Shooting permission...again...help please.

[flash_gordy]

Hi,

 

Yes its the age old question of gaining permission to shoot on land. I currently shoot on a large estate and have known the estate manager/game keeper for some years without any incident. Being ex-military I am always polite and courteous of whom ever I meet whilst I am about shooting (in life as well), and this has stood me in good stead over the years (you never know who you meet whilst out). But due to partridge/pheasant shooting my shooting is curtailed between some months due to this well deserved sport as this earns the estate the money they need.

 

So off I went looking for pastures new, I looked over the advice on the website regarding gaining permission to shoot on land. I dressed smart, printed out some business cards, knocked on quite a few doors and introduced myself politely. I explained where I currently shoot and who for and gave the farmers the opportunity to ask me questions and if need be check my story so to speak. As a communications/mechanical engineer I offered my services such as beating etc any time when I am not at work to them (i work 4 on 4 off) and at Christmas I popped round some of the nearer farms and dropped off some of my home made sloe gin, just to keep me in mind if anything comes about.

 

But as of yet not much luck. I had many replies such as "We already have some people who shoot for us" to "NO thank you". I totally understand the point that some farmers just do not want some stranger wandering around their farm with a gun and yes trust needs to be earned. Just wanted to gain some of the forums experience from this matter, what if anything am I doing wrong? Is there anything else I could be doing to improve my odds etc.

 

Just for interest I live not too far from Long Melford, Suffolk.

 

Thanks for your time and comments.

 

Regards

 

Flash.

[JDog]

It sounds as though you are doing everything right. More of the same should reward you.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Keep up the good work, at least you already have a limited permission!

[marsh man]

As above , but what I would advise is not to bother the farms during the game shooting season unless you see pigeons during serious damage on the rape and then there might be a chance.

 

You said at the beginning of your post that due to the game shooting your pigeon / vermin shooting is curtailed during these months , and in your area , which is similar to mine, most of the farms are connected in one way or the other to shooting game.

 

As an instance I go on one large estate and several big farms and in most cases once the poults are in a pen, or released my pigeon shooting days are numbered as the keeper wont allow shooting on stubbles ect anywhere near his young game.

 

This I don't mind one bit as I am lucky enough to have land down on the marshes that don't come into the main shoot and from the 2nd of February I have got a free hand till the same situation start all over again.

 

So by all means keep trying as you wont know until you ask but if you see any signs of a game shoot like , pegs with numbers on , game strips , feeders and a abundance of game , then wait till its over in a few weeks time and I think your prospects will be a lot better .

[flash_gordy]

Thanks JDog, Tightchoke and Marshman for you comments and encouragement. I too have to give the woods and fields a wide birth this time of year due to the shoots, I really don't want to be responsible for driving the game birds away and thus making the game keepers job any more difficult than need be.

 

I will keep trying and try to set a good example which I am sure you will agree reflects on us all. If anyone has any more recommendations please add.

 

Forgot to say in my original post that I have a firearms and shotgun certificate along with the usual CPSA Insurace.

 

Regards

 

Flash

Edited January 4, 2017 by flash_gordy