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Post by HuntMeister on Jun 16, 2009 16:56:46 GMT -5
Just read this on The Outdoor Wire, www.theoutdoorwire.com:80/story/1245138369ae5p2ey1t6eI seem to recall some discussion of this but I never realized it was moving forward. Sounds like a great program. What does everyone think? DNR to Launch Hunters Helping Farmers Deer hunters in need of a place to hunt, and farmers/landowners in need of crop damage relief now have a way to contact each other using a tool developed by the Department of Natural Resources. To participate, deer hunters may submit an online application, July 1 through Aug. 30, at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild to hunt private land in Indiana. Hunters submit for up to two counties they would like to hunt. Farmers/landowners then select individuals to interview for rights to hunt. The program does not alter normal DNR deer hunting regulations. Hunters must adhere to all bag limits, county antlerless deer quotas and license fees. Farmers/landowners determine whether hunters may harvest antlerless deer or deer of either sex. Information requested on the application, determined by a DNR survey of farmers/landowners, addresses common concerns about selecting the hunters most likely to address farmer/landowner needs. To obtain a list of potential hunters, farmers/landowners should contact their DNR district wildlife biologist as listed at www.IN.gov/dnr/fishwild starting Sept. 14. Hunters must be 13 years old to apply. Further information will be available in the 2009-2010 Hunting and Trapping Guide. According to Indiana Code, a hunter who is invited on a landowner's premises for the purpose of hunting does not have an assurance that the premises are safe for that purpose. Therefore, the owner of the premises does not assume responsibility or incur liability for an injury to the person or property caused by an act or failure to act of other persons using the premises, unless the act is of malicious intent or is illegal. Contact: Gary Langell, private lands program manager (812) 334-1137 I fixed the story URL.. WW |
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 16, 2009 17:22:02 GMT -5
Good deal to see that it is finally launched.
Hunting access is one of the bigest problems in hunting today.. both to control the herd and to stave off the hunter number declines.
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Post by dadfsr on Jun 16, 2009 18:09:53 GMT -5
But why is it only for deer hunters? I would really like to just find a farmer in S. Indiana that would let me take care of feral pigs-I already have plenty of deer up here but no pigs and don't want the pigs so I want to help get rid of them before they have a chance of getting up here.
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Post by dbd870 on Jun 17, 2009 11:24:58 GMT -5
Saw that - good deal. I didn't realize the program was ready to go either.
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Post by HuntMeister on Jun 17, 2009 11:57:55 GMT -5
But why is it only for deer hunters? I would really like to just find a farmer in S. Indiana that would let me take care of feral pigs-I already have plenty of deer up here but no pigs and don't want the pigs so I want to help get rid of them before they have a chance of getting up here. Just thinking out loud here... I think they have to start somewhere and Deer being a big priority that they have become got the nod... maybe hogs could be added into the program if it becomes sucessful. |
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Post by Sasquatch on Jun 17, 2009 12:40:44 GMT -5
But why is it only for deer hunters? I would really like to just find a farmer in S. Indiana that would let me take care of feral pigs-I already have plenty of deer up here but no pigs and don't want the pigs so I want to help get rid of them before they have a chance of getting up here. Just thinking out loud here... I think they have to start somewhere and Deer being a big priority that they have become got the nod... maybe hogs could be added into the program if it becomes sucessful. The way they are spreading, I'm sure if this takes off, porkers will be on the list down the road! I think this is a great idea. It lets the hunters and farmers find each other, and I'm sure a lot of the inbred dolts that mess things up for us will be too dense to fill out the forms. |
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Post by dbd870 on Jun 17, 2009 13:45:00 GMT -5
Just thinking out loud here... I think they have to start somewhere and Deer being a big priority that they have become got the nod... maybe hogs could be added into the program if it becomes sucessful. The way they are spreading, I'm sure if this takes off, porkers will be on the list down the road! I think this is a great idea. It lets the hunters and farmers find each other, and I'm sure a lot of the inbred dolts that mess things up for us will be too dense to fill out the forms. We can only hope - it would be a shame to see this program go down in flames due to that. |
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Post by Old Ironsights on Jun 18, 2009 16:00:20 GMT -5
July 1... July 1... July 1...
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Post by Woody Williams on Jun 18, 2009 16:07:20 GMT -5
Man, I am hoping this takes off great guns as it could be one of the biggest boosts ever for deer hunting in Indiana.
Problems could be:
1) Not enough farmers to match hunters with.
2) Hunters that already have ground to hunt will want more ground to hunt and might ace out someone who doesn't have a spot to hunt. That can be a biggie.
Fingers crossed...
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Post by Ahawkeye on Jun 18, 2009 17:19:28 GMT -5
Man, I am hoping this takes off great guns as it could be one of the biggest boosts ever for deer hunting in Indiana. Problems could be: 1) Not enough farmers to match hunters with. 2) Hunters that already have ground to hunt will want more ground to hunt and might ace out someone who doesn't have a spot to hunt. That can be a biggie. Fingers crossed... I Agree with you woody a couple of other problems would be disrespectfull hunters who throw their trash out of their trucks or want to drive where their not supposed to. The list is really endless on what could go wrong but soooooo many things could go right you can bet I'll be signing up but I won't hold my breath. My father would love this program he usually only kills does and would only let one fly on a buck if it were a MONSTER he's already got a nice one on the wall so it's all about the freezer now. |
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Post by Old Ironsights on Jun 18, 2009 19:29:28 GMT -5
 Woody & Xmax... Here's hoping the program's emphasis on "interviewing" hunters helps weed out the Ground Hogs... |
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Post by old3arrows on Jun 18, 2009 20:43:49 GMT -5
I'm curious as to how they are going to enroll farmers. Are there tax breaks or something involved? Sure hope it takes off though, especially for counties that have no public access like Madison County.
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Post by dbd870 on Jun 19, 2009 6:51:08 GMT -5
Man, I am hoping this takes off great guns as it could be one of the biggest boosts ever for deer hunting in Indiana. Problems could be: 1) Not enough farmers to match hunters with. 2) Hunters that already have ground to hunt will want more ground to hunt and might ace out someone who doesn't have a spot to hunt. That can be a biggie. Fingers crossed... Yeah, I thought of both those things as well. |
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Post by racktracker on Jun 19, 2009 7:31:13 GMT -5
Will the farmers and hunters also talk lease money or by signing up do the farmers agree to free access?
Some greedy hunters (yes, they are out there) will sign up to control more ground or find a better place to hunt. I do think that it should only be hunters that do not have a place to hunt signing up. Mine or my boy's names wont be going in the hat.
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Post by mbogo on Jun 19, 2009 10:39:02 GMT -5
So in order to make sure I follow the Hunting Indiana rules addendum to the HHF program correctly, what is the maximum number of parcels a hunter can have access to and still be ok to apply for one of these possible hunting opportunities? Or does it go by acreage?  All joking aside, I think many of you are looking at this the wrong way round. The goal of the program is not to provide hunters with private land hunting opportunity, the goal of the program is to help farmers, landowners, and by extension the DNR manage the deer herd. Helping hunters with hunting access is a very nice side benefit. Viewed this way, I think there will be a lot fewer problems to deal with all around. It appears that through the application and interview process farmers have the ability to select whichever hunter or hunters they think will best fill their needs, whatever they may be (as it should be). The decision is up to the farmer, not us. I would encourage anyone that is interested in trying a new property and willing to help out a farmer/landowner to apply. The important thing is for hunters to be honest about themselves. |
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Post by dbd870 on Jun 19, 2009 10:57:13 GMT -5
I understand what you are saying mbogo and I actually agree with you and you are right about the program's goals. I suspect (yep, it's just a guess) there are going to be way more hunters than farmers. The way I look at it I have 2 pieces of property to hunt in IN. (and the 1 that isn't mine - I'm the only one who hunts it) I also have 2 big farms in KY I get to play on during bow and gun season - I'm in good shape - I'll hold off and give others a chance. Now if there turns out to be a problem getting enough hunters I will rethink this.
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Post by Old Ironsights on Jun 19, 2009 11:42:08 GMT -5
I'm going to watch it closely because while I have a nice piece of Urban to play with my bow on, the only place(es) I've had to hunt Gun is on a Park hunt or "bucks only" FWAs.
I'm all about Meat/Depredation/Herd control so dinking around an Orange tinted FWA with an OBR tag really ain't my thing. (Muzzy season, different game...)
But I'll be much happier with a personal relationship with a Landowner...
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Post by mbogo on Jun 19, 2009 12:58:05 GMT -5
I suspect you are right about the hunters outnumbering the landowners Dave, in fact I would bet that is the case by a wide margin. I can see that changing though if the program is a success from the point of view of the farmers/landowners. That should be the goal.
We all know that there are more than a few knuckleheads out running about and if you have ever hunted public land or done one of the drawn hunts, then you have likely met more than your fair share. One good way to weed those people out and prevent them from ruining the program is to give the farmers plenty of options to choose from. All of the good, conscientous, ethical hunters on here should offer their services in order to ensure the success of this program.
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Post by Old Ironsights on Jun 19, 2009 13:02:03 GMT -5
... All of the good, conscientous, ethical hunters on here should offer their services in order to ensure the success of this program. Absolutely. I've got no problems with sweat equity either. (Have Chainsaw, will travel...) What's fair is fair after all. I'm just lousy at making contacts... so this looks like a real winner in my book. |
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Post by dbd870 on Jun 19, 2009 14:56:09 GMT -5
I see your point - a difficult decision on participating this is!
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