What can I do about the shooting rights on my land?

Shooting UK is your complete shooting resource. From gun reviews to shotgun licence and firearms certificate information, to clay pigeon shooting, game shooting, shooting lessons and gundog training.

| Next

What can I do about the shooting rights on my land?

The occupier of land has every right to shoot rabbits.

By David Frost

Thursday, 08 December 2011

I recently bought some farmland, but the shooting rights were retained by the vendor.

I’m a shooting man myself and I find it rather irksome that someone can come on my land and shoot whenever he likes.

Is there anything I can do about it?

For example I’d like to shoot the rabbits that hammer my crops but I’m not sure where I stand.

SHOOTING RIGHTS
David Frost
There’s probably not much you can do, although it would depend on the precise wording of the sale agreement.

The owner of the shooting rights has the right to enter the land at any time in order to exercise those rights.

This includes in a vehicle as well as on foot.

As always in potentially difficult cases it’s best if the two of you can come to some sort of understanding that will enable you to work in harmony.

As an occupier of land you have an inalienable right to control rabbits under the Ground Game Act although the act does impose some limitations, especially on the use of firearms.

If the owner of the shooting rights wants to develop a small shoot you might be able to turn a bob or two by offering to plant some cover crops, for which he would have to pay you.