There are still generous landowners around...

[BrownBear]

I wonder if "slob hunters" are a common reality or just a trumped up excuse to post the land. Sure there are these guys, but I don't think there's very many.

Consider yourself lucky in your region. I suspect it varies a lot from place to place, and frankly with the proximity of major urban areas. Guys who grow up on the land and make their living from it simply have a different understanding of how to take care of it and respect it. Sad to say, most that have caused trouble in our area come from big cities on a dream hunt, only to behave like something out of Animal House once they're out of sight of home.

We let one group of three guys onto our place for dove hunt. Don't know if they got any doves, but they left behind a case and a half of beer bottles---- broken. Busy hunt for three guys to finish off two sixpacks apiece and break all the bottles. In four hours.

We've had ATV riders cut fence rather than going 100 yards out of their way to use a gate, much less expect them to close a gate behind them. Ever seen what happens to cows on green alfafa? Try 120 of them at once. At $1700 a cow.

The final straw was elk hunters that hung a target to sight in for the next day. On our pump house. Repairs were a little over $13,000 and they swore up and down they didn't do it. Yet they were the only ones on the place.

Done deal. It's posted. If we don't know you and first hand how you treat land and property, we're going to politely refuse.

There's just no way to tell the gentlemen from the slobs when they're strangers on your doorstep.

I'm open to any way that will help me sort em out, but I aint seen one yet that works.

 

[bigbore442001]

Bucktails:

I think landowners are becoming a tad more responsive to permission since Lyme Disease is taking it's toll.

As an example, my supervisor owns some land and will not let anyone on it. Now she has been treated for Lyme for the second time. Guess who may be eliminating some of the vectors?

:thumbsup:

 

[Vaino]

Have never really come into contact w/ a bunch of rowdies as you describe...you're more than justified in posting your land. I know a lot of farmers in the area I hunt {I don't hunt on their posted land} and they haven't had the hunter problems you mentioned. They say the reason they post the land is so the family,relatives and friends have a place to hunt. None that I've talked to had encounters as you describe but they still post their land. I suppose I could ask to hunt on their land, but there's a huge county forest a few miles from them and we've had excellent hunting there for many years. Can't speak for all of Wisconsin.... only for the area we hunt.....Fred

 

[bigbadben]

I go kind of back and forth on this thing about people posting their land. Thirty years ago you were looked at as oddly antisocial here in VT if you posted. But now it's become common if not actually the norm.

I understand why farmers do it. But I have to confess it also rubs me the wrong way. Vermont in particular goes pretty far out of its way to offer tax breaks to farmers, last year even going so far as to provide a bailout to help make up for low milk prices.

I don't resent those tax breaks. I like family farms and want to see the tradition continue. But at the same time I'm a guy who pays a heap in taxes and gets no breaks whatsoever. So I really don't feel like I'm asking too much when I want to go hunt on some farmer's land. You can't be a socialist when you want state money and then turn into a libertarian when you want 100% control of your land.

It irks me when some farmer responds that he doesn't know me so I can't hunt there. After all, I didn't know him when I was paying my taxes, and I still paid anyway.

Ben

 

[Emet Huntsman]

I guess that's the benefit of living in Texas -- we do not have "public" land. Anyone wanting to hunt must either own the land or get permission to hunt first. The assumption is that unless you get permission first, you are trespassing; and carrying a weapon ups the ante to criminal trespass.

 

[Vaino]

WOW! No public land? No Federal forest or BLM lands? Don't think I would want to live in a state w/ that situation. Most states have public land....what happened in Texas? Just curious....Fred

 

[roundball]

I guess that's the benefit of living in Texas -- we do not have "public" land. Anyone wanting to hunt must either own the land or get permission to hunt first. The assumption is that unless you get permission first, you are trespassing; and carrying a weapon ups the ante to criminal trespass.

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/hunt/public/

 

[PreglerD]

Here in Germany about 6ß0-80 % are private land and the rest is public land. But here it is a bit different. Basicly every landowner has the right to hunt, but to prevent the splitting of the hunting areas the hunting law says that you have to own a minimum of 83 hectars (250 acres) that you are allowed to hunt practically. Every landowner which is under this number of hectars has to go in a hunting community. The community then decides about the single hunting areas and about the number of game that can be taken. Furthermore they decide about the prices for hunting.

Regards

Kirrmeister

 

[bucktales]

Ben,
I know what you're saying about the posted land in Vt.
I hunted there 25 yrs., mostly in Nat. Forest ground, but there were some privately owned parcels I did hunt. Some posted , some not. The posted land I did hunt, I always asked permission first. The landowners I met , for the most part, were pretty cool and only wanted to know who was hunting their ground. In following years, I would always touch base with them before the season and usually offer some venison or fresh clams.

Some landowners I met in Vt, as well as Pa., also said that their land was open after the first week of the season so they can hunt their ground with family. That worked out well for me as I hunted late rifle in Pa and ML in Vt anyways.

All it takes is a knock on the door sometimes.

 

[bocalbender1]

Not sure what part of the state you hunt in, but I've seen plenty of "slobs" in the Central region where I grew up. Much of the public lands within an hour or so had so much hunting pressure that it looked like orange Christmas ornaments all round.

My in-laws had property around the Hancock area, the folks that "helped" hunt it were the worst. The type that lay down suppressing fire, 5 or 6 guys all unloading as the animal runs across the corn stubble. During one such incident, my brother and I were standing at the end of one of those cornfields discussing where we would enter the marsh.We had rounds hitting all around us, both in full orange with snow and birch trees as backdrop!

We went back to the state lands near the U.P. fortunately the slobs will forgo a little hiking.

In Iowa I haven't yet come across that level of slovenly conduct. I am fortunate to have access to private lands,one of which I am the only person they trust to hunt it.Yes, a good relationship with the land owner is a must. Giving them a roast from your harvest,some smoked fish or a good bottle of homemade wine go a long way.

 

[Vaino]

Hunting open fields is something I don't do...lazy hunters waiting for an errant deer to cross an open field invites fusilades and there's nothing wrong w/ taking shots at the deer except it can be a dangerous spot to be in. These are not "slob hunters", just hunters that don't want to exert themselves by hiking a bit or not having the the confidence to go aways into the woods.....Fred

 

[bocalbender1]

I do question the ethics of shooting a barrage at animals that are 75 to 100 yds away and running.

 

[Emet Huntsman]

WOW! No public land? No Federal forest or BLM lands? Don't think I would want to live in a state w/ that situation. Most states have public land....what happened in Texas? Just curious....Fred


WHen Texas accepted becoming a state and stopped being a republic, she did so on the condition that all unowned lands remain the property of the state, not be transfered to the federal government. State lands were used to pay off debts to soldiers, repay public debts to private investors in the war or held in trust for our school system. It was not long before all land in the state was off-limits to the general public without landowner permission.
Today there are state-owned lands that Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept (Roundball's post) holds drawings for hunting permits. But in general, to hunt in Texas means finding a lease and paying for it.
This help?

 

[wirehairman]

in general, to hunt in Texas means finding a lease and paying for it.

It is my reoccuring nightmare that this will be the case for my grandchildren here in Montana other than already overcrowded public lands.

 

[Allan Gray]

In CA. one needs to obtain written permision from the owner to hunt private land. There is a standard form available.

Deer are famous for causing alot of damage to local vinyards and depredation permits are getting harder to get. Also, the wild pigs are a big nuisance.

There are plenty of argricultural land owners that would welcome a hunter, but you have to know where to look and how to ask.

 

[schnapser]

This thread hit a chord with me as this is the first year I haven't had the determination to really try and find a place to hunt. There are alot of public lands around but come firearm season they are full of hunters and the pressure takes the enjoyment out of it for me.

I have a farming friend who has allowed me to rabbit and turkey hunt his property and has given me permission to hunt for deer although he has also given permission to a couple of other fellows who bring every extended family member they have to the 160 acre parcel. Again too many people.

I have leased and had some success with one gentleman who has since sold off his property. In attempting to secure leases I have found some decent people as well as game players who are searching for the top dollar and "let me get back with you" types.

It is discouraging and as a new hunter I could see how you would want to quit before you got started. If anyone in SWMichigan has any leads or is open to leasing or sharing, drop me an email, I have pretty much given up this fall. Chris

 

[Bountyhunter]

In Kansas, you can chat and talk all you want but if you do not hold in your hand a piece of paper granting you permission to enter upon and hunt on a specifically described parcel of property, and signed with an original signature of the owner of record, then the fur and feathers dood is gonna bust a gut to give you a ticket, take your gun and your vehicle and make your life as much of a living hell as he is capable of doing.

My advice would be to go find the fellows that you talked to, shake hands and ask for a written permission and have them sign it. Put it in a zip lock bag and stick it up over your pickup visor for the duration of season. I really do not like game wardens and prefer to err on the side of safety.

 

[roundball]

I always do...and carry it right in my wallet with my license...

 

[bigbore442001]

With all of the negatives to hunting New England, at least we don't have hunting leases to contend with. I would hate to see that cancer spread northeast.

The other night I chatted with a friend who told his neighbor about my turkey hunting exploits. He said that my father and I would be welcomed on his land.

Finding private land can be a hassle but it is out there if you look hard enough.