Is door knocking still OK?
- Thread starter Frithy
- Start date
yes it works, or it did when i used to do it to get permission for pigeon decoying, sometimes rabbiting and once goose shooting. Had a better than a 50:50 success rate. But I always asked when I could see there was a problem, not just a speculative "can I shoot on your farm mister". Only once or twice was my approach aggressively declined, in fact most times it was a case of "get yourself on and let me know how you do".
The absolutely worse that can happen is that they can say no (well they could set the dog on you so always stay close to your vehicle lol).
The absolutely worse that can happen is that they can say no (well they could set the dog on you so always stay close to your vehicle lol).
Last edited:
murph3010
Well-Known Member
Worked in a way for me. A friend used to shoot a farm and had stopped going a couple of years before so I went and had a chat. Got the the land and has worked in the past for me too just showing up but had to put the work in. Over the years I lost allot of my pest control when it got taken over by shoots.
Completely different for me. Went beating and ended up getting couple of farms to shoot over from land owning beaters. Got squirrel shooting on the estate, then fox. Ended up a complete career change and now work as an under keeper there with more shooting than I could ever have dreamt off.
Morkai
Well-Known Member
Got myself 700 acres over 3 properties from knocking.
Some local farmers told me not to approach one estate in particular due to the owner being slightly fiery, I went anyway, spoke to the owner walked away with 500 acres.
I always carry some business cards with me, if I meet landowners I dish them out or if Im driving around and see someone working in the fields I have a chat.
Some local farmers told me not to approach one estate in particular due to the owner being slightly fiery, I went anyway, spoke to the owner walked away with 500 acres.
I always carry some business cards with me, if I meet landowners I dish them out or if Im driving around and see someone working in the fields I have a chat.
paulbshooting
Well-Known Member
Simple well written letters worked for me. Got me my original ground and letters again referencing the first ground and getting known about opened other doors later on. A letter would also introduce who you are and not disturb busy people but if you door knock after then hopefully they remember you from the letter and that may help. Good luck 
Surely you got 3 seasons enjoyment and met like minded people so not wasted? Unless you thought show my, face get chatting, get shooting which seems a bit naive to me.
sako751sg
Well-Known Member
Door knocking works,but you need to be aware there could be a lot more no's than yes's so need to be thick skinned enough to know that's part of it.
Have 25ish places i shoot,and still chap on those doors if need be and nothing to lose from someone saying no,but possibly lots to gain from someone saying yes.Obviously it can help greatly sometimes if you know folk they know so well worth doing a bit of homework.
Hear to many whingers complaining they can't get ground when they won't do the hard yards to gain any in the first place.
Have 25ish places i shoot,and still chap on those doors if need be and nothing to lose from someone saying no,but possibly lots to gain from someone saying yes.Obviously it can help greatly sometimes if you know folk they know so well worth doing a bit of homework.
Hear to many whingers complaining they can't get ground when they won't do the hard yards to gain any in the first place.
I did three seasons because it was a good craic, with like-minded folk, walking idyllic Exmoor and seeing wildlife in a myriad settings. No question.
But if all I wanted is to go beating, there are a myriad estates in the West Country clamouring for staff. I could certainly find an estate nearer to home.
My primary passion is shooting. Per post #4, I was advised that beating and moving in those circles could lead to opportunities for my primary passion. And the conversations [each year for three years] with the gamekeeper had me believe that would come.
Door knocking does work if you go about it in a friendly manner, and expect to get turned down as well.
I used to make an annual 550 mile pilgrimage to go goose shooting on the Black Isle and surrounding area with out any permissions in place.
Used to rent a cottage in advance and hope I had chosen a week when geese would be around.
That's when the wild goose chase started, first trying to locate them on the stubble and when you did then trying to get permission to decoy them.
I never failed to get shooting during my stay. The first year was the hardest, but the contacts made then led to others during coming year's and I kept a book and maps with the names and phone numbers of the land owners and boundaries of the land so in future year's when I saw geese on stubble fields I had a contact name of a nearby land owner I could use in my conversation to get permission.
Some members of the indigenous tribe we're not happy about me travelling up every year and getting free shooting, but they never put themselves out and about.
Some year's the weather was mild and hard going, on other's it was severe with horizontal snow.
I used to make an annual 550 mile pilgrimage to go goose shooting on the Black Isle and surrounding area with out any permissions in place.
Used to rent a cottage in advance and hope I had chosen a week when geese would be around.
That's when the wild goose chase started, first trying to locate them on the stubble and when you did then trying to get permission to decoy them.
I never failed to get shooting during my stay. The first year was the hardest, but the contacts made then led to others during coming year's and I kept a book and maps with the names and phone numbers of the land owners and boundaries of the land so in future year's when I saw geese on stubble fields I had a contact name of a nearby land owner I could use in my conversation to get permission.
Some members of the indigenous tribe we're not happy about me travelling up every year and getting free shooting, but they never put themselves out and about.
Some year's the weather was mild and hard going, on other's it was severe with horizontal snow.
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
Best the non door knockers stay home and leave the real perm hunters to it ffs .
devon deer stalker
Well-Known Member
Is it ok to knock on doors?
Yes, as long as you don't knock on the farms where I go
My first place I asked was after I repaired the farmers telephone line, 30 years ago, that person is now a good friend, subsequent were mainly word of mouth, and like the former they are now good friends, I shoot with some, and fish with others.
Cheers
Richard Jackson
Yes, as long as you don't knock on the farms where I go
My first place I asked was after I repaired the farmers telephone line, 30 years ago, that person is now a good friend, subsequent were mainly word of mouth, and like the former they are now good friends, I shoot with some, and fish with others.
Cheers
Richard Jackson
kamyonsofor
Well-Known Member
I was lucky ,my daughter keeps 2 horses on the 550 acre farm so I asked the Farmer does he have anyone sorting the Pigeons etc out as it is arable they never had guns on the farm ,got on so well they even did/do my certificates their grandson is same age as my grand daughter so had birthday do's in the village hall ,Christmas always swap cards and give them presents usually beer wine and biccy's ,the other week they had problems with a plough so I helped the son as his dad has a problem with his hands and couldn't swing the lump hammer ,I pick up rubbish along the fields , replaced electric fence where stakes had fell over I always let them know if I see anyone or where I am or going on the land now some one else has crept on but he is getting out of favour with the farmer due to his actions one of which he drives his motor all around the fields where as I walk, and the farm tenancy conditions are changing no quads or 4x4's, farm vehicles only and he cannot walk, I have also tried lots of other farms but 95% are syndicated, same as Golf clubs closed shop .
Grannysmith
Well-Known Member
You have to consider how you would react if someone came a knocking on your door,
Plus how you would feel if someone asked one of your landowners for stalking you had acquired.
No quick fixes here just plain hard work and networking.
I carried a lot of bales before I was offered any stalking and never stepped on any toes to get it.
Plus how you would feel if someone asked one of your landowners for stalking you had acquired.
No quick fixes here just plain hard work and networking.
I carried a lot of bales before I was offered any stalking and never stepped on any toes to get it.
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
I guess I’m thinking from a bygone era when life was much simpler it seemed.
Most if not all of my ground stems from working on places and gaining trust ,rabbits lead to foxes and foxes to deer .Word gets round and you gain next door and so on .
Ive door knocked for deer though and found there are two types of landowners …Yes your welcome and no ,**** off you cruel bastard that I like to put down as a maybe
Even with permission it pays to keep in touch with landowner though and not get caught out like I did when the ownership changed without me knowing
Most if not all of my ground stems from working on places and gaining trust ,rabbits lead to foxes and foxes to deer .Word gets round and you gain next door and so on .
Ive door knocked for deer though and found there are two types of landowners …Yes your welcome and no ,**** off you cruel bastard that I like to put down as a maybe
Even with permission it pays to keep in touch with landowner though and not get caught out like I did when the ownership changed without me knowing
foxdropper
Well-Known Member
Where do you live ,I’ll put that to the test 
A Guy Out West
Well-Known Member
I have always hated asking a stranger for a favor. It just seems way too forward to me. I guess if you have the gift of gab, you could pull it off. How about having a calling card printed with your name, number and intentions. Post it at feed stores and ag supply places. Give it freely to people you run into. Go to a live stock auction and give it to the farmers. Sooner or later, you will hit pay dirt. Big one here, if you do get permission, send a thank you card and include that person on your Christmas card list.
Stalker62
Well-Known Member
This.
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