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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 00:31

The convoluted paths I take through fields to avoid disturbing resting sheep must look hilarious from above Grin!

OP posts:
Charleybarley · 17/05/2015 00:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 00:37

Charley I do understand and sympathise with farmers and I really do try and be my most considerate. I've lived in the country for 30 years so haven't just fallen out of the town.

This incident probably occurred as I was slightly off my local patch for a change. Around my way all the farmers know me and my dog.

I would happily do a One Man and his Dog test for the police if they wanted to see his recall proven.

Actually if this makes any difference I've just discovered that although he owns the land he no longer farms it - the sheep aren't his, he rents out the field to someone else. That makes him even less likely to have been interested in the sheep aspect of the incident but still keenly interested in the right of way issue.

OP posts:
Original poster
unexpectedplaces · 17/05/2015 00:39

I'm almost tempted to walk the same route without the dog to see if the same thing happens but I won't.

OP posts:
LatinForTelly · 17/05/2015 00:45

Firearms should only be in the hands of people that can actually be trusted to use them responsibly, calmly and safely, and that is the actual issue here.

I agree with this.

Let the police know. In my experience they are very interested in holders of shotgun licences behaving erratically.

differentnameforthis · 17/05/2015 05:43

Once you stray off the right of way, you are trespassing...you can try the police, but you were in the wrong too, because the moment you took the route off the track, you were illegally on his property!

Land owners are allowed to get angry if you stray off the right of way on their land. Imagine having kids running around on your property invited, or dogs straying of & worrying your pets. Just because YOUR dog didn't worry them, it doesn't mean that several before him haven't either.

OP, it really doesn't matter where the sheep were, or how close to you your dog was, or how under complete control he was... your dog could have been on them in no time at all! Quicker than it takes for you to stop him. The potential for a dog to attack is always there around livestock, you don't seem to understand that!

Being close at heel still does not give you the time or the opportunity to grab him if he decides to strike!

You weren't even on the right of way op..you were on the farmers PRIVATE land when he fired shots. Just because the field has a right of way IN it, doesn't make the whole field & those surrounding it a huge massive right of way for anyone who wants decides to be 'considerate' (how can he have know that?) The most considerate thing you could have done was stick to the designated route for the public & keep you dog on the lead.

I thought that was common sense & you would know this if you have "lived in the country all my life"

It wasn't just about the sheep..it was about YOU being illegally on HIS land with a dog off lead, who had the potential to worry his sheep!! It was about all of it. I haven't lived in the country for a while now, but when I did the local farmer had a rifle he used to sound warning shots if you were on his land. It was a pretty common thing & it obviously hasn't changed. So it isn't new, op!

Well he is responsible with it, isn't he? You aren't dead, are you? He wasn't firing AT you, he was warning you that you were off the right of way...

Your ignorance is astounding when you say you have lived rurally all your life!!

Mistigri · 17/05/2015 07:12

Police, for sure.

Dog was under control. The very worst that can be said is that you were trespassing but this is not a criminal matter. In contrast it seems to me very likely that the farmer has broken the criminal law around the handling of shotguns in public places.

(I do understand why farmers get irate about dogs in their fields - my best friend is a horse farmer and one of his horses was attacked by four dogs last week, causing serious injuries to three legs and requiring over 100 stitches. But this dog wasn't a threat and even if it was, you can't just let off random shots when there are people around!)

londonrach · 17/05/2015 07:14

Police matter. However dog should be on lead especially if in a field of sheep.

londonrach · 17/05/2015 07:18

Sorry just read you off the path with a dog without a lead. You trespassing them. Report to police re the gunshots but suspect they have words to say to you. Even if you keep your dog under close control he needs a lead in this situation!

BlueStringPudding · 17/05/2015 07:19

Please at least mention it to the police. We had an erratic elderly (puppy) farmer locally, who was renowned for being cantankerous and who was allowed by the police to keep shotguns. Sadly he shot dead a mother and daughter (known to him). He is now in prison and the police being investigated as to why they let him keep the guns despite concerns being raised about his behaviour around guns, including one by one of the victims.

The police need to have this information which could add to other reports they may have received.

RobinHumphries · 17/05/2015 07:30

So..... According to that link

  1. You were trespassing
  2. Your dog should have been on a lead
  3. If your dog had gone for the sheep it could have been shot

Finally you don't know where the shots went. In your title you say it was above your heads then you simply say there were in the air. All Mr Farmer has to say was the evidence is in the oven and would the policeman like a nice slice of rabbit pie

StarDustMonkey · 17/05/2015 07:35

You keep saying that the farmer I'd x y and z... but you said you couldn't make out who it was! Why then keep making this about the farmer who may not have even been there.

StarDustMonkey · 17/05/2015 07:36

Did not I'd. ..Bloody phone!

ltk · 17/05/2015 07:44

I cannot believe anyone is going on about the dog. Trying to shoot a dog that was standing near its owner, lead or no, would be so stupid and dangerous that I would expect a prison sentence. The OP was nowhere near sheep when she heard the shots. Even if she was, shooting near her is shockingly irresponsible and the farmer could lose his right to have a weapon.

Report to the police. One, he may already have lost his license for similar behaviour and that gun is illegal. Two, bullets fired into the air fall back down with enough velocity to kill a person. Three, the police may have had other complaints and are building up a picture.

ltk · 17/05/2015 07:48

No one should fire shots over trespassing. If that is indeed why he was shooting, he should have his firearms taken away.

If he needs to communicate from a distance with walkers, perhaps he should invest in a whistle Or a lOudspeaker.

propelusagain · 17/05/2015 07:49

Farmer was totally in the right.

I was walking my dog through a field full of sheep and lambs, Off a lead.

FFs OP what were you thinking.

ginmakesitallok · 17/05/2015 07:49

So, while you were walking you heard 4 shots. You say yourself you don't know if they were fired at you. For all you know gun could have been pointed the other way. Storm in a tea cup.

Mistigri · 17/05/2015 07:52

Very surprised at some of the replies. Has Mumsnet gone to Texas for the weekend or something?!

Sparrowlegs248 · 17/05/2015 07:56

Was he definitely facing in your direction? If so, he was firing over a public footpath. That is definitely not allowed and needs to be reported.
Also.. if you couldn't see him properly, surely he wouldn't have been able to tell if your dog was on a lead or not?

OffTheBackOfALaurie · 17/05/2015 07:56

It is not 'illegal' to stray from a right of way .

reup · 17/05/2015 08:00

Lots of posters must live in quite scary places than shooting is deemed the most appropriate reaction for trespassing. Also the OP has said the same info soon many times but still people are not reading properly.

bunchoffives · 17/05/2015 08:05

I can't believe any dog owner would even take a dog through a field full of sheep and lambs tbh.... what for? Just avoid. There must be other walks ffs.

But off the lead? That is really taking the piss. No wonder the farmer was going nuts.

propelusagain · 17/05/2015 08:08

reup- no some of us actually live in the country.

If the farmer had shot this dog dead on the spot I would be fully supportive.

Cherriesandapples · 17/05/2015 08:09

Sheep get very stressed by dogs, particularly its lambs. You weren't on the path. Next time just stick to the path.