Non cleared land

Man-o-woods

Well-Known Member
I have been lucky enough to have been offered the stalking on a piece of land which is great but the land owner was not sure to what calibre the ground was cleared for and as I shoot a 30-06 and am not an open licence holder I asked my FEO whether the the was cleared and to what calibre. He came back saying that the land was not cleared for firearms and as this is not hi priority it may take a while as renewals are taking that priority.
Now I think I’m right in saying ( correct me if I’m wrong) that if it were an open licence holder who was offered this land then he/she could classify the land them selves.
Should that be the case, could I get an open licence holder to walk the land and classify it.

Thanks in advance.
 
Should that be the case, could I get an open licence holder to walk the land and classify it.
@Man-o-woods

No.

The conditions (whatever they are, and whatever firearm they pertain to) are your conditions - they are 'personal' to you, and your firearms.

BTW

It is unhelpful (and this is no criticism on the OP), to refer to an FAC as being 'open' or 'closed'. The same FAC can have both conditions attached - which can pertain to different firearms held on that FAC.

Damn thing is a bureaucratic nightmare which adds little to the safety of the public, and does nothing to reduce the nonsense that FLDs are forced to process.
 
Last edited:
They would be able to classify it for their own use. Your condition wording is likely to restrict you to something along the line of “land deemed suitable by Chief Officer of Police” rather than “land deemed suitable by an experienced firearms user.” The easiest option is to apply for an open licence. Compile suitable evidence of experience, references and reason why it needs to be opened as a short letter then submit.
 
Faced with a similar situation - land in Herts who never responded to my request to find out if the land was cleared. I asked met FEO in Essex if they would open my ticket, which they did. Might be worth a try.
 
The only one person not a police officer able to clear land was Chasey , and he was kicked out of the site for this very reason 🤣
 
I have been lucky enough to have been offered the stalking on a piece of land which is great but the land owner was not sure to what calibre the ground was cleared for and as I shoot a 30-06 and am not an open licence holder I asked my FEO whether the the was cleared and to what calibre. He came back saying that the land was not cleared for firearms and as this is not hi priority it may take a while as renewals are taking that priority.
Now I think I’m right in saying ( correct me if I’m wrong) that if it were an open licence holder who was offered this land then he/she could classify the land them selves.
Should that be the case, could I get an open licence holder to walk the land and classify it.

Thanks in advance.
Not many ways around it, I would put in for a variation with a covering letter from the owner stating they are suffering crop/tree damage with financial loss. (there must be a reason why they have given you permission)
Print out a map/out line fill in the form put the fee cost on a cheque with your letter (having to turn down requests from landowners with closed ticket) Add his letter in your envelope.
That is how I did it after 14 months of a closed fac.
@Stalker62
My FEO at the time (rip John H) flat turned me down in the FAD tent at a county show saying you will have to wait 5 years Tim
2 months later 14 months in total he was around mine drinking tea after receiving my request to my ticket saying
" you did you homework well" lol it will be back with you in 4 days.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: WW.
Not many ways around it, I would put in for a variation with a covering letter from the owner stating they are suffering crop/tree damage with financial loss. (there must be a reason why they have given you permission)
Print out a map/out line fill in the form put the fee cost on a cheque with your letter (having to turn down requests from landowners with closed ticket) Add his letter in your envelope.
That is how I did it after 14 months of a closed fac.
It's not a variation he needs, Tim.
Getting an open ticket is a simple matter of writing a letter requesting it. There's no application process or fee to pay.
(Unless things have changed recently?)
 
Anyone with an OPEN licence is allowed to stalk and shoot on land not cleared. However, it would only be them, you tagging along with your rifle would not be allowed. The only other way of approaching this would be for the Landowner to give your friend written permission to shoot on the ground, as he has an open licence, and then you use HIS rifle under the estate rifle system, as long as he is with you.

Failing this you need to get your FAC opened for an Open licence.
 
Faced with a similar situation - land in Herts who never responded to my request to find out if the land was cleared. I asked met FEO in Essex if they would open my ticket, which they did. Might be worth a try.
I’m not sure that hasn’t FEO would dream me experienced enough as of yet only having 4 kills since being granted my FAC. I have others pre FAC ( legally) but only 4 in my account.
 
Anyone with an OPEN licence is allowed to stalk and shoot on land not cleared. However, it would only be them, you tagging along with your rifle would not be allowed. The only other way of approaching this would be for the Landowner to give your friend written permission to shoot on the ground, as he has an open licence, and then you use HIS rifle under the estate rifle system, as long as he is with you.

Failing this you need to get your FAC opened for an Open licence.
I might just have to apply for an open licence then.
I have other experience. Assisted stalks range days shadowing other stalkers for instance so that might help.
Could also do a couple of paid stalks (estate rifle ) which I think would help
 
I might just have to apply for an open licence then.
I have other experience. Assisted stalks range days shadowing other stalkers for instance so that might help.
Could also do a couple of paid stalks (estate rifle ) which I think would help
Certainly would help. They generally open up a licence after 5 years, but not all constabularies work the same way :rolleyes: hence the confusion with the whole system. However if your FEO deems you to have enough experience, they will generally open a ticket up.
 
Certainly would help. They generally open up a licence after 5 years, but not all constabularies work the same way :rolleyes: hence the confusion with the whole system. However if your FEO deems you to have enough experience, they will generally open a ticket up.
As with most constabularies, they must have missed this ‘rule’ when they ‘cleared’ some ground i have in the past. Passed it for .22 centre fire
 
I might just have to apply for an open licence then.
I have other experience. Assisted stalks range days shadowing other stalkers for instance so that might help.
Could also do a couple of paid stalks (estate rifle ) which I think would help
Just ask. There's nothing to lose by it.
Provided you can justify your request it will most likely be granted.
 
I might just have to apply for an open licence then.
I have other experience. Assisted stalks range days shadowing other stalkers for instance so that might help.
Could also do a couple of paid stalks (estate rifle ) which I think would help
A early version however the core part will be the same (in bold)
Appendix 3: Conditions for firearm certificates Forces must ensure that where additional conditions are applied to certificates that they are kept to a minimum and are only applied where they are both proportionate and necessary. Where the firearm is authorised for more than one purpose, care must be taken to omit the word ‘only’ in the conditions. An asterisk conditions specific firearms on a certificate but may be replaced by the phrase, “The firearms and ammunition…..” where a single condition applies to all firearms (and ammunition) on the certificate. 1. Quarry Shooting (for vermin, fox or deer) • The *calibre RIFLE/COMBINATION/SMOOTH-BORE GUN/SOUND MODERATOR and ammunition shall be used for shooting vermin including fox, and ground game/ deer (delete as appropriate) and any other lawful quarry, and for zeroing on ranges, on land deemed suitable by the chief officer of police for the area where the land is situated and over which the holder has lawful authority to shoot. (The words underlined may be omitted once the certificate holder has demonstrated competence. There is no set time for this and each case should be considered on its individual merits). 👍
 
Back
Top