Out stalking during restrictions

[TomTalks]

But seriously, I do understand the restrictions, but cannot see any good reason of why solitary stalking close to home should not and cannot continue.

Whilst I can see why you think this, let us look at this a completely different way.


As FAC holders we are meant to be the adults in the room (Meant to be).
What example are we providing, to the non-shooting general public, if we continue to go out?

Not convinced....ok a scenario.

You go out stalking, you get injured, you call the thinly stretched emergency services for help!
That is a lot of essential people distracted by someone undertaking a non-essential activity.

Not convinced, here is a possible newspaper headline!
WW2 Pensioner dies because emergency medical personnel were answering a medical emergency for someone out shooting.

Just how damaging would this be to the shooting fraternity when we emerge from CV?
Just how selfish and stupid do the adults in the room look now?

If more examples are needed, I'll defer to others as more examples should not be needed!



We should be sitting tight and focusing on and posting images of that long-overdue gun maintenance, or home loading that long-overdue ammunition, etc.

NOT TRYING TO JUSTIFY GOING OUT!

 

[Sika-Hunter]

Not if there's nothing spare in your weekly budget to allow for gradually buying a bit extra from time to time in order to stockpile.
People on very low incomes lead a hand to mouth existence through necessity. They will be the ones who suffer.

So what you are saying is those really poor people who can afford a Stalking rifle/scope/equipment/bullets/vehicle and travel to and from ground cannot afford for a little extra food over the last 2 months, really! Poor excuse to defy a rule

 

[VSS]

So what you are saying is those really poor people who can afford a Stalking rifle/scope/equipment/bullets/vehicle and travel to and from ground cannot afford for a little extra food over the last 2 months, really! Poor excuse to defy a rule

People's circumstances change, as you well know.

 

[ashray]

this problem has been taken out of my hands,the estate owner has self isolated and has three farm workers going individually on the estate for security ,I have been told stay offthe estate until further notice so that's it!

 

[stubear]

That depends entirely on your situation.
I could not afford to buy meat if I were to run out.

Well lets hope your police force arent pursuing a model of "if you're caught then you lose your licence" - a court case to try to get your licence back is going to be WAY more expensive than going vegetarian for a few weeks.

The government edict is to stay at home unless its for food, medical treatment, one form of exercise or essential work - thats it. I cant see how deer stalking fits into any of those categories unfortunately.

For Petes sake guys we're not being asked to give up our lives forever and become recluses - its three weeks, thats it.

Just stay indoors.

 

[ChesterP]

Lets look at this like grown ups. If you have to travel anywhere to shoot, with the exception of being called for humane dispatch (I imagine that will continue?) I cannot see any reason where it's really going to be permitted (or should be). If the ground is on your doorstep and you take exercise by wandering out alone with a rifle or shotgun, than that might be looked at differently, hence the need before making any decision to check with your FEO. What constitutes "need" regarding crop damage is surely a decision for the farmer based on his income and the importance of the crop he is producing? That's not for us to make judgements on. We all know just how quickly daily flocks of pigeons can strip much of field of emerging crops so farmers will take the decision about what they do there, and ditto for deer where things like larger herds of Fallow are concerned. Farm management is not being penalised as it remains an essential service. Those who serve it in one form or another will have varying degrees of responsibility but I suspect recreational shooting is out, and recreational shooters will have to bite the bullet and their guns and rifles will likely remain in the cabinet for some months, with the only possible exception I can see being at the beginning of this paragraph subject to FEO approval. No doubt firmer guidelines will shortly be issued which puts this whole debate to be once and for all.

 

[Essex stalker]

I totally agree that we need to follow whatever rules etc that the government states in order to control Covid however it doesn't stop you questioning the logic behind some of the decisions in that it would appear that I'm not allowed to get into my truck and drive to a permission in order to shoot a deer and put food on my table even though I wouldn't encounter or get anywhere close to anyone else however I can go to my local supermarket and be in contact with who knows how many contaminated surfaces and people in order to buy some food for my family.

 

[ashray]

good afternoon ,having just spoken to my firearms office to inform them that no shooting will take place on the estate until further notice and was informed if a shot is reported they will send the armed response team as normal police have other duties to carry out,this will get very interesting!! lets hope no one gets shot for doing something very stupid.

 

[Sika-Hunter]

If the ground is on your doorstep and you take exercise by wandering out alone with a rifle or shotgun, than that might be looked at differently,

It really doesn't matter how you word your increasingly similar posts the government advice will still be the same , stay in unless the essential need to travel

 

[Sika-Hunter]

crop damage is surely a decision for the farmer based on his income and the importance of the crop

I would like to think that the majority of your Deer Cull would have been completed given the time of year

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Ha ha! I'm not going to run out of meat, that's for sure!
But it would be very hard for anyone on a similarly low income who were to run out.

Or, like around here there isn't meat to buy because someone bought it all... As you, i shouldn't run out but if i do il be stalking... 5 minutes from home and putting food on the plates of my family and friends in need, il argue that in a court of law!

 

[hendrix's rifle]

And there's nothing funny when shopping for elderly people and theres no meat left, hence, I'll go and shoot it if it means i can eat. Got a problem with that then i suggest a very long walk of a very short pier and keep going

 

[hendrix's rifle]

Why not watch the News and see whats happening around the world, you act like there is no other meat than Venison and if you can't get out you will starve in the relative short time we all should isolate, I see first hand what is happening day on day its a shame you can't along with a few others who are totally committed to dig your heels in and go against all government advice , am sorry I may have hit a nerve with my stance but this will not change , and your abusive response tells me everything.

Im not digging in at all, the way it is around here Is as described, i dont say things for the fun of it. When a friend and his 4 year old daughter couldn't eat because there was literally nothing left in the shops i was devastated, so, if it comes to it and we run out and can't get any that's exactly what I will be doing. And the 'abusive' response is purely because im sick of people trying to tell others what to do, yes I will try to self isolate and i only go out if i absolutely have to and food is one of them... If i go out 5 minutes up the road on my own, shoot a deer and put it in the truck, then home, ive affected no-one and if it means we can eat so be it. Myself and my mrs work full time, care for family after that so the opportunity to food shop is slim anyway. I apologise however you don't know what shoes people are in and i ask you consider that next time

 

[75]

it doesn't stop you questioning the logic behind some of the decisions

There is no logic. It's a rapidly changing situation and the Government advice is aimed at the majority of the population. Stalkers are not being penalised or hard done by it's just not a priority for the Government to review all the "minority" activities carried out by a small number of folk. Lots of other hobbies, sports and pastimes are in a similar position unfortunately.

 

[Sika-Hunter]

im sick of people trying to tell others what to do,

People are certainly not telling others what to do only pointing out what they should do and by Law ordered to, but no they still try and make out that they live 100% on Venison and nothing else and if they don't get out the nation will starve from a mass invasion of deer that really should already have been dealt with. This will take a combined effort from everyone to reduce what is round the corner, just look at Italy and Spain and soon to be America. Restrictions will get tougher be assured I also have older people I take care of family and friends but provisions were in place because we could see this coming.

 

[25 Sharps]

Stalking I get, not a major agricultural pest, around here at least may be different with marauding herds of fallow.

Rabbits and pigeons on the other hand will do serious damage to crops and ultimately put food prices up so should we be out controlling them? All other agricultural activities are taking place.

 

[owdnorthener]

I can see both sides of this ..... I am in the at risk group, as I have a few nasty health conditions, there for I self isolated three weeks ago.
I did go to a farm once last week as I do a little pest control, where in the last six months I have seen and have spoken to only one person. keeping a good distance between us.
I am being as careful as I can, with me driving to shop, then my other half goes in to buy what we need. ( she cannot drive. )
She went out early this morning and passed six people on the footpaths.
So that would say to me, I should be safer on the farm away from paths and people.
I wont be out again, but I do see what people are frustrated about. It isn't quite that simple.

 

[tozzybum]

Landowner sent me a simple message before the grubament announcement ,Lockdown -easy enough to understand and leaves no room for what if and supposing .He,s got a working farm at lambing/calving time to run and doesnt need any issues adding to his busy schedule .
If your lucky to own your own land and can just step out the back door crack on ,if like me it,s 15 miles away ,clean your rifles,recharge all your batteries and shoot the bejabbers out of targets with you airrifles .
I,m sure my wife will be along shortly with a list of jobs i need to do as long as theyre not under her feet or i,m 6ft under which ever comes first .
Stay safe ,be safe and keep well

 

[Sika-Hunter]

All other agricultural activities are taking place.

To be honest most rape crops have failed around here this year and they've just started re-drilling with some cereal crops so there's sod all for the pigeons to eat at the moment, will be different when the pea's go in.

 

[ChesterP]

It really doesn't matter how you word your increasingly similar posts the government advice will still be the same , stay in unless the essential need to travel

No..what the advice clearly includes is taking exercise as well, and it's not for you to decide what someone else does for their exercise, is it, providing they do not come into contact with others. If you live adjacent to your own land then it's perfectly licit and reasonable that you can continue to enjoy your own private land. My posts in no way deviate from the current advice and twice I have reiterated that any shooting should be done only with the nod of your own FEO where circumstances/reasons permit and clearly those instances may be few and far between.