Permission journey
I read your article about moving to the Highlands and gathering new permissions. I have also recently moved and am going through the same process and wonder if you have any further tips as you seem to have been successful?
It can be frustrating trying to July), I would strongly recommend playing the slow game and try not to rush or pester people too much. It is often dependent on the area where you live, but finding ground up here means travelling, and widening your search area might prove fruitful. However, this makes it harder to manage the ground well because you can’t get boots on the ground as often. Trying to get in with local gamekeepers is a great way to establish a relationship and build a permission. Go beating and offer to help out where you can with things like bird releasing, or generally aiding the keeper in their day-to-day workload. Most keepers are overworked and underpaid, meaning they appreciate a hand. They will often reward your efforts by letting you shoot vermin. I would make the point to not look like you are working just for shooting and again, don’t be pushy. You may not always reap any rewards for your efforts, but I am sure it will work a lot of the time. You should enjoy the journey to gathering new permission, not just the destination.
