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Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot

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Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Mon May 09, 05 3:23 pm Post subject:

The insurance angle is a big one - make sure you let the landowner know that you've got substantial third-party cover (which BASC certainly offers its members), as many are terrified of 'cowboys' out with firearms following a few lurid stories in the farming press in the past few years.
As for the ads in the local shop, it would certainly be worth contacting the fowlers and the rough shooters, as both of these are very much 'for the pot'.
Most fowling clubs (at least the better ones) operate a probationer system, whereby you don't go out unaccompanied until you've satisfied them that your quarry recogition and safety awareness is up to scratch - no bad thing when you think of the vagaries of the foreshore, particularly in midwinter.
Otherwise, knocking on doors and letting it be known that you're keen on pot-hunting is a good way in. I was tapped up by a neighbour on Saturday who saw the BASC sticker in the back of the Land Rover and asked if I could do something about the rabbits in his hedges, and as a result of the chat I've now got about 40 acres of rough-shooting gratis.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Mon May 09, 05 6:34 pm Post subject:

boff wrote:

Oh, and when you first approach them dont go dressed as a tree!

No I won't. Besides if it's very good camo then no one would see me at the door.

Thank's for the tips people, I'll check out the air rifle club to start with and see what I need to do.

I've also been a memeber of BASC for a few years now, so the insurance should be sorted.

boff

Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Still alive and kicking

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 8:57 am Post subject:
I got my last shoot by finding out who the local gamekeeper was and offering to go out as a beater.I ended up with access to land for rabbit shooting,paid in pheasants for beating and made lots of useful contacts... Now Ive moved Ive got to do it all over again ... oh well !

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 10:20 am Post subject:
How much does such insurance cost? Looking at the first posting, the 100 quid per year fee looked rather steep for rabbit meat (you pay 2:20 for a rabbit at the butchers here, which I think is steep, so that means you'd have to be wanting to eat 45 and a half rabbits a year... not bad, I suppose, but then there will be other costs).

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 10:25 am Post subject:
It's about £70 for a couple's membership of BASC, which includes some insurance.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 10:51 am Post subject:

Bugs wrote:

It's about £70 for a couple's membership of BASC, which includes some insurance.

So that sounds like better value, if you can then find someone on whos land you can shoot the bunnies.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 11:19 am Post subject:

cab wrote:

How much does such insurance cost?

Looking at the first posting, the 100 quid per year fee looked rather steep for rabbit meat (you pay 2:20 for a rabbit at the butchers here, which I think is steep, so that means you'd have to be wanting to eat 45 and a half rabbits a year... not bad, I suppose, but then there will be other costs).

But it's not just the meat, it's the experience and the fact I can say I've been a member of a club and learnt from experienced people. Some may also have free access to other land and you never know if I could gain extra access like that.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 11:33 am Post subject:

cab wrote:

What a ridiculous statement!...It's not about buying cheap meat, but about lifestyle, recreation, caring for the countryside, conservation, etc.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 11:38 am Post subject:

Madman wrote:

What a ridiculous statement!...It's not about buying cheap meat, but about lifestyle, recreation, caring for the countryside, conservation, etc.

And it's also about the meat being cheap; I can buy wild rabbit from my butchers for a good price, I can see how it's been shot, and I know that it's of good quality. I might consider trying to get into shooting rabbits myself, but a disincentive is that I can buy just the same meat (as ethically, sensibly and sustainably reared as anything I'd shoot) for a pretty good price.

I don't aspire to shoot rabbits for the 'lifestyle', but I eat them because it's a tasty, healthy, ethical food source. Shooting them myself wouldn't make it any more or less so.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 11:39 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

Yeah, there's that. It would no doubt be a lot of fun, and there are all the other benefits. You can't do an easy 'cost benefit' thing here until you've done it.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 11:43 am Post subject:
The point is £150 is not a straight swap for a load of bunnie! You get a few woodies as well. Seriously, you should also get access to land that is private (I've thought it could be a good source of shrooms & fruit etc) the money may help to ensure the land is used for conservation and to many people shooting is enjoyable in itself. Add it all up and £150 looks cheap.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 11:48 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

The point is £150 is not a straight swap for a load of bunnie! You get a few woodies as well.

Good point

How easy are woodies to take with an air rife? I've heard several people talk about them as if they're armour plated.

Quote:

Seriously, you should also get access to land that is private (I've thought it could be a good source of shrooms & fruit etc) the money may help to ensure the land is used for conservation and to many people shooting is enjoyable in itself. Add it all up and £150 looks cheap.

A fair point; the biggie for me here is that it could give the land some extra economic worth.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 12:02 pm Post subject:
I personally think that woodies are hard to kill with a standard 12ft/lbs air rifle. A rabbit is a much easier target. Their feathers do seem to be made of the same stuff as batfink's cape.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Tue May 10, 05 12:07 pm Post subject:

You can get woodies with a non FAC air rifle, but you need a good scope and a head shot. Best time is early morning or in the evening when they're around their roosting trees (which is where cheap scopes, with poor light gathering, are a pain). If you can, shoot from above - either from a platform or, if you're feeling brave, up a tree.
Given the botherance, I prefer a shotgun for woodies out in the field and save the air rifle for bunnies and for bagging the odd woodie from the bedroom window.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Wed May 11, 05 12:19 am Post subject:
in th eevening, when they roost, Don't aim at the crop (base of neck, front.). This will be full of food so your ickle pelet will have to pass through an extra inch or two of this to try and hit something vital, which isn't going to happen. So evening shots with an airgun are headshot only.

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