Kingcreek
Member
I have a great relationship with a landowner farmer. I deer hunt some great land that his family owns and some that they rent.
My lease is paid with deer sausage, beer, and good will. Last winter I cleaned up a storm downed tree on the edge of the timber and got it off the crop ground for them. I am the only one allowed to hunt their ground.
Today I was out putting up a couple tree stands. When I drove by their new quarter million dollar equipment “shed” I saw vehicles and the doors open and I stopped. The farmer and his father were there.
Grandpa asked me what I knew about those landowner permits when you have too many deer. With what I know and they know it seems almost guaranteed they would qualify for control tags, usually handed out in blocks of 10 or more where crop damage is occurring. Any firearm, even night vision or thermal is allowed. This is a legacy farm operation with multiple properties in 2 counties.
Grandpa said all he has is an old shotgun and can’t walk or tolerate the cold. “Is that something you’d be willing to help us with?”
Uh sure!
I told them I am a former competitive rifle shooter with some rusty skills and some not rusty rifles and precision ammo. Grandpa said “you’re a sniper!”
I said no but my rifle coach was.
If the DNR sends somebody out and they approve they hand them a stack of control tags to do whatever they want with. A tree nursery or apple orchard get them easily. Crop farmers if the deer herd is causing enough damage. There are lockers in the area that get paid a fee from the state to process for food pantries but I think I can also keep whatever I want. It is likely they could get at least 10 tags for each of 2 of the farms were we have seen herds of 20-30 or more deer.
My lucky day? Maybe!
My lease is paid with deer sausage, beer, and good will. Last winter I cleaned up a storm downed tree on the edge of the timber and got it off the crop ground for them. I am the only one allowed to hunt their ground.
Today I was out putting up a couple tree stands. When I drove by their new quarter million dollar equipment “shed” I saw vehicles and the doors open and I stopped. The farmer and his father were there.
Grandpa asked me what I knew about those landowner permits when you have too many deer. With what I know and they know it seems almost guaranteed they would qualify for control tags, usually handed out in blocks of 10 or more where crop damage is occurring. Any firearm, even night vision or thermal is allowed. This is a legacy farm operation with multiple properties in 2 counties.
Grandpa said all he has is an old shotgun and can’t walk or tolerate the cold. “Is that something you’d be willing to help us with?”
Uh sure!
I told them I am a former competitive rifle shooter with some rusty skills and some not rusty rifles and precision ammo. Grandpa said “you’re a sniper!”
I said no but my rifle coach was.
If the DNR sends somebody out and they approve they hand them a stack of control tags to do whatever they want with. A tree nursery or apple orchard get them easily. Crop farmers if the deer herd is causing enough damage. There are lockers in the area that get paid a fee from the state to process for food pantries but I think I can also keep whatever I want. It is likely they could get at least 10 tags for each of 2 of the farms were we have seen herds of 20-30 or more deer.
My lucky day? Maybe!