Ewes and Shooting

[kfpben]

There is a lady in the next village who has about 20 ewes who frets about them to the extent of paranoia.

She's asking me to stop the shoot in the next field while her sheep are grazing in a certain paddock. The guns would be 150-300 yards away. This isn't going to happen as the shoot on our farm is let out so not my call. It's a 100 bird day type place so the drive closest to her sheep will go on for a maximum of 10-15 minutes.

I keep saying that they'll be fine, that mine graze in the grass fields sometimes with the guns in there and come to no harm etc. but she's having none of it. Occasionally mine even graze right next to a clay shooting ground where they blast away for 6 hours every other Sunday. Never had a problem with abortion, distress, going through fences or anything.
I had her in tears in the yard the other day. Does anyone have any written evidence to prove that she's just being a bit over dramatic? Is there someone somewhere that has done a study on game shoots and sheep stress?

 

[davidroberts30]

ahh,1 of those types
I use to get it all the time with the horsey types when hedgecutting their paddocks....
they would be in with the nags trying to calm them and all they were doing was winding them up
i told them to basically ffff off and let me get on with it
hoss would trot to other end of field then nose down and start eating and not bothered about me

 

[davidroberts30]

I would guess the sheep would look up at the first few bangs then wander away from them and not be bothered

 

[Hfd Cattle]

The sheep will be glad to see there are normal people about when the shoot turn up !

 

[tr250]

We were shooting on Saturday and our in lamb ewe lambs came and stood round me at one point then wandered off I had a dog too

 

[ffukedfarmer]

The shots are no bother to them. Gates being left open on the other hand

 

[David.]

Worst that will happen is that they'll all stand in a bunch, to laugh at the standard of shooting.

 

[Bury the Trash]

Then they will go ..... " it's like the feckin wild west around here "

 

[Hfd Cattle]

Then they will go ..... " it's like the feckin wild west around here "

Or ..... the way that lot shoot ....we are safe enough !

 

[Agrivator]

Just let the shoot go ahead, and ask her to observe the sheep's reaction.

And if you dare, tell her that if you have 20 sheep in a small pen. and go in and shoot one of them and even butcher it, the rest will stand around quietly chewing their cud without showing any interest. But maybe that would be too much for her to comprehend.

 

[muleman]

Or ..... the way that lot shoot ....we are safe enough !

More like 'crikey,ther bad shots, we could be in trouble here!

 

[HarryB97]

They will be fine we have winter keep on a shoot and often keep several hundred ewes on fields where guns shoot and dogs are running about picking up and never had an issue. It's a big shoot to with a minimum day of around 300 birds so plenty of noise!

 

[JSmith]

Tell her not to worry about the noise it’s the bang on the head from a falling pheasant that will really bother them?

 

[Blue.]

The gunshot doesn't bother them its the feckwitt gun dogs running around uncontrolled.

I'd tell the shoot your concerns and pass on the phone number of the shoot captain.

 

[Dry Rot]

I had a woman wanting to buy a pony but she was worried because she lives on a shooting estate.

We agreed she would leave the pony here for an extra couple of weeks before delivery.

I went down every day with the 12 bore and a bucket of feed. By the end of the 14 days, I had the whole herd galloping up the field at the sound of a shot. How do you think they manage in cowboy films?

On the other hand, I did not appreciate my neighbour's teenage son having impromptu clay pigeon shoots just over the hedge from my pregnant mares. Nor them having 93 decibel "mine" fireworks (the loudest you can legally buy) without prior warning in October. The law is clear that due notice should be given. It's only polite anyway, but my neighbour wouldn't know anything about that!

I think you can be held liable if you are aware that your actions can cause damage but go ahead regardless without even bothering to consult. It is for the courts to decide the issue, but codes of practice and circumtances will take into consideration.

 

[spin cycle]

the lady sounds like she is suffering from anxiety from your description of her being in tears....logic will only work to a point i'm afraid

 

[devonbrion1998]

My Ewes were right next door to the village hall on November the 5th, huge firework display
if sheep can withstand that they can withstand a few guns,

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

Our game shoot doesn’t bother sheep, horses or cattle they look up for a bit and carry on grazing or come over for a look. Any dog that isn’t well trained gets put on a lead / put in back of a pickup.

Clay shoot can be thousands of shots, can fill two tote bags with empty cartridges a day. Doesn’t bother neighbouring livestock, the only thing that winds the horses up is their owners fretting over nowt. If the owners aren’t there the horses graze most of the day while we shoot. If the owners are there wailing, flailing and making a fuss the horses get wound up.

 

[som farmer]

the important thing, is not to make any consessions to her, there is nothing illegal, or even uncommon, once you give a bit, she will want more, been there, done it, it ain't worth the hassle.

 

[Dry Rot]

Our game shoot doesn’t bother sheep, horses or cattle they look up for a bit and carry on grazing or come over for a look. Any dog that isn’t well trained gets put on a lead / put in back of a pickup.

Clay shoot can be thousands of shots, can fill two tote bags with empty cartridges a day. Doesn’t bother neighbouring livestock, the only thing that winds the horses up is their owners fretting over nowt. If the owners aren’t there the horses graze most of the day while we shoot. If the owners are there wailing, flailing and making a fuss the horses get wound up.

I'm afraid that is not totally correct. A sudden shock will spook most livestock, especially horses. Witness the effect a plastic bag blown across the road has on a lot of horses and you will understand what I mean. A shoot or an organised clay pigeon shoot will not usually spook livestock but someone letting off a sudden fusilade of shots, or very loud fireworks, behind a hedge can. Domestic animals will, of course, as you say often pick up on the mood of their handlers.

As for your game shoot, I would suggest that the noises and disturbance increase over a period as the shooters come closer. They don't suddenly leap out from behind cover and start blazing away! That is something that will even spook me and I've been shooting all my life!