Airgun Myths And Legends

It’s Impossible To Find Permission - Jamie Chandler debunks the myth that finding places to shoot with airguns is nigh on impossible

- Jamie Chandler

As in so many other areas of life, there are loads of myths and legends that swirl around in the dark, misty recesses of our sport. Some have a steadfast footing in fact and perceived wisdom from yesteryear, although they might not hold water today, and others are pure bunkum that for some reason gained enough traction in our group psyche to convince us that they must be true.

This time, I’m going to tackle the myth that it’s impossible to find hunting permissions, or that there simply aren’t any. For about the eighth time over a fortnight, at four different venues – range, pub, gun shop and different pub (no judging please, my liver will do that for you), people of all ages have complained about how there are no airgun permissions to be had, or they’re all kept hidden away by dark forces like hoity gamekeepers, elitist landowners and shooting syndicates hell-bent on not sharing. From a quick search of the interweb, it’s clear that there are actually quite a few others out there who share these thoughts. I sympathize with those who are struggling, but I don’t believe the myth that it is impossible to find shooting grounds, or that they are guarded by fiends, ensuring that no one can pass.

BUST THE MYTH

I can tell you from my own experiences that permissions don’t just land in your lap, and some are hard-won and others easily lost. Three years ago, my father-in-law sold the 1000-acre estate I had shot on for 20 years. It was a business for both deer stalking and pigeon shooting, plus my nearest and I was no longer required on the new gamekeeper moved his own airgun permission only four miles down the road. A year later, and I was no longer required on the farm in any capacity because the new gamekeeper moved his own team in. It was sad and sudden, but I managed to grow through that, and now I’m lucky to have over 4000 acres to shoot over with airguns.