Obtaining A Shooting Permission

[Nazgul]

Excellent sound advice !
 I, along with a Shooting Friend,  did the same, in "a Nutshell" we contacted by letter by first class post 60 Farmers in a 30 mile radius of our homes, stating our requirements and being very polite but explicit ! We enclosed a SAE (very important this, farmers wont spend " a groat more" than they need to) in the letter ! It cost us over £30 in stamps ! So what !
Out of the 60, we only got about five replies. I suspect most of the stamps were steamed off and the letter went on the fire back !
From the 5 replies, only two were followed up with invitations to come along and visit the shoot. One was unsuitable due to it having no suitable quarry but the last was really good ! About 500 acres, a moderate amount of bunnies, corvids, hare for the rimmies and the odd fox ! Whats more there was no fee/charge. BINGO !
That was eight years ago, we still retain the shoot and that 30 Quid now seems like peanuts compared to the endless amount of pleasure we've had out of the shoot !
Hard graft but well worth the effort in the long run !

On the back of this, word gets about that you are trustworthy and the invitations come in usually by word of mouth.

Naz.

[Gambo]

It does seem to go, that when you eventually gain your first permission, others just seem to quickly follow....so don't give up, it'll all come good in the end. 

[gary c]

Excellent advice but I'd add one thing.  Would YOU like a psycho dickwit walking round your garden with a highly dangerous firearm?  That's what a farmer faces every time somebody appears at his door.  WE know it's not the truth, but he doesn't.  Therefore I advocate the following:

1. Case the territory.  Why would he risk it if he has no need? so try to identify quarry and problems before knocking.  If he has no problems he won't risk causing one by having you around

2. Play the network.  Local is good for several reasons, firstly it's easier for you to get there and secondly work of mouth is a good recommendation. Keep your eyes and ears open in the local pub.  If you can't go local then put the cards up in places like Scatts, Countrywide stores, etc.

3. Don't cock it up!   The biggest and most common complaint I have heard in 40 years of hunting is that airgunners come twice and never come again.

[Gambo]

Is 'the coop' ready for AC?? 

What do you reckon Guys?? 

[GWtaylor]

Sadly all the land within 30 miles have already got contracts with people

[SQUIZZER]

This is the way i obtain my permissions, and it seems to work for me, maybe it will help others out, sorry if this is in the wrong place guy's.


FREE PEST CONTROL SERVICE
Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Gary McCarthy, I am a 50 years old air gun hunter living in the Croydon area. I am writing to you concerning any pest control problems you may have on your land and adjoining buildings.
There are many species of pests including:
Feral Pigeons: In areas close to towns they may use nearby farm buildings and lofts for a night-time roost. Feral carry lice and their excrement is both toxic and disease ridden including tuberculosis, encephalitis, lime’s disease (pigeon fanciers lung) paratyphoid, toxoplasmosis, and a type of flu. All these diseases are potently fatal they also cause untold crop damage.
Rats consume and contaminate feed as well as chew through electric cables and nest in the walls of buildings, silos and water tanks. They also carry a pretty nasty disease called Weil's disease which is life threatening.
Crows and magpies: These animals carry lice and a host of other parasites, they damage the nests of songbirds, by raiding the nests and eating the eggs. Crows have also been known to attack newborn lambs.
Rabbits can dig up your paddock causing holes which stock may injure themselves, they can also burrow under the footings of buildings causing them to be unstable. Rabbits have been known to consume considerable amounts of feed laid out for stocks in paddocks.
The above lists the more common species but there are also jays, jackdaws, rooks, collard dove, grey squirrel, magpies, mink, and foxes.
I am fully licensed and a responsible shooter, and an active member of the B.A.S.C.  I would be willing to sign a total disclaimer for any injury that I occur whilst on the property.
I shoot with a whisper-quiet air rifle. I am also fully insured for public liability, and would be working hard not to disturb your privacy.
                                               Pest removal disclaimer
This document is to certify that ----------------------,of -------------------------------------,
-----------------------------------------------------
has been given permission by the owners of-------------------------------------------------,
 -------------------------------------------------, to hunt on their property for pest species such as
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

[Airsporterman]

Looks pretty comprehensive that Mate! 


ASM

[SQUIZZER]

i think that if it helps opne person to obtain a permission, then i will have done my good deed for the month. 

[secretagentmole]

Also do not be afraid of the "Head over the hedges" tactic, I got my largest permission by legging it into the farmyard when I saw somebody working in it, saying that I was interested in shooting rabbits and woodpigeons, only to be begged to please come and start, like now, like got your gun with you? Coo that is nice, can I have a go? Better than my one! The this is all my farmland here tour and since then we have both got on famously.

A tip, remember most farmers like a drink now and then, so find out what the favoured tipple of the permission holder is and supply a bottle at Christmas, keeps the shooting open!

The other add on to that permission was got by hearing a bloke on a lawnmower, I peered over the fence, said Hello, can I shoot in the woodland you own, was given a guided tour and told that what roosted there was fair game to me... Had some nice dinners out of that.

[ChrisH00]

During your chat with the farmer throw in the fact that on your regular rounds you'll keep an eye on his fences for breaks, damaged trees likely to be a hazard, evidence of trespassers or fly-tipping, and other stuff he may not have time to look for regularly (farmers are busy - it's more than a full time job for them). Reporting back things like this show your interested in helping the farmer out and not just in it for a shoot only when you feel like it. IMHO you should not be offering to pay money for the shoot, the farmer is helping you and you're helping him.