Shooting permissions

[Warbo16]

Hi, is there certain criteria a piece of land has to meet in order to shoot a firearm on it. I've heard bits and bats from all over but if anyone has any cold hard facts it would be a great help. Thanks

[safetyfirst]

Some land has been officially "cleared" for a particular Calibre by the police, some has not. If your ticket is "open" then it matters not. If it's not then you need land which is cleared for the calibre.

[Warbo16]

Thanks, I have a little bit of an idea about what's required but I was thinking more along the lines of, does the land need to be so far away from public access like a foot way or road or buildings. Does it have to have a certain topography to the landscape for back stops and things like that thanks in advance

[bigfathairybiker]

As far as I know the answers are no and no.

Several people I know shoot within 10 feet of a footpath.
Land topo doesn't matter if your shooting stuff flying over head with a shotty.
Or if your shooting down from a raised hide at wabbits on the ground. ( not that they would be anywhere else! )

Mark

[Duey]

Not suppose to shoot within 50 feet of a highway (foot path or road) and to avoid distress of any users of that highway
However most shooting permissions are in rural locations so the use of the highway is less but it's all on YOU to make sure the shot to be taken is safe with a safe backstop and not to interfere with other people's around regardless if the land is cleared or not

Permission of the landowner is the main caveat
Your FAC will be worded to where you can shoot as well

Duey

[safetyfirst]

I'm not much of a live quarry shooter but.....

Experience is everything when it comes to safe shooting in the field and a few trips out with an experienced shooter will yield much valuable knowledge.

I'm quite a conservative rifle shooter but I'd say of the perhaps 200 times I've been within range of my quarry, I've pulled the trigger about 20 times. Too close to warren, too close to cover, no solid backstop are the most common reasons not to pull the trigger. Knowing when not to shoot and having the patience to get into a better position is key and also one of the most satisfying things about the job I think (in my limited experience!)

It's one of the reasons I prefer to use a shotgun and sneak right up. You still don't want to shoot through a hedge but it's a lot more flexible.

$.02 happy shooting.

[ovenpaa]

Always know what you are shooting at, a pair of eyes after dark is not a positive identification!

[Blackstuff]

There are no hard and fast rules as every piece of land is different. An undulating piece of land with multiple natural back stops, no public rights of way and riddled with deer, foxes and rabbits is more likely to be readily 'approved' by the police for shooting, and with more powerful calibres, whereas a flat, featureless piece of land that has little evidence of animal life and criss-crossed with footpaths and bridleways isn't.

Flat land isn't a complete right off though as, as has been mentioned, if shooting from a high seat there would be a safe back stop. Likewise if there were numerous public rights of way, if they're hardly ever/never actually used, that wouldn't necessarily be a problem either.

In my experience its up to you to demonstrate that you know how and when taking a shot is safe, not for the police to demonstrate that you don't know that, if you know what I mean. So you can't just say, for example, there are loads of small hills so its got to be safe. When there is a public footpath between the hills, over the top, dog walkers always around etc.

[Rockhopper]

Not suppose to shoot within 50 feet of a highway (foot path or road) and to avoid distress of any users of that highway


Duey

You can shoot right up to the edge of a highway as long as you don't distress any users of said highway. If you are more than 50 feet away then you don't have to worry :-)

[Warbo16]

Well so far you've all given some good advice, I think it's probably best to try and get onto a permission with somebody to get a bit more of an insight into it. There's definatly me into it than I thought.