Furious!!! Rant about night shooting and my horses

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pinkcatkin

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I went to check my horses at 10pm the other night and heard a quad bike, saw lights and heard shots from the field above our field next to the stables. The girls were in thankfully.

I ran into our nextdoor field and just above the fenceline there appeared a quad bike or buggy or something with 2 or 3 men. They proceeded to shoot (presumably at a rabbit) right into our grazing, about 30 yards above our stables. I shone my torch at them and shouted that there were horses in this field. They said "What?" and I repeated it, they then said something facetious about shooting horses (but I couldn't really hear) and roared off. They didn't apologise.

The trouble is that I rent the field next door (below the one in which they were shooting) from neighbouring farmer who thinks it is quite amusing that I get so wound up about this. We have had trouble before with night shooting - they tend to go right up the hedge line on our boundary, regardless of our horses.

I phoned him next morning and explained to his wife that we had been considering leaving our horses out at night since it was so calm and pleasant but if we had, imagine what havoc would have been wreaked. My mare is in foal and I can't risk leaving her out if that is going to happen. The horses dont mind that much if they are in because they are quite used to it but I could imagine that if they were out and the lights, shooting, shouting was going on they would be really freaked out.

Farmer's wife said she agreed that it would freak them out and she would "investigate" who was shooting. However, I suspect if was one of her sons. Not sure I can trust them no to do it again.

What would you do?
 
The trouble is they weren't trespassing - they were on the field above ours, but just the other side of the fence. Our land makes an L shape and they were in the corner of the L, but actually shooting into our land.
 
If you report them to the Police as AmyMay suggests, they will know that you are taking this extremely seriously and it will also hopefully cause them the inconvenience/embarrassment of a police visit to at least check that they have gun licenses.

Personally, I'd move my horses but this may not be an option for you.
 
Even if they are not trespassing is it still not illegal to shoot at night? Are there no hunting or shooting laws there that you could get them on? I suppose proof would be hard
 
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actually shooting into our land.

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What more do you need to report them? It was dark and they could have caused a terrible tragedy.

I hope you can get them slaughtered.
 
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Even if they are not trespassing is it still not illegal to shoot at night? Are there no hunting or shooting laws there that you could get them on? I suppose proof would be hard

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They were probably lamping, hence shooting at night.

http://www.basc.org.uk/content/lampingpractice

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seems a stupid and dangerous thing to allow people to do............
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We are allowed to "shine" for animals at night but I doubt we are allowed to shoot outside of an emergency. If it is legal here I have yet to hear a shot at night and would be seriously worried if I did
 
Snowdrop, thank you for your comments, very useful bit it is definitely not an option to move my horses - it is a miracle that I have actually got this extra 6 acres belonging to the farmer whose son I suspect is the culprit! Land is hard to come by around me and I would rather tread carefully and diplomatically if at all possible.

You said that in the Code of Practice the tenants must be informed before lamping - |I shall read up on this and send them a copy I think.
 
tenants may have to be informed but neighbouring landowners don't I think

why - amongst lots of reasons NONE of mine are ever in a field at night - too many muppets/thieves/horseslashers around for my liking

rather have a live horse in a stable than a dead one in a field

so no way in your place would I consider from now on having any horse out at night
 
In view of your relationship with them I would simply ask if you could go round and have a chat with the farmer and his wife and explian your concerns and the dangers to your horses of allowing shooting at night. I am sure that they will see sense.
 
The Police will take no notice it seems there are orders from on high that shooting is to be treated lightly unless it's a person.
We had a ruckus a few weeks ago after the beaters started making a massive noise immediately across the narrow lane opposite our arena, when the shooting started some of our horses went mental and some ran through one of the fences. Luckily no real damage was done just tape down, but the attitude of the shooting fraternity beggars belief, their attitude is "It's our land so we will shoot if we want"
Well yes it is, but not without having the manners to either warn their neighbours or use some common sense where there are large numbers of horses. This daft lot were actually shooting over a public footpath, and when the police arrived were very reluctant to say anything to them at all.
I do sympathise, all you can do is go face to face and explain the damage shooting in the dark so close may cause, and hope they use their brains next time.
 
If the land they were shooting over is yours, even if they are shooting from their own land, then that is a firearms offence. If the land is theirs and you are renting, then you should be told beforehand as it might not be a horse that is injured, but a person.

I would be inclined to first try and have a reasoned conversation with the farmer, after all you are paying for the land, and second have a word with your local Police firearms department / officer. They are the people who grant and renew certificates (shotgun or firearm) and they take this sort of behaviour VERY seriously.

As far as lamping and shooting at night, if they were after foxes, rabbits or rats, then they are within the law, but it is illegal to shoot any kind of roosting bird at night.
 
Its Good advice from Neil M, you need to ensure that you have talked to the farmer first and then going on to the firearms officer if you need to, they are really helpful and do take this seriously particulary if there are people at risk, shooting towards animals or across roads or footpaths.

They have no right to shoot towards your land and depending on what they were shooting whether firearm or shotgun would also depend on how they should shoot - for example an unaimed .22 rifle shot could travel upto a 1000m!!! Whereas a shotgun is much less in distance depending on type of shot.
 
It is legal to shoot at night, although very irreponsible not to let the neighbours know. You are right to be cross.

As far as the noisy shoot is concerned, BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) has a Code of Practice, and I expect they would be interested in hearing of any practices that put shooting in a poor light, which that incident obviously did. Give them a ring! They have no "powers" but might put a word in someone's ear.
 
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