Notifying Police Scotland of Shooting

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TheDeerWalker

Well-Known Member
Hello - Quick question about the need to notify police scotland of intended shooting.

Local farmer has very kindly given verbal permission to zero up some new scopes before the Hind season in one of his fields. The field he has given is about 500m as the crow flies from the starts of a village. The rifle that I'm zeroing has a mod on it, it's a .270 so pretty loud, and as it's zeroing it's not just going to the one off shot, also now the light is going I'll be out there about 5:30pm so prime movement time.

The field is perfectly safe, will be shooting with my back to the village and has a good backstop.

Normally I have been very far away so don't need to bother about this kind of thing. I'm just trying to avoid any stress and compliants from the Police or hassle for the farmer as this is potentially going to blossom into a new Roe permission!

Is it worth notifying Police Scotland and filling in the form etc, or am I just overthinking this and should get on out there? I have an open ticket, I have every right to be there?

Anyone had experiences like this?

Cheers
 
im very similar scenario

permission on edge of village.. & short walk to town ...property on the farm also and surrounding ...

check zero on .25-06 . 308 & 223 i dont contact them at all

i feel this is something we should NOT be doing or it just potentially end up rod for our back etc..


never had any issues


Paul
 
I would love to get it in writting, and definitely will if this goes more to a foxing/roe thing rather than a one off.

sauer said:
feel this is something we should NOT be doing or it just potentially end up rod for our back etc..
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Exactly my concern, feels like I do it once it's going to be something that needs doing every time.
 
Never notify them or call them to let them know you are carrying out a legal activity.

You are making a rod for your own back by doing so because sure as shite , one of the officers you speak to will want to impose nonsensical conditions on you for no reason

Just go shooting , no need to let anyone know where you are apart from the land owner and possibly neighbours.
 
You are overthinking it completely. Provided you have the lawful authority, and that the farmer has the stalking rights and can thus give you the lawful authority just carry on as normal.

You have a moderator on the rifle. You will typically one perhaps two shots in any outing. I doubt anybody who is indoors will notice.

I wouldn’t dress up head to toe in camo / Ghillie suit etc.

I would however make sure you are in contact with the farmer every time you go out. Also make sure you are very clear where there are footpaths, houses etc etc and have in your minds where all the safe shooting positions are.

I stalk on a similar piece of ground. I have about five places where I can shoot downwards into a very good backdrop and I know that if a deer pops out then I can take a safe shot. Equally there are plenty of places where it would be unsafe to shoot.
 
However, if I got another permission that would lead to regular stalking or took a permanent lease, I might drop a note the FEO just asking for it to be added to my record - it would be added at next renewal in any case.
 
I just use common sense, if I thought there was a risk of someone reporting gunshots, then I’d notify the Police. On the website, not 101 as that can take forever. Takes 2 minutes if that.
 
Notifying the Authorities or indeed local residents of a lawful activity just opens the door to complaints or unnecessary meddling.

I regularly shoot near built up areas so always have at least written permission saved on my phone or contact details for the landowner.

I used to phone plod when going lamping but no longer bother with the advent of NV and Thermal.
 
I notify the Police every outing on one patch I have at the back of the town. It's regularly used by walkers.

A few months ago I got a call from the Police while I was out wanting to check it was me as they had had a report of "someone with a sniper rifle seeking about the woods".

I'd rather notify them that have an armed response unit turn up.
 
dont inform them, get the landowner to to give you written permission for whatever your doing and thats it, or it will become another condition on our tickets i think we have enough already bs
 
If you have everything in place like written permission I wouldn’t be telling anyone. All you need is to tell the police and some fresh faced cooper comes out and deems it unsafe to shot any of the ground and your screwed.
 
I suspect it's also dependent on where in the UK you're based. I'd hate to think the Highland Police forces would react to reports of a man dressed in Tweed shooting at a target.
I dare say less educated forces may react differently in more Urban areas. Which would seem to be the case with some highly publicised cases of armed response turning up for lawful Pigeon shooters.

It's a difficult one. Common courtesy would suggest you should, but it's a slippery slope when you've to notify someone every time you venture out.....
 
And what would you expect the Police to do ?

I would find somewhere else to zero it. Morton Gun club have a range - nae wind, club though. Drive down to Braidwood, they have a pipe range for exactly that purpose. Not as handy but with a big boomer I would want to take as few shots as possible close to a lot of people. Somebody is going to moan.

Get it in writing. You only need it when something goes wrong, you will only get it when everything is ok
 
All my ground has a ‘permission to shoot over land’ form (supplied by the police) filled in and copy kept, one copy emailed to the police. They require then re-completed every renewal. They don’t need them from day one, but do want them done. It helps when applying for new calibres or multiple of the same as they won’t really ask ‘why’ if they can see you have several grounds with different species and with different woodland/hill composition.

In your case, crack on, and maybe get a note signed by landowner at some point, just in case the plod shows up after a call and the farmer isn’t available to confirm your right to be there
 
slider said:
I notify the Police every outing on one patch I have at the back of the town. It's regularly used by walkers.

A few months ago I got a call from the Police while I was out wanting to check it was me as they had had a report of "someone with a sniper rifle seeking about the woods".

I'd rather notify them that have an armed response unit turn up.
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You touch on an important point there ( how things appear) I woulnt let a mate take his AR foxing with me but fine with the same cal sporting rifle . I no longer buy Camo clothing . Basc had an article in the periodical years back and they specifically warned about wildfowling in balaclavas . Public perception of what things look like tend to quickly go worst possible situation
 
Bowland blades said:
You touch on an important point there ( how things appear) I woulnt let a mate take his AR foxing with me but fine with the same cal sporting rifle . I no longer buy Camo clothing . Basc had an article in the periodical years back and they specifically warned about wildfowling in balaclavas . Public perception of what things look like tend to quickly go worst possible situation
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't wear cammo anyway.
 
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