Please Advise A Beginner

[orthendro 0]

I've had an smk xs 19, scope and sound moderator for about a year. Practised still targets till I'm very good shot. Interested in only two hunting targets - wood pigeon and rabbit. Dont wanna play with decoys or go lamping ,prefer to take my chances at dusk and dawn. Want to do things proper way. Problem is there's that many farm buildings etc I don't know what land belongs to who. Is there a way to get info over internet as to who owns what land so I can contact them? Any ideas be much appreciated. Also if anyone lives Houghton le spring and sunderland area any contacts/friendly farmers info be appreciated.

[PaulEamonn 37]

Well, one plus for you is that you've obviously taken the time to learn how to shoot your gun. The downside is that you are seriously underestimating the 'dumb' animals whose lives you are trying to take with it.

 

Take a look around this forum and you will see numerous posts written by people who have more hunting experience than you'd believe. Many of them use decoys and lamps. The reason they use them is not to 'play' but to achieve an end. They know that to try and do so without the use of decoys and lamps, getting close enough to your quarry will likely be near impossible especially if they have been hunted before. It is a game of wits and the chances are the vermin you want to hunt are better at it than you are. They need to be, their lives depend upon it!

 

To say that you'll take your chances at dawn and dusk only goes to show that you now need to read up on the art of hunting and the habits of your quarry.

 

For example, consider this....

 

If you go out after rabbits at dusk, due to them being crepuscular, it is likely they won't come out until it is too dark for you to see without a light.

 

If you try to creep up on rabbits at dawn and mess it up, they will run for cover and, as they will likely have been feeding all night, they won't need to come out again in a hurry especially if they sense danger.

 

Regarding finding out which outbuilding belongs to which farm. Probably the better way around is to go to the farmhouse and talk to the farmer about which land is his. Most of them will be happy to discuss what's what even if they don't intend to give you permission.

 

Also, just on the off chance that you're thinking about asking for permission to shoot inside the outbuilding you have been eyeing up. It is likely you will be refused permission straight out. As I'm sure many of the other members on here will agree, getting permission to shoot out on open land is difficult enough. Getting permission to shoot inside barns and the like without having worked long and hard to gain the farmers trust, is another matter entirely.

 

I hope this helps put these matters into a bit of perspective for you.

[Craig Fosse 286]

Although Paul's post seems quite negative mate, it's not. I for one wish I could lamp rabbits but Unfortunatly the laws here are different. I therefore have many days where I get nothing. You may not win to ,earn decoying mate, but having one or to in your game bag doesn't hurt, especially when your roost shooting. This time of year dusk shooting us better as you have longer for the rabbits and pigeons to come back.

 

Welcome to the bedt place to fuel your knowledge and xperience, and welcome to a new life.

 

As for land, the best way is to ask, or dop a letter in the door.

[Craig Fosse 286]

Want to learn* (stupid iPhone)

[PaulEamonn 37]

Indeed Craig, it's not meant to be critical or negative in any way. That is one of the problems with the written word, it has no inflection.

 

I was more trying to be pragmatic which in this sort of medium is difficult. But what I think I'm trying to get across to Orthendro is - don't try to reinvent the wheel. There are some pretty established ways of getting the things you want whether it be a new permission or killing rabbits and pigeon. These methods have been tried, tested and honed until they work - much like the wheel! The best thing you can do is to learn from those who have had the experience of time.

[bigmac 97kt 13,841]

Most of the rabbits on my perms dont come out until dark so have to be lamped but its not so easy as you may think lamping is an art in its self and you can learn a lot by learning how to do it right every thing looks different at night some rabbits will run as soon as the beam hits them and some will let you get so close you cud pick them up with out shooting them . You have passed the first stage of shooting learning how to shoot your rifle so you can deliver a clean kill with no distress to your quarry and i commend you on that as many new hunters do not ,your just starting off and you have a long way to go so dont knock eny advice you may get learn all aspects of hunting and give lamping a go as once it has a hold of you you will be hooked and boy will you be hooked atvbmac

[secretagentmole 1,701]

Give it a few more weeks, they will be out all the time during the daylight hours! Will be much more daylight than dark!

[orthendro 0]

Apologies if my use of phrase "playing about" came across as cynical negative. As with fishing and other activities I tend to like to do things isolated and was under impression especially with lamping that it works better with two people. When I salsa I wanna do it with someone else (laughs) but shooting I very much want to be by myself. Anyway thanks very much for the advice. My experience of rabbits from being brought up a country lad is that there are many out in the afternoon sun well before dark, however I will take in consideration what you said about not reinventing the wheel. I may look at pigeon decoys after all. I don't take this subject lightly or try to sound like some kind of know it all so I hope I haven't come across that way. I am completely new to this though I have slaughtered farmed chicken and rabbit before. The only thing I'm hundred per cent on is my ability to hit a still target. I'm very motivated to a clean kill. One concern I have is my lack of target practice outdoors -open field conditions etc. I'm thinking of how weather will impact my targeting. If I started knocking on farmers doors to get access to land I wonder if those that refuse might agree to me using their land for target practice at least? I suppose I can only try.

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

Apologies if my use of phrase "playing about" came across as cynical negative. As with fishing and other activities I tend to like to do things isolated and was under impression especially with lamping that it works better with two people. When I salsa I wanna do it with someone else (laughs) but shooting I very much want to be by myself. Anyway thanks very much for the advice. My experience of rabbits from being brought up a country lad is that there are many out in the afternoon sun well before dark, however I will take in consideration what you said about not reinventing the wheel. I may look at pigeon decoys after all. I don't take this subject lightly or try to sound like some kind of know it all so I hope I haven't come across that way. I am completely new to this though I have slaughtered farmed chicken and rabbit before. The only thing I'm hundred per cent on is my ability to hit a still target. I'm very motivated to a clean kill. One concern I have is my lack of target practice outdoors -open field conditions etc. I'm thinking of how weather will impact my targeting. If I started knocking on farmers doors to get access to land I wonder if those that refuse might agree to me using their land for target practice at least? I suppose I can only try.

i go lamping on my own i prefer it, less noise and i can take my time. i will still go with other people, but i find its best on my own

its worth asking mate. i think they might still say no tho more often than not. can be hard getting permission

 

SKoT

[kruby01 114]

I dont think anyone can claim to be an 'expert' We are all learning just at different stages. Its like driving you can never be too good.

 

I also lamp alone, Have a look at some scope mounted lamps then you dont need the extra person amnd its alot easier to stalk when you only have to get one person to the target.

 

Finding permissions as we all know can be hard and you can never have enough either. Just keep at it, Knock and be polite and explain who you are etc dont just say hi can I shoot. Also once you gain a permission then dont give up and just shoot the hell out of that one. Keep looking for more because you can then rotate your land so you are showing your face enough to keep the farmer happy but not wiping out the rabbit population and ruining your sport. There is then no reason for the farmer to ask you back if you clear his land. He will love you but your back to square one.

[orthendro 0]

Some great advice there thanks. Might have a look at scope mounted lamps. yes I will keep at it even if I get permissions. The one place I tried so far was a local golf club where I am known but they refused me permissions due to number of illegals who already shoot there. gutting.

[PaulEamonn 37]

".........If I started knocking on farmers doors to get access to land I wonder if those that refuse might agree to me using their land for target practice at least? I suppose I can only try."

 

I have heard that this can actually be a good 'in' onto some farms. If you ask permission purely for target practice and, if possible, you can suggest a nice flat area that runs along side the crops where you would be shooting away from anything important, it may give you a chance to prove yourself to the farmer. Once you've been onto the land a few times and you don't cause any damage or mess, you may well find that you'll be asked to go and 'deal with' the rabbits that are causing havoc in some far flung part of the farm. Don't be disheartened. This is just another way of the farmer testing you out. If you behave yourself in the outlaying parts of the farm then he may start to bring you in a bit closer.

 

Just be sure to get your permission letter right. At first, make sure it simply stipulates 'target shooting'. But then, once you're invited to shoot vermin,make sure that you up date the permission. Don''t worry that it'll cause offence of will seem too much trouble to the farmer. If he is serious about letting you shoot his land, he'll appreciate your desire to keep within the law and to do everything correctly.

Edited May 6, 2013 by PaulEamonn

[Skot Ruthless Teale 1,701]

well said paul, i never looked at it that way. you may be onto something there

[gurtwurz 793]

Actually, thats how I got my main permission. I asked the farmer if I could zero my rifle on his fields that back on my house, and then took a bottle of wine to day thanks the following day. He gave me a 20 acre field to clear, which I did, and over the next year let me on the rest of his 1500 acres over the south downs as I proved myself to him.

 

Cheers, wurz

[Craig Fosse 286]

Permission to me is a lot like, if its meant o be its meant to be, Unfortunatly in this age rifles, airguns, firearms are seen as very anti social which is a massive downfall for us, another thing that might help is making your own buisness cards, put them through some letter boxes as your out for a drive, word of mouth and friends knowing someone is often the best place.

 

As or looking at decoys, full bodied if you can, they are best or most things, especially fit up in trees, line and a fishing weight is the way forward.

 

Best of luck!