Shooters on land

Milton09

I own an area of open unfenced bogland. Part of the area has turbary rights associated with it. I have an issue with one of the people that uses one of the plots, shooting clay pigeons on the plot. He leaves behind an unsightly mess even though I've asked him previously to tidy up after himself. I wont discuss any more details as I'm currently getting legal advise on the matter.

My question is, has anyone ever had this problem and how did you handle it?

thanks

Red_Marauder

Do turbary rights extend to clay pigeon shooting? I thought it was purely for fuel functions?

As someone who enjoys clay pigeon shooting myself, I can't say I would have encountered your specific problem, however!

fuelinjection

I would have thought littering is littering no matter where you do it.
Clay pigeon shooting is a lot better than shooting animals but the guy should clean up after himself. Maybe ask the local County Council.

Milton09

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Do turbary rights extend to clay pigeon shooting? I thought it was purely for fuel functions?

As someone who enjoys clay pigeon shooting myself, I can't say I would have encountered your specific problem, however!

This is what I'm getting the legal clarification on. I think not as the deeds say "cut and spread turf" thats all.

Red_Marauder

fuelinjection wrote: »

I would have thought littering is littering no matter where you do it.

In fairness though, it's clay targets, it's hardly like dumping rubbish.

In realityk, you can't seriously go around picking up every last piece of shattered target

Red_Marauder

Milton09 wrote: »

This is what I'm getting the legal clarification on. I think not as the deeds say "cut and spread turf" thats all.

Yeah, I would imagine so... I mean there's no reason why he should be allowed clay pigeon shoot any more than he should be allowed trespass in any other way, with the exception of turf cutting.

Milton09

Red_Marauder wrote: »

In fairness though, it's clay targets, it's hardly like dumping rubbish.

In realityk, you can't seriously go around picking up every last piece of shattered target

The problem is, it is like dumpng rubbish. It leaves an unsightly mess that only encourages other shooters to start shooting there too, and then the dumping begins.

Question is, why dont they do it on their own land ?

Red_Marauder

Milton09 wrote: »

The problem is, it is like dumpng rubbish. It leaves an unsightly mess that only encourages other shooters to start shooting there too, and then the dumping begins.

Question is, why dont they do it on their own land ?

I dunno, I guess they may not own land perhaps. It may be unsightly, but it's not the kind of thing that's easy to clean up after, nor is the clay material comparable to litter exactly, it's mostly limestone.

Anyway, sounds like you have a good legal basis for disallowing access.

PaddyBloggit

I thought there was such a thing as biodegradeable clay targets?

More expensive but they'd breakdown and leave no unsightly mess.

That could be a way of compromising.

He could also be reported for littering ....

Red_Marauder

PaddyBloggit wrote: »

I thought there was such a thing as biodegradeable clay targets?

Regular clay targets are mostly that - i.e. clay - so largely organic and harmless. I wouldn't personally go investing in anything more biodegradable I don't think.

PaddyBloggit

Red_Marauder wrote: »

Regular clay targets are mostly that - i.e. clay - so largely organic and harmless. I wouldn't personally go investing in anything more biodegradable I don't think.

I don't get it so. If clay targets are biodegradeable why should there be an issue with littering?

Red_Marauder

Well I guess in fairness to the OP it is unsightly - but regardless of that it's his land.

Not asking permission to shoot, if nothing else, is just rude.

yessam

If you are not happy with these lads shooting there and you own the bog just put up a sign stating no shooting and if that does not stop it then get legal advice.
On the other hand I like to do some clay shooting, usually during the summer and we do it on a peice of bog that I own. I would not do it there if I was causing a big mess. The clays that are broken will biodegrade fairly quickly and are not usually visiable wher there is some heather or any growth. It is easy pick up any unbroken clays and reuse them again. We always have a couple of buckets to put the empty cartridges in and always take home. The cartridges would cause the biggest mess if not picked up. There is no need for cartridges to be trown on the ground, just trow them in the bucket accoprding to using them.
If its your land - just rum them to where ever they can get permission.