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Patrick Hook on how to obtain and then keep your permissions in the face of stern competition

- Patrick Hook

One of the first hurdles a novice hunter has to overcome is getting somewhere to shoot. My advice for those who don’t know the right people is to find out who they are and get to know them. Country folk aren’t always open to strangers but are generally good judges of character given enough time to make an assessment. Once you’ve been accepted though, things can get a lot easier.

In my opinion, the best way of achieving the above is to go and help out somewhere appropriate. Gamekeepers are great ones to approach as they’re nearly always underpaid and overworked and so are likely to appreciate some extra manpower – especially if it’s free. Don’t bother if you’re unable or unwilling to step up to the plate though, or you’ll quickly find every farmer’s door closed for miles around. Honesty and hard work are key.

Credible

Once you’ve got yourself some permissions, your next job will be to keep them. If the shooting is any good, the odds are there will be lots of other people knocking on the door too. From a farmer’s point of view, you need to be viewed as an asset, not a hindrance. Unless you can establish a good credibility, the moment that someone else offers a better service, you’ll be heading for the exit.