Do you give tresspassers permission when they ask?

Well, I guess I'll chime in, too. Here's my feeling about all this.
1- I understand fully that people enjoy hunting. I think if that is the case, then when you buy a gun and ammunition and a 4-wheeler and top of the line boots with Goretex and binoculars and a super scope for those legendary shots, then you should also purchase whatever acreage is needed to enjoy your sport.
2- That's what I and DH did. We worked like demons for two years solid to build a house and pole barn, and used our income from 2 full time jobs to do this plus provide housing for an elderly relative (we went halfsies with her). My husband carried and pulled gas line for a quarter mile thru brush and mud to the gas well so we'd have heat. [/U]No hunters were there to help.
3-Nobody came to "help" except that they were well compensated with cash, or they had already received a king's ransom of money and services just for the asking, for years before we started this homesite.
4- Nobodycame to help when the garden was put in. Nor helped to weed it. I saw nobody driving up to ask if they could lend a hand mowing this place, or take down a tree that was threatening the roof of our house. Nobody called to ask if we had groceries this winter when my hubby's boss decided not to pay him for 4 months.This really happened, blieve it or not. We lived on what we had in the checking account. Nobody worried that we may have trouble paying a power bill. I am a saver, so that is why we made it, and God's grace. We also gave out of what we had, to family for they had troubles too. (cancer surgery and treatment).
5-Nobody[U] volunteers equipment to clear our land so you can find your way in or out. Nor labor. Yet they want to put up a stand. Who wants to work that hard if you can get it for free?
6-We built this house of cordwood, so if yu are familiar with it, it takes lots of wood, cut, sorted, mortared, laid into walls, sawdust screened, all in the blazing hot summer months,after work and all weekends. We had a spring way over the hill, that ran in the early part of the year. My DH installed that with help and ran the line for water and electric for the pump.
-----Oh, but, yes, we've had the hunters. One family member who lived here for free, and his buddies. Easy to be generous with someone else's belongings. Man, when you don't have to pay taxes nor take care of your own debts and responsibilities, you have a lot left for hunting toys.
-----And don't forget the neighbor, whose dog last year killed one of our chickens,which he denied and I witnessed, he came by early on to introduce himself and ask to hunt this property which he "used to hunt all the time, and would you mind if I continue?" Give me a break.
Okay, I've vented.. Sorry you are having difficulty finding a good place to hunt. But, understand something. When you've worked so hard to get a piece of something you've dreamed of all your life, would you risk it to some stranger who may or may not make your life a lliving he** if he and his cronies gets hurt out there, or they are careless, and there's lots of careless people, with attitudes of entitlement,or give a rip, nobody will know I shot a deer and cut the head off and left the carcass, yea, it happens, or night hunts your place, so when you the owner goes out, there's nothing much left, it makes you feel like you should sort out who comes and goes on your land. I am sure you're not one of them, but how would I know that? Am I safe to sit next to a beech tree with my gun, and know that someone won't shoot my legs off if I stand up to stretch and warm up?
It's an issue that has many facets, my friend. And no easy answers for many of us on either side. Ideal situation--find a way to secure for yourself your own land for whatever you wish to do. I am not being condescending or mean-spirited to you, so please don't take it that way. Or start a club of like minded folks to lease or buy a property. Has to be cheaper than buying as an individual.
We share so much of our blessings, money, and giving to the less fortunate. This is one thing, our home, our haven, that we want for ourselves.
I hope someone gives you permission to hunt and that it works out well for you both.................Margo
yes, I just previewed this post, and saw how I messed up the underlines, etc. you get my gist, I hope.

"Oilpatch197]Where I live (southern Illinois) there is alot of property that people up in Chicago own, they are only down here during Hunting season, so you can pretty much Tresspass all you want(and do) I'm a hiker, I like checking out natural rock formations, if I got to hike 3 miles just to get around 5 acres of your "off limits" land, I'll just walk thru your property!
I'll be long gone before the Cops get there."

Oilpatch, your an *****hole! This country was founded on property rights, if you don't like it move to France. If you trespassed on our 50 you wouldn't have to worry about being there when the cops arrive, we don't call cops we take care of our own "problems". Figure that out for yourself!

Ed

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"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their money, first by inflation and then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them (around the banks), will deprive the people of their property until their children will wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered." Thomas Jefferson

"This country was founded on property rights"!

Uh, excuse me Ed but could you tell that joke to my Native American ancestors? I don't think they caught the punch line.



Well sorry for bumping into a hornets nest. Didn't mean to get people so riled up. I have places to hunt but if I could find a spot closer to home so I wouldn't have to get up at 3 in the morning just to be in my stand by daylight. Another thing that gets me is that when I was processing deer for people I was getting lots of invitations (at a time when I didn't have time to hunt) and now that I'm not processing anymore nobody seems to remember me. Oh well, I'll keep asking and maybe I'll draw up some type of an agreement that they maybe interested in that would release them from liabilities plus any rules/regulations they would like to include.

Yeah…I’m fed up with this indian crap, pitty party :waa: . If you can’t defend your land then you don’t deserve to have it. It is the law of nature. Sure, a buck may have laid claim to a meadow for one year, but low and behold, a younger, quicker, stronger bucks runs him off of it the next year. It is now the young buck’s land. Just because you saw it first doesn’t make it yours. Just because a wolf saw a dead carcass first doesn’t mean it is his. A larger brown bear may come and take it from him. You’d think with all the at-one-with-nature ideologies indians are so noted for, the connection would be quite obvious.

Can I make a few suggestions?

Print up some sheets with your name and contact information. List what type of hunting you are interested in pursuing. For example,


Bob Smith
432 Main Street
Hometown, OK 99999
(123) 888-8888

Seeking place to hunt deer, turkey, or small game. Seeking permission for myself ONLY. (or myself and son, etc. - however it is, be upfront)

Hunter Safety Certified by OK State Game and Fish - 1998

Will agree to dates, times, and locations as directed by landowner.

Provide list of other landowner references.

Provide hunting license numbers

Provide make, model, and plate numbers of vehicles that you would be using when hunting.

Think of this as a resume for hunting. Approach the landowners at times convenient to them. For example, don't show up and interrupt their dinner, family visit, haymaking, calving, etc. Do this well in advance of the season. Offer to exchange an afternoon or two of labor in exchange for some time to hunt. There are always jobs that landowners never seem to get done – weedwacking a fence line, cutting brush, stacking hay, etc. If you express your willingness to help out in exchange for the privilege to hunt, it will go a long way with many people. You could even send this "resume" to the landowner via mail prior to approaching them in person. You may want to contact your local fish and game office. They sometimes have a list of landowners that are willing to allow people to hunt.

When you do visit the landowner in person, try to look presentable. If you show up the first day of the season in camo, it won't be received too well by most. Show up, introduce yourself, state your business, and be on your way. Don't pressure anyone for an immediate answer. That will almost always get you an emphatic NO. Some people will still tell you no in a not so polite fashion, but many will politely take your information. Make note of those contacts. Contact them again later in the summer, offering again to exchange some labor for hunting privileges.

You may have to do this with a dozen or more places before you get a hit. When you do get permission, do the following:

1) Ask the landowner to show you exactly where his property boundaries are. Ask what areas are off limits to you. ASK WHERE HE AND HIS FAMILY HUNT ON THE PROPERTY AND GIVE THESE AREAS WIDE BERTH. Make a sketch so that you remember later.

2) Ask where you should park. Do not block a gate or a field road.

3) Ask before you use a portable stand or construct a permanent one.

4) Ask exactly what days are OK to hunt. Ask if they want you to notify them each day when you arrive.

5) Repeat your offer of help if needed.

6) Whether you are successful or not, thank the landowner. If you get a deer, offer some steaks or sausage. If you are hunting small game or something that the landowner does not eat, send a small thank you gift. This can be a simple as a decent bottle of wine, a gift certificate for local restaurant, etc.

7) Don’t extend your personal invitation to others. Do not bring anyone else with you unless that was agreed upon upfront!

I am a landowner and a hunter. I also hunt other people’s property. This is what I do when I hunt elsewhere. I have two guys that do the same for me. They are always welcome here. Good luck!

I give my permission when asked IF I know the person by reputation to be of good character, AND they agree to my stipulations.

Those stipulations are they must call or stop at the house first and let me know they will be out there so I can put the dogs away, foot traffic only and they must park where I can see their vehicle. No extra guests, no littering and they share the bounty. I draw them a map with landmarks so they know where the property boundaries are and where houses are located.

I've never had a problem with these hunters and I especially appreciate the houndsmen for their work in controlling the predators and vermin. It is my habit to bring in the occasional stray hound that turns up and call my neighbor. If it's not his, he knows where it belongs.

It seems if you have one or two trustworthy hunters for your property, they will take care of it as their own, let you know if there are signs of other trespassers or large predators, and generally make it known in the community it is THEIR hunting grounds and they will be possessive and protective of the property, you, and their permission to hunt.

Somebody on the property without permission is in serious trouble.

That's my experience, as well.

And ditto again.

I don't have hundreds of acres, not by a long shot --- but I d have some neighbors who've been hunting on this land their entire lives. Fine with me. They're good people, they take as good a care (if not better, in some ways) than I do of my land, and their hound doggies are lovely fellows!

Strangers would be another matter, though.

I see the neighbors on my land all the time. I have no problem with it --- I know the only reason they're out there is because either they're hunting, rounding up their livestock or they've seen something strange!

Someone I don't know, though, I WOULD set my dogs loose. They have no business or reason for being here. :yeeha:

Yep.

R.H.,

I didn't get riled up about your post. It was a straight forward question and most people gave straight forward reasonable answers. What gets me ****ed off is someone like oilpatch. He doesn't feel the need to ask and if he gets an answer he doesn't like he'll do what he pleases....bs

Mike

r.h. in okla.: While you're having your forms printed, could you have some self-sticking targets made for Oilpatch to wear when he trespasses. I don't want to wing him in error!

Ha Ha, we have a can of that flourescent orange spray paint!! Try that on for size oilpatch!

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Only IMMORAL people are against MORALITY.

Woa! Cedar. Be careful of what you speak. There are some that might take that as an open invitation to run YOU off YOUR property. I doubt you would like to be that close to being at one with nature.

I have no axe to grind here. I have not one iota of Native American blood.

I do, however - getting back on topic - want to say that I used to give permission to a few hunters to pass through my property to the public lands to it's south. As most others have noticed about giving permission to anyone for anything, it gets - shall we say? - misinterpreted. I found booze bottles over the bottom of my property that had been shot to pieces, thus making it impossible for me to exercise my dogs there without risk of injury. The last straw was when one dog was shot - this was a white Standard Poodle in full show coat - though I'm sure it looked just like a deer through the bottom of a whisky bottle. They obviously thought that the run the dog was in was there to make hunting easier for them, a little kindness on my part I didn't get a red cent of the $2000 vet bill from any of the hunters... that was the day the answer to any request became "not just no, but HE!! no"

Mary

Mary, it is those reasons why I only give permission to those of good repute. Permission is not granted to anyone known to drink or to cause problems of any kind. It is also important that I know their phone number, plate number, where they live and where they work. I must have emergency contact information. It is important they display understanding and respect for the rules and priveledge of hunting or crossing my property.

There are plenty of responsible hunters so there is no need to put up with jerks.
To those who get permission, there is a good friend and neighbor relationship, to the others, I am a crazy person who will respond very unpredictably.

R.H, I hope you can find a place to hunt. Take some of the advice posted about asking early, providing information on yourself, including references like your pastor, local cop or community association and offer a working relationship with the landowner.

For a truly good lesson on negotiating with farmers, Patrick F. McManus has an excellent chapter, "A Hunker is not a Squat" in his book THE GRASSHOPPER TRAP.

"BTW I see nothing wrong with hikers and such, they don't hurt the land,"

How convenient, that you see nothing wrong with your preferred form of recreation.

Did you ever consider that those who pay the mortgage and the property taxes may not want you on their land for reasons OTHER than any damage that you may or may not do? I have young children...I prefer to allow them to have free range of our land and frankly, if I didnt care who they might bump into on any given day we would still be living in the city and they woudl be going to government schools.

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LeeAnne, wife of Tim's youth, homeschooling mother of twelve seventh generation Texans.

Swede Farm Dairy

Dairy Berries

Well thanks everyone for your input. I didn't ask the question expecting pity from Cedar(s. for brains), or anyone else. I just wanted to know how people stand on the issue when or if someone was kind enough to ask permission. I'm the type of fellar who is more interested in the hunt itself and not the kill. If I just wanted to kill just to be killing all I would have to do is place a feeder on the back of my property or my Aunts property which borders mine and shoot em as they come in. But that isn't hunting to me thats just filling my tag. Also I have been trying to talk some of my cousins into leasing land to hunt on. I've been talking to them for about 2 years now but nobody seems to be in a hurry to fork over any money for a lease. Without there help I can't afford to buy the lease all to myself. So its back to just trying to receive permission for myself. Once again thanks for your input.

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Well best of luck to you r.h. in okla. I hope you find something suitable for your hunting needs.

You seem like an intelligent and considerate person, and not the type many of us have had the misfortune to come across. I do hope you realize many of us were "venting" here and it was not directed at you.

But it is sad that for the decent hunters I've come across, there seem to be MANY more that have no consideration of someone else's property. I am NOT against hunting. But the prior owners of my land allowed it to the point that the locals finally decided it was "abondoned" property. I wound up with an old car, a rotted out pontoon boat, tons of beer bottles and assorted garbage, bar-b-q grills, an old refrigerator, and ......shall I go on? They even showed up for regular target practice on the car and other things. I mean LOTS of garbage left behind, as well as the smoldering campfires and beer bottles.

So I hope you realize what some of us have gone through. It's not ill feelings towards the occasional respectful hunters, but the sad reminders of what the bad ones have done to us.

Once again, nothing personal and I wish you luck in your quest. And try to understand what some of us have been through. Who's gonna pay to have that car and pontoon boat and all the garbage hauled off my land?

I know most hunters aren't like this, but I think it's an example of how a few bad apples can ruin it for everybody.....

Good luck,

Ozarkguy

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* Homesteading information at:

homesteadingwithozarkguy.com

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...reading this thread :haha:

What I find most annoying is the Fact that People put up POSTED signs and leave no contact info or address, the only way I can find that out is a property map from the court house, and those are not free, therefore somone who may be let's say tracking a doe that you shot with a arrow just happens to go on POSTED lands, if people would just give contact info on the signs, most tresspassers will call you if need be to get their game.

You can probably cut down alot on trespassing by putting contact info on the signs, most people are considerate and call you when there is somthing envolving your land.

BTW for you hillbillies, if a homeowner shoots a Thief robbing their home(and the theif survives the gunshot) YOU the homeowner is in trouble, because that thief will sue you, and YOU got to PROVE that you shot him in self defense, now I would Imagine If you shot me on your land, and I "claimed" I didn't see any KEEP OUT signs, and not causing a problem, YOU will get sued, guaranteed.

and we DID steal the American Indians lands,

So you say "you can't defend your land, you don't deserve to have it"

Most Americans can't defend their land, either they own too much, never on it, or they are unarmed.

Oilpatch, you just don't get it. If you are a trespasser you don't need to call me because the answer will be no. By definition, in order to be a trespasser you came on my property without permission.

Why would I or any property owner care that you are annoyed because we didn't provide you with our phone number? Are you really that self centered?

You obviously aren't a considerate person or you wouldn't have publicly stated that you would go on someones property regardless of their stated wishes. You might get away with it sometimes, but sooner or later you will cross the wrong person. To answer your question about posting no trespassing signs (other thread). Bless your pointy little head, I've been told that planting trespassers with their legs pointing up makes a great post to tack no trespassing signs to.

Mike

My family owns a good amount of land and there are people hunting on it all the time. As long as they’re local people, we and our neighbors do not care. If they’re yuppies coming up from some city, then it gets irritating I would think. Never had a problem with beer cans and bottles or people just abusing the property in general. A few valleys over, I guess a lot of the land is owned by out of towners and it is posted up all to hell. I guess it is their mine-mine-mine simplex.

If everyone posted their land, no one could coon hunt with dogs. I hear my neighbor’s dogs roaring most of the night sometimes…behind my window. Never bothered me…

I, with my dogs, don’t give a second thought to crossing on into his cornfield at the crack of dawn. Only one rule…don’t step on and keep the dogs out of the soy beans. That’s about it.

I am yet baffled by your assertion that it is a kindness to ask a favor of someone.
mary

Oilpatch... I don't get it? Why do you seem to have no respect for private property?

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