To not want to see somebody shooting a gun from my kitchen window?

[Staffielove23]

We back onto a field and the farmer is literally going round with his gun shooting at ‘I’ve no idea what’. Is this legal to do this so close to somebody’s house? We can see him so we are in the firing line. I mean, I know he wouldn’t intentionally shoot as us but what if he gets us while aiming for something else, I know the farm was here before us, etc but I feel slightly unnerved as my children play out in the garden in the evening times with the lighter night, and there’s loads of other fields behind this one that don’t directly back onto people’s houses.

Since the shootings in Plymouth, the emphasis is on the applicant to prove they have have just cause, somewhere to use it (either sufficient ground or a shooting range for clays) and have an appreciation of safety and how a gun can intimidate the non shooting public, for rifle, even tougher

All very interesting but obviously this farmer and the vast majority of farmers can prove all of this.

I shoot on my own land and have farmed sheep commercially for over 50 years! I definitely do know what I am talking about.

Who said anything about a shot gun? The OP had no idea what he was using. I agree that he is unlikely to be shooting rabbits. He was most likely shooting crows.

We don't use hides for foxes, don't need them as they parade around without any fear of persecution when the lambs are out. If we are out checking the sheep, we carry guns to deal with any necessary predators as we see them.

If the dog is worrying the sheep, the famer has a legal defence so can shoot it if the owner is not out there with it to bring it under control. A lot of farmers have lost their patience with out of control dogs and I don't blame them. The situation has got much worse since Covid - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/apr/04/if-your-dog-goes-for-my-sheep-then-i-will-shoot-uk-farmers-warn-walkers

So @Staffielove23

Is it a rifle?
Is it a shotgun?
Is he aiming in your direction?

Pertinent questions, the answers to which determine whether he is actually doing anything illegal, or not.

I'm curious as to the police response.

Me too. Let’s hope the farmer wasn’t the homicidal maniac that the OP took him for 🤔

Imagine buying a house in a rural area, that backs onto a FARMER'S field, and then being shocked that there's a farmer there, with a shotgun. 🙄

This place sometimes..........

I know, makes me laugh.

I know someone who shoots for farmers (so skilled he has competed in shooting competition at high levels). The OP doesn't even know what kind of gun is in use in this scenario so hasn't even the vaguest idea of what it is being used for, it's range etc.

As it happens a lovely city born lady moved to the countryside and was utterly horrified by aforementioned friend shooting animals (they were neighbours) Especially if (god forbid) the animals were eaten afterwards!

She was a keen gardener and had moved to the countryside as she wanted land to grow a large proportion of her own food. It only took one year of everything being decimated by the local deer population for her to ask shooting friend for the offending animals to be on the wrong side of his rifle.

The countryside is not the same as the city and sensibilities are very different.

Hopefully the police will be able to put OPs mind to rest.

@Drowninginoptions Maybe you should read our own organisations advice then?
https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/for-the-public/culture/sheep-worrying/advice-for-farmers/2486/destroying-dogs-that-attack/#:~:text=It%20is%20important%20to%20remember,a%20threat%20in%20the%20future.&text=You%20must%20report%20the%20shooting%20to%20the%20police%20within%2048%20hours.

The Police are currently reviewing all licence holders suitability, hence the huge increase in revokes and 2 to 3 year waits for grants.

amazing how MN attracts so many sheepfarmers.

I think all farmers know you can’t shoot a dog which has left your property and that you need to report it if you shoot a dog.

Years ago I did live on a farm and my boyfriend at the time killed two of the neighbours dogs who were persistent sheep worriers. One he shot in the sheep field. The other was always too nippy, and in the end he left poison down. He only got prosecuted for one of those dogs, I’m sure you can guess which one.

Yes and experts pertaining to the threads generally.

Do you not just think that if someone sees a thread about something vaguely related to heir job or area of expertise they’re just more likely to comment on it? Sheep farming is hardly a niche occupation, I’m sure there’s plenty of farmers and farmers wives /daughters on MN. It’s not deep sea diving or space exploration.

It wasn't the farmers I was thinking of here.

All this country folk v city folk is a bit ridiculous

Yes, the way some people move from the city to a rural location and expect farmers to change their work methods to suit them is ridiculous.

Oh. Yes. 😁

I'm not reading all 9 pages but based on the OP, no you are not unreasonable to be unnerved. I would hate this.

My parents like rurally and have a mahoosive bull in the field behind them. I find that unnerving! Never mind a human with a gun which is one of the most dangerous combinations you can get.

Don’t phone the police. Have some empathy and establish first why he is shooting and how often and what measures you can agree together. If you report him to the police you could make it harder for him to renew his shotgun licence, even if he is acting entirely lawfully. This is way over the top and a good way of making sure everyone in a small village dislikes you. Professional shooters are paid to control vermin - especially as pp said, covids, at this time of year, as they peck out the eyes of newborn lambs.

We've got someone like this in our village, who moved from the town to the country. They shouldn't have.
There is a village Facebook, which I get shown by next door occasionally.
Full of ill informed complaints about maniacal farmers with evil guns, shooting the dear little foxes and bunnies, malicious muck spreading, tractors too loud through the village, towing dangerous farm machinery, horses pooing on the roads, etc.
It is both very funny and very annoying.

@user12345678213 I am quite aware of the law and the advice. There has been no indication from the OP that the farmer was out of order so what point are you trying to make?

I am a regular poster on boards about dogs and farming, but I change my name often as sometimes I think what I say may be outing. I am very vocal about dogs off lead on farmland or around wildlife for good reason, so yes maybe you do see me posting a lot. I know other sheep farmers who feel the same way and we all post across all types of social media in an attempt to raise awareness of the damage dogs do amongst the general public.

The fact is that us farmers legally carry and use guns so the OP needs to accept that or move somewhere without pretty lambs over the back fence.

Yes, I am lucky enough to live properly rurally so any of that nonsense gets shut down pretty quickly. We did have a horse poo complainer though when dhorse did a massive poo directly outside the small primary school. People drive for miles to get to the school and were most annoyed that they might get shit on their tyres.

There are quite a few farmers on mumsnet. Not surprising really given how isolating it is as a way of living and how the internet and access to conversation with other women is a lifeline for many women in rural areas.

The Facebook groups for uk farming women are some of the busiest groups I'm part of on Facebook, in one there is 10k in another there is 14.5k

Makes sense a lot of those women are probably on here too.

What sort of job do you need to be able to post on MN then? I may be from farming stock but I’m still allowed an iPad. Obviously I can only use it in between churning butter and carrying pails of milk whilst dressed in my milkmaid’s smock 🤣

Incomers anywhere have to acclimatize so it pays to be calm and kind, but yes these people are definitely a thing, moving somewhere because they like the birdsong, then shitting all over the way of life and inventing dangers in the hope of creating problems for people.

Isn't a lovely way to introduce yourself to a community whose kids can't afford to live where they grew up because of influx from cities pricing them out of the market. Hi I'm Karen, I thought your Tuesday could do with a letter from the council or an armed response unit or something.

I was bought up in the countryside, all the people i knew at school or all the old time families have long gone, our village is packed with new comers who call themselves locals, it doesn't bother me but this idea the countryside is full of locals with intolerant outsiders invading is about 30 years too late.

Incidentally, i don't know anyone who shoots near other peoples gardens, most of the stuff people like to shoot aren't next to the local Barretts estate.

Op the above comment was somewhat confrontational but the farmer isn’t actually trying to bully you. He’s just doing what he’s always done on his own land. He’ll be an experienced shooter and your family are in no danger whatsoever but he will likely be mortified to find out that his actions have alarmed you.

I really think you should just go and speak to him. I don’t think he will be at all angry or threatening and I’m sure you’ll be able to come to some agreement. When he tells you just what he was shooting at you might actually be pleased that he’s keeping the field vermin free, even if you’d still prefer him to let you know when he’s going to be out there.