as poaching birds unless you are shooting them on his ground. Just gamekeeper's excuses for losing their birds. If a keeper can't keep his birds on his place then that is his fault, not yours, and he will just be looking for a excuses for failing to do his job. Crack on and tell him to do his job better That Sir, is the biggest load of tosh I have read on this forum and shows a complete lack of knowledge, etiquette and understanding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted September 4, 2014 Report Share Posted September 4, 2014 No such thing as poaching birds unless you are shooting them on his ground. Just gamekeeper's excuses for losing their birds. If a keeper can't keep his birds on his place then that is his fault, not yours, and he will just be looking for a excuses for failing to do his job. Crack on and tell him to do his job better I can agree poaching can only take place on land you have no authority to be on, but from the above it is clear you don't really understand how driven shooting works. To deliberately place feeders, especially on boundaries bordering land on which birds are released to entice birds onto your land or keep birds on your land with a view to shooting them without stocking the land yourself isn't poaching, but it is certainly underhanded and frowned upon. If you allow the 'keeper and his staff onto your land to dog in (without putting out feeders on your land) then fair enough, but it doesn't appear that is the case. If it were me, I would buy a few ex-layers simply as a token gesture of goodwill. You never know, as a result you may even get the odd invite, whereas following your train of thought you certainly wont. It is good to get on with ones neighbours rather than antagonise them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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