Why I don't give permission to hunt....

[Rembrandt]

As an Iowa farm owner I've enjoyed the best of pheasant, deer, and small game hunting. In the last few years I've decided to limit hunting to only family members.

In the past I gave outsiders permission to hunt....but the headaches that it brought just isn't worth it. Gave one fellow permission to hunt (1) weekend and he interpreted it to mean a "lifetime pass". Have been chasing him off now for nearly 5 years.

Two brothers asked to hunt deer and proceeded to invite their friends...group of 10 guys in 5 pickups showed up all thinking they had permission. Left gates open and cattle got out.

Another time I gave permission to a business acquaintance from Pennsylvania and to call me if he was interested in a hunt....shows up two years later unannounced, no phone call and brought two friends.

Have chased off countless trespassers who claim they got permission from people I had given invitations to.

There was no mis-communication with these folks, all were informed when and where they could hunt. Saying yes once seems to get interpreted as "ya'all come back now".

Sorry for negative impact this may have on the topic of hunting, thought you might want to know why I don't allow hunting except for family members.

 

['Card]

Not really a surprise, Rembrandt.

I knew a well-meaning dairy farmer back in West Virginia who gave some guys permission to hunt on his land, and ended up getting one of his cows shot. (I wish I'd made that story up, but it's true - as disgusting as it sounds)

Hunters like the ones you're talking about, with no courtesy, gratitude, or respect for the landowner, are making it a hell of a lot harder for all of us. The really sad part is that those of us who are different usually never get a chance to prove ourselves, because (as in your case) the negative experiences leave the landowner with no choice but to say "No" to everybody.

 

[MNgoldenbear]

Was sitting through hunter ed classes with my daughter, and they really worked at addressing this, and the more general issue of hunter public image. They emphasized how important it was for them as hunters to "do right" and encourage others (even their older, more experienced relatives) to do so as well. Trespassing, badgering landowners, disobeying agreed upon terms, littering, and property damage were among the highlights (or lowlights) of hunter behavior to be avoided. It was reassuring that many of the youngsters stared in disbelief at the videos showing poor hunter behavior -- the "why in the world would anyone act like that" look. Sorry you've had so many bad experiences, and I can't blame you for not wanting outsiders on your land given the way they've treated you and your property. And from those of us who do respect others, thanks for at least trying to give people an opportunity to enjoy the sport.

 

[BigFatKen]

Many States now require a hunter to have permission, in writing, with a date expiring in no more than one year to be on his person.

 

[Loyalist Dave]

My state has the same, but the landowner can specify the duration, unless the land is sold of course.

I try to help out the land owner, and if he or she doesn't need help with a chore, like helping to paint a barn, or stringing some fence, then I just keep an eye open as I scout the area. We have huntable areas with suburban home projects scattered about, so you can sometimes see which way the deer are moving, and get an idea of their circuit.

So far my keeping track of the larger farms has allowed me to locate a lost beagle, and to herd some loose cows back into a field off of a hardball road, and close a gate. This has gotten me onto two farms, but sadly the owners think I'm an exception to the rule, while I was just doing what a neighbor is supposed to do.

BTW any of you folks run into these guys that think since they ride a horse and are chasing a fox, while wearing English hunting pinks, they can cross your fences and land like the light brigade?

LD

 

[Kingcreek]

I have a small farm and some land in CRP with good habitat and people frequently ask to hunt. Fortunately, I live on it and it is well posted. I also oversee some prime adjacent land for an out-of-town landowner who asked me to look after it and treat it as I would if I owned it. He stores some equipment here free, help each other out, and we are both happy with the arrangement.
I give permission to a few folks with the clear understanding that it is by prior arrangement and only WITH ME. Sometimes I am busy and tell them to go ahead but they don't know that until they get here. Haven't had any problems so far.
Biggest problem I have had is road hunters shooting into my place from the gravel road. I guess those pheasants and quail running back and forth thru the hedge are too much temptation. Caught 2 young guys last year. Didn't bust em, but I took thier names and vehicle/license number and told them I would report them if I ever saw thier truck drive down my road again.
The conservation police are a pretty hard working bunch and they don't stand for any nonsense. They have been good about backing up the landowners and ethical hunters and hunting down the slobs.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I let a guy hunt deer on my land. He hoped his stepson could get his first deer there. I gave him permission for the season. What happened? He shot a bobcat, the father, not the son (who wasn't even there). Why? It was the biggest he had ever seen and because they eat quail. Did he or the son shoot any deer? Nope.

So much for me letting folks hunt on my land. Very simple rules are just too hard to follow.

 

[TexasRifleman]

It's a real shame people are not honorable any more.

I invited a couple of cousins to hunt dove on my place and I show up at the same time, what the heck the more the merrier right?

Barely any room left in the field for me, seems they decided to bring some customers (one of them owns his own business) and do some entertaining.

People don't behave anymore.

The land on either side of me belongs to non hunting investor types from Dallas and they allow me to hunt on their property since I ajoin, but I'd never take anyone else in there and I am always leaving the place better than I found it, fixing a fence post, rehanging a gate, whatever.

I think a lot of it is just people not growing up around the land and hot having a conneciton with it. It's just something to use.

 

[Grumulkin]

I have always required people that hunt on my land to have written permission from me. I make my own permits which specifically state that the permit is only for a specified time (i.e., they have an expiration date), by signing they release me from any legal liability for any injury they may incur, it specifies that the permit is only for them and not for friends, etc. Except for family members, ALL (even friends) who hunt on my land must have this permit. Thus far, none who have received these permits have abused them.

On my land, there are no second chances. If a person is on my land illegally, the police or a game warden WILL be called.

I'm somewhat fortunate in that the laws of the State of Ohio make it illegal to hunt on property other than your own without written permission. Said laws also make it illegal to pursue wounded game onto another's property without permission.

 

[dracphelan]

I think a lot of it is just people not growing up around the land and hot having a conneciton with it. It's just something to use.

I also think it is a sign of how rude some people are today. If I am invited to a friends place, and I want to bring along someone, I ask before bringing them. This not only applies to hunting, but also people's homes and social functions. I can't count the number of parties I've been to where someone has brought along a person the host absolutely hates. The people who do this are also usually the people to leave behind a big mess. What ever happened to good manners? :banghead:

 

[dragongoddess]

Thats not it. Its simple manners. Its a subject that parents have forgotten to teach their children and as a result you see all of this stupidity everywhere.

 

[MCgunner]

No one gets permission to hunt around here unless they pay for it. Of course, the locals seem to think my land is open range or something.:banghead: I don't see 'em down there much hunting, they'd rather drive it at night with a spot light. I guess, what the heck, if you're going to outlaw, go all the way, eh? I don't farm it or have cows on it, ain't that much land. But, it's the principle. I bought it, paid for it, and pay the taxes on it. To me, trespass/poaching is like theft, and sometimes it even turns into that when I've had stands missing. :banghead:

 

[Gary G23]

I don't blame you. You give one person permission and you end up with a hundred people in your back yard. I've been through that.

 

[22-rimfire]

I can understand the landowner perspective. With me if I ask permission, I ask for ME and not 10 other people. If I want to bring a friend, I ask. I also make sure that the permission stands for subsequent years by asking each year. I feel that I am a guest on their property and as such treat it better than I might my own property. I pay particular attention to fences, litter issues, and safety. I also do not assume that my permission to hunt is for anything other than the game animal for which I asked about. I don't even shoot coyotes unless permission is granted. If I for example shoot a deer, I am more than happy to offer some of the meat after it is processed if they want it. I also like to tell them how the hunt went if they are interested.

 

[Essex County]

My experiences have been positive..........

I have fifty acres below my cabin that I can no longer hunt due to a walking disability. A few locals hunt it and more often than a decent buck gets harvested. Never a problem. Once in a while someone from downcountry will stop and ask if they can hunt and I haven't refused anyone yet. I hunt from my vehicle on other folks land and it would seem hypocritical for me to post my land. Just my experience...........Essex

 

[scout26]

I hear you. My daughter and I did not go on the Illinois Youth Turkey Hunt the last 2 years because there weren't any tags available for the special hunt areas (public lands) and we pretty much got every door slammed in our faces when we went asking farmers/land owners door to door.

The slobs and poachers have screwed it up for the rest of us.

 

[Art Eatman]

Believe it or not, there was a time when I was part of the young folks in the group at hunt camp. Looking back, I guess all of us either were still living on "the old home place" or had begun with rural living.

So, we'd see a fence needed fixing, we'd fix it. Same for helping doctor screw worms or chousing some livestock back to the proper pasture. Whatever looked like it needed to be done.

Part of the written list of camp rules was, "Pick up all shell cases." A lost shell from a semi-auto rifle was the biggest piece of trash anybody ever left.

We have many absentee landowners down here who only show up for part of the 16-day mule deer season in Texas. I'm amazed at how many of them leave trash on their own property! Sorta wonder what their home looks like...

Art

 

[crawfish]

I own a very large farm of 5300+ acres. Up until 1995 it was a rare thing for me to refuse permission to hunt or fish. The two things that made me lock my gate were perpetual permission and multi-level permission. I can't count the number of times I've encountered persons fishing who told me that so and so gave them permission to fish, well so and so was the guest of the guest of the person I gave the permission to in the first place. Up until 2005 I held an by invitation only opening dove shoot. I'd extend 100 mailed invites to come attend the pig pickin' and shoot some doves. Those 100 usually grew to 135 what with kids, wives, and girlfriends, which is why I'd only mail 100 in the first place. Trouble was that some people figured that an invitation in 2000 equaled an invite in 2004. A long way to say that only family hunt the farm now. Sad really but one can only take so much for so long. BTY this doesn't begin to address the problem with poachers.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Kinda reminds me of an opposite story from my youth.

A guy stops by with his son about my age and asks my dad for permission to hunt on our land during the upcoming season (a bunch of farmland backed by a very wooded mountainside). Well even back then my dad was a bit of a curmudgeon so he just kinda eyes the guy and then invites him onto the porch for a cup of coffee and some chat time.

I'm off to one side of the porch splitting and stacking wood and the guy's son gets up and offers to help me stack it. Anybody who's heated a house with wood knows you don't decline any offer to help stack the damned stuff so pretty soon we're working away as a team.

Dad looks at the kid working away and looks at the guy and says basically "anybody teaches his son to help out like that is probably okay with me" and outlines his requirements for land use.

That guy and his son hunted on our land (with permission) for the next 10 years with no trouble that I ever heard of.

 

['Card]

I own a very large farm of 5300+ acres.

...this doesn't begin to address the problem with poachers.

A farm in NC? If you ever need anybody to help watch for poachers or trespassers during hunting season crawfish, you let me know OK?

 

[CSA 357]

you know i wish i could find some good hunting land near here that i could pay to hunt, much less hunt for free!

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

We have 35 acres of river bottom with deer, turkeys, ducks, geese and doves. Right after we first bought it in 1994, we found a great horned owl down by the river with its head blown off. Someone had shot it from across the river with a high powered rifle.

And people wonder why they see No Trespassing signs everywhere.

We only allow family and close friends to hunt the place, after all, that's why we bought it.

 

[Len]

Let's see...

Fences cut by poachers and snowmobilers, check.
Total annual replacement of all "no hunting/trespassing" signs, check.
My dogs peppered by shot, near the barn, out of season, with above signs in place, check.
Wounded deer having to be put down, out of season? Three, check.
Nimrod shooting woodcock, in May, from his car, in my driveway, check.
Wounded Bald Eagles found, shot off their roost, two, turned over to DNR, both survived. Check.
Funeral director showing up the day after dad's funeral to ask to hunt the old man's property, check.

Number of guys allowed to hunt the place, one.

Favorite quote from that one guy? "I saw the buck, the one I was waiting for. But, when he came up on the blind, he was, well, majestic you could say, and hell, I've bagged so many, it just seemed nice to let this one go..." He was kicking at the leaves, and seemed embarassed...

Number of young kids and teenagers who have learned to shoot out there during the summer...dozens and dozens.

 

[MCgunner]

My best buddy from College, best man at my wedding, closest friend even today, has land north of Waco and his dad owns land. We started a tradition of hunting together some time back and we both started concentrating on money and stuff and it sorta slid. Now, I think Larry is seeing that he ain't gonna be a billionare, though he might make millionare before he's done. Heck, if you count all his properties, he might be. Anyway, we're both older and closer to retirement and friendship is more important in your old age I guess. So, I went up to his place for a great three day dove hunt this year. One of the rules is PICK UP YOUR SHELLS! His dad worried about the cows eating 'em and Larry says they taste sweet to a cow and they will eat 'em. I don't guess it hurts 'em, but it don't do 'em no good.

In return, he comes down here and either I take him goose hunting (he loves goose hunting, or deer hunting down at my place. He doesn't have deer. So, it works pretty well for both of us. His is some of the best dove hunting I've ever done and I have good deer hunting.

 

[redneckrepairs]

I have a mid sized farm/ranch in southeast Colorado and have never had any trouble from anyone who asked permission . Our issues here come from front range hunters not bothering with permission , or gates for that matter , and out of state coyote hunters ( dog runners ) running thro fences , and even over one of my horses once . Folks who ask are normaly a fine bunch , them who dont are normaly hazardus .