Veni Vidi Vici wrote: »

I got permission from my dad's friend to shoot on his land a week ago, and all he asked was not to shoot a hare that he'd seen running around on it. I said no bother at all! What's that ya mentioned about the folklore? I can't find anything on it!

In Irish folklore, the hare is often associated with Sidh (Fairy) or other pagan elements. In these stories characters who harm hares often suffer dreadful consequences.

People like seen hare about very few people shoot them. A lot of people think they are protected with no season which is untrue. I'd probably lose my permissions too if i shot a hare.

ok i'll try to be a little clearer on my previous point. farmers make a living on the land and they have a right to make a living off their land and a right to protect that living and their livestock. i come from a farming background and i understand that. i also know there are a few lads hunting that don't give a s**t about farmers or their livestock so the farmer has to have a right to be selective about who he gives permission to. i also know and always do respect the fact that farmers can ban everyone who they like from their land. my problem lies where a farmer bans everyone all year round even though it would have no effect on his living, but just because he don't want anyone on his land. you might say well how does he know the gobs***es from the genuine lads who will respect the land. a few recommendations and phone calls would sort that out. but as in all walks of life you will meet thick people who won't budge and you have to just respect that.

irish setter wrote: »

my problem lies where a farmer bans everyone all year round even though it would have no effect on his living, but just because he don't want anyone on his land. you might say well how does he know the gobs***es from the genuine lads who will respect the land..

Its his land and he's entitled to let who he wants on it or not and its just tough sh*t for those who aren't.
He might like deer and other game and find they are not damaging his land. Farmers like this can get on great with gun-clubs because they can use the land as a sanctuary for birds.

He also might be concerned about people falling and getting injured on the land and doesn't want that even if they are insured themselves.

Or he might want to shoot the land himself, cos after all he knows much better than you what damage is happening and if something needs to be done about it.

garv123 wrote: »

People like seen hare about very few people shoot them. A lot of people think they are protected with no season which is untrue. I'd probably lose my permissions too if i shot a hare.

Same as. Just about none of the farmers around me allow Hares to be shot. Which suits me fine.

I like this concept of farmers not having the right to refuse though :pac:

I think shooters out shooting need to be very level headed and remain cool, calm & collected when approached by any landowner, whether it's a polite or aggressive encounter. As Grizzly said we are ambassadors for our sport out there each day.

If the landowner becomes aggressive I'd advise anybody to politely walk away. This may not feel manly or macho, or what ever you want to call it, and it can be annoying to take abuse from somebody and feel you're being wronged ......but always remember you are standing there with a gun in your hand/ under your arm (loaded or unloaded).

If the argument becomes heated and voices are raised then you cannot win......firstly it's the landowners land and he decides what's to be shot / at what time / and what species. He can withdraw that permission without a moment's notice.

......secondly, right or wrong....if a complaint is made against you by the landowner to the Gardaí you may have diffilculty renewing the licence.....no F.O. is going to give a licence for a firearm to somebody who loses their temper easily, gets aggressive and is easily riled and gets involved in a shouting match with a gun in their possession.

It can be annoying and degrading if a landowner shouts abuse at you while on his land shooting but two wrongs don't make a right.....if this were to happen to me I'd politely walk off and if I felt really wronged or hard-done-by I ring the landowner from home and explain that I was annoyed by the confrontation and i like to talk to him to clear up the matter.

I'd explain that I'd gone home to drop off the shooting gear & ask if there any problem returning for a calm chat as i'm confused about what annoyed him. He has had time to cool down and think about the outburst and you'll get a chance to talk to him with no firearm there.

I would always be conscious that it could also be very intimidating for the landowner talking to a few lads with guns and dogs when you're on your own....especially on your own land when you're annoyed about something they did (or think they did)

To be honest I've found the majority of landowners to be reasonable and approachable.

*****************************

We were out pigeon shooting on gun club land one day last year when the tillage farmer, who had leased the land, met us. He was delighted with the number of pigeons shot and asked if we shoot rabbits as well. We told him we did. He said he had a huge rabbit problem on land he had about twenty miles away & would we travel that far. We told him we would and arranged to meet him in the local village near the land the next morning.

We followed him from the village to the land damaged by rabbits. It was grass for silage and was destroyed....rabbits everywhere. We were delighted. We parked and unloaded gear as he drove off.

We were in the field about half an hour with some rabbits shot when a man came in the field gate and never stopped roaring and shouting until he got to us at the other end of the field.

He was shouting' how dare ye....who do ye think ye are.....I'm ringing the guards...ye are in big trouble etc.......... We unloaded the rifles, put them in gunslips, lay them on the grass and went over talking to him.

We politely told him that there seems to be some mix up or confusion here and we didn't know who he was. Speaking calmly to him in a non - aggressive tone worked wonders and he calmed down quickly.

He explained that he was the landowner and wanted to know why we were in his land without permission. We told him the name that had given us permission. He then explained that the individual named had leased the land to cut silage.

This landowner was anti-shooting and didn't want anything shot. He apologised for the initial outburst when he realised that we thought we had permission. The shooting was over...we packed up and left.....but everything was calm and gentlemanly. We respected his wishes....he owned the land...he calls the shots...end of story.