General Advice gaining the first permission

[BenBhoy]

I feel for you, but from farmer point of view, you're facing uphill battle. @VSS is spot on about getting yourself known locally in a non shooting way.

Hate to say, if someone turned up here offering to work for free then it'd be a definite no, I'd gave serious alarm bells ringing & id probably call my neighbours to warn them! Thats the reality. Spend some time at local mart, just get your face known and just drop things into conversation, don't go with a business pitch!

Be honest & polite from start. Have a card you can leave with a number & reminder of what you were offering.

Good luck. The first is definitely the hardest. I turn down offers to go shoot on new places these days as I've too much and not enough time, such is power of one farmers chatting to another.

 

[devon deer stalker]

I feel for you, but from farmer point of view, you're facing uphill battle. @VSS is spot on about getting yourself known locally in a non shooting way.

Kind of ironic, I have lived in my village for 32 years, previous 32 years in the city, nobody said hello in the City, moved to a village, they all said hello, living in the city I had one farm to shoot over, moved to the sticks, and well lets just say I have enough to keep me busy, but a fun bit, I was at a party in the village hall, I overheard an old 'country' person say to her friend, 'we call him Mr Bambi, he gives us venison'

BTW, for those that say there isn't land available, take from me there is, people give up, move on, or croak.

 

[GlennUK]

Think about it from the farmer's point of view. If a complete stranger knocks on the door asking for permission to shoot, the answer is going to be no. Likewise, when a complete stranger offers to "help out" on the farm that will be viewed with suspicion. You might just be casing the joint for all they know.
It doesn't matter how much experience you've got, or what bits of paper, or how much money you're offering, it all boils down to whether the farmer likes you.
A local, known, youngster is quite likely to be given permission to shoot for free after the farmer has just turned away a stranger offering to pay a large sum to shoot.
So, if you live in a rural community make sure you become part of that rural community (village events, church, local fete, community tidy-ups, send kids to local school, etc) and then your chances are greatly increased. Unfortunately, a lot of people who move into rural areas continue to distance themselves and never really get assimilated. If you are that person your not going to find ground to shoot on.

Recommendation from another local farmer counts more than anything else, so once you've got one bit of ground more will follow.

I agree wholeheartedly, I became friends with my neighbour simply because we are neighbours. Subsequently he has given me a perm to shoot any lawful quarry on his 1000acres. I know there are 2 others who have permission to shoot deer, all have been friends/employees. Moving to the 'village' we made a big effort to a) meet other villagers, and b) to take part in various activities. It was quite evident that some we have met have lived here for far longer and know far fewer of the other villagers, if you.live in a rural environment, getting to know people and becoming part of the community will pay dividends, whether you get shooting or not IMHO.

 

[GlennUK]

I overheard an old 'country' person say to her friend, 'we call him Mr Bambi, he gives us venison'

Interesting point a pot of jam dropped off now and again to your neighbours, offer of support when something is awry, all does wonder for you village credibility!!!

 

[maximus otter]

Hi,

This is a topic that I think has been discussed alot, but maybe there are something that I'm missing

I have tried for the last few years with golf courses and stables to but have had no responses.

I hear about going to farms and asking directly, but it's usually a mixed response that farmers are super busy and don't necessarily have the time to talk to a stranger about letting them on their land with a rifle, which got me thinking would it be a good idea to volunteer some of my time to help out during busier times in exchange for an opportunity to do some vermin control?

I can't imagine free labour would he turned down and it's a nice way to start gaining trust but I was wondering if anyone's tried this before?

Cheers

lt took me a loooooong time to get stalking permission. My simple recommendation? Network like mad.

Look at it like this: If you have ten friends, and each of them has ten friends, and each of them has a further ten friends, you are now at over 1,000 potential permissions. Lose no opportunity to remind people of your interests and how much you’d love some land to shoot over. Do they have a smallholding? A stable? A venue for outdoor events?

I go my first 640 acres because my wife worked with a woman who rode her horse on that farm. lt was a skittish animal, and deer popping out of hedges or running across its path frightened it. She mentioned this to my wife, who - well-briefed by me - pounced. A few weeks later l was having coffee with the farmer, and showing him my DSC1, Safe Shooter Card and BASC membership…

A few months later his friend and neighbouring farmer mentioned that he, too, was plagued by deer…

And so it goes.

maximus otter

 

[Nickb]

Door knocking does work , I've gained a lot of permissions over the years by asking , if you dont ask you dont get.
Also networking is very advantageous too as is beating on shoots , I've done everything and ask every person I meet.
Just get out there and never give up , something will come along. Permissions come and go , lost count of how many in the past but have enough now to keep me happy.
Could do with some more foxing ground though