Getting Hunting Permission - Hints & Tips

[PAUL1986]

you could offer to do some work for free,so they can get to know you,just something like fence repairs or general labouring.or beating if they have pheasent shoots.

this can be a good idea depending on the farmer.
I tried this last year with a farmer I had been beating for, helping during shearing and lambing season and doing odd jobs round the farm since I was 14 (now 25) as has been said, this can be a good way for a farmer to get to know you, so they can see you can do as you are told, you don't have a problem with hard work and you are safe and responsible.
with this particular farmer it was just a chance for him to exploit me for cheap labour, even though I did offer to help out for free in exchange for pest control permission. I even offered him rabbits, wood pigeon and collared dove whenever he wanted them. I even bought him a pint or three whenever he came in the local pub. sadly after all my hard work and hospitality, he gave sole permission to another shooter who had just moved in to the area and had just met the farmer. he has been a friend of my family for over 30 years and he has known me since the day I was born. how fair is that (forgive me if that seems childish but it really isn't fair) the other shooter has a shotgun and a rim fire rifle but no air rifle, so he would still need me for shooting birds and rats in one of the many barns and stables.
I'm guessing that having a licence for a shotgun and a rim fire rifle won't make it any easier to get permission, you just have the ability to shoot things that an air rifle hunter can't.
I think that it would make it much harder to get permission to shoot with either of these but I could be wrong.

just be careful would be my advice, you could have a lot to gain or you could be taken for a mug which is not nice at all.

[andy46]

just because some shooters have FAC(shot guns and the like) doesnt mean the have the upper hand over us airgunner's.dont ever be put off,i gained both my permission because of being an air rifle shooter.

[PAUL1986]

I too have been granted permission because I have an air rifle.
I think it's more a case that FAC shooters have to go through such a process to get their rifle whereas anyone over the age of 17 can buy an air rifle.
buying an air rifle doesn't make you a responsible shooter, but if you aren't responsible then you wouldn't qualify for your FAC.
I think this is more the reason I have lost out to FAC holders.

[andy46]

iv spoken to and wrote to plenty of farmers in the last year,and about 80% of them said they would let me shoot on there land if they didnt already have someone doing at the time of asking,most farmers up here are getting pee'd of with shooters just blasting away with shot guns and so on.alot of farmers are turning to air gun shooters,its just a case of being in the right place at the right time.just dont give up

[Jack]

I just picked up another permission today. Was on my original one and his neighbour asked me if I could help him out too. Sorted

Sent from my ATRIX, using the powers of my mind.

[john2667]

I find that if you get a knock back thank the farmer for his time and leave him a card with your name and number explaining to him that if in the future he has a pest problem to call you and tell him you will only be to happy to help out

[steve1987]

I've printed off the addresses of 40 of the closest farms to my home and 40 copies of a premission request letter and I'm gonna get them sent! I've also ordered 150 'FREE PEST CONTROL' business cards from Vistaprint!
I'm going to be relentless! I WILL GET SOME PERMISSION! and this time not a city centre roof top

[Myles]

Very helpful info thank you

[ANGOF]

Just picked up another 300 acres on a local flower farm by picking daffs at the weekend. Always worth finding out what the local farms do and ring them when they are ready to cut cabbage,daffs,apples etc and see if they need temp staff. Once your in, getting permission is a lot easier.

[wolfie64]

Spent 3 hrs this afternoon dropping off my card to local farms/farm shops/nursery's/smallholdings.....anywhere that looked like it might have some land! Got 1 permission (via my ex!) but thats quite small and pretty much lamping only so hopefully get something else for todays effort