Permission Letters

[R4881T 1]

Hi all,

 

I have just written up some requests for permission, based on an example I found while perusing THL. I am going to distribute them tomorrow, the more local farms are going to be hand delivered and the ones a bit further away posted, (due to the currently dodgy Ford Fiesta) So fingers crossed!

 

My question is: With the ones I post should I follow them up with a visit?

 

Cheers Folks!

Ryan

[ryan666 64]

Hi all,

 

I have just written up some requests for permission, based on an example I found while perusing THL. I am going to distribute them tomorrow, the more local farms are going to be hand delivered and the ones a bit further away posted, (due to the currently dodgy Ford Fiesta) So fingers crossed!

 

My question is: With the ones I post should I follow them up with a visit?

 

Cheers Folks!

Ryan

i would mate as i find sometimes it helps if they see you,infact i have only ever got one permission with out them seeing me in person weather when droping of the letters in person or on a follow up a week or two later,so deff worth doing a follow up

[davyt63 1,845]

hi buddy

what part of Wiltshire are you based?

i may be able to save you some fuel monies!!

 

tinter-net is a great place,make a note of the farm,and Google it.then get the number via there and give em a ring a week later

 

regards

 

davy

[furgle 14]

Your better off giving them a face to face visit mate I'm gonna send another load off next week and fingers crossed we both might get some

[R4881T 1]

Davy,

I'm in westbury, and have a permission near Devizes

 

Letters went in the post this morning, so fingers and toes crossed!

[rossi_j 99]

I posted 10 yesterday and will be following up with phone calls / visits, fingers crossed.

 

I have been trying places that have signs selling free range eggs and honey ect, by purchasing product then getting chatting, good ice breaker, so far iv got one no and one bird who clearly liked the attention but was more intrested in me than what I wanted (might pop back after hours) :laugh:

 

Good luck everyone!!

 

.atb. .ste.

[matt_hooks 188]

I wouldn't really put too much hope in "generic" request letters. Most farmers will have several requests a year for shooting permission, and so they can be choosy buggers!

 

I'd say that face to face is FAR better. Take the letter along by all means, it's something you can hand over with your details on, and some info on you, but there's nothing like approaching face to face for getting permissions.

 

I know if I were asked to let someone loose on land that I owned (I wish!) I wouldn't even consider someone who just sent a letter. I'd want to put them through the wringer, show them the land and hear how they think they'd shoot it and what the safe lines of fire would be. (maybe that's just me though!).

 

By all means send the letters, but try and get a bit of knowledge about the farm first. Do they have livestock? If so, how would you deal with it? What sort of crops do they grow? Are you going to lose most of the area to rape and corn for half the year? Know your growing seasons, so you can tell them when you'd attack each species, and maybe an idea of ways you'd go for rabbits when the crop is high enough for them to hide in (a hide on a field boundary near a warren maybe)

 

The more info you can put into it, the better your chances. Of course, don't go trampling all over the fields without approaching them first, though if there's public access, for example a footpath or bridleway, then that's the perfect opportunity to assess the ground so you can tell the farmer exactly how you would approach it.

 

It's like a job application. He/she will want to know that you know what you're about, are fairly safe and are going to be effective. The more info and planning you can show, the better the chance of them accepting you.

 

Oh, and don't forget, farmers can be stroppy beggars at times, don't let that put you off. Most of the time it's a bit of a challenge, and you'll get points for persevering (just don't try and persuade one when he's up to his elbows in cow placenta, you're more than likely going to end up wearing it!)

 

Good luck mate!