Getting land to shoot over
This is undoubtedly the most daunting obstacle for the newcomer to shooting pigeon to get over. How do you get land? Here we aim to help you in this situation, as even the old hands at shooting can be thrown if they move and don't have any contacts.
There are clubs that you can join which have a small fee each year and if you click here you can get a list of some.
Probably sounds obvious,but a good tip is to wait till the birds are hitting a crop hard before you seek out the farmer.This way he can see the problem himself while you are there and is more likely to give permission... Tip submitted by: Deako
When looking for land to shoot you will get a lot of knock backs. DON'T give up I was looking for land with my mate Lazza we had some possible success at a large estate for after the game season but not much else after nearly three hours and loads of farms searched I was getting fed up. Lazza said we should try one more farm very close to my home and if no success we would try again next week. Well to my surprise the farm said Yes and had we got the kit with us to start straight away (doh! we didn’t - so always be prepared) so we start on the land the next Saturday and i've since been over to have a look and well stacks of Pigeons. Tip submitted by: Kevin
One tip i find sometimes works when looking for shooting is to turn up at the farm reasonably smartly dressed,a shirt and tie, jacket and casual trousers as opposed to my usual garb of camo gear and head net, It does work and gives a good first impression, try it! Tip submitted by: Sutty
The best way to get land is to offer them your services in return. I am a electrician and I go around the farms in my van I then ask them for permission in doing so I offer them my services as an electrician in return, this usually does the trick everytime because theres always a time when they will need one. And we cost alot of money! This goes for plumbers ,roofers, mechanics all of the trades even non skilled people can offer the farmer a helping hand when needed. Tip submitted by: Stephen
Most of the farmers I know (in fact all of them) enjoy a drink. If all else has failed why not try a pub! I don't mean take to drink! I mean try going to a pub and talking to farmers... you know the type of pub I mean... out of the way, on the back roads of a local village. You can bet there will be at least one farmer in these types of pubs who will be willing to let you shoot their land! In fact ALL of my shooting land has come about by just talking to some farmers over a pint in my local, I have got 1500 acres of shooting land, and not one farm visited! This of course will mean going to the local pub quite a few times... but all in the name of pigeon shooting!!! Tip submitted by: Rob. Nice tip, where is the effort in just going down to the pub, after all you have a perfect excuse!
When you get in make sure you are responsible -always pick up empties and if possible always use fibre/felt wads to reduce litter. Try and before your first visit go and have a shot at some clays as this will improve your accuracy, often for the first few times the farmer will poke his head over a hedge to see how you are getting on! Obviously if your bag is pathetic but he knows you have had plenty of shots he won't be best pleased! Get him to call you when pigeons are hammering a field but don't be lazy, always do reconaissance and look round his fields and if you spot a few then ask him if they are bothering him...
ALWAYS tell him when you are going out and where, as if he finds you where you shouldn't be as he will be cross!
Please submit more advice on getting shooting to:gettingland@pigeonwatch.co.uk
Here are the clubs if you know of any more please submit them to me:clubs@pigeonwatch.co.uk
Pestrid www.pest-rid.co.uk its service runs in the North of England. New members pay a first year subscription of £80 plus an initial £20, upon joining you will receive detailed maps of every farm, an identification sticker for your car, and personal ID Each member will also receive a oilseed rape and pea list every year which details the farms and fields that are being shot over at present. After the first year the cost is just £80. It is essential that all members are insured, and rather than have members covered by different insurance companies, they insist that all their members are covered through the B.A.S.C , the cost of joining through Pest Rid is £24 per year.
National Pigeon and Pest Control. Contact: John B. Shooter (yes, really!) on 0870 757 2246. No website but there are lots of permissions for shooting land in North and Midlands of England. Submitted by:Peter.
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