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

What lady flump says.

Please make it clear that you didn't see the figure clearly. Are not sure who they were, do not know in which direction they were aiming at or anything.

Sorry for the typos juggling cake baking and supporting ds with his phys revision...can't multitask

I guess it will be hard for the PCSO as well - unless there's a history.

"Farmer Joe, did you fire a shotgun over someone's head when they were walking nearby?"

Unless he's a complete idiot, he'll probably deny it.

But yes - I love the outrage at the dog and sheep bit - when the OP is about a gun being fired.

(Has anyone else been reminded of the Archers when Will / Ed's dog gets shot by the other brother on the farm?")

Mrsmorton I love the outrage bus comment! I did think hard before I started the thread as although I've been on MN 11 years I could count on 2 fingers the amount of threads I've ever started and this is my first in AIBU so suspected I would get a fair trouncing!

It was definitely 4 shots over a 100 yard distance. Could have been a crow scarer yes I guess but I did see the person standing there so thinking possibly a person responsible.

Idefix No signs anywhere, I know that this is not the issue though. I've lived here 20 years and know where all the 'Mind the Bull' signs are fixed. I will put the dog on the lead although I really don't think the sheep are the issue but will do so to avoid any future confusion and yes will not deviate 2 foot from said paths in future for similar reason even if it does mean disturbing all the livestock.

No I couldn't identify the person from Adam and am not claiming too, it was only when I told my friend and we worked out who's land it was that it became more apparent who it might have been given the history of the person. I haven't told a soul apart from her and my DH and won't be telling anyone else about the incident and certainly not casting any false allegations. If the PCOS gives me a ticking off then so be it.

ideFix:
The police will not be in the slightest but interested in someone being a few metres off a footpath. it is not a matter for the police, no 'law' was disregarded and it is not illegal unless any damage is done, and then it is the damage that is illegal.

OP - If it was gunshot it shouldn't have been happening without warning close to a public right of way. And the landowner shouldn't be sanctioning it, and needs to know if someone else is using guns on the property.

So do report I to the police, without, perhaps, naming anyone, just describing what you did in actuality, see.

The hysteria and misinformation around the law on this thread is astounding. Perhaps people should busy themselves studying the terms of a gun licence.

Funny how people are being got at for not reading the bit where the dog doesn't have to be on a lead, but so many posters are completely missing the bit where the OP says she saw a "figure" not the farmer and doesn't know where that figure was shooting but she is being encouraged to report the farmer to the Police, and in fact has done!

Oh and yes I certainly do remember the thread about the children chasing the sheep and the farmer quite rightly telling them off. If he had come and had a go at me that would have been far more reasonable behaviour imho.

TheFairyCaravan I have reported the incident, I haven't mentioned any names at all.

She presumably has / will report what she knows happened and what she saw / did not see - not speculation and gossip.
We do not know that she named the farmer etc.

I've just left a message asking for clarification. I absolutely will not name the farmer, just the land that I was on. He's a big land owner in the area, I will probably be run out of the county !

She presumably has / will report what she knows happened and what she saw / did not see

Not a lot then!

No TheFairy I agree not a lot and probably it will mean absolutely nothing in the scheme of things, I'm happy with that as I'm not trying to prove anything or out to get anyone. That's why I asked the question really, happy for it to be nothing. We don't live in South Africa though where people can be trigger happy with abandon.

The incident I mentioned Unexpected involved issues very much like yours, a certain area, shots being fired etc but not always with 100% proof that the shots came from the farmer. It was the amount of calls building up that led to the farmer losing his licence and finding himself in court. So it's good that you have reported, as this may well have happened to other people.

It our case it was an absolute near miss (like inches) that finally spurred the police on to investigate properly, and the mountain of previous reports that had him prosecuted.

I'm quite interested in this as we have a local man who likes to shoot cats on his land and has done at least twice. He shoots them to cause maximum injury without actually killing them. Since he won't answer the door, and legally owns a gun, apparently the police can't do anything

was not and am not confused about the op trespassing or the disregard that she showed for the law/bylaw Laurie. Unless of course op this happened in Scotland where most land is open to you?

www.environmentlaw.org.uk/rte.asp?id=207

Interesting that on this website it suggests that it is the dog that is trespassing when you deviated off the footpath

Will be interesting to see what feedback you get. I am glad that you chose not to name anyone as you are not sure. Still agree with you that the loud report of a gun can be incredibly unnerving op.

Hope the link works, was interesting reading.

It was unnerving esp as I couldn't see anything with the sun in my eyes, I just kept thinking please don't let anything horrible happen to me or my dog. The irony of trying to save the other sheep from having to get up is not lost on me!

Will read the article thank you.

Does everybody know that shooting PEOPLE is illegal, whatever they are doing??

Even if OP had let her dog off the lead in the middle of a private and was encouraging it to savage sheep and lambs you still can't threaten people with firearms.

All this quibbling about whether he was shooting rabbits/didn't see her/ whether dog was classed as under control etc is for the police to decide (to be honest somebody being in charge of and firing a gun in the same field as you not noticing you were there is almost as scary as deliberately 'warning' you).

Well done for reporting - I would be bloody livid (and yes I grew up in the countryside and understand all this farmer's livelihood rubbish).

'Does everybody know that shooting PEOPLE is illegal, whatever they are doing??'

No, really?? How did that one pass me by?

If anyone has any other info on that could they email me at [email protected].

The Right to use a public footpath is a right enshrined in law.

That does not mean the act of deviating from a public footpath is an illegal or criminal ac - even though of course one should stick to the right of way. Doing something you have no right to do does not mean you are breaking the law if you do it.
Trespass is a civil matter (i.e the police will not be interested) and there would have to be proof of harm.

Let's say the farmer was shooting into air as warning. For those of you who agree it is his right, where do you think those bullets go?

Funny some of the PP have mentioned Texas. I live there, and about 4 weeks ago in our small commuter town, a teenage girl was sitting her in garden enjoying the sunshine and was shot. Bullet lodged either in neck or skull (can't quite remember) very lucky not to have been killed.

Police are looking for someone who has been firing gun into the air as that is what is determined to have caused the injury to the girl. Must check to see if there is further news on this actually.

Point being, unless farmer was being attacked, or dog was mauling a sheep, or he was putting down a sick animal, no need for him to be discharging a fire arm at that time.

What an extraordinary thread.

Of course the police will be interested in the potentially illegal use of a lethal weapon. Maybe the shots were completely unrelated to the OP's presence, but if they were an attempt to use a firearm to intimidate then it's the sort of behaviour that the police should know about. It's up to them to determine whether any further action is required.

"What an extraordinary thread."

Ain't that the truth.

The anti-OP argument seems to be that she doesn't know that it was the farmer firing, she doesn't know that she was specifically the cause of him firing, and in any case, it was her fault the farmer was firing because she was trespassing and didn't have the dog on a lead. Er...