Marksman1997 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Was out yesterday with two friends on my dads fields to set the sight on a 17hmr. Setting it at the same spot we normally set it at the bottom of a field at a big bank. (great backstop. only place suitable on my dads land.) We were shooting away for a good half hour at least. Targets and clay targets and stuff at 150 yards. When we heard a woman shout ("stop shooting for a minute") so we went down to collect targets and see who it was and we couldn't see anyone about. Then on the way out of the gate a Fancy Car pulled up and a women got out. She asked if we were the ones shooting and we said we were and she asked if we had permission to shoot on this land. Which i then told her we did and that it was my dads land. She then started to tell us that we were being very dangerous as she was crossing the top of the bank and said she heard that the bullets were close to her. We couldn't have seen if she was crossing because there are trees at the very top of the bank. All i know is that we were shooting for a good half hour consistently before we heard a shout. so she heard us shooting and she still decided to go up the bank. We shoot to the bottom of the bank and own the bank and all fields behind it. Even if you were at the top you would be in no danger whatsoever. But she was convinced there were bullets coming her way. We tried to explain that the crack a 17hmr puts out and the noise of the bullet coming down range can often sound like that. You get more crack down range than behind the gun. She then said that if her dad was with her he would have come down to us and give us a beatin. And said her husband was going to fire a shot at us and see how we liked it! We said we were hitting into the bottom of the bank which she then said "but you have NO IDEA were those bullets were hitting!) Which we clearly did as we were hitting clays consistently. She was nasty but we gave no cheek back as we didn't want to start anything. Blood was boiling afterwards, wish we stuck up for ourselves a bit more but didn't want to get police involved. Just want to know what you would do in this situation. And just wondering if we were in anyway in the wrong?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Underdog Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Had similar too. You did OK. I would of jumped on her violent threats more and told her you no longer wish to speak to someone with anger and violent tendencies and walked off. That is what I did to one chap and he started to appolgise immediately! Free range idiots, everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hard to tell if you were 'in the wrong' without actually being there, but if you have permission to shoot on that land and your backstops were sound then it just seems like someone complaining because they can. Should she have been on that land? Is there a public footpath or bridleway going through that land , and was she on it? If we're ever approached by someone complaining and they become unreasonable we simply tell them that if they think what we are doing is dangerous or unlawful then they should report the matter to the police, and then walk away. Personally I'd be visiting my local cop shop to tell them that you were threatened, just to give them a heads up and to get in there first before matters get out of hand. She may make a point of walking through there again just to make trouble, if she's that type. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clakk Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 report here b4 she reports you.youve been threatened with violence by a total stranger on your own <dads>land shes out of line and dangerous .this is the type of person who will say you threatened her just to be malicious .give your FEO a ring tell him what,s happened and get your version of events on record as you dont want the blame for something you havent done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_b_wales Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 When she mentioned the threat of violence to you, and you 'being shot at', I would have phoned the police straight away. As mentioned above, she could decide to report you and add more to the story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
belly47 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I've only really had one occasion when someone was really having a go at me when shooting. I have since been approached by a couple of people who were friendly enough so no problem. But after the first incident I now get my phone out when I see someone approach me and start the voice recorder on the phone just in case I'm threatened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davyo Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Would of called the police the second she said "I will get my husband to fire a shot at you"then she would have to deal with him when firearms turn up to remove his guns.Mate always puts his phone on record when he's approached just to record the conversation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Report it to the Police. It's a no brainer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deadeye18 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 This is where a go pro camera comes in handy.Id report her to the cops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scotslad Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I obviously don't know the land but possibly despite the banking being there and a safe back stop if u cannot see people walking behind it it might not be such an ideal place, esp for zeroing when firing a lot of shots off regularly. But obviously depends how big the banking is. I'm sure u were perfectly safe but the fact someone could in theory walk behind where ur target is is not great ( ignoring the fact it is a pretty stupid thing t do and the tresspassing thing (not sure if u have tresspassing in NI, don't in Scotland), but people are stupid and will do it) Possibly sticking a sign out at either end of banking when shooting might cover ur behind a bit more, or chop the trees down depending how big they are so u have better visibility Or if it was me and had access to farm machinery i'd make urself a range/backstop elsewhere. If u have an other area with a slight rise or better still a banking build a box with decent size timber on 2 sides and a roof (might not need a back if into a bank) thinner ply on front and fill it with some sand so bullets will go in and no richocets, and just add more ply to front when it gets shot out. Won't cost much and then u have a custm range somewhere that suits u and no hassle or safety issues, will last u a long time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Are you wrong? Only in having a backdrop you cant see clear. If the public have access to this area that you cannot see into (even if its though trespass) you need a plan if its a practice or zeroing session. I should report it personally if you think your actions were reasonable and justifiable, for one thing there was a threat of violence against you which although sounds no more than hot air is still an offence that should be logged. On the other count you need to report it as your version in case of her reporting it. If your land does not extend to the area she was in and tells the cops bullets passed her you might have to answer for that offence so think things through. An apology and future agreement might be a good plan in those circumstances? If your shy to report it this answers if you were safe to do it really. Were ranges exist like this people are posted on duty when the range is in use at the entry points and warnings are posted. Many think only backstop and not backdrop until they have that freaky shot of which I have had a couple over the years, it happens account for it in your assessment. Have people been killed behind official range backdrops behind backstops? yes but its very rare as they will stop the range when its seen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksman1997 Posted July 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 Hard to tell if you were 'in the wrong' without actually being there, but if you have permission to shoot on that land and your backstops were sound then it just seems like someone complaining because they can. Should she have been on that land? Is there a public footpath or bridleway going through that land , and was she on it? If we're ever approached by someone complaining and they become unreasonable we simply tell them that if they think what we are doing is dangerous or unlawful then they should report the matter to the police, and then walk away. Personally I'd be visiting my local cop shop to tell them that you were threatened, just to give them a heads up and to get in there first before matters get out of hand. She may make a point of walking through there again just to make trouble, if she's that type. Fields are your standard fields you would see in the middle of the country no public footpaths whatsoever and big ditches. Says she was crossing from her house over a few fields to her grannys as a shortcut. While shots were being fired. Very stupid. imo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingo15 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 So she wasn't meant to be there as it's private property. Two choices cut of her access if you can and or put signs up and leave them there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksman1997 Posted July 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) Proberly should have reported her at the time as she told us the name of her husband who was going to shoot at us. Still remember his name but she said because it was on my dads land and we had permission on it she couldn't do anything about it. Don't really want to report just incase she talks **** as she already said she heard that the bullets were close to her. The bank is a good 50M high and there is no way to come down the steep face of it as it's very steep and overgrown. Its a big field and at the left hand side of the field you drive up a track and then on a steep hill the whole way up the bank total height of about 70M where there is then another 10 fields or so behind. We shoot to the right hand corner of the field into the bottom of the bank with a good 50m of backstop above. We never shoot up the bank always at the bottom. we had paper targets set up and around 10 clays. To get shot she would have needed to walk the whole way down the bank and then come back across the field a good 80M and stand in front of the clays. Also the field is fresh cut from silage and we were in the field with the van so could be very clearly seen and when you hear BANG...................BANG.........................BANG! i think it's pretty obvious even to unintelligent people what we are doing! Edited July 2, 2015 by Marksman1997 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carman06 Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I would definetly be looking at stopping her trespass for her safety. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksman1997 Posted July 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 I would definetly be looking at stopping her trespass for her safety. gona go back this week and have a look around because i have no idea how she got over as the ditches are that high and made to hold cows in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 it don't matter if someone is trespassing you still cant shoot them, it a bad defence in court LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew f Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 gona go back this week and have a look around because i have no idea how she got over as the ditches are that high and made to hold cows in. thought ditches were deep not high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 gona go back this week and have a look around because i have no idea how she got over as the ditches are that high and made to hold cows in. It looks to me as though at least one cow got in. I am not responsible for the content of this post, the Devil made me type it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marksman1997 Posted July 2, 2015 Author Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 thought ditches were deep not high? Both lol. It looks to me as though at least one cow got in. I am not responsible for the content of this post, the Devil made me type it. +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisAsh Posted July 2, 2015 Report Share Posted July 2, 2015 (edited) It would most likely come down to Health and Safety as they would state its your position to fully undertake a risk assessment of the area you are using and any people who might feel the need to ramble under the new charter, is the ground by the targets likely to cause a ricochet etc. could anyone come over for a look at whats happening and so on I would report it and also make a written risk assessment of using that area so your covered in the future, it may seem pointless but if the police call and you can produce it straight away it would be able to be used in court if required Note not gun law but H&S where everyone has a duty of care which is a far wider more open duty under law Edited July 2, 2015 by ChrisAsh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powler Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 (edited) Just a thought but maybe put some barb wire on top of any gates that she could use to access the land and maybe a sign saying "private property keep off", and take a photo of it this, that way you can prove that you are making a effort to keep trespasers of you land. Mick Edited July 4, 2015 by powler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 It would most likely come down to Health and Safety as they would state its your position to fully undertake a risk assessment of the area you are using and any people who might feel the need to ramble under the new charter, is the ground by the targets likely to cause a ricochet etc. could anyone come over for a look at whats happening and so on I would report it and also make a written risk assessment of using that area so your covered in the future, it may seem pointless but if the police call and you can produce it straight away it would be able to be used in court if required Note not gun law but H&S where everyone has a duty of care which is a far wider more open duty under law And where in the HSE regulations does it state that the act applies to non workplace situations and that individuals taking part in their own private hobby must undertake risk assesments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 Just a thought but maybe put some barb wire on top of any gates that she could use to access the land and maybe a sign saying "private property keep off", and take a photo of it this, that way you can prove that you are making a effort to keep trespasers of you land. Mick You can put up all the signs and barbed wire you like but it still won't stop someone being prossecuted for shooting the odd stray rambler. Simple answer is don't shoot where you can't see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spinach Posted July 4, 2015 Report Share Posted July 4, 2015 We have two problems a stroppy rambler who threatens you with her husband and shooting into the dark! Ones annoying the others dangerous . John" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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