Deer shooting at dusk on field next to yours

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nevis

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Hi Everyone
I'm normally not brave enough to post in here and hang around in the Dog bit...

Am just in from hairy scary moment and would really appreciate your thoughts/advice/polite slaps (am I being a neep...)

We live at the top of a hill bordering forestry land and the next neighbour down allows his 'friend' to shoot.

...what is normal practice for someone shooting in the field bordering yours as dusk falling (big rifle for deer, no silencer)...I just nearly got my head kicked in (by horse) legged it via landy to shooter ... tore a strip off but he is saying well within his rights? Horses rattled, me IRATE at lack of courtesy (when we shoot we warn neighbours a week in advance, do in daylight and never near horses). Sorry, rant over.

Anyone got a brandy to share?!

Thanks for listening.
 
He is probably within his rights BUT has totally forgotten his manners.

He really should inform you when he is shooting.

Would there be any chance of the amo travelling as far as your field and posing a danger to you or your horses - if so he is against the BASC code of conduct.
 
I live on an estate in Dorset and our landlord is often shooting pigeons, bunnies etc and doesn't ask me. The deer stalker who keeps the deer population down doesn't ask me either. To be honest - we don't own the place so just get on with it. As long as they don't shoot my horse I'm not that bothered!! It does help that both horses are not concerned by any large bangs.

I did get cross when we first moved down here and my old horse was out in a field behind the house. The 16 year old neighbour was shooting crows from his bathroom window straight into my field and missed the horse by about 10 ft. I did get cross then!!
 
It it were me, now that you have calmed down, I would go and see the neighbour, and politely ask could they send you a text or contact you the day before they are going to shoot in the field next to your horses. Explain it nearly caused you to have a very nasty injury and if they could inform you when they are shooting so close, you can then be aware of this and take steps to avoid being injured by a startled horse.

Hopefully your horse will soon get used to the sound of shot and ignore it. Mine all have and I can ride past people shooting with little or no reaction to it.

Hopefully they will see the sense of this and you can both get along.

Most shooters are keen to get on with people, and often are unware of how some horses react. Once made to see your side of things, you can normally come to some accommodation between you that has you both happy.
 
Go and have word with neighbour, same thing happened to me, shooting next to paddock and behind stables, so told neighbour what happened and they past it on to shooter, also they are libel if anything happens accident wise.
 
If they are shooting deer they are using a very powerfull rifle the bullits of which can travel a long distance. They should only be shooting downwards from a hide to avoid an accident. As they have been rude to you I would simply report the incident to your local police firearms officer who will treat it very seriously.
 
Have a word with him. The guy who owns my dads field lets folk shoot in it. Unfortunately one man decided to shoot in the direction of my dads house, and shot was raining down on the cars. He wouldnt stop until dad called the land owner and told him that if he didnt sort him out he was going to start returning fire!
 
TBH if you have gone in there all guns blazing and screaming at him, for all the dangerous situation you ended up in, he's not likely to be very complient now. In my experience (I worked in a gun/ammo shop for years), most people who shoot are so frequently hastled by people who think what they're doing is immoral/illegal, so they're naturally very defensive when someone approaches them in such a way.

I would calm down, then go and apologise for your outburst. Explain it was heat of the moment because of the near miss you had and that you appreciate he is perfectly legally entitled to shoot there. Hopefully then the shooter will be more willing to listen to your concerns and and work solution to suit both parties. Yes, he should have warned you he was going to shoot, but a calm rational explanation is probably the best way to go to preserve and maintain the peace.
 
thanks everyone for all the constructive replies.

I think the fact that OH shoots and like everyone else I know is courteous - well, safety focussed - when on a shoot, made me surprised and angry.

The chap who shoots legally for the Forestry Commission always calls me ahead of time to warn me so I know not to walk the dog late or be spooked by noise/lights/activity in the middle of nowhere in the dark.

The horses have only been here a week so yes they will desensitize in time - I just wouldn't have chosen to put ointment in a delicate under area AS someone was shooting!

OH came down with me so I wasn't allowed to go in all guns blazing - I got the point across that I was angry as I had gotten such a fright seeing horses shod feet flying past me at a very close distance and had I been one minute earlier I might have been seriously injured.

He did shoot earlier last night before it got dark so perhaps progress.
I will definitely chat to neighbour and also to firearms officer as he knows him well from past dealings.

sausage buttie for listening
 
According to OH (proffessional stalker) this guy is within his rights legally UNLESS the bullet leaves the land he is on. If this happens then he is breaking the law. The police may be involved but legally we don't think they can do anything.
As others have said, he may be totally ignorant regarding horses but he is certainly very rude not to talk to you first.
Dawn and dusk are prime time for stalking unfortunately. Do hope this problem resolves itself for you.
 
I had that happen with a neighbor shooting bird. I was in the field almost under the horse doing up straps on turnout rug when it happened. Not amused at all, but same time next night it happened again when I was doing the exact same thing. I thought he saw the outcome of the first time and thought it was good for a laugh. I just grit my teeth and got on with it.
 
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