chasechicken Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Hi all, I have a small farm which I have permission to shoot over. I started out in April and have probably been ten or so times - starting off with just a few birds a time but am now getting what feels like half-decent bags. I've read everywhere that the general 'deal' is to take a nice bottle of scotch or similar to the farmer at Christmas as a thank you. I just can't help but feel I should do something sooner... but don't want to get into a situation where I'm giving gifts more regularly than I need to. Do I wait a few more months and do the Christmas thing, or do a little something sooner. What do you guys do especially when at a new permission where you really want to make a good impression (I do think if I just start taking a load of the pigeons off his land that will please him anyway!) ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Try offering to help out, does he smoke? (Get a carton of cigs off someone going abroad). Buy a voucher at the local pub for a meal for him and his mrs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasechicken Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks - no, he doesn't smoke and probably doesn't drink a great deal actually. Meal isn't a bad idea. I reckon I'll get about 20+ days a year and more if I want all going to plan (there's some rabbitting to be done there too) so it is worth the investment. I know it's a bit how long is a piece of string but what would you look to spend to get that sort of shooting?? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Always a balancing act mate as the farmer benefits as you are protecting his crops for free, but ground is hard to come by these days. I tend to give the guys I shoot for a box of biscuits, box of chocs and a card with the totals shot that year at Christmas. I was shocked last year as one of the permissions where I decimated the rabbit numbers gave me a gift back..first in over 10 years. One of my mates who takes me deer stalking 4-5 times a year gets some home made welsh cakes and his wife gets a nice box of chocs each time I go and visit. You are in the best position to judge what is appropriate as you know the guy, but I doubt he will be expecting anything in return. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasechicken Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Thanks for that - it's good to know what you do. I will probably go for the personal touch rather than splash out on expensive things. And like you say, I'm helping them too (although some of the days I've had I've felt it's cost the guy more to pop out and say hi when I arrive than it was worth!) I'm thrilled to have somewhere to shoot but must play it cool...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Sounds a good plan. Out of interest what do you shoot, and what size is the ground? One farm I shoot has a crow problem, between 2 farms and amounts to about 1000 acres. The amount of comments about "lots of crows" despite the 700 odd I have shot in the last 10 months means he will be getting some tesco value biscuits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasechicken Posted August 26, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Ha! That too sounds like a plan! On this permission I shoot woodies and any ferals that get too close, some bunnies too and hopefully some rats in the barns later in the year. Not masses of land - maybe 100 acres or so. But it's right on a regular flight path - it's a farm on the edge of a big town so they all come over and settle in the trees and fields. I'm hoping to add to this very soon - I have another place where I can shoot pigeons with a rifle only - due to the horses kept there - and a few other places for rabbits but nothing large scale. One day................. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tam Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Nowt to do with shooting but our next door neighbors look after/feed our cats the odd w/end & walk the dog if I am away on business - I get them the odd Groupon deal for a meal now & again (sometimes slip a £10 to get them a drink) it all depends what/how much it means to you??? & how you think they will receive your gift & might think you put a bit more effort/appreciation in to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckyshot Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 I would just wait until Christmas and give him a bottle of scotch or what ever he drinks plus a box of chocolates for the Mrs. My main permission very large farm the tenant has never had a gift from any shooter other than me since he took the farm over from his parents nearly 50 years ago, the look on his face when I gave him a bottle of whisky and some chocolates for his wife was priceless he was truly lost for words. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old farrier Posted August 26, 2015 Report Share Posted August 26, 2015 Nowt to do with shooting but our next door neighbors look after/feed our cats the odd w/end & walk the dog if I am away on business - I get them the odd Groupon deal for a meal now & again (sometimes slip a £10 to get them a drink) it all depends what/how much it means to you??? & how you think they will receive your gift & might think you put a bit more effort/appreciation in to it£10 from tam is like winning the lottery 😂I tend to take the odd bunch of flowers from the garden for land owners wife and depending on the permission aproppriate value bottle hamper or something for there kids and always a thank you Xmas card All the best Of Hope your well tam 😋 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 What price do you put on your hobby? For me, as tips go, it can be plonk, a bit of sausages. Venison, burgers of some sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver pigeon69 Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 Give him some "oven ready" rabbits or some pigeon breasts! All farmers love their food, especially if its free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 If I was you , I would just stick to a bottle of drink and a card at Christmas .....keep your nose clean , don't take anybody else , take any cartridge cases and rubbish home , don't shoot at anything else apart from what you have got permission to shoot , be reliable and offer your help if needed . You could then find through word of mouth from your farmer the next door neighbours might need somebody to sought out the pigeons and vermin on there land . Good luck and look after what you have got . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted September 4, 2015 Report Share Posted September 4, 2015 If I was you , I would just stick to a bottle of drink and a card at Christmas .....keep your nose clean , don't take anybody else , take any cartridge cases and rubbish home , don't shoot at anything else apart from what you have got permission to shoot , be reliable and offer your help if needed . You could then find through word of mouth from your farmer the next door neighbours might need somebody to sought out the pigeons and vermin on there land . Good luck and look after what you have got . This, I expect nothing from the lads who shoot on our farm, what I REALLY appreciate is short notice help with fly struck sheep, moving sheep, help with fencing etc. In the past I've had to warn all shooters about leaving a mess, none owned up, so it had to be the case that if I found rubbish again they're all off, I reckon a few text messages between them sorted this out. It doesn't sound much, but finding detritus on our land from shooters is infuriating, because of the disrespect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 This, I expect nothing from the lads who shoot on our farm, what I REALLY appreciate is short notice help with fly struck sheep, moving sheep, help with fencing etc. In the past I've had to warn all shooters about leaving a mess, none owned up, so it had to be the case that if I found rubbish again they're all off, I reckon a few text messages between them sorted this out. It doesn't sound much, but finding detritus on our land from shooters is infuriating, because of the disrespect. I still find it disgusting that shooters would leave a mess, but as usual there are good and bad in all walks of life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leadbreakfast Posted September 8, 2015 Report Share Posted September 8, 2015 Plus at this time of year when there is a break in the weather it's all hands on. Sometimes helping with harvest goes along way. Or if you see him bailing and it's not tying them spreading them back out or helping strap them down on the trailer then shooting the pigeons is a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkeye Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 The first farm i got my mate and i used to help him every year when it came to sheep shearing we used to spend a couple of days working with him sorting the flocks out.. My mate has since died and the farmer retired but i still visit and call in for coffee now and then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesj Posted September 14, 2015 Report Share Posted September 14, 2015 I give a bottle at christmas, If I have a really good day say get 100 plus or something then I will give something may be a case of beers, a nice pork pie, a lb of sausages or a cigar. its amazing who often you will get a call or txt to say where the birds are or when something is being cut or seed being drilled. I gave one of my farmers wife some flowers and chocs after I saw her in the village and she said about a lot of pigeons on some rape. That got the competition going between the to see who could contact me first if the saw more that two pigeons on a field Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshMike Posted September 15, 2015 Report Share Posted September 15, 2015 I give a bottle at christmas, If I have a really good day say get 100 plus or something then I will give something may be a case of beers, a nice pork pie, a lb of sausages or a cigar. its amazing who often you will get a call or txt to say where the birds are or when something is being cut or seed being drilled. I gave one of my farmers wife some flowers and chocs after I saw her in the village and she said about a lot of pigeons on some rape. That got the competition going between the to see who could contact me first if the saw more that two pigeons on a field Flowers and Chocs for the farmers wife indeed....may be a recipe for loosing the ground if he finds out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chasechicken Posted September 17, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Thanks guys - 100+ sounds amazing! I will stick to Christmas but I will be generous - I'm happy enough to spend money on cartridges which hit *****er all so a few extra bob for the farmer isn't the end of the world...! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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