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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Farmer fired shots over my head, what if anything can I do?

372 replies

unexpectedplaces · 16/05/2015 23:21

Can I ask if anyone knows if this is illegal or not in relation to a right of way across a farmers' land?

To explain what happened and give context. I was walking my dog through a field full of sheep and lambs, dog was at my heel the whole time (no issue whatsoever with the livestock) and we were then away from the sheep and heading for a kissing gate which is where the right of way footpath leads. It crosses a small field and ends up in a village, you can also veer to the left of the kissing gate and continue through the same field ending up at the same point near the village.

I elected to take the left hand path which is about 2 feet away from the official path but divided by a hedge because the small field with the footpath was full of sheep and lambs resting by the gate - I didn't want to disturb them.

I was walking into the sunlight so couldn't see properly but could just about make out a figure a short distance away, a shot was fired into the air followed by 3 more as I walked the length of the hedge. I was really quite worried and hurried through the gate at the end whereupon the shots stopped.

I believe that the gun was either a rifle or a shotgun as the report was pretty loud.

I appreciate that I was off the official footpath strictly speaking but was doing so for purely altruistic reasons (of course he didn't know that).

Should I take this further or was the farmer within his rights? I wish he had just approached me and I could have explained what I was doing and why. The whole incident was pretty unnerving if I'm honest.

Have spoken to a couple of locals who say that the farmer is well known for getting irate about people walking off the right of way.

Any advice please gratefully received

OP posts:
Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 14:33

Quietbat it's possibly only the second or third time in 11 years that I've actually started my own thread so not too bad going. The first one was about education before my children started school and they are now well into secondary!

It will possibly be another decade before I venture forth again Grin!

OP posts:
Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 14:35

and some of the posters would have deemed it quite acceptable for me to have been shot (even by accident) as I was a good 2 foot away from the designated footpath and my dog was just too bloody well trained for their liking Wink.

OP posts:
Boardingblues · 17/05/2015 14:35

OP is fine - obviously as she so was shaken she took to MN! If she really thought she had been shot at (or over), she would have called the police. She knows she wasn't, so she didn't.

BTW If OP ever goes to South Africa - it not OK to shoot someone there either.

Boardingblues · 17/05/2015 14:36

Your dog could be the sheep dog of the year and it is still supposed to be on the lead around livestock!

Mrsmorton · 17/05/2015 14:38

OP, did you vote conservative? Bcse you know, there's about as much hate for you on here if you did as if you leave your dog off a lead in the same county as a sheep. Grin

Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 14:38

I haven't ever claimed that I was shot at Boarding are you another who hasn't bothered to read the last 8 pages? I was merely asking if it was worth raising with the local community police, no-where have I claimed to have been 'shaken'. I said that it was a bit unnerving which it was.

OP posts:
Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 14:40

I've read AIBU over the years and often wondered what it was like to be in the firing line, now I know. It's a curious feeling I must say, but I'm cool with it.

OP posts:
Boardingblues · 17/05/2015 14:42

I was referring to the other posters who are referring to you being shot at and are escalating your experience.

AgentZigzag · 17/05/2015 14:43

I think you should post more threads in AIBU OP, your patience and politeness in the face of being told it would have been your own fault if you or you DDog had been shot has been amazing.

Definitely good for AIBU's bear pit reputation.

Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 14:46

Hee hee it has been interesting and I won't pretend a little upsetting but ho hum Smile.

I will update regardless of the response gulp!

OP posts:
SmillasSenseOfSnow · 17/05/2015 14:51

Your dog could be the sheep dog of the year and it is still supposed to be on the lead around livestock!

Not according to the legislation that has been posted repeatedly throughout the course of the thread, Boardingblues. Try reading it (the legislation and the thread, since it is evident you haven't really looked at either).

Boardingblues · 17/05/2015 15:17

I am well aware of the legislation. I am also aware that "under close control" is not defined and therefore does not necessarily mean that it is ok to have the dog off the lead. The bottom line is that the right of a dog owner (and I am one) walking a dog in their leisure time does not outweigh the rights of a farmer to their livelihood. OP was not on a footpath, the dog was not on a lead.

Haffdonga · 17/05/2015 15:29

MN at its very barmiest best.

You have a dog. Therefore you deserve to be shot. Hmm

ARealPipperoo · 17/05/2015 15:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

tomatodizzymum · 17/05/2015 15:40

He sounds like a nutjob. I'd contact the police.

nickersinaknot · 17/05/2015 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 16:33

My perfect dog doesn't poo nickers what were you suggesting Grin!

OP posts:
londonrach · 17/05/2015 16:37

Nickers and unexpected you just made me laugh very loudly so now having to explain to dh. Grin

TallGiraffes · 17/05/2015 16:48

I live in a very quiet backwater, round here the police would leap at this kind of report! I kid you not, one of our farm workers once swore at a woman who walked across our farm and was giving him grief about modern farming (yes he shouldn't have done, but that was genuinely all he did) and she reported it to the police. They came out and said that if he couldn't be trusted to be respectful to women then they'd take away his shotgun license. Heaven have helped him if he'd fired a shot!

Collaborate · 17/05/2015 17:33

You haven't a clue whether it was even a gun shot, let alone if it was whether it was aimed at you. There's no evidence a crime has been committed. The title of the thread is misleading given what you have gone on to post.

Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 17:41

Thank you for your insightful input Collaborate.

OP posts:
nickersinaknot · 17/05/2015 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Adarajames · 17/05/2015 17:59

The dog WAS under control

It is NOT legal to shoot someone because they are trespassing on your land (unless you fear for your life, and even then you'll have a fight to prove that!), nor to shoot towards / above them

Even though ou ant be totally sure op, YANBU to want to report this, and I certainly would, but would be clear with them the limits of what I did see

QuintShhhhhh · 17/05/2015 18:09

But how long does it take from a dog start chasing a sheep until it can cause serious harm?

10 minutes? 10 seconds?

You never know with dogs, and as far as I am aware, a farmer can shoot dogs for disturbing sheep.

Maybe you could even say it was graceful of him to shoot a couple of warning shots to let you know what would happen if your dag were to give chase?

CalleighDoodle · 17/05/2015 18:12

I often find it incredibly entertaining to read page one then the last page on a Thread. Then wonder what the hell happened inbetween.