Virginia has passed the same law .308 mentioned which allows landowners to invite hunters onto their property without fearing a lawsuit if someone gets hurt. I think that is a good thing for those who do allow others on their property. Me, I don't allow anyone except some family members.
This topic is a pet peeve of mine. So this allows me to vent a little. A land owner is KING of his property. He can do anything he wishes and what anyone thinks about it is not even relevant.
Some guys were complaining about posted land, and when they heard mine is, they started giving me a hard time. I asked them if they leave the keys in their cars for anyone to use it that comes by. Of course, they said, no. Well, it is the same thing. And everyone isn't like this, but many people think that the people who have something they don't ought to give it to them. Yes, some people are greedy, uncaring louts, but there is a difference in giving a starving man some food and letting someone have a vacation on your land.
Everyone can't afford land, but everyone can decide what their priorities are. If you like to spend all your money on booze and running around every weekend, then don't feel like you have the right to bitch at someone who put their money somewhere else. If your atv payment is more important than a land payment, who's fault is that? I recall a queer singer who looked down on his friends for buying food instead of blowing their money on male prostitutes and drugs like he did. But after he got what he wanted most, he tried to mooch the food!
Nothing wrong with asking, but no use in being mad when turned down either. Hunting has been such a major priority in my life that I made sure I lived where I could hunt. I bought a cabin in the heart of National Forest when I was 19 years old and lived there until I was 28. (I worked every day and made payments.) When it was time to get married and move, my wife knew before hand that having hunting land close by was important to me, and we bought 45 acres in the country. My land is geared 100% to my hunting pleasure. I have 1 creek that runs all the time, 2 wet weather branches, and 2 springs, and 2 small food plots. I have old logging roads all over and a deer never has to be dragged any farther than 50 yards. I can still hunt on the trails or sit in one of my several ladder stands. Yes, I am bragging, but I am paying for it. Not only that, but I have worked my tail off cutting shooting lanes. planting stuff, making fields, and keeping the trails drivable. That was before an accident and a condition that left me only able to do piddly stuff now, which made all that work even more of a pay off for me.
I like seeing other people enjoy hunting, and I don't like the idea that hunting may only be available to the rich and elite. Still, it isn't my responsibility to give that ability to every one that comes along looking for it.
You know, I have my own business, and I have a lot of customers who ask me if they can hunt on my land. (And though I would turn them down, I've never been invited to hunt on someone else!) I've always said no except once. I had one guy that I had done a few small jobs for, but said he was going to bring me a big job, and he asked if he could hunt. I appreciated the big job, but I just liked the guy. You know what I mean? I thought I would be good to him and let hunt. He liked to bow hunt, so I told him he could come during bow season and I would show him a stand he could sit in. Do you know what that sucker said? "No. I'll come during rifle season and sit where I want to." There is no way in my life time he will ever set foot in my woods, and I don't care if I get that big job or not.
Done venting now, and back to being happy.
