shooting permission

[smithy73]

hello everyone i am trying without much success to get some shooting permission for rabbits and other vermin in the south wales area.For myself and my brother-inlaw but for me mainly because he,s in the army so only home now and then.Day or night no problem thanks.

[GJUK]

http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/ind...showtopic=35363

[Erik Hamburger]

You should approach getting permission as a long-term "sales and marketing " campaign.

No sensible landowner is going to give you permission to shoot on their land without knowing you and your skills level and experience.

In my view, the standard "permission letters" you find on these forums do not work as an initial approach - you have to personalise a relationship first! (be it over a pint in the Pub, by chatting up the farmers doughter, or by buying their produce!)

 

Apart from the earlier advice to become a beater on a shoot, which is good advice, I suggest you should become a customers of a farmer who sells his produce directly to the public. Built a relationship, become trusted paying customers, become friendly with them, and then - and only then- pop the question asking for permission while chatting about the damage done by pests.

During your "research" period you could find out about local shoot syndicates, footpaths, rights of way, if land has been cleared for fire-arms, etc etc.

 

Target 2 or 3 local farms at the same time - with a bit of luck you may get shooting permission on one by the Spring/Summer. Accept that each landowner will have their own view on what is vermin and what is not! For example on one of my permissions I can shoot anything classed as vermin and suitable for air rifles, and on a neigbouring property I can only shoot grey squirrels and magpies, as the lady who owns the land likes to see the rabbits play on her lawn, and she loves the "chatting" of the rooks in her mature trees..."

 

Also, permission leads to more permission. Start with a small local smallholder with 5 acres who sells some eggs, move on to a larger farm quoting your experience, results and existing permission next year.

And don't forget there are many people with large houses and very large gardens who are delighted with some help clearing rabbits and grey squirrels - in fact some of the best shooting is to be found in private gardens as the bio-diversity is often better than on large intensively farmed estates. And these locations are often only suitable for air rifles as a shotgun or FAC rifle would be unsafe.

Golf courses, industrial units, equistrian businesses, schools' sportsgrounds etc are also good places to look for permission. And if there is any commercial woodland in your area you may get permission for grey squirrels.

 

Try to find a responsible "buddy" in your area who is prepared to take you out on his permission (with the landowners permission of course) and will show you the ropes. Many people are happy to share their experience -but do not try to get permission on land you have been invited to shoot as a guest, unless it is offered to you. You may upset the current permission holder and get a bad name.

 

It may be worthwhile to contact your local office of the NFU or CLA. Also talk to people at FWAG or the local Wildlife trust: Many people working in conservation are involved in shooting/hunting themselves and will be sympathetic and understand the issues. It is not a bad thing to be aware of conservation issues and "sell" your shooting as "conservation shooting" instead of "pest control" - providing of course you really feel strongly about conservation.

 

Finally, being well dressed, not showing tattoes, removing any metal body art from you face, not wearing camo when visiting a landowner, not turning up in an old banger of a car, and generally being polity, kind, safety-concious, considerate etc is always helpful.

 

Good luck