Hunting and pest control

[paul11277]

Hi, How hard is it to get in to hunting or pest control. Is it just a case of finding a friendly farmer. Or are crows and rabbits that much of a pest to them that they let anyone shoot there. I originaly bought my rifle for controling the tree rats in our garden. I seem to have got on top of them now and have only seen the odd one. But have to admit it was great fun and would like to have a go at something else. Rabbits would be good they taste good.

[Lez325]

Very hard indeed, Friendly farmers aint too comon place, you have to do your homework check out local farms and landowners -

Make an appointment via the telephone go and see them and if you give the right impression you may just land that coverted shoot, however one thing to remember is that every airgunner in your area may have contacted these people before you did - don't go in camo dont go carrying a rifle- do have insurance - do have a copy of this years DEFRA licence do have your shooting permission slip so they can sign it, if you are confident in your approach you WILL get shoots.

I have over 12,000 (Twelve Thousand ) acres over 5 different shoots in Somerset and Im a Yorkshireman- which makes it even harder when thay say things like " you aint from round here are you?"

If you look and talk like a pest controller you'll have more sucsess, than some numpty with attitude and a rifle


If you'd like a copy of my flyer and shooting permission slip then send me an e mail - lesmoxon@btinternet.com and I'll mail them to you

Good luck mate

Oh and complete your user profile, then we'll know where you are etc etc- who knows you may get an invite to shoot.

Les

[osok]

I agree with Les on that one!

You have to “sell” yourself. Not much different to a door-to-door salesman.
I have lots of luck at the local pub. If you are in a rural area you'll find quite a lot of people with a bit of land.
Have a good talk (don’t start about pest-control immediately) and slowly turn the conversation.

You'll find yourself some nice land in no time. Just make damn sure you’ve got your paperwork in order! After that it’s a bunch of fun all the way!

Good luck and happy (land) hunting mate!

[paul11277]

Just got your flyer Lez, looks very good. So how do i go about getting the Defra licence. Do i just apply for one or do i need to find my self some land first. Also are you going to tell me i need to be a member of a shooting club. There is only one that i know of in my area that allows air rifle users to join. But they are stricktly target shooters. I dont suppose the insurance is expensive but is there anything i need in order to obtain the insurance (such as the defra licence).

Any other things you think i should know 2 would be greatfuly accepted too.

[turtledove]

right place, right time, during the summer its more noticeable the damage pests do, and then keep on the good side of the land owner, a bit of first choice of the harvest for him and always a phone call and a chat.

[Dave_S410]

Originally Posted by paul11277

Just got your flyer Lez, looks very good. So how do i go about getting the Defra licence. Do i just apply for one or do i need to find my self some land first.

General Licences are available here.
The two that are of interest to the Air Rifle pest controller are usually WLF18 and WLF100087

[paul11277]

Thats great, its amazing what you can learn in a day, So the licence is free insurance comes via BASA membership for £17.50. Only qustion i do have is where the hell do rabbits and squirels get a mention in these licences. I dont think they do so what are the rules regarding those and rats and mice for that matter?

Are ther any particular times of the year that rabbits cant be killed.

[Lez325]

Glad you liked the flyer and as previously posted the Defra licence is an annual download and its Free

Rabbits and Squirrels are a nationaly recognised pest not sure about Mice though Rats YES Mice - not sure - why would you want to shoot mice surely a trap would be a more effective solution

Can you complete your user profile ie: details on Location- you may have an experienced Air Gunner close to where you are and that could be a place to start - I regularly take members out over my land- so you never know

Les

[paul11277]

Well i have updated my profile as suggested. Sorry Lez no i dont want to shoot mice it was just i had seen somewhere thats rats, mice and squirels where fair game all year with no restrictions. Now for another question then.

When i have been shooting apart from the rabbits what do people do with there kills? Ok a few can come in handy for baiting and attracting crows but what about the rest?

I suppose as a fisher man i could use 1 or 2 for maggot production. Not that i use many maggots.

[Lez325]

you could use all the shot vermin to attract other vermin and
KILL THEM

Les

Or leave them for the Foxes