Terrified by shouting, angry farmer .. what to do next?

Frugalista

I've just gone back and read the OP and can't see anywhere where the farmer was actually wielding a shotgun during the incident or where he threatened to "shoot" the OP (as opposed to her dogs).

He apparently indicated that he would be within the law to shoot the dogs if they were worrying his stock and (to the OP) that "they'll have to carry you out n'all" - could have meant he would hit her and knock her to the ground or that she would be so despondent over the shooting of her dogs that she would fall to the ground in horror - not shoot her at all!!

I think some people are getting a little carried away and imagining the farmer to be a character from "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" :rolleyes:.

That said, the farmers intimidation of the OP was disgusting and is not to be condoned in any way. I would definately lodge a complaint with the police (just in case of any further repercussions) - but would be very careful about implying that he was actually going to shoot you.

mumslave

adouglasmhor wrote: »

funny enough when I used to see the hunt going through fields of cattle and sheep and even once farmed deer I never once saw any of the hounds leashed. I suppose country animals would realise they were only interested in foxes and ignore them.

note the above is laden with sarcasm

fox hunting isnt allowed up here, hasnt been for a long time (though farmers still shoot them and hang them up, how nice). In terms of gun dogs up here, we are talking grouse and deer, neither of which are hunted on farm lands where animals are grazing

adouglasmhor

Fox hunting with hounds is banned all over the place, but I have seen grouse shoots on land with sheep and deer, even been a beater on them.

mumslave

well we will have to agree to disagree then, as where i am, in the highlands, I was a grouse beater every season since I was 14 and never was it on farm lands, deer yes Its my belief that its not normally the case, i really cant imagine a farmer being impressed at a load of hunters with guns and beaters cracking flags stalking across his or her lands.

my_gorgeous_ellie-belle

paddy's_mum wrote: »

Ive often said that when you're too close to a problem, you can't see the obvious answer so now it's my turn to ask what others would do.

Sorry, can still see bickering so i thought i'd highlight this from the origional post. Personally i don't see why there is any bickering, we were asked what we would do, most have given their answer - why are some poeple having a right go at others over what would be THEIR OWN actions, if it's not what you would do, fine, just don't make people feel like they are bad people for their opinions.

Pleeeeaaase?

x

Pepzofio

BilberryCharlotte wrote: »

Yes, I am now a vegan, I do hope you don`t feel that means I shouldn`t have an opinion?

Absolutely not, just as where someone lives doesn't preclude them from having an opinion either.

BilberryCharlotte

Pepzofio wrote: »

Absolutely not, just as where someone lives doesn't preclude them from having an opinion either.

Absolutely right, but I think people who don`t live in the countryside, and therefore may not appreciate the hard work involved in keeping it as an enduring heritage, can occasionally be guilty of treating it as a theme park. From your original reply to my post I thought you seemed a bit clueless, which is why I wondered where you live.

I feel we have now strayed too far off topic, and wish the original poster all the best with her personal dilemma, and hope she doesn`t let it put her off her charity walks, that would be such a shame.

adouglasmhor

mumslave wrote: »

well we will have to agree to disagree then, as where i am, in the highlands, I was a grouse beater every season since I was 14 and never was it on farm lands, deer yes Its my belief that its not normally the case, i really cant imagine a farmer being impressed at a load of hunters with guns and beaters cracking flags stalking across his or her lands.

I have done it in the lowlands and in Yorkshire. In some areas the farmers don't get much say over the landowner. Also you have a lot more land in the highlands with less pressure on it, up on Skye (where I have spent some time)the sheep are brought of the tops into the lower fields during hunting season right through the winter. Down in the Clyde valley etc.we have a lot less tops and the sheep are on lower moorland along with the grouse) . your set up is better in my opinion but land pressure is very different here.

mumslave

ah that would explain things, I was rather dubious, but I understand how it would be different in the lower lands. Our grouse beating was always away up in the hills, around here. Hard going!

paddy's_mum

Do you know .. it takes a lot to make me furious and even more to make me swear but I'm getting bl00dy sick of some of the 'knowledgeable' responses on here! The level of ignorance being displayed is amazing. If that makes me defensive, or pitiful, or obtuse, then so be it.

Perhaps someone with far more experience and learning than me could tell me(without googling) the laws and recommendations regarding bulls in areas with public access? What's the significance, oh learned ones, if I were to tell you that the bull was a Jersey?

I'm a farmer's daughter, the ex-wife of a farmer, and the owner , breeder and trainer of Field Trial winners. (By the way, dogs competing in a Field Trial may not enter the field under restraint of any kind, and contrary to an earlier comment, few of the many gamekeepers of my acquaintance have their dogs on leads except in clearly dangerous situations such as at a roadside.) I used to be a horse rider but age and stiff joints caught up with me and I now only walk. I live deep in the countryside and I'm glad to say that I seem to be on cordial terms with all my farmer neighbours.

The facts of on or off lead is almost irrelevant, given that the dogs did not disturb the cattle, and how many times have I got to repeat that? What practical- not perceived - effect would a lead have had if the cattle had charged or do people suggest that I swing the dog on its lead around my head in order to smack the cow in the face with it and deter attack? How is that a factor in the farmer's anger given that he was 400 or 500 yards away when the youngsters cantered off? By the time he had reached me, I had climbed the stile, was 200 yards away from the cattle and the dogs were by then running free. Oh, of course it's his x-ray vision in action again.

If some hit and run driver decides to knock an old man off his bike, is it the cyclist's own fault simply because he wasn't wearing a helmet? Is the driver of the car then entitled to go up to the poor cyclist, perhaps lying bleeding on the ground, and berate him for provoking the incident? I can hear that one going down well in court "Your honour .. it was his own fault because I saw red when I realised he wasn't wearing a helmet and I couldn't help myself - I drove my car straight at him"!

If some strange man comes in to assault me, how is it fair that devoted dogs will be condemned if they bite to defend me? What idiot pokes an angry cobra with a sharp stick? If he is unwise enough to do so is he then entitled to scream his outrage - "not fair, not fair - it bit me!!"

This is absolutely my last comment on this thread but check BBC news and read about the awful events surrounding the death of Anita Hinchey. Why do the farmer and the coroner state that dogs passing through cattle should be off the lead? Perhaps for the same reason I gave way back in this thread, and for which I have been treated like a blithering idiot, but which is actually an entirely sensible way to go on.

I'm disappointed that so many seem to have dismissed my evidence as flawed or perhaps untruthful or unwitting, in order to rebuke me. (What's the ruling if the farmer's cattle seriously injure me through no other fault of mine but simply being there?) If nothing else, feeling misunderstood or got at should make me a better listener in the future.

Nobody is quicker or more adamant than me to say that everyone is entitled to their own opinion but if you're going to express one and have any credence given to it, at least make sure that you have comprehended the information given. Sheesh - if some of the rebukes given here had been the musings of a jury, I'd be twisting in the breeze from a gibbet by now!