Gamekeepers behaving strangely...

[Muttley]

A guy, a professional photographer, stops to take some photographs in the recent snow...

...plainly this gamekeeper is trying to intimidate him. The behaviour of gamekeepers, particularly on the moors, is appalling, it's like it is a different country. He is driving a quad with no number plates on a public road. So I know that is illegal. He is trying to threaten him with a gun clearly visible on the quad. I'm no expert on the laws regarding gun use but his gun is mounted openly on the quad. Is this OK in a public space? I don't know.

The whole grouse thing needs shutting down. The environmental damage done to allow the slaughter of these inedible and rather stupid birds is not inconsiderable and they shut down large areas of what was often common land to indulge this gross pantomime.

Fkk 'em

 

[Scrote]

Don't really understand why the gamekeeper guy started that line of questioning but the photographer could have nipped it in the bud very quickly by just saying "yes, it's legal".

I don't think you can argue that he used the gun in a threatening manner as he didn't make reference to it or move it from the secure position on the quad.

The gamekeeper came across as a bit of an **** but the photographer didn't cover himself in glory either.

Definitely should shut down blood-sports though.

 

[sadgit]

I've met a couple of gamekeepers while on the Moors near Kildale and I was flying my drone. They were brilliant and gave me permission to do so. This one is a total pr*ck. Or is it set up? I just don't see why he bothered to stop someone on a public road just filming 3 horses!.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

I think the photographer was an @rse who was happy to be confrontational with the gamekeeper to create a video for his YouTube channel. If he answers the questions straight away then who would watch his short video of two people chatting nicely? YouTube is full of these types of videos where the guy behind the camera tries to get a rise out of the person they are speaking to.

When I delivered the DofE in the school, before any expeditions I would go out and walk the route to get a feel of the area and understand where the groups may struggle or get lost. I would often photograph the route and create a power point to show the students and highlight these areas. Due to footpaths going directly through farms, I would often be approached by farmers or gamekeepers asking what I was taking pictures of. You have to remember that you are walking through someone's livelihood and they have to watch out for opportunist thieves. I could have been taking pictures of farm vehicles to come back and pinch.

When I explained what I was doing nine times out of ten they would take an interest and pass on local knowledge of the area, ask for how many and dates when the students would be coming through and move livestock if needed. I couldn't count the number of times students have reached a checkpoint and told me that the farmer pointed them in the right direction or helped them in some way. I doubt it would have been the same if I had been awkward with them.

I'm not sure how the gun gets brought into his argument, the gun is mounted on the front of a quad and you only see it when he drives off.

None of us know why the gamekeeper stopped but I would assume it was to do with how the photographer was parked in poor conditions.

 

[Priv]

Anyone involved in hunting / game deserves winding up, the majority are so far up their own ar5ses they need putting in their place.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Anyone involved in hunting / game deserves winding up, the majority are so far up their own ar5ses they need putting in their place.

We tend to agree on most things but I'm not having that. I am sure there are some pricks in the gamekeeping and shooting fraternity but I would argue they are more good guys - seems a term of contradiction calling a hunter a good guy.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not into hunting and think taking a photo of the prey would serve just as much purpose if not more. You get a keepsake and the animal keeps its life.

 

[BlindBoyGrunt]

The photographer is a tool here. As Norman_Conquest stated above, he was probably trying to produce something for his YouTube channel but he should, having watched this footage back, have binned it.
The gamekeeper just comes across as a nice, if shy bloke who didn't wish to be filmed.

 

[Muttley]

I think the photographer was an @rse who was happy to be confrontational with the gamekeeper to create a video for his YouTube channel. If he answers the questions straight away then who would watch his short video of two people chatting nicely?

The photographer does not initiate the conversation. I've seen a couple of his videos which are mostly of stormy weather along the Yorkshire coast. I've not seen any others where he talks to anyone. He is just taking photographs or video in public places. The Gamekeeper comes charging down the road on his quad and accosts the photographer, he dosn't look like he wants a "nice chat". Yeah, the photographer is a bit of a smart rrse but he didn't start the interaction.

My interpretation of the incident is that the gamekeeper on realising he is being recorded realises that he has to be somewhat circumspect and tries to intimidate the photographer with oblique hints at some sort or illegality. I would suspect that if there was no camera involved he would have been less "friendly". Ironically the only one who is doing something illegal that we can see is the gamekeeper riding an unlicensed quad on a public road.

As for Gamekeepers being good sorts and helpful that is not my experience. On Sadgits point about them "giving him permission" to fly his drone. How very generous of them to "allow" you to fly a drone in a public place (I'm assuming our chum here was indeed in a public area). The way in which the huntin' 'n' shootin' folk think that they own the land demonstrated. I've been accosted by gamekeepers on public footpaths, I know birdwatchers who have been challenged (told they were on private land when they weren't) and threatened by them (Police called) and returned to find their cars damaged.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

The photographer does not initiate the conversation. I've seen a couple of his videos which are mostly of stormy weather along the Yorkshire coast. I've not seen any others where he talks to anyone. He is just taking photographs or video in public places. The Gamekeeper comes charging down the road on his quad and accosts the photographer, he dosn't look like he wants a "nice chat". Yeah, the photographer is a bit of a smart rrse but he didn't start the interaction.

My interpretation of the incident is that the gamekeeper on realising he is being recorded realises that he has to be somewhat circumspect and tries to intimidate the photographer with oblique hints at some sort or illegality. I would suspect that if there was no camera involved he would have been less "friendly". Ironically the only one who is doing something illegal that we can see is the gamekeeper riding an unlicensed quad on a public road.

As for Gamekeepers being good sorts and helpful that is not my experience. On Sadgits point about them "giving him permission" to fly his drone. How very generous of them to "allow" you to fly a drone in a public place (I'm assuming our chum here was indeed in a public area). The way in which the huntin' 'n' shootin' folk think that they own the land demonstrated. I've been accosted by gamekeepers on public footpaths, I know birdwatchers who have been challenged (told they were on private land when they weren't) and threatened by them (Police called) and returned to find their cars damaged.

I didn't say he had previously posted videos like this, I said YouTube is full of videos similar to it. It is usually of someone asking why someone is videoing near private land, something which is not illegal, and the camera person using avoidance tactics. If you've previously had items stolen you might not be happy about someone videoing on or near your land. We had a drone flying and hovering over our house during lockdown and I contacted the police. It turned out to be a police drone checking people were sticking to lockdown rules (pity they didn't do it over No10).

Theft in rural areas is a huge problem and I am sure all farmers and gamekeepers are always vigilant when someone is parked up in the middle of nowhere. As for your experience with gamekeepers, maybe you've just been unfortunate with those you've met but taring them all with the same brush seems a little childish to me. We both know there is good and bad in all walks of life.

Regarding the quad bike not being licensed, I don't think either of us knows that for definite. It was hard to see if there was number plates or a recognition mark on the quad. Where the number plate would be situated on the front of the quad was covered in snow and his adverts for other videos obscured the view of the back of the bike.

 

[BlindBoyGrunt]

The Gamekeeper comes charging down the road

The only reason you know that is because the photographer began filming him as soon as he was aware of him. He was also wondering out loud if he was going to be friendly. If you are filming a street scene it's ok to catch everyone who happens to pass by, but if you are filming one person on his own surely you should ask permission. I don't think the guy was arrogant or aggressive, i think he came across as quite shy.

 

[SCG]

I didn't say he had previously posted videos like this, I said YouTube is full of videos similar to it. It is usually of someone asking why someone is videoing near private land, something which is not illegal, and the camera person using avoidance tactics. If you've previously had items stolen you might not be happy about someone videoing on or near your land. We had a drone flying and hovering over our house during lockdown and I contacted the police. It turned out to be a police drone checking people were sticking to lockdown rules (pity they didn't do it over No10).

Theft in rural areas is a huge problem and I am sure all farmers and gamekeepers are always vigilant when someone is parked up in the middle of nowhere. As for your experience with gamekeepers, maybe you've just been unfortunate with those you've met but taring them all with the same brush seems a little childish to me. We both know there is good and bad in all walks of life.

Regarding the quad bike not being licensed, I don't think either of us knows that for definite. It was hard to see if there was number plates or a recognition mark on the quad. Where the number plate would be situated on the front of the quad was covered in snow and his adverts for other videos obscured the view of the back of the bike

I didn't say he had previously posted videos like this, I said YouTube is full of videos similar to it. It is usually of someone asking why someone is videoing near private land, something which is not illegal, and the camera person using avoidance tactics. If you've previously had items stolen you might not be happy about someone videoing on or near your land. We had a drone flying and hovering over our house during lockdown and I contacted the police. It turned out to be a police drone checking people were sticking to lockdown rules (pity they didn't do it over No10).

Theft in rural areas is a huge problem and I am sure all farmers and gamekeepers are always vigilant when someone is parked up in the middle of nowhere. As for your experience with gamekeepers, maybe you've just been unfortunate with those you've met but taring them all with the same brush seems a little childish to me. We both know there is good and bad in all walks of life.

Regarding the quad bike not being licensed, I don't think either of us knows that for definite. It was hard to see if there was number plates or a recognition mark on the quad. Where the number plate would be situated on the front of the quad was covered in snow and his adverts for other videos obscured the view of the back of the bike.

Here in Notts and over the border in Lincs there are big problems with organised gangs doing hare coursing or livestock theft, usually from the South

Gamekeeepers are right to be cautious and vigilant

Of course there are some ****. like any walk of life, i know some Gun owners who will point their Guns as a threat - idiots

 

[Muttley]

I didn't say he had previously posted videos like this, I said YouTube is full of videos similar to it. It is usually of someone asking why someone is videoing near private land, something which is not illegal, and the camera person using avoidance tactics. If you've previously had items stolen you might not be happy about someone videoing on or near your land.

So your point about this video is moot.

I am well aware of the problem of theft in rural areas. Had this been the case the Gamekeeper might have just initiated the conversation with something along the lines of "we've had some thefts around here recently so we are just chatting with people..." someone with a fairly expensive DSLR setup perhaps an unlikely rural bandit? Oh and Gamekeepers are not some sort of rural watch, and do not act in that way, they work for large landowners not farmers.

As for your experience with gamekeepers, maybe you've just been unfortunate with those you've met but taring them all with the same brush seems a little childish to me.

I should perhaps have qualified that but the point stands that gamekeepers in my experience are rarely even polite let alone helpful. Of course there may well be some decent ones. I look forward to meeting them. Is it "childish" to base my opinion on experience?

The only reason you know that is because the photographer began filming him as soon as he was aware of him. He was also wondering out loud if he was going to be friendly.

You can see the quad "squirming" as he is on the edge of traction, he's in a hurry going somewhere. The incident is part of single shot, no cutting, we see the incident develop. He wonders out loud. Yet the first interaction, the photographer says "hello mate", in a pretty neutral way, the GK says "do you need permission to do that?

 

[Norman_Conquest]

Here in Notts and over the border in Lincs there are big problems with organised gangs doing hare coursing or livestock theft, usually from the South

Gamekeeepers are right to be cautious and vigilant

Of course there are some ****. like any walk of life, i know some Gun owners who will point their Guns as a threat - idiots

It is the same in the area the guy is filming. I was camping with a group a few years back in Kildale and we could hear tyres screeching and car chases going on. It was reported on the news the next day and in the Gazette that two quads and other agricultural equipment had been stolen and local farmers had disturbed them.

 

[Norman_Conquest]

So your point about this video is moot.

I am well aware of the problem of theft in rural areas. Had this been the case the Gamekeeper might have just initiated the conversation with something along the lines of "we've had some thefts around here recently so we are just chatting with people..." someone with a fairly expensive DSLR setup perhaps an unlikely rural bandit? Oh and Gamekeepers are not some sort of rural watch, and do not act in that way, they work for large landowners not farmers.

I should perhaps have qualified that but the point stands that gamekeepers in my experience are rarely even polite let alone helpful. Of course there may well be some decent ones. I look forward to meeting them. Is it "childish" to base my opinion on experience?

I feel you are just trying to justify the cameraman's reaction to a simple question when answering it would have maybe led to a chat about the horses, photography or whatever. It is not only me who reads the situation this way.

Yes, it is childish to tar all gamekeepers with the same brush and I know you are better than that.