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

[unexpectedplaces]

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

I think you need to be careful re casting aspersions and gossip as regards the farmer,his eye sight and his private life to suit your story. It could be deemed as slanderous.

bunbaker
I came on this thread to say exactly what you've said!

The farmer was out of order, and he needs a visit from the local police. If he's losing the plot, then even more so.

However, he is or was not a mind reader, and could not have known about how well your dog is trained etc etc.

I would suggest in future that you allay any fears of potential farmers by having your dog on a lead in any field of sheep, whether you're walking through the flock, or at the very edge. Then there is absolutely no mistaking that the dog is under control.

Farmers lose huge amounts of livestock to dogs, and many live on the breadline as it is.

Op, you sound so entitled.

I thought it was just normal decency for dog owners to put their dog on a lead, when walking across a farmers field, full of sheep with lamb.

I am just gobsmacked that you did not put your dog on a lead. And to be honest, it reinforces my views on the majority of dogowners as entitled and self important people. It is down there with letting their dog lay a 1kg of poo outside the gates of a primary school, and not scooping it up.

We go for country walks as a family. I don't think I have seen dogs off lead crossing farmers fields. And it would not occur to me to trespass outside the given path. I think it is so important to be mindful of your surroundings when you walk on other peoples land. Maybe it is only city folk who care? Maybe the locals don't give a shit, and don't respect the land at all. It does not sound like it, from the way you disrespect this farmer on a public forum.

Dogs do not need to be restrained on a field of livestock, unless there are sheep in the field, in which case the dog must either be n a lead or under close control. the problem is that there is no definition of "close control". Even the most obedient of dogs may chase after sheep if not on a lead. If that happens, the dog owner is committing an offence.

that doesn't not make me not sheep aware though and I took a considered decision re the lead

You made the wrong decision.
You are not sheep aware if you think it is okay to take your dog off-lead through a field of sheep just because you think he is well-trained and hasn't worried them in the past. Your dog is not a trained sheep dog. The next time you do this could be the first time your dog chases sheep.

Quint did you bother reading the bit where I said I went the wrong side of the hedge to avoid disturbing a large flock of sheep. I was being mindful as it happens. Clearly I shouldn't have bothered as it has lead to this.

He would have seen me walk through the sheep and presumably wasn't bothered or he would have discharged the gun there and then. He waited until I was well away from the sheep and I had veered two foot off the designated footpath before the shots started, they stopped as soon as I reached the end.

I'm not 'gossiping' about anyone Ivy only two people in RL know, my DH and a close friend who's advice I asked. I could live absolutely anywhere in the country so I hope no-one will be accusing me of slander. I came on here anonymously for a bit of advice. I even name changed to avoid any problems - I've been on MN for 11 years btw and have always found the views of posters helpful and balanced on the whole.

Perhaps he was waiting until you left the field to avoid carnage ie a startled dog running amok amongst his sheep. Once out of the field he could shoot and kill it if needs be far easier as his animals would have more protection.

I hadn't left the field Ivy I was in the empty bit.

I think I may have said just once or twice that my dog was perfectly calm, in control and at my heel.

But not on a lead as it should have been.

but clearly under control as the clause in the act states.

God, some dog owners give other dog owners a bad name.............

Maryz I quite agree, although I think I would go beyond that and say that it's a good example of the mn phenomenon of a certain quota of people who have read the thread developing a sort of post anopia.
It's like that test for colour blindness, how some people can see the numbers in the different coloured dots and others can't. In a similar way, as demonstrated on this thread, a proportion of people can read the OPs posts, and then the subsequent responses, see the whole picture and then go onto to comment thoughtfully. Others however can only see 'dog off lead in field of sheep'. All other information is then rendered irrelevant.

I believe the OP could have posted almost anything:

I was walking through a field with sheep in, my dog at close heel, when...
a soviet satellite came crashing down not 5m from where I stood. It,s a miracle I'm still alive!

I successfully performed the heimlich manoeuvre on a young person choking on a Fox's Galcier Mint.

Bradley Cooper leapt naked from behind a hedge and seduced me (he wasn't that great btw).

I saw some glinting metal and subsequently unearthed an ancient Saxon crown.

Dog off lead in field with sheep in = tick tick tick KABOOM.

I agree goose. And then quoting the relevant bit of law and completely ignoring what it says!

Even if he was shooting something else and it was nothing to do with you, he should not be shooting above you!!!! Report it to the police, at best he is not await of the safety implications of having a gun at worst he is being totally reckless in a quest to make a stupid point

goose yes it does feel a bit like that! I've tried to remain really patient and explain the situation over and over but it does feel a bit pointless. It's the same people who are determined to see something that didn't happen.

I just really hope that they don't ever get called up for jury service.

I wondered when Hakluyt would be back to have another go

Thank you Tough I've left a message on the PCSO phone.

I will update and more than happy to be told that I was completely in the wrong.

Goose made me laugh.

OP, you've said yourself you don't know what he was shooting at and I'd be astounded if he was shooting over your head but as others have said, it may be part of a pattern of behaviour so no harm in telling the local police.

Four shots may be a little unusual, being that a shotgun only has two cartridges max and a rifle is single shot. But I guess not impossible.

Your dog sounds well behaved, despite that, the rabid outpouring here may indicate it's best to keep him on a lead if only to prevent the outrage bus being fired up!

My parents are sheep farmers and my dog is never on a lead at theirs. He got beaten up by one of the Suffolk ewes when he was a puppy and now he rolls on his back and submits as soon as one looks in his general direction.

I shall take my place next to josef fritzl as this is surely a crime of similar proportion.

Op I have read the thread and I have to say I am a little confused about some aspects.

Fine that dog was off the lead as has been pointed out the law supports this as dog was under close control. What probably confuses people is most of the signage you see, especially nearby footpaths which asks you put a lead on the dog.

Not so good that you decided to disregard the law and go off the footpath however altruistic your motivations. You say you plan to put the dog on the lead in future to avoid any potential misunderstandings. Are you also planning to stick to the footpaths from now on?

you say that you were walking into the sunshine and did not clearly identify the person, were you at any point able to identify who the person was and that it was that person who had a gun? Regardless of who they are did you at any point see where the gun was pointed?

I like other pp live in a rural setting and am pretty used to gunshots which can be startling when you are not expecting them but accept that living in the countryside this is something that happens. Am not particularly good at working out which direction that are coming from or or being aimed at. You say you couldn't see clearly how do. You know they were meant for you? The fact that they stopped when you left the field could have been coincidence.

If they were aimed over your head this was wrong and should be addressed but not sure if this could ever be proven.

As others have said and regardless of only telling two people in rl I would be careful about naming someone if you didn't clearly see them. I imagine if you are honest with the cp thay will also be giving you some advice on your use of footpaths.

Haven't read the whole thread, so apologies if this is mentioned already.

You say that the sun was in your eyes and you just saw a "figure" then heard three loud shots .

Is it at all possible you were attacked by a scarecrow with the crow scarer on a motion sensor?

A farm here has just started using crow scarer and the police were called at first because residents were concerned about the gunfire!

Op I think you are getting an unnecessarily hard time here and I write as somebody who waded in on a recent thread where someone let there kids run amok in a field of sheep.

You sound aware and responsible to me and have acknowledged fully that in future a lead would be good. That way you can't be accused on MN or get caught out by your dog or the farmer! You took avoiding action to protect sheep which is the opposite of what many posters have accused you of. Round here the farmers don't mind if you stray from the path provided you keep to the edge and avoid livestock.

I think a quick word with the community PC thing to do. You can mention the incident without making a direct accusation or claiming that you were shot at. Even if the police do nothing they will be made aware and if there are other reports they should follow it up.