Land Access Question

[Stein]

I agree confrontations suck. 

In Montana, I found a half section of public land that had a ton of antelope and monster whitetails on it.  A beater old truck with four young guys came up and told me I was on their Uncle's land, he had bought it from the state.  So, not wanting to push it I left.  This year, I happened to run across the warden and asked him about it.  He confirmed that he was unaware of anything.  I actually looked up the records at the county and on MT's hunting maps from the state.  Both confirmed it was state land.  So, I head back and this year there is a lock on the gate and a fake sign saying no hunting and hinting it is official MT policy.

I guess my whole point is that I am tired of doing everything right and getting jacked by local people who think they have more right to the land than I do.  Whether to push the issue or not is a personal choice.

If it were local land that I planned on hunting more than once, I would probably look into hunter harassment laws and have a chat with the warden.

[Bob33]

My greatest concern about this situation is creating a potentially adversarial situation over 75 yards of huntable ground.  That’s not very much to argue over, and if the bird dies one foot over the line you can bet the landowner will deny you access to retrieve it unless you made a prior arrangement with him.

[CAMPMEAT]

EVERYTIME I've asked a landowner if I could trespass, to shoot coyotes on their land, the answer is aways 100% yes, except when the ground squirrels are out. They want the coyotes left alone so they can eat the squirrels.

I never back away from asking a landowner and I've always had a nice conversation with them too, nothing ever nasty..

[bobcat]

Campmeat, that's because you're old and disabled, and they feel sorry for you.   

Try asking permission for waterfowl hunting on land that's already leased out to other hunters.

[metlhead]

Avoid the confrontations, hunt elsewhere this year. Spend a bit of off season time looking up the lawful owner. If indeed it is huntable public land that is encroached upon, bang away next year, it's your land. Just have all the facts first.

[CAMPMEAT]

Campmeat, that's because you're old and disabled, and they feel sorry for you.   

Try asking permission for waterfowl hunting on land that's already leased out to other hunters.

It's because I'm very good looking...................i hunt on leased land all the time, it's called the, Forest Service..