Offer to set up a shoot - should I??

[thesilentone]

The shoot (if managed correctly) will make a contribution to wildlife conservation. The Pheasant cover will benefit other species of bird as well as other wildlife.

The feeders will also contribute by providing feed to small birds when the weather is harsh. In addition, the return on release will ensure there is always a healthy number of Pheasants wandering about the place.

If this is to be ' let days ' only, then the local economy should benefit as people travel to the area from far and wide.

All in all very positive, then practical things like marking land with quads/vehicle, damaging fences/crops can be covered by a simple agreement, ensure the shoot is covered by insurance for such losses, if not make sure you are, and if this costs more, pass the cost on via the rent agreed.

 

[Flat 10]

100/acre is not enough for cover crops unless he is doing all the work.

 

[Flat 10]

Make sure everyone that shoots has liability insurance easily provided by BASC etc etc

 

[Boysground]

Make sure everyone that shoots has liability insurance easily provided by BASC etc etc

Its surprising how many shoot without insurance. One shoot I go on has everybody sign a form before the day starts saying who their insurer is. More than once I have had somebody say to me that they just put the NFU because they think they are covered by the farm insurance. BASC and countryside alliance are both very good value for money.

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[Clive]

We have set up a small shoot on a small part of the farm this year for the first time

It's been very enjoyable, nothing fancy but a bit of fun with friends, no comercial ambition in fact it will end up costing me I reckon !

It feels like we are doing a lot to help wildlife by feeding etc

Will expand it a bit next season now we know what works and what doesn't

If I was letting land to others to shoot I would need very clear ground rules and enough payment to make it worthwhile

Having a gamekeeper about (all be it amateur in our case) is very useful and great security


There are larger shoots on contract farm land we farm. They can be big business and become very intrusive / damaging to crops so you need to be clear on the ambitions and scale of shoot you are allowing in you land

I would ask to see the business plan from whoever approached you as a first step

 

[Clive]

Don't sell yourself short either

I see you are in wales and some good shoots there in the right areas will charge best part of 2k per gun (20k a day for a team of 10 !).

Most smaller shots will be more like 400-550 a peg depending on bag size

Family / sindicate shoots 1-200/day and much lower bag sizes

 

[countrygirl45]

100/acre is not enough for cover crops unless he is doing all the work.

Not sure who is going to be doing the cover crops but I presume he will be for that amount.

 

[countrygirl45]

Some quite good shoots around us - couple of them commercial but both of those run by the farmers who own the ground. Be interesting to see what he comes up with when he comes back to go through the finer details. May have to try this shooting hobby.

 

[joe soapy]

Dont under estimate the cost of the shoot doing things without thinking of the consequences,
Can be simple things like shutting a gate that should be open, setting up a feeder close to bales, or letting shot reach nearby houses

 

[Vizslaman]

We are looking for between 400/500 acres of shooting rights in the Hampshire/Wiltshire area if anyone knows or hears of something.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

Please keep us informed of progress. I often never hear the outcome of such threads and often wonder how you the OP got on

 

[warksfarmer]

Guy has approached me with a view to setting up a pheasant shoot on my farm. He is going to put pens up - not sure how many pheasants he is going to put there as yet. He plans to feed them on my ground too.
He will pay to plant couple of acres of ground cover also.
He will have the run of 100 acres or so. Won't make any difference to Single Farm payment as the woods have been taken out. He is looking at couple of other farms to shoot but mine will be the important one as it is in the middle and the largest wooded area.
How much should I be thinking about charging? What is the value of something like this. Havent really got anyone I can ask.
Thanks

£250-£500/ac for cover depending on what crop you can't grow in your rotation due to the cover.

£250/ac for permanent release pens as you have to remove this area from your bps claim.

£5/ac shooting rights over your entire acreage which includes the woods

Don't supply them with feed as it's impossible to keep track of who's in your shed, taking what at any time.

Basc insurance for each gun

Written agreement indenifying you of any potential claim due to an accident.

They must feed using a quad bike or on foot. Do not allow any vehicular access as they will I promise make a mess. Today's shooters on commercial shoots tend not to be farmers. They don't care about damage to the land.

No ducks on ponds if cropping osr around it. You will loose the crop through eating, paddling and landing on it.

Vermin shooting including in the above deal if they keep on top of it. If not take that off them.

Run it on an annual license basis. No long term leases as the fund change regularly. Get a couple of idiots appear who end up running it with a lease and your in for trouble.

And you want a gun on the shoot. If not then you want the cash value of 1 Gun on top of the above if it's on your home farm and on your doorstep.

Don't underestimate the damage they can cause. People from the towns who come out shooting do not understand the countryside like a farmer.

Then take out an insurance policy specifically against the shoot. The NFU do one for £180/yr just as a precaution and I know a farmer who had a claim on his public liability for a broken ankle from a beater! Payout was close to £10k which put his premiums up. The NFU shoot policy is standalone so won't affect your business insurance.

 

[countrygirl45]

£250-£500/ac for cover depending on what crop you can't grow in your rotation due to the cover.

£250/ac for permanent release pens as you have to remove this area from your bps claim.

£5/ac shooting rights over your entire acreage which includes the woods

Don't supply them with feed as it's impossible to keep track of who's in your shed, taking what at any time.

Basc insurance for each gun

Written agreement indenifying you of any potential claim due to an accident.

They must feed using a quad bike or on foot. Do not allow any vehicular access as they will I promise make a mess. Today's shooters on commercial shoots tend not to be farmers. They don't care about damage to the land.

No ducks on ponds if cropping osr around it. You will loose the crop through eating, paddling and landing on it.

Vermin shooting including in the above deal if they keep on top of it. If not take that off them.

Run it on an annual license basis. No long term leases as the fund change regularly. Get a couple of idiots appear who end up running it with a lease and your in for trouble.

And you want a gun on the shoot. If not then you want the cash value of 1 Gun on top of the above if it's on your home farm and on your doorstep.

Don't underestimate the damage they can cause. People from the towns who come out shooting do not understand the countryside like a farmer.

Then take out an insurance policy specifically against the shoot. The NFU do one for £180/yr just as a precaution and I know a farmer who had a claim on his public liability for a broken ankle from a beater! Payout was close to £10k which put his premiums up. The NFU shoot policy is standalone so won't affect your business insurance.

Thanks for the advice in here. I haven't seen the guy for a little while but he has had couple of family problems so I am not too worried. He said he will do the vermin control and I think we will fence off the wood where they want to put the pens. Will ask them to do that as part of the agreement as he was concerned about the sheep gaining access to the feed - only a small part of the wood needs repair to the fencing and would suit us as we could keep sheep out of the wood when we want to. They wouldn't be able to access the shoot area by vehicle other than quad very easily so hopefully the area wouldn't get too messy.
Will keep you informed as and when I get more info.