Ive been shooting a permission now for 18wks on / off of two ajoining farms backing onto eachother; Ive undertaken the obigitory walk around to demonstate safe practice etc:
Agreement with both parties to shoot onlt rabbit as the place is crawling with them and nothing else for the time being; but deer and fox has been discussed for later. Plenty of daylight kills and will bring others in for ferreting
Last night; first lamping over this ground took 3 clean and safe shots; approaching kills to pick up when 'BANG' out of the blue an 'anti' with a torch in my face.... questioning, accusing, swearing - bl@@dy nutter !!
Apparently been watching for some time in the bushes ( the same boundary Ive been shooting towards !!! ) and started spouting about being me out shooting Badgers and that ( I quote ) 'you dont use red for lamping' - 'rabbits only come out during the day ... uh ?' .. 'so I must be shooting badger'.. and most incredibly ... was proud of the fact he had evaded my red lamp and claimed had I shot him that woudl in some way be a good thing as I'd get 'bird' .. ...
At this point I wanted to get the right hump; but unloaded; shouldered the weapon and kept my sticks at the ready as he continued to mouth off. and close the personal gap. and all I wanted to do was to turn and return to my vehicle some 1 mile off !! but couldnt for fear of what may occur incase back was turned.. !!
Managed after 40minutes to make the right 'noises' and comments to make him feel in control and that he had got his point over and 'taught me a thing or two', and he walked back to boundary with less wind and BS in his lungs. Kept eye to him to ensure safe to move, and took an evasion path back to vehicle
Returned to car with no further incident and spoke the farmer immediately to inform him, to which he patrolled in the jeep to determine if the anti was still about .. no luck
I know Im in the right, Needless to say I DONT and WILL NOT Shoot badgers, and was fully within my rights and the law in doing what I was about. Still extremely disturbing and will make me consider taking a 'wingman' with me next time with night vision to spot them by IR.
Im going to liaise with the farmer if we should involve the police, but must respect his wishes..
As you can imagine - Im shaken and can not think if I could have handled it better
Have BASC so might chat to them to ensure Im not missing a trick !
TOMSK
Agreement with both parties to shoot onlt rabbit as the place is crawling with them and nothing else for the time being; but deer and fox has been discussed for later. Plenty of daylight kills and will bring others in for ferreting
Last night; first lamping over this ground took 3 clean and safe shots; approaching kills to pick up when 'BANG' out of the blue an 'anti' with a torch in my face.... questioning, accusing, swearing - bl@@dy nutter !!
Apparently been watching for some time in the bushes ( the same boundary Ive been shooting towards !!! ) and started spouting about being me out shooting Badgers and that ( I quote ) 'you dont use red for lamping' - 'rabbits only come out during the day ... uh ?' .. 'so I must be shooting badger'.. and most incredibly ... was proud of the fact he had evaded my red lamp and claimed had I shot him that woudl in some way be a good thing as I'd get 'bird' .. ...
At this point I wanted to get the right hump; but unloaded; shouldered the weapon and kept my sticks at the ready as he continued to mouth off. and close the personal gap. and all I wanted to do was to turn and return to my vehicle some 1 mile off !! but couldnt for fear of what may occur incase back was turned.. !!
Managed after 40minutes to make the right 'noises' and comments to make him feel in control and that he had got his point over and 'taught me a thing or two', and he walked back to boundary with less wind and BS in his lungs. Kept eye to him to ensure safe to move, and took an evasion path back to vehicle
Returned to car with no further incident and spoke the farmer immediately to inform him, to which he patrolled in the jeep to determine if the anti was still about .. no luck
I know Im in the right, Needless to say I DONT and WILL NOT Shoot badgers, and was fully within my rights and the law in doing what I was about. Still extremely disturbing and will make me consider taking a 'wingman' with me next time with night vision to spot them by IR.
Im going to liaise with the farmer if we should involve the police, but must respect his wishes..
As you can imagine - Im shaken and can not think if I could have handled it better
Have BASC so might chat to them to ensure Im not missing a trick !
TOMSK