“Keep Out” Sign On Right Of Way

[ichkeria]

The owners of a farm near us have been holding clay pigeon shoots in a large field on some Fridays in the recent past. There’s a public footpath through the far end of this field and the odd Friday I’ve walked along it when the range rovers etc have been parked etc and the shooting has been or is going on.
One day when there was no event I noticed a discarded sign telling people not to use the path as shooting was in progress - presumably a relic of some Friday event.
Apart from surprise that they should have neglected to remove their sign, I wondered what the legal position might be. I could understand a warning notice (tho I had never seen one before) but is it legal to hold these events so close to a public right of way and secondly can they actually stop people using the path at their own risk?

[barry1010]

Does this help? https://www.shootinguk.co.uk/answers/what-is-the-closest-to-a-footpath-you-can-legally-use-a-shotgun-20105

Another thought - many clay pigeon shoots use lasers instead of cartridges these days, they still make a noise but there is absolutely no risk to the public (I suppose they could get hit by the clay pigeon!)

[davebro]

What distance is involved? A shotgun probably wont fire more than 300 yards & wont cause injury at more than 100 yards.

[ichkeria]

Perhaps a few too many visits to the hip flask might affect the aim ;-)

The thing was a good way from the path: I’d say 200yds at least.
I’m not too bothered about it really but it would be interesting to know in cases like this where the law stands. I suspect it’s a grey area.

[barry1010]

The landowner cannot stop people using a public right of way.

[ichkeria]

Thanks for the link Barry. I’m not particularly surprised by that, and it does seem sensible.
The question remains of the sign.
To be honest I find that more objectionable than the actual shooting (which I probably don’t mind at all). There has been a rash of unfriendly signs posted all over the place during the lockdown. Much of it is good advice but often couched in rather aggressive terms which is likely I’d have thought to “lose you the room”

[The Builder]

I think it's a grey area since it's never needed to be regulated in that way.
I'm not a shootist myself, but a lot are in the area where I live.
Unlike international politics, Ich, they overwhelmingly follow the protocols of "common sense." ;o)

[The Builder]

As far as the sign is concerned: it's unnecessary and provocative.
They can't influence anybody's use of a public footpath.

Just to wind things up a bit Ich; around here those particular Range Rover users would generally be described as being "new money" ;o)))

[ichkeria]

I could understand a warning sign. But I must admit that that particular one did make me cross.
Plainly there are people who don’t like the thought of joe public being on their territory.
That’s what it feels like anyway.
A local landowner has just fenced off several acres of beautiful woodland that had for years been enjoyed by walkers. His right of course, but it seems such a selfish thing to do.

[barry1010]

There are regular shoots near me and the landowner just puts up warning signs.

I think the exception might be the MOD. There are public footpaths across many of their sites and I have seen paths closed because of shooting practice, they use red flags at those times.

[barry1010]

Not so selfish when you see the huge amount of litter left behind by some people and the enormous cost of clearing up fly tipping.

I saw shocking photos of the amount of rubbish left up Snowdon recently.

A minority of people have no common sense and can see nothing wrong in using disposable barbecues and leaving them behind, or even lighting bonfires near dry grass and other flammables. An even smaller minority deliberately start fires or vandalise property that doesn't belong to them.

We have problems with badger baiting and lamping in my area and landowners are making access difficult to try and prevent it.

[ichkeria]

Hmm I don’t think I have ever noticed any signs of litter or barbecues in those woods.
Inexplicably though lots of dead branches placed across the paths and near the stiles which was puzzling.
It’s a new landowner marking out his territory. Maybe he wants to reserve it for his own dubious activities …

[Peter Pedant]

// Plainly there are people who don’t like the thought of joe public being on their territory.//

yes - commonly they buy / inherit land and like the land but not the rights/easements associated with it. Basically if they dont like a footpath, they think they can extinguish it.

Barry should get BA - the article is quite good
and explains why the police didnt visit when I was using an air rifle on my fathers property in 1970. ( the neighbour had - but I hadnt done anything)