Posted: 1/13/2007 3:17:30 PM EDT
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Guys I know there's many a target shooter/plinker  and hunter here. I've target shot since I was about 12 and spent many an evening helping my father clean club pistol/rifles on military bases. I've had the pleasure of owning and shooting pistols and my now slowly growing rifle collection.But I'd like to do some hunting, mainly rabbits. I remember going rabbiting with my father when I was a child on RAF bases/runways when he was using his old faithful air rifle and with permission. My Mother always did the skining and cooking so as kids me and my two brothers often had rabbit for dinner and that was normal. I have little knowledge about the legal requirements for hunting for game/rabbits and the shooting seasons so I'd like to hear from those of you who know....what is needed. What do I need to know....how do you approach landowners....what do you request for you ticket...ie, specific land /open tickets and what do they mean and thier restrictions. I have no reservatiosn about my shooting abilities. I'm no sharpshooter but I believe I could take rabbits with a clean shot...where does one aim....where is the sweet shot/spot? How does one prepare rabbit for cooking....anyone here got a guide for cooking/preparing. Thanks in advance Cheers Taffy |
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I am by no means an expert on hunting, but i do know a bit about the legal side. You will need to write to your local firearms department, and request a condition on your ticket that allows you to shoot on approved land. Before you do this you will need to obtain permission to shoot on some land that has either already been cleared be the police for the requred calibre's, or you can request they clear it. You will need to give police the details of the land you have permission to shoot on. This will mean that you can use your rifles on land that has been approved/cleared by the police and which you have permission to shoot on. An open ticket means you can use your rifle on ANY land YOU deem safe, and you have permission to shoot on. You will not get an open ticket as a beginner to hunting, but most forces will grant you one after 3 years, or, as is more often the case, on renewal. |
One question Taffy? You've been shooting for a while so is your ticket "open"? |
I though you only get an open ticket if you have been shooting on land, not just ranges? |
No mate I've no hunting clauses on my FAC at the moment...purely target shooting so an open ticket is a no-no for me at the moment. As far as I know I'll need to get a landowner to agree to me shooting there and sign a form allowing me to shoot there....then this land must be authorised for me and and a specific maximim calibre and type of quarry. yes..? Taffy ETA Even though I don't have an air-rifle at the moment would it be prudent to do some hunting with one first to gain the trust of the firearms Licensing people. ie there's a couple of golf courses nearby and I'd doubt they'd allow 22 rimfire but they may allow air-rifle for pest control...your thoughts..? |
Pretty much...  .... Lot of hoops to jump through there to...... Good memory needed to start, most liason officers will have to visit the land that you want to shoot over (unless it has been "walked" previously) and they will tell you what calibre / ground you can and can't shoot.......Example: First year I asked for authority on 146 acres of local ground for vermin control, zeroing etc was told that the whole lot was fullbore approved...... except for 12 acres near the village (fair enough) only for shot....... 4 years later mate applies over same ground told that only 43 acres fullbore now due to complaints  ..... Thsnk Gaad my ticket is open.....
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Great info guys... So define ground that is ok and ground that is not ok...distance from roads/population/public footpaths for 22lr lets say. Elevation...valley/flat ground. Obviously where I am there's plenty of mountains so I'd assume that'd be safer than flat ground. |
Well in Warwickshire for .22lr they want 1mile clearance, or a natural backstop (e.g. hill), without roads or concealed footpaths (like behind hedges). All land is different, and you it really needs to be seen before you can say its safe in most cases. |
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I've probably been to visit about 7-8 local landowners about shooting on their land and almost all of them had said they aready have people shooting there. I always approach them as the family man looking for land to shoot on and always have my son in my arms when I have been door knocking. The one woman who did give me permission ( I know her son ) had a very small farm....right next to the M4....I thought I'd never get permission for that land so I never persued it due to common sense. Taffy |
I suspect that most ground in "the valleys around you" have been walked already and have approval for whatever calibre the FEO designated...... I would stat with a few friendly chats with local farmers.... In the pub or otherwise (I was quite lucky in that I worked for loads of them over a few years  ).....Wabbits can be a real plague for some farmers, but watch out for the wives.... Some hate guns with a passion, some nights I have to sneak in and sneak out to keep the peace...  ... leaving no bodies in plain sight..... Why the frack would a farmer marry a veggy
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Mark The old girl who gave me permission to shoot her land said fine....as long as I gave her a few bunnies. . Such a shame her land was what I percieve as to be too small and too near a major motorway.
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As for a sweet spot, I am a favourite of the head shot...... Distances at night longer.... blah blah..... There is so much to learn it may be worth your while to tag along (not armed) with another shooter (do you know one) and have a looksee...  I didn't realise that a rucksack would be useful until I'd carried one back to the car half full with wabbits..... That and .17 HMR's should be field cleaned after 10 rounds....
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I do know one and I'll be hassling him shortly...  Rucksack....= Tesco carrier bag |
Try half filling one of them with 15 bunnies........ I would recommend a 50 litre sack at least ETA: Go on 5000
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It is interesting to hear of the hoops UK hunters have to jump through in order to hunt. Although regulations vary by state, here is a summary of our paper circus. Anyone born after Jan 1, 1949 must have successfully complete a hunter education class to hunt in Colorado. The class is 13-21 hours long and includes 10 rounds of live fire to make sure the student handles a firearm safely. You have to be 12 or older to large game (deer, elk, moose, sheep, goats, bear, mountain lion or antelope). If you use a firearm to hunt large game, you must wear 500 square inches of blaze orange including a hat. Archery and muzzleloading have their own distinct seasons for big game. Big game hunting with a handgun is legal as long as the handgun has enough power. Not all areas are open to hunting large game and some areas have limited big game permits. You can hunt on virtually all state and federal property and on private property with permission. Suppressors and full auto are illegal for hunting. Night hunting is occasionally permitted for vermin. Just thought you might be interested...... SRM |
How is "enough power" defined for pistol hunting? I saw some real monsters out there (pistols, that is) including a .500 S & W that caught my eye.......  The British Deer Society run "stalking" courses to varying levels, but as yet no training to hunt is mandatory......... |
I don't think that should prevent you asking anyhow, unless it's only 6 acres or so, but even then, it would be perfect for a shotgun or air rifle Mark |
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"Enough power" is defined as "550 foot-pounds of energy at 50 yards as rated by the manufacturer". Basically, a .357 magnum won't make it, but some 41 mags, 45 colt, 44 mag and above are good to go. Generally, it restricts you to a large frame revolver and single shots. I did try to usea 50 Desert Eagle one year, but I couldn't get close enough. SRM |
On the form you get the landowner to fill in they have to state the size of the land and the calibre they are happy with being shot on it. The firearms officer will obviously check that and may alter it if they feel it appropriate. When I did mine the owner just put down any calibre deemed acceptable, as it was 1000 acres of rural land there was no problem. I was lucky as I had no restriction on mine first time round, maybe because I'd been using shotguns on the same land for years, but you usually do I believe. This is your primary shooting land. If you then shoot elsewhere you are supposed to ring your FEO and give them the details and they will check to ensure there's no problem and thats fine. Once you renew usually no restriction as they deem that as you have been shooting for five years you are able to judge for yourself if the land you wish to shoot on is suitable for the calibre of gun you have. It's the usual stuff, check what's behind your target, check for rights of way, footpaths etc as there's nothing worse than missing a rambler  Good luck and enjoy. |
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Here is my suggestion: Tell the local constable to get stuffed. Head out on the dual carriage way until you hit the M4, go east until you cross the Severn bridge. At that point you're in a 1st world country, (  ) keep going east until you get to Heathrow. Get on the first plane that is going to Dallas. (Look for the crowd, everyone loves Texas) I will pick you up at the airport in a large 10 cylinder Ford truck. It will proceed to burn more petrol in forthcoming 2.5 hour drive than the jet you just flew over on. In the truck bed will be: A pack of smokes that only cost about one quid. They are complementary for the duration of your hunt. A small cache of pistols, carbine rifles and that automatically load themselves with each pull of the trigger. You may have read about these weapons in magazines over in the UK. Some them will even empty themselves with a single trigger pull. There will also be an ice cooler with steaks, ribs and beer, not proper beer, but you could contribute by bringing over a bunch of Stella. We will head west out of Dallas for a few hours until we get to the ranch . Our hunting area will be limited by Texas standards, only about 4K ( ) acres but its still a good time. Deer season just ended but we have rabbits. The cottontails are similar to the UK but the jackrabbits are big enough to scare you. We have wild hogs that will scare you. Coyotes, bobcats, & armadillos are dime a dozen and big turkeys if you show up during the spring. Total cost: Plane ticket (its probably only £150 right now) + £0.00 for the hunt, food, transportation, airport pickup, lodging and personal hunting guide. Let me know  .
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Mate that sounds darn tempting. How could I refuse. All I have to do now is convince the wife... But seriously...I'm up for a visit. I'll IM you Cheers Taffy |