mr lee Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 You know when you read other peoples posts about how anti's and/or people go off on one about you shooting fluffy squirrels, rabbits and pretty pigeons and they say they kept their cool whilst trying to explain why they were shooting etc but it was hard to do...Well, this morning I found out just how hard it is to stay calm and not go off on one. We have a new permission on the golf course near to us to remove as many pigeons, crows and squirrels as possible. Went up this morning, left the signs in the car windscreen for the ground staff so they knew we were about and off we went. This was about 5.30am. We had a quiet start with little movement other than a few hares darting around. We made our way to the furthest point of the course and work back and across the course slowly. About 6am we exited some tree's to link onto the next section of the course when we spot an older chap with 4 dogs all off the leads running across the middle of the greens and fairways. Now we have been asked to tell anybody on the course to clear off as the only footpath doesn't go anywhere near the fairways or greens and we are strictly off limits to shoot within 200 yards of it anyway. This guy stopped walking when he saw us and looked a touch concerned. Understandably so I suppose when you see two guys exit trees with rifles slung over their shoulders in an area he normally doesn't spot anyone. I gave a polite wave and called out hello just to reassure him weren't a couple of muppets doing anything illegal. As he approached us we unloaded the clips and put them in our pockets and re-shouldered the guns. He instantly went off on one at us about how we shouldn't be there shooting as we could kill stuff..(duh! ) etc and how he was going to report us to the police. Very calmly I took out our permission slip from the club and letter from the police which states where can and cannot shoot rimfire and air. He took a quick glance at it and threw it back at me. Now this wound me up at how rude he was being after we were being pretty polite to him. Again I explained we were there for the vermin control and tried to explain about how much damage the squirrels were doing. This guy was having none of it at all. My patience was starting to wear very thin! Once I realised we were getting nowhere with him I asked him which footpath he was exercising his dogs on as last time I checked, and we actually had a google map of the course with us highlighting them, there wasn't one which walked straight across all the greens and fairways and he was infact trespassing. Suddenly he shut up and looked a bit taken back at being pulled up on his actions. I then happened to notice one of his dogs fouling the fairway which I pointed out instantly. He told us he would come back with a bag and collect it shortly to which my mate instantly said 'no need, I have one here for you..crack on..' The guy collected his dog muck and started to walk off. As he carried on making his way across the centre of the green we called out politely..'Excuse me..the footpath is over there..' pointing in pretty much the opposite way. Now I always hoped if we had an idiot like this have a go at us we would stand firm but polite and fair. We tried to do this but this fella was having none of it hence us turning the tables on him and his actions. We got back about 20 minutes ago and instantly called our local police station to inform them of this guy and his comments about calling them. Explained about how we unloaded the rifles etc and stayed polite even when he threw the two letters back at us. Police are more than happy with our actions and said we acted properly so they won't entertain this chap if he calls them to complain. We explained what had happened to the chap that asked us to do the shooting at the club and he laughed and asked jokingly why we hadn't shot the dog that crapped everywhere. It just wound us both up that someone thinks they can walk anywhere they like illegally then get the hump on and quiz us over a legal activity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 only had the one run in so far, and that wasnt too bad. hope i dont get some of what you lads got Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr lee Posted August 1, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 only had the one run in so far, and that wasnt too bad. hope i dont get some of what you lads got I hope you don't either. Deep down I would have felt great satisfaction in slotting the guy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markio Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 Sounds like you handled it well and put him in his place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poacher Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 sounds like the ejit was a bit red-faced once you informed him that his activity was illegal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Master Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 You handled it correctly and still have your permission and guns. FM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 Good effort on handling it so well. Easy to say "keep calm" but very hard to do in practice, but after the event you'll always regret it if you lost your rag (and be very chuffed if you didn't!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ice Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 I too only had one run in so far, it is increasingly difficult to keep cool. We were called to shoot some crows at a collegues small farm house, every morning around 5am the crows are smacking his windows, i dont know why think their confused about their reflections. Turns out one evening we go to shoot them, a young lady from the some houses around 600 yards away could hear the shots and didnt agree with what we were doing, she comes over all gobby and common, tells us crows are protected birds ..... and that we cant shoot them, i was mesmerised by the experience as i had never been confronted like that before, my collegue handled the situation extremely calmly with the woman walking off with her tail between her legs.... The guy who owns the house is not keen on killing, he isnt quite an anti, but still doesnt totally agree with it, after all other measures had been tried and failed, the last resort was shooting.. 6 crows in the bag, one very happy collegue, and a crate of stella each in the fridge = result Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auto culto Posted August 1, 2008 Report Share Posted August 1, 2008 just a quick bit of advice to all. If you "have" to talk to someone i would advise you record the conversation on your phone and also take a photo. You did the right thing by calling the police and covering yourself but remember it still only takes 1 call from the dog walker to say you were behaving in a threatening manner and its goodbye guns instantly. So please take my advice as everyone has a mobile on them nowadays. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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