harpo_the_bad Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) Hello folks, I've decided to go knocking on doors in the hopes of being granted shooting permission for a .17HMR close to home. Now the Game Estate next to my house is out because the keeper has already said to my dad that he won't approve permission for ANY more shooters AT ALL. The 'local' (10 miles away) golf course is also out because I just found out that it's already being patrolled for vermin by guess who?... the gamekeeper from just outside my house! damn moonlighters! So I've taken to sniffing out local (close as possible) farms. Apart from googlemaps are there any good ways to find them? Bearing in mind that I don't have an FAC yet (just shotgun and air rifle) am I likely to get a yes when I'm not going to be able to start straight away? And what should I say when I go 'cold calling'? I've read all the advice along the lines of be polite... dress smart... be helpful... hide homicidal tendancies... :blink: but what are some good things to say that will boost my chances and what things should I avoid mentioning? Also... There is a field in the next village that is absolutely over run with pigeons. Seriously... you wouldn't believe it. I saw what must have been around 200 birds all hammering this one field. But I've no idea who owns it... is there any way I can find out? Thanks Much! EDIT: Also, what do I need to take with me when I call? Edited June 5, 2008 by harpo_the_bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starlight32 Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) Hello folks, I've decided to go knocking on doors in the hopes of being granted shooting permission for a .17HMR close to home. Now the Game Estate next to my house is out because the keeper has already said to my dad that he won't approve permission for ANY more shooters AT ALL. The 'local' (10 miles away) golf course is also out because I just found out that it's already being patrolled for vermin by guess who?... the gamekeeper from just outside my house! damn moonlighters! So I've taken to sniffing out local (close as possible) farms. Apart from googlemaps are there any good ways to find them? Bearing in mind that I don't have an FAC yet (just shotgun and air rifle) am I likely to get a yes when I'm not going to be able to start straight away? And what should I say when I go 'cold calling'? I've read all the advice along the lines of be polite... dress smart... be helpful... hide homicidal tendancies... :blink: but what are some good things to say that will boost my chances and what things should I avoid mentioning? Also... There is a field in the next village that is absolutely over run with pigeons. Seriously... you wouldn't believe it. I saw what must have been around 200 birds all hammering this one field. But I've no idea who owns it... is there any way I can find out? Thanks Much! EDIT: Also, what do I need to take with me when I call? You may be lucky but off a first time permission unless you know the landowner it is very unlikely he will say yes unless he is desperate. Get in first and then work on from there. My advice is the softly,softly approach like I did many years ago. Knock off the farmers daughter for a few weeks and then move on from there. It was damn lucky when me and her parted I had by then got an open ticket. Regards starlight32 Edited June 5, 2008 by starlight32 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Hello folks, I've decided to go knocking on doors in the hopes of being granted shooting permission for a .17HMR close to home. Now the Game Estate next to my house is out because the keeper has already said to my dad that he won't approve permission for ANY more shooters AT ALL. The 'local' (10 miles away) golf course is also out because I just found out that it's already being patrolled for vermin by guess who?... the gamekeeper from just outside my house! damn moonlighters! So I've taken to sniffing out local (close as possible) farms. Apart from googlemaps are there any good ways to find them? Bearing in mind that I don't have an FAC yet (just shotgun and air rifle) am I likely to get a yes when I'm not going to be able to start straight away? And what should I say when I go 'cold calling'? I've read all the advice along the lines of be polite... dress smart... be helpful... hide homicidal tendancies... :blink: but what are some good things to say that will boost my chances and what things should I avoid mentioning? Also... There is a field in the next village that is absolutely over run with pigeons. Seriously... you wouldn't believe it. I saw what must have been around 200 birds all hammering this one field. But I've no idea who owns it... is there any way I can find out? Thanks Much! EDIT: Also, what do I need to take with me when I call? You may be lucky but off a first time permission unless you know the landowner it is very unlikely he will say yes unless he is desperate. Get in first and then work on from there. My advice is the softly,softly approach like I did many years ago. Knock off the farmers daughter for a few weeks and then move on from there. It was damn lucky when me and her parted I had by then got an open ticket. Regards starlight32 sound adviec if i have ever heard it but for those of us tht are not as cheezy dress smart introduce yourself and say sorry to bother you but i was wonder ing if i can have shooting permission on your land? or say you have seen a load of pigeons can you have a crack at the if its ok please you mite also want to add you shoot on such and suches land as well good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Well, you have the best chance that you could have, living near you. Offer to help the gamekeeper with his birds, beating, repairing pens etc., asking him outright for shooting was a no-brainer from the start, as others shoot there already, and if you got your father to ask him, that lessened your chances even further. I am sure that if you make yourself useful to him, he will offer you some shooting as a matter of course, when he trusts you. It's a two-way deal, you get owt for nowt, as I am sure that most people with permission on here will tell you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavman Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Well, you have the best chance that you could have, living near you. Offer to help the gamekeeper with his birds, beating, repairing pens etc., asking him outright for shooting was a no-brainer from the start, as others shoot there already, and if you got your father to ask him, that lessened your chances even further. I am sure that if you make yourself useful to him, he will offer you some shooting as a matter of course, when he trusts you. It's a two-way deal, you get owt for nowt, as I am sure that most people with permission on here will tell you. Top advice Bob PS dont knock on my farmers door :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpo_the_bad Posted June 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 (edited) Hello Bob, I've given up on getting FAC permission on that estate. Yes it does SEEM like the perfect opportunity... but I've been helping on that estate for almost a decade. I've even been shooting on the estate ALREADY for those past ten years with my shotguns and the keeper's .22LR. I didn't ask for FAC permission for myself through my dad. My dad asked for FAC permission for HIMSELF and got a flat no. My dad has been hell bent on getting an FAC before me ever since I announced that I wanted one. My dad has known the keeper longer than me though and has been working there for longer so I figured that there was even less chance for me getting a yes and so I never asked. I've always enjoyed using rifles more than shotguns so I really want my FAC. Sucky situation huh? You see... I have permission to shoot on the estate, even with a .22.... the keeper just refuses to let anyone else buy their own gun and use the estate as their primary... even if they do already shoot there. :blink: Edited June 5, 2008 by harpo_the_bad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob300w Posted June 5, 2008 Report Share Posted June 5, 2008 Hello Bob, I've given up on getting FAC permission on that estate. Yes it does SEEM like the perfect opportunity... but I've been helping on that estate for almost a decade. I've even been shooting on the estate ALREADY for those past ten years with my shotguns and the keeper's .22LR. I didn't ask for FAC permission for myself through my dad. My dad asked for FAC permission for HIMSELF and got a flat no. My dad has been hell bent on getting an FAC before me ever since I announced that I wanted one. My dad has known the keeper longer than me though and has been working there for longer so I figured that there was even less chance for me getting a yes and so I never asked. I've always enjoyed using rifles more than shotguns so I really want my FAC. Sucky situation huh? You see... I have permission to shoot on the estate, even with a .22.... the keeper just refuses to let alone else buy their own gun and use the estate as their primary... even if they do already shoot there. :blink: I see your problem now that you explained it more clearly. There's still no reason why you should not ask him yourself though. Let him know that you are prepared to help him, in exchange for your own FAC. It's coming up to his busy time, and he can only say no after all. Regarding other farms, I think that you are more likely to get permission to use a shotgun than a rifle, take it slowly, farmers, especially those with livestock can be very wary of rifles on their land. Use a shotgun for six months then ask about a rifle. Best of luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highlander Posted June 6, 2008 Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Surely something wrong here (unless I'm misreading the notes) if a keeper won't let someone who's been helping him for years have something (shooting) in return. Keepers can be funny boogers but most rely on part time help and are more than happy to reciprocate in some way. So what's your problem? 'Harpo the Bad' might have something to do with it??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harpo_the_bad Posted June 6, 2008 Author Report Share Posted June 6, 2008 Surely something wrong here (unless I'm misreading the notes) if a keeper won't let someone who's been helping him for years have something (shooting) in return. Keepers can be funny boogers but most rely on part time help and are more than happy to reciprocate in some way. So what's your problem? 'Harpo the Bad' might have something to do with it??? I'll say it again The keeper on that estate has expressed that he won't sign up ANYMORE people AT ALL to shoot there as their primary for FAC. He says that he has too many people signed up with the estate as their FAC primary already. Bullshot excuse or not... that's what he's saying. He's refused three other people that I know of already with this excuse; including my dad. He's more than happy to let us shoot there (we already do, and did last night - shot a pigeon and a magpie) but he's not playing ball with regards to helping me to get my FAC. He says I need to get somewhere else as my primary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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