My farmer keeps letting people shoot on his land!

[krazy_horse]

So i have been shooting on my permission since i was about 18 or so and now im 34. Just recently, the farmer has allowed 3 other people to shoot on the land. The first one was a guy who also does metal detecting over the land and happened to mention he also shoots, so I figured thats fair enough.

I went pigeon shooting on Weds night over the farm's only field of barley stubble, and as i drove back into the farm yard i saw a new vehicle parked outside one of the barns that i shoot rats and corvids around. I stopped and wandered into the barn to see who was in there. When i got in, there were 2 guys in there with air rifles. I introduced myself and asked them if they had permission etc and they said that they had asked the farmer who had obliged and this was the first night they'd been over. I wasnt too happy about this as you can imagine as I thought it was "my" permission, but on reflection the farm doesn't belong to me and i dont blame the guys for trying to find a shoot.

The problem i have is that because the farmer is so nice, he wouldnt say no to anyone who asked. I don't necessarily have an issue with that, its just that the farm is very small and what pest species are there (not very many) will be either reduced to non existent or so spooked they won't hang about, this is all great for the farmer but doesnt provide any sport for myself. I just think the shoot is going to get spoilt if any more people are granted permission.

How can i approach the farmer about this?

Am i being selfish? Is it time i find another shoot as backup?

Cheers

JB

[NickoftheHill]

Attend the permission as much as possible and leave nothing for the other blokes to shoot!

Not being serious by the way but I guess if you really wanted to that could probably work

[bighit]

You want sport but the farmer may want them all gone. So if you leave the young so you have your sport all year he may think your not doing enough.

Its the farmers decision after all. My brother in laws wants them all gone so I shoot what I see young or old.

[ElmerFudd.177]

Id be more worried about my safety with others shooting there too, if its small area...

Me and my mate have an app that pin points our location so we always know where each other is on the permission.

As regards too asking the farmer about it it depends on your relationship. I know how hard it was to find my first permission and i apprietiate what the farmer wants and has asked us to do,

Why dont you take a metal detector with you when old mateys over there and see if he minds you finding things he might of found,

Other guys id just act crazy infront off like wear a rabbit pelt hat and make them nervy

... im near you ill do it...

[angrybear]

So i have been shooting on my permission since i was about 18 or so and now im 34. Just recently, the farmer has allowed 3 other people to shoot on the land. The first one was a guy who also does metal detecting over the land and happened to mention he also shoots, so I figured thats fair enough.

I went pigeon shooting on Weds night over the farm's only field of barley stubble, and as i drove back into the farm yard i saw a new vehicle parked outside one of the barns that i shoot rats and corvids around. I stopped and wandered into the barn to see who was in there. When i got in, there were 2 guys in there with air rifles. I introduced myself and asked them if they had permission etc and they said that they had asked the farmer who had obliged and this was the first night they'd been over. I wasnt too happy about this as you can imagine as I thought it was "my" permission, but on reflection the farm doesn't belong to me and i dont blame the guys for trying to find a shoot.

The problem i have is that because the farmer is so nice, he wouldnt say no to anyone who asked. I don't necessarily have an issue with that, its just that the farm is very small and what pest species are there (not very many) will be either reduced to non existent or so spooked they won't hang about, this is all great for the farmer but doesnt provide any sport for myself. I just think the shoot is going to get spoilt if any more people are granted permission.
How can i approach the farmer about this?

Am i being selfish? Is it time i find another shoot as backup?

Cheers

JB

See that's the issue,

It's not "a shoot" it's a farm with pests that need controlling/removing, and apparently you've forgotten that.

[lensman57]

I don't shoot but I can understand where you are coming from. Why not have a little friendly chat with your farmer and mention the draw backs of having too many people shooting the land. It wouldn't hurt and the farmer might even see that you are serious about the permission.

A.G

[Charlts]

You're being selfish, the conversation will go something like this;

You - Now you've got other people coming here doing pest control I'm worried they'll shoot the pests I leave for some sport at your expense.

Farmer - Get orf moi laaaannnd.

Farming is a business, the pests you leave for sport are eating food from the farmers families plates.

[Rocket launcher]

How often were you at the permission..I go 4 or 5 times a week. I Act like a security guard for the farmer and no-one else shoots on it also if it moves it's shot so farmer happy and says he already has a person controlling vermin so get off my land...

[robthedog]

Due you have insurance ? if so ask the farmer if the others have, or hint that they may not have...it could cost the farmer money if they cause damage or injury to live stock.

Rob

[BigDuncs]

You really need to have a chat with the farmer and see why he is gives other people permission to shoot. Without knowing that, you've little chance of success.

[Roy D.]

As has been said I would state to the farmer the safety aspect of several people shooting on the land possibly at the same time and unknown to each other.
I would think that's your main priority to get across, as well as doing a good job of pest control yourself.

[piggy589]

The key words.

Two of my permissions,arable and dairy farms,both owned and run by long term personal friends.

Despite that I'm under no illusion that any attempt to dictate terms would jeopardize my shooting rights.

I share both permissions with a number of others,you just live with it.

Pest control is very much that,not sport shooting.

[ratshot5]

keep quite and share don't get the farmer involved with problems or he may do what most do and don't have shooters at all especially those who don't pay a thing

[Muskett]

First off I would get the details of the other shooters as then you can organise between yourselves a "management plan". Big words for safety and keeping the numbers shooting the area to a sensible number. Organise between yourselves a zero session so you can at least meet up and sort something out. Heck, they might have other permissions that you could go too.
Invite the farmer, if he is interested, and then ask him to keep it to a few select people..for safety reasons of course. Set some basic rules with the shooters like you can't offer to others that haven't been vetted by all. The, friend of a friend said I could isn't good. Always keep it cool and never blow off, mistakes can happen which just requires rectifying with a quiet word/negotiation. Some farmers can't remember who they gave permission to, or when, or its their ploughman's neighbour. Sort these things out "gently".

Many farms don't have enough shooters as the farmer has had abuse of their generosity in the past. Some have every Tom Dick and Harry. Others like to shoot themselves or keep it for family members. Christmas cards and a nice bottle every year goes down well. Many farms have given permission to people who only shoot there a couple of times a year, if that. The turn over in shooters depends and there is some luck involved.
You will lose some and have to find others over the years. If you don't keep on top of it someone else will get in there.

Always good to have a couple of permissions. Some people have loads and never get around to them. What shooting you can get is all about the effort you put in and to build up contacts and good relations.

[phil384]

Wise words indeed from Muskett

I have a number of permissions, some I share, some I don't, not my decision but the landowners.

I actually prefer shooting with someone else.

Maybe you could consider teaming up with them? Maybe they are top blokes and safe and you'll make new friends? Maybe they have other permissions they would share with you?

I would say 3 shooters on one permission isn't excessive but like you say you want to keep it small.

It might be that if the farmer is someone who can't say no you get the farmer to get the person asking to speak to you? That way you are the meany