Strange morning

[smcgreg1]

I was out doing a bit of a reccy for pigeons this morning when I noticed a car tucked in behind some trees. I called the farmer and he said that he thought it was mine. I told him that it wasn't and then he went on to tell me the police had already been out to the car and contacted him about it. He told them it was me out shooting!! As the area is known for people dumping cars and burning them I thought I would leave it in the farmers hands to deal with.

I took a walk further down one of the fields and then noticed a big dark square in the hedgerow then a magnet caught my eye and I realised that someone was shooting in the field. I got back on the phone to the farmer and told him that someone was shooting over his land!! I thought he might have gone mad but all he said was 'so that explains the car then'.

I know I would not be happy with a stranger parking his car in one of my fields and then shooting over my land without permission but the farmer did not seem bothered at all. I think he is the most relaxed farmer ever.

[CZ550Kevlar]

Seems a little erm.... irresponsible? would that be too strong? not very polite to the guys you do have shooting on your land that actually asked permission.

[alexm]

Especially if the guy does something dangerous or upsets a member of the public... the police will think it was you!!

[garyb]

I'd be willing to bet, your not the only one with permission on there... ?

[blackthorn]

that thought crossed my mind as well

[smcgreg1]

Had a bit of a chat with the farmer about it this evening and asked if he done anything about the person on his fields today. He said no because if anyone asks he will let them shoot on it.

It's a bit of pain from my point of view because I always call him the day before to ask if it is OK to shoot in his fields and I also tell him what fields i intend to shoot in.

The guy that was shooting on his field today he knew nothing about but was not fussed and I find this a bit frustrating because I have been trying to build up a relationship with him so that we could be of service to both parties i.e. he calls me up when he has pigeon problems and I come along to get rid of the problem. I'm not asking for exclusivity but I would like to know if someone else is going to be there so I can either leave it alone that day or find another place to setup.

Maybe time to try and find somewhere else as I am not keen on the idea of setting up and then someone coming along that's annoyed because that's their favorite spot etc

It's a shame because it is my first permission but I think it might be time to move on

[Dave-G]

If it's your first - so possibly your only permission - I'd not be too hasty in chucking it in. I've never done pigeon shooting but I'd guess it a good idea to keep birds moving between or past you.

[Imperfection]

but I think it might be time to move on

 

Dont do anything too hasty cause good permissions are hard to come by.I dont have exclusive rights over the land i shoot and often it helps to have another gun somewhere else as it keeps the pigeons on the move so use this to your advantage.You're doing everything right by ringing him day before and if theres ever a problem he should achknowledge you for this.

[Imperfection]

ps.I often tuck my car into side of hedge on edge of field and often find a hand print on the bonnet where someone has felt to see if its warm! The farmer knows what i drive so i guess its the local dog walkers who think its dumped!

[smcgreg1]

Dont do anything too hasty cause good permissions are hard to come by.I dont have exclusive rights over the land i shoot and often it helps to have another gun somewhere else as it keeps the pigeons on the move so use this to your advantage.You're doing everything right by ringing him day before and if theres ever a problem he should achknowledge you for this.

 

It is my only permission and I don't mind other people shooting on the fields at the same time because it does keep them moving. I'm just a bit concerned about any old John Smith coming onto the fields and not being totally responsible for his own and others safety. I have only been shooting for about 18 months and already I have seen a few crazy incidents with people not being aware of where their barrels are pointing.

I won't chuck it in but there is no harm looking for other permissions in the meantime

There are a few farms around where I shoot so I might try the old I shoot for the farmer next door and I notice a lot of pigeons landing in the fields next to his so maybe I could provide you a service routine? It will do no harm to ask and leave a calling card anyway. Looks like I got the weekend sorted then :blink:

[Dr D]

never understand how it works in England. there's a whole lot of land here in NI that guys have closed up for exclusive shooting rights over recent years. My answer to this is, so what if someone else has shooting rights on the land. Surely that's a decision to be made by the landowner. If someone else is there when you turn up, then say fair play to them and go somewhere else? Or do I have a simplistic view of the situation?

[smcgreg1]

never understand how it works in England. there's a whole lot of land here in NI that guys have closed up for exclusive shooting rights over recent years. My answer to this is, so what if someone else has shooting rights on the land. Surely that's a decision to be made by the landowner. If someone else is there when you turn up, then say fair play to them and go somewhere else? Or do I have a simplistic view of the situation?

 

Fully agree with what you are saying I am more concerned about the safety side of things rather than exclusive rights. It just worries me that the farmer will let anyone on his field with a gun without even approaching him first as was the case yesterday.

[Cranfield]

Very few of us have "exclusive" vermin shooting and its standard procedure that if someone is set up on a field you intended to shoot, you go to another field.

I have never had a problem with anyone I share shooting with (even though I may not know them).

 

I had exclusive shooting on one farm and the farmer expected me to be there 24/7, he would telephone me if he even saw a bird fly over his land.

Eventually I persuaded him to let a few of my friends shoot there, which really took the weight off me.

Be careful what you wish for.

[smcgreg1]

There is no way that I would ever want exclusive right because I would not be able to cope with it. I was just concerned about safety. But no one on here has had problems then that's a good thing and rests my mind. Thanks guys

[deeksofdoom]

Concerned about safety my ***! So what if someone is shooting your permission. Your only shooting pigeons anyway its not like you had birds released and were feeding them all year.

 

If he shoots himself or someone else that his own problem.

 

Stop annoying the farmer about it he’s more than likely to tell you to get lost and find somewhere else to shoot.

 

As for getting the hump and giving up your shooting rights, that would be right silly, you never, ever, ever give up a permission!

[Ozzy Fudd]

youre right to be a bit concerned but dont stress too much over it, just keep your eyes open when walking onto your permission, maybe have a quick scan of the hedges with a set of binos if you dont see any decoys out, you dont want to be walking into someones line of fire

[top shot]

dont worry its happened to me i jus said to the guys to go ask the farmer if they can shoot farmer allowed it each time they made a mess id report it as they were throwing each pigeon they shot into the ditch and wen mr fox come by he made a mess and then the farmer got ****** an kicked them off play smart my friend

[IAN88]

what is it with people theres millions of pigeons flying around theres enough for everyone ,as long as people shoot safely there should be no probs ,all this BUT ITS MY SHOOT really does my head in.its nice to have a chat thats how you learn things.Sometimes i go to fishing places to have a chat had some good chats .you get people on here saying i,ve just got 1500 acres all to myself ,and theres people struggling to get 50 acres ,people harp on about helping and friendship. B)

SORRY FOR THE WINGE

[starlight32]

Quite frankly I have seen the same many a time...... Sometimes laid back shooters think they are on their own permission when in reality the field further on is someone else's.

 

I have ecountered people shooting without permission, normally old boys who when thy realize their mistake they are beyond themselves for the error. Trouble is you only need that time when it all goes wrong and that normally would be your last.

 

There is a big farmer around here that I used to shoot on that would let absolutely anyone go who asked with no questions whatsoever. I only continued going there because the ground was good, but that was only until one day decoying centerfire rounds came whistling through the hedge and over my head. After a few brief words with the farmer on the grounds of 'Who the hell is that out there to which he did'nt know' he soon realized the safety and liability issues and changed his whole standing on shooting on his land.

 

I never went again, call me a killjoy and yes shooting should be available for all to preserve but the basis of safety can soon be lost if not controlled.

 

Keep your shoot smgreg and once you build yourself up if this one is no good drop it.

[Beardo]

I was out with the .17hmr yesterday on one of my permissions, and pajero came steaming across the middle of a wheat field in front of me, so i got up and waved them down - 3 young lads.

I asked them what the hell they were doing, and they said off-roading and a bit of shooting with the air rifle (as though i would approved of it, 'cos i was carrying a rifle!)

I then dutifully informed them they were trespassing with a weapon, causing damage to crops etc.

To be fair, they were very polite , but they're answer to why they were there was "my mate said it was good for offroading up here", doesn't really stand up in court.

[al4x]

NB did you get the reg number, if so its worth reporting to the rural liason officer, they get warned and if caught again the vehicle can get seized. Always worth reporting as they usually continue doing it until they get caught

[marlin vs]

Here in the rep of Ireland it's usually not a problem, farmer's are delighted if you shoot pigeons for them, last year I knocked on two different farmers doors to ask if it was allright to shoot over their barley, and got no answer so I just left my car in their yard's and went about shooting, when I came back I spoke to them and they thanked me, both farmers after a few weeks gave me a few boxes of cartridges, as far as i'm concerned it work's both way's.

[smcgreg1]

I have found some more permission now and the farmer is much more strict on who is allowed to shoot on his fields. There are others who shoot on his fields and the general rule is if there is someone there before you then leave them be and find another field. I think this is fair enough.

The other farms land has been over shot now and the pigeons actually move away from the fields or fly very high over them. I will still shoot it though if I see the pigeons are coming back.

One good thing about the laid back farmer was he did not mind giving me information about other farmers in the area and that got me my other permission . So it's not all bad infact it's very good because it gives me the chance to have a go at shooting crows over beans and I have never done that before and there is a lot of woods around my permission so there must be pigeon in there somewhere

[Beardo]

NB did you get the reg number, if so its worth reporting to the rural liason officer, they get warned and if caught again the vehicle can get seized. Always worth reporting as they usually continue doing it until they get caught

 

it didn't have plates on it, so god knows how they got it there.

 

the trouble is there's a byway that runs right through the middle of the farm, so at weekend you always get loads of dirt bikes, 4x4 etc. - and once on the farm they all think they can just drive anywhere.

there was an awful racket yesterday and along trumbled a home built pilot style 4x4 with the noisiest brakes i've ever heard, sounded like demon screams (he kept to the byway though) - scared every rabbit in miles.