Crappy Day

[hangumhi]

I received permission for me and my buddies to hunt 3,000 acres outside of Walla Walla and I've scouted it twice and was going back for a third trip today when I met a guy in a pickup.  He asked me what I was doing and after introducing myself I explained what I was doing and he advised that I should stop right there and head back down the hill because trespassers would be shot.  I explained that I had permission from the owner and asked who he was.  He was an employee of 27 years and was quite frustrated that his employer (who assured me that nobody else would be hunting) would offer someone (me) permission to hunt since he hunted that ground every year (according to him of course).  I plan on letting the owner know about this but in all honesty I don't want to cause waves in their business as I know who will win and there will just be bad blood and nothing good will come of it so I think I'll just let the owner know about what happened; thank him for the opportunity even though it didn't work out and humbly go on my way.  The worst part is that my buddies have had this trip planned for so long and now we're scrambling trying to figure out just what to do and where to go...it's a terrible feeling thinking you have everything figured out; being new to the Walla Walla area and having done my homework and to have the carpet pulled from under me really feels like I got kicked in the gut. 

[fremont]

That's too bad, though don't be surprised if this "gentleman" had his facts badly screwed up.  I wouldn't write off your hunting chances there just yet. 

[300rum]

Make sure that when you thank him you just happen to a smoked salmon or something. 

[bucklucky]

I would make an attempt to talk to the employee again after talking to the landowner and see if maybee you can work something out? You never know , he may go for it. Might make a friend in the process.

[DeKuma]

I would talk to the owner about the experience as he is after all, the owner and the emplyee may be taking liberties that are not his to take.  You have permission, he may not have the rights he thinks he does and the owner is the one who decides who gets to do what.

[ICEMAN]

Definitely try the polite inquiry approach. You never know. He may just award you the hunt and tell *censored* to walk. I had a couple of emplyees when I was a contractor who thought they would "take charge". You know the rest of the story.

You will never know if you do not try. Worth the effort.

[hangumhi]

Good advice guys...thanks.  I'm just the type of guy where I'll avoid confrontation or the possibility that someone might get into trouble at all costs.  I will certainly let the owner know because he'll wonder anyway how we did but I'll probably let him know that it's totally okay and explain that I don't want to cause trouble for anyone so to just accept our thanks.  I'm also the type of guy that if the owner said well "he doesn't have the right to kick someone off my land...you go ahead and hunt and I'll deal with him.." I wouldn't show up for fear that the employee would be pretty ticked off at me.  

I wonder if this is karma...my family owns about a thousand acres in the Moses Lake area of the most prime pheasant ground in the state and a few years back I brought one of my buddies down to hunt birds on our land and low and behold there was a group of guys out in one of our fields hunting so I approached them (let me say that they were not the nicest guys) they began screaming at me for walking into their hunt and I told them all to leave that this was my father's ground...well it turns out that my derilict cousin gave these guys permission to hunt over there and didn't tell me about it so I felt completely bad but either way they shouldn't have yelled at me for walking into their hunt and I even let them continue hunting the draw they were in and they shot three roosters after I spoke to them so they made out okay so it can't be karma it's just crappy luck.  

I think maybe I'll head up to some of the feel free to hunt stuff above Walla Walla and see if we can find a spot to stand .  

[Aperson]

Well, if you do deside to take the hunt(which i would if i could hunt out there), and he desides that he's gonna be an ass, and try some "funny business".I'd just go to the cops and/or game warden.

But, good luck man, wish i had that kind of resources.

[BIGBULLBALLS]

Listen, I know you don't want to cause trouble but at some point you need to get a pair and stand your ground.  You have every right to be on that property.  One thing I would do is have the land owner give you "writtin permission" next time so there isn't this he said this and he said that bs.  I know you said you are new to Walla Walla so my suggestion to you is this, if you scout for them you will find nice bucks.  There is a ton of feel free to hunt in the area and you need to find it.  Never look for the signs the week before opener because people rip them down to protect their spots.  I have spent a lot of time down there and if you put your work in you will shoot bucks every year.  Good luck, put in the miles and you will be rewarded.

[PWN Kurt]

I agree with getting written permission.  Also, landowners should try to section off tracks of land/fields for the different hunters.

Kurt

[NoBark]

And Karma's highly over-rated.