Scotty1980 Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 Guidance required! So first off I’d like to say “wow” it’s so hard to get into shooting without a healthy budget or some acquaintances in the shooting world. But...I am slowly clawing my way into the sport with the help of you lot on forums and Facebook groups! What I’ve achieved so far, 4X4, check Small first aid kit, check Shooting business cards made up and being posted, check Permission sheets designed and printed off, check Poles, nets and decoys, check SGC and Shotgun, check FAC and Deer legal calibre rifle, check Lots of green clothing, flat cap, boots and some farmer type shirts, check BASC member for insurance, check Active member of a local 500yrd rifle club, check Paid stalks booked in for later on in the year with estate rifle, check Oh…looking at the list above, I realise I’m actually not doing too bad! Permissions to shoot on…….Ha Ha Comical! Join the British Deer society? Please advise! Some kind of health and safety training? Please advise! DSC1 Course, will be booking shortly with a local chap. When I’ve saved up some money, find a syndicate and shoot stuff! Later down the line, think about trying for my DSC2. Have I missed anything? Can you suggest anything I haven’t thought of? Thanks Scott. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 Knock on farmers doors,lots of them ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 11 minutes ago, mel b3 said: Knock on farmers doors,lots of them ? Depending where you live , caus down here knocking on the doors doesn’t go down well. My advice is write a letter or email, but remember your better off to go beating etc to get some regular pigeon shooting etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 Just because you have all the gear and paperwork it does not mean land owners will come knocking on your door, as Mel says, foot work, mixing with the right people and knocking on doors is the next step, good luck 7 minutes ago, dodeer said: Depending where you live , caus down here knocking on the doors doesn’t go down well. My advice is write a letter or email, but remember your better off to go beating etc to get some regular pigeon shooting etc Why is that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 5 minutes ago, old'un said: Just because you have all the gear and paperwork it does not mean land owners will come knocking on your door, as Mel says, foot work, mixing with the right people and knocking on doors is the next step, good luck Why is that? From experience years ago ; they don’t like strangers turning up unannounced, can’t be bothered to speak to you, normally have someone doing it already, and down here most farms are 1000+ acres so normally got a game shoot on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 17 minutes ago, dodeer said: From experience years ago ; they don’t like strangers turning up unannounced, can’t be bothered to speak to you, normally have someone doing it already, and down here most farms are 1000+ acres so normally got a game shoot on. Don’t know where down here is? But here in the midlands I have never had that type of attitude from a farmer, (keepers yes) I’ve had knock backs from farmers, but most will be civil if a little short in their response like “sorry we already have someone” or you will have to see the keeper, I have given a lot of my farms/estates up now and just shoot a few local farms but I have never had much problem finding shooting, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontastic Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 I don't know what you do for a living, but going door knocking in a works van is sometimes useful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 49 minutes ago, old'un said: Don’t know where down here is? But here in the midlands I have never had that type of attitude from a farmer, (keepers yes) I’ve had knock backs from farmers, but most will be civil if a little short in their response like “sorry we already have someone” or you will have to see the keeper, I have given a lot of my farms/estates up now and just shoot a few local farms but I have never had much problem finding shooting, there’s always more than one way to skin a cat. Dorset. A lot of land is also owned by big landowners and the farmers are just tennants Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel b3 Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 Another good tip is , learn to trap moles , it can be hard work, but it'll get you loads of shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 1 hour ago, dodeer said: Dorset. A lot of land is also owned by big landowners and the farmers are just tennants This is a growing problem. Often the shooting rights are given to some syndicate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie to this Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 (edited) 2 hours ago, dodeer said: Dorset. A lot of land is also owned by big landowners and the farmers are just tennants Forgive my ignorance, but surley the tennant farmer still has the right to protect his crops/livestock. Edited July 19, 2018 by Newbie to this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marsh man Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 The hardest one to get permission on is the first one , from then on, you can refer to that farm when you ask nearby farms , example , I have just been shooting pigeons Mr XXXX farm on his Peas and noticed a lot were going on your laid wheat near the cross roads , any chance having a go tomorrow ? , if the answer is yes then you are already building up a sizable shoot . I am not sure if you are after shotgun shooting or deer shooting with a rifle , the later I have never done so it might be a completely different ball game in gaining shooting rights . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 Go beating.....opens more doors than any other route, bar owning your own shoot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 2 hours ago, Newbie to this said: Forgive my ignorance, but surley the tennant farmer still has the right to protect his crops/livestock. Yes but often the owners retains the shooting rights and the keepers choose who shoot there. Thats how it is down here. Probably different in different locations Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newbie to this Posted July 19, 2018 Report Share Posted July 19, 2018 20 minutes ago, dodeer said: Yes but often the owners retains the shooting rights and the keepers choose who shoot there. Thats how it is down here. Probably different in different locations I suppose as long as it is in the tenancy agreement, then the tennant farmer would have to comply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old'un Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 17 hours ago, dodeer said: Yes but often the owners retains the shooting rights and the keepers choose who shoot there. Thats how it is down here. Probably different in different locations So the keepers around that neck of the woods are letting people shoot on the estates, I guess they are people the keeper knows and trusts, the question is why are you not one of those people? As Scully said, beating is one way to get to know him, but there are other ways for the keeper to find out who you are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 2 hours ago, old'un said: So the keepers around that neck of the woods are letting people shoot on the estates, I guess they are people the keeper knows and trusts, the question is why are you not one of those people? As Scully said, beating is one way to get to know him, but there are other ways for the keeper to find out who you are. I am one of them. Beating, helping dog in, moving poults to wood etc is the way to get involved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
strimmer_13 Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 On 19/07/2018 at 17:54, dodeer said: Yes but often the owners retains the shooting rights and the keepers choose who shoot there. Thats how it is down here. Probably different in different locations Yes I'm in Dorset too. If you ain't in that click of mates of the keepers or so and so, you ain't getting in. I've learned its big areas run for shoots and if you ain't known don't come knocking! I still do tho , I just offer my gardening services in exchange. That didn't work either. They really don't like strangers some of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ips Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 8 hours ago, dodeer said: I am one of them. Beating, helping dog in, moving poults to wood etc is the way to get involved. Me too ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevo Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 Or you and all your land owners be on the same square ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodeer Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 1 hour ago, strimmer_13 said: Yes I'm in Dorset too. If you ain't in that click of mates of the keepers or so and so, you ain't getting in. I've learned its big areas run for shoots and if you ain't known don't come knocking! I still do tho , I just offer my gardening services in exchange. That didn't work either. They really don't like strangers some of them. Oh yes, if someone upsets someone then all his mates soon know and your blacklisted for a decade or so. Farmers here don’t need the money or the hassle and we don’t have huge pigeon / rabbit populations and the stalking is normally let for high prices Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 down this neck of the woods, shooting is not hard to get, im all ways turning shooting down. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spot on Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 aye we seem to be lucky in the south west ..I metal detect as well as shoot "rough" at present over the years have managed 18 farms for detecting and at the present 10 for shooting all have been acquired by face to face meeting ..tis hard work but you MUST sell yourself but don't be too PUSHY ….Agriculteral contractors are are good source of information as to what farms ,crops are being hit and who owns them ,,as previous comments introduce yourself to keepers offer to beat on shoot days fox drives and roost shoots " beaters day at the season end " my daughter beats but doesn't shoot so she nominates me for her place season end ..farmers and keepers do appreciate an extra pair of eyes around ...choose a quiet time to knock on doors . if a lab or springer dashs out to greet you make it you friend ." do you work your dog?" yes .ok he is a shooting man ..he will have an idea what you want you now have a foot in the door...build on it .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haynes Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 Go beating. Youll then meet loads of like minded sorts. I often take a few days shooting when i can afford and they have a gun that cant make it. And if your dedicated you get the beaters day at the end of the season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted July 21, 2018 Report Share Posted July 21, 2018 On 19/07/2018 at 14:29, mel b3 said: Another good tip is , learn to trap moles , it can be hard work, but it'll get you loads of shooting. how much lead do you need to give a mole in full flight........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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